by R. Branson

If you are looking for a way to diversify your portfolio and increase your short term profits, penny stocks can make an excellent choice. These low value shares of stock can easily double and triple their value in mere minutes and can do so many times throughout the day. Although, it is important to remember that these pennies can also be a risky investment for the fact the can drop in value just as quickly.

Why are they called pennies?

In all simplicity, a penny stock is a share of company stock whose value is extremely low and usually falls well under the $5 per share mark. In only a matter of minutes, these shares can easily double or triple in value.

Why should I trade penny stocks?

Because of their low value, slight influxes in their value can allow for greater profits. A penny stock that is worth a …

On Monday Stockmaster Eric Cheshier wrote an article on Yum Brands that was right on target. However,  shares were up today but are down after hours due to some margin concerns. We'll just have to see how shares trade when the market opens. Here are the notes from the call courtesy of Forbes: Fast-food company Yum Brands Inc. said Wednesday its second-quarter profit grew 4 percent as its overseas operations delivered hefty earnings that offset slumping U.S. profits dragged down by higher ...

Shares of Limited Brands, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:LTD) have fallen to levels that haven’t been seen since 2003. At $15 shares, is the stock worth a look? You may or may not know, Limited Brands owns the Victoria’s Secret Brands, along with Bath & Body works. This isn’t the first time I’ve written about them; Limited Brands needs a checkup at least once a year. Since I touched on them last, they divested their interest in both the Express and Limited Stores. What did that leave them with? Not a lot in terms of Revenue and Growth. This is one of the reasons I believe shares haven’t bottomed out yet. Why? Because of the Economy and Retail  are sagging like Jack Nicholson’s Man Boobs. It's every man's worst nightmare. You saw it on the ...

Yamana Gold Inc. (NYSE:AUY) is a favorite of the Masters and with shares at $13.84, its worth a look. Gold has inched its way back up to over $900 an ounce thanks to a tanking stock market. Thanks to Yamana's developing Chapada mine in Brazil, the company lowered this year's production forecast after ...

Shares of GameStop Corp (Public, NYSE:GME) reached a high of $63.77 near the end of 2007 before crashing down to current levels of $40 a share. With the lineup of games coming out this year, not to mention the release of GTA4 in Q2, Gamestop shares could prove to be a lucrative investment at current levels. Let’s take a look at the lineup of games coming out ...

Think your stocks are doing bad? Try the best steakhouses in the country, in the last year Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:RUTH) shares have fallen 70% and Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. (NYSE:MRT) is down 64%. Beef. It's what people don't want to pay for when out for dinner. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant ...

Shares of Discovery Labs (DSCO) have been drifting lower in recent trading and now are at the $1.55 level, which is a nice entry point for a long position for speculative biotech investors. Since meeting with the FDA in mid-June, DSCO has trended lower on investor disappointment that the Company would delay its response to the most recent approvable ruling for Surfaxin until September. However, the Company still expects a Class I review (60 days), which could result in approval for Surfaxin by late November or early December without the need for additonal clinical trials. Summer is typically a slow time for biotech trading and provides a good time to accumulate shares ahead of a Fall catalyst.

Shares of Heartland Oil & Gas exploded in value this morning after the company released some promising news regarding its latest project. The price of company stock hit $0.021 (up from $0.015) on more than 75 million shares traded, marking its highest point since the second week of May.

The release pertained to successful pressure tests conducted on the company’s four-mile methane pipeline in Southeast Kansas, expected to double Heartland’s production in the region upon completion.

“We put the necessary pressure into the pipeline and found no leaks along its entire length,” said Augie Soto, COO of Aztec Well Services, Heartland’s contractor on the project, “The four road crossings and 2 creek crossings were our greatest concern and they held without any problems. The 8 inch main is tied into the 12 inch main and the pipeline is secure all the way to the sales meter. We will begin installation

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Based in Bel Air, California, Emvelco is an emerging company focused on oil and natural gas exploration and development. Started in 2008, their principal strategy is to acquire rights to drill key land positions in major oil and natural gas basins, which have large, seismically-defined prospects near existing significant oil or gas production.

Emvelco acquired rights to drill at least 86 wells in Crocket County TX. These are infield drilling wells with negligible “dry hole” risk. 48 of the well locations are already classified as “proved undeveloped” or “PUD” by independent engineers – which means they should provide an opportunity for gas extraction. Four of these wells will begin drilling and be put into production if they are successful. Emvelco has engaged the experienced operating company, Ozona, to perform the drilling and set up operations.

Emvelco opened down today from yesterday’s close at its 52 week high

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According to ShortSqueeze.com, 277,600 shares of HYBR have been shorted. This is a 27.11% increase over the previous number of reported shorted shares and a 588% increase over the figure reported on February 15, 2008.

For those who are not familiar with shorting, it is the opposite of buying. Instead of buying and then selling at a later date, a trader sells shares he doesn’t have and then later on buys them back from the broker. This puts him in a risky situation, however, since a substantial material event from the company would attract great buying pressure and spike the price per share, causing him to lose on the trade. In this situation, he would feel pressured to cover his shares, further strengthening the bull run.

As you can see, a very large short position (such as the one in HYBR) could create a massive run if covered. This

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