Forbes: What Your Professor Didn't Tell You About Reaching Your Goals

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Harvard University's Todd Rose is back with another must-read book: Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment. The title, 'Dark Horse,' alludes to the idea that those folks who don't take a standardized career path can achieve just as much success as those who do.

This should matter to anyone pursuing a career in finance or when managing their own money. In simple terms, this book will tell you an important truth. You'll get more success by doing what is right for you as a unique individual than you would by trying to shoehorn yourself into an ill-fitting but predetermined role. Read more here.

Forbes: How Much Did Trump's Trade War Cost You? You'll Never Guess

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The results are in on how much Donald Trump's trade war cost the U.S. in 2018.

Most people who guess would be wildly wrong about the total.

It cost the average American the price of one fancy cappuccino plus a cookie per month during 2018, or $4.28, according to a new report. Read more here.

Forbes: The Other College Finance Scandal

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Is there a simple, workable solution to soaring student loan balances and the spotty quality of college education?

Yes, according to a recently published research paper from The James G, Martin Center for Academic Renewal, titled "Universities Should Invest In Their Students, Not Securities." Read more here.

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Forbes: Why Venezuela's Economic Pain Could Last Through 2025

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Venezuela is heading down precisely the same path as the now-defunct Soviet Union did a quarter-century ago. Put bluntly; the country is likely going further into a deep economic hole where it could remain until the middle of the next decade. Read more here.

Forbes: A 70% Top Rate Of Income Tax Would Crash The Economy, New Research Shows

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A 70% top rate of Federal income tax is a terrible idea.

A century of varying tax regimes along with economic data shows just how bad it could get, if history is any guide.

Despite protestations to the contrary, such a tax rate really isn't a good idea. It could crash the economy, according to soon-to-be-published research. Read more here.

TheStreet: Palladium's Spectacular Rally Isn't Over Yet

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The big run-up in palladium prices isn't over yet.

Double-digit returns are likely in store over the next few months. 

Increased interest in the metal from investors, as well as a relatively tight supply-demand balance, should propel prices even higher over the next half-year. Like gold, palladium is considered a precious metal, but it is overwhelmingly used for industrial purposes. Two-thirds of the production gets used in catalytic converters for automobiles, and another 13% is consumed by the electronics industry. Read more here.

Forbes: How A Chaotic Brexit Has Been Great For Britain's Economy

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Wow! The U.K. parliament has been unproductive since the Brexit referendum in June 2016.

But judging by the economic results perhaps we should want more of the same. Read more here.

TheStreet: Federal Reserve's Soft Stance Should Boost Gold Prices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Gold is set to surge as long as the Federal Reserve keeps a dovish tone to its policies, which right now looks very likely.

Historically, when the central bank pauses its cycle of increasing the cost of borrowing money, prices for the yellow metal tend to trend higher, according to a recent report.

"[...] after the Fed pauses, historical analysis suggests that gold eventually reacts positively as the pause cycle extends and/or the Fed eases monetary policy," states the March-dated World Gold Council Report. Read more here.

TheStreet: Magellan Midstream Partners Is Worth Buying Again Now

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Smart investors know to be brave when others are wary.

A case in point is Magellan Midstream Partners LP (MMP) , which still hasn't recovered from the 2016 oil market rout. The company, which is a master limited partnership (MLP), makes money from charging oil drillers and others to move crude and refined products, such as gasoline, through its pipeline network. In many ways, the firm is like a toll taker.

Investors should consider buying the stock because it is inexpensive, offers a historically high dividend yield and there's a chance that the company's earnings will get a boost later this year. Read more here.

Barrons: This U.K. Insurance Stock Offers a Hefty Dividend — and Refuge From Brexit

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Brexit-weary investors in European stocks might want to take refuge in a solid stock with limited downside and the potential for lasting income: London–based insurer Phoenix Group Holdings. The firm makes its money by buying up closed lines of pensions and life insurance at a discount and then winding down the books of business. An annuity provider, for example, might have stopped selling a product to new customers but needs to service existing customers. Read more here.

TheStreet: Pioneer Natural Resources Is Headed Higher

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The Permian Basin is getting hot fast with oil companies.

The best way for investors to profit from the trend is by investing in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources Company. 

The firm is a pure play on the oil-rich Permian rock formation in the southwest U.S., has low costs of production, and is set to expand production dramatically this year and next. All of which should lead to the stock price soaring around 40% from its recent levels, analysts say. Read more here.

Dr. Ruth talks Sex with Simon

Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Photo by Simon Speed from a work by Apavlo at en.wikipedia, 

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Korn Ferry: The Never-Ending ‘Crisis’

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Nearly two years running and still no answer.

On Tuesday, the UK Parliament rejected the latest Brexit offer Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated, setting up votes later in the week on whether the nation should leave the European Union without any agreements over trade and immigration or delay leaving. Read more here.

TheStreet: Why It's A Good Time to Invest in Copper

By SIMON CONSTABLE

After months in the doldrums, copper prices look set to surge once again.

There are two broad reasons. First is that there are dwindling supplies of the metal, which among other things gets used for electrical wiring. The second is that China's economy likely will not deteriorate much more, analysts say. Read more here.

Forbes: Doomed Venezuela-- This One Number Shows Just How Bad It Is

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Venezuela is in a hole, that's for sure. But how deep the problem runs has been something of a mystery. That is until now.

It's not just bad: It is monstrous. Read more here.

Lance Roberts Show: Why The Difference Between Success and Failure is Only What You've Learned

Listen here.

TheStreet: Chevron-- Why Now Is the Time to Buy

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It's time to buy some stock in Chevron Corporation.

There are three broad reasons. The first is that oil prices look set to surge in the coming months. Secondly, the shares are cheap compared to the company's peers. And lastly, the firm's expansion plans should continue to add profitability, even if energy prices dip. Read more here.

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Lance Roberts Show: Why Economic Reality Isn't About What You Want, Pt-3

Lance Roberts Show: Why Theresa May is Like Monty Python, Pt-2

Lance Roberts Show: Don't Do Stupid Things, Pt-1

Click here to watch.

TheStreet: Here's Why Oil Prices Are Going Higher

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A largely unanticipated cut in oil supplies will send prices for crude oil surging this year. And that will also help oil stocks break out of their extended period of underperformance. 

  

Investors with an appetite for risk should consider buying the United States Brent Oil exchange-traded fund, which tracks the price of Brent crude oil. Or try investing in the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF which tracks stocks of major oil producers. Read more here.

WSJ: What Is Implied Earnings Growth?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Investors may start hearing more about “implied earnings growth.” It is a metric that can help people make investment decisions, and it is especially relevant during times of market tumult when stocks frequently get mispriced.

Whenever analysts value securities, they make assumptions about the growth of the company. Faster-growing firms generally warrant higher valuations than those likely to see only modest profit increases, other things being equal. Read more here.

WSJ: Commodities Outlook Remains Rocky

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Commodities-focused funds took a beating in the last three months of 2018 as worries over a slowing economy sent prices for energy and materials plunging.

While there has been a modest rebound early this year, analysts aren’t optimistic for a return to boom times soon. Read more here.

Grain Silos

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WSJ: British Stock Investors Go ‘on Strike’ Ahead of Brexit

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Individual investors in the U.K. soured on fund investments in a big way in 2018, and analysts say nervousness over Brexit was mostly to blame.

The amount of money flowing into retail investment funds in the U.K. plummeted more than 85% last year to £7.2 billion (about $9.2 billion) from £48.5 billion the year before, according to recently published data from the Investment Association, a London-based fund-management trade body. Last year’s total was well below the £22.3 billion average over the past decade, the data show. Read more here.

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WSJ: In a Down Market, ETFs Could Make Things Even Worse

By SIMON CONSTABLE

There’s a potential problem lurking in the financial markets, and it is partly a result of exchange-traded funds.

While ETFs have been widely praised for lowering trading costs, and have soared in popularity with investors, there have been concerns dating back at least to 2011 that the profusion of ETFs based on the same or similar stocks makes markets more vulnerable in times of volatility. Read more here.

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Barron's: Ferrari’s Stock Could Keep Speeding Ahead

By SIMON CONSTABLE

While many automobile makers are stuck in second gear, Italy’s Ferrari is speeding ahead.

The recent improvements in the luxury-car maker’s operating performance will probably continue, the stock looks cheap, and the company just gave an optimistic outlook for this year. Read more here.

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