After being the largest hedge fund strategy in 1990 representing 71% of the overall hedge fund assets global macro has shrunk and now only represents about 15% of total assets.  While most people assume that this dropoff in assets was due to poor performance the numbers actually show a totally different story.  In fact according to the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Indexes, global macro has been the number one investment strategy with a total return of 502% from 1994 through June 2009.  Compare that with a total return of 335% from long short equity or 321% from event driven funds.

Of course most investors also have a misguided perception that every trade is like the trade that “broke the Bank of England.”  That trade in 1992 made Soros and his Quantum Fund over $1 Billion in a few days and garnered a lot of publicity.  The funny thing is

I think it’s about time for a compelling argument that the stock market could be making a turn around…right? Well like it or not Chrisopher Hill, editor of Investorazzi.com, has come to make an argument that he’ll be defending in the comments section! So if you think otherwise tell him why!

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Equities have been on a roll these past two months. On Monday, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, which is a meaningful benchmark to investors because it generally reflects the movements of the U.S. stock market as a whole,  reached a four-month high to close at 907.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index also has been on a tear, finishing Monday at 1,763— up 11% for the year.

At this point, many traders and investors are asking, is the current rally in equities sustainable?  Or, are U.S. stocks about the make a U-turn and head south?

Recently, a couple of legendary

“We’re going to see $200 oil at some point” Jim Rogers

Rogers buys oil last week as price drops Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:49pm EST

By Herbert Lash

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USTRE4BA4HD20081211

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Renowned commodities investor Jim Rogers said on Thursday that he bought oil last week as crude prices collapsed to near four-year lows and that the world is running out of known oil reserves.

Rogers told the Reuters Investment Outlook Summit in New York that he also closed his bets against the U.S. stock market in October, and plans to use the dollar’s rally as an opportunity to exit dollar-denominated assets.

Rogers, who spoke via a conference call from Miami, said he is the world’s worst market timer and a horrible short-term trader, but a sharp sell-off in oil prices suggested a bottom.

“Oil collapsed last week. Whenever you’ve had that sort of selling climax throughout any period

There are only a few global-minded investors I really listen to when it comes to gaining insight on the markets. Most of today’s money managers are too mainstream and remain obsessed with beating their benchmarks. What a waste of time. My favorite market seers in Europe include Marc Faber and Felix Zulauf.

I’ve been following Felix Zulauf’s career for about 15 years. In 1990, he founded Zulauf Asset Management AG in Zug, Switzerland. He currently manages money for global investors in the Zulauf Europe Fund, which is actually profiting during this disastrous year. Zulauf was bearish starting in 2006 and positioned his funds accordingly.

Zulauf believes we’re entering a soft economic depression. If not for the government’s backstops on October 13 to prevent further stock and credit market seizures, a depression would have followed. Zualauf is convinced the markets would have crashed.

His prediction of a severe recession will take the

Horacio Marquez says the credit crisis is giving investors another chance to profit from Brazil’s long-term success story. The country is rich in natural resources, has a solid banking system, and a strong economic outlook. He recommends buying the iShares MSCI Brazil Index (NYSE: EWZ) in increasing increments over the coming 8 weeks.

This from Money Morning:

Brazil’s economy has been given a second chance. And so have prospective investors.

Brazil will use that second chance well – shouldn’t we?

Although there are a number of ways to play this promising “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India and China) market, including some excellent companies, the best way to capitalize on Brazil’s terrific prospects is through the iShares MSCI Brazil Index (NYSE: EWZ).

Vale (ADR NYSE: RIO), formerly known as Companhia Vale Rio Doce, is the largest exporter of iron