TheStreet: Gold Rush Fuels 'Best Year Ever' for Precious Metals Funds

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Last summer, the commodities sector was frozen in a half-decade long bear market with few signs of a thaw in the near future.

Now, it's hot once again, with gold and silver funds set to see record-breaking inflows of cash. Read more here.

Forbes Video: Why The Most Hated Bull Market Is Most Welcome

By SIMON CONSTABLE

There is a lot of skepticism among investors about the years long bull market in stocks. Questions continually arise about valuation (the market is too expensive,) monetary policy (the market is living on cheap money,) and the huge imbalances in the economy (the market doesn’t reflect the fragility of the U.S.)

But the fact that so many are airing their worries and anxieties about the market tells other people that there is still some more to go. Sam Stovall, U.S. equity strategist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, explains his thoughts on why negative sentiment about stocks is actually bullish in this video.

U.S. News: Why You Should Buy More Foreign Stocks

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It's a sad fact that even those Americans who have taken the wise step to invest in the stock market are limiting their investment opportunities. Most simply don't own enough foreign stocks.

Once upon a time that may have made sense. After World War II, much of the world's industry was devastated. What remained as best-in-class businesses were overwhelmingly American corporations. But over the past few decades the rest of the world has caught up.

"When some American workers wake up in the morning they might turn on a Korean TV, and then drive a German car to work," says Brian Levitt, senior investment strategist at Oppenheimer Funds in New York. "It doesn't make sense that they'd then limit themselves to just U.S. investments."

Read more here.

WSJ: Edward Conard On Why Everything You Know About Economics Is Wrong

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Blast from the past, Ed Conard
 

WSJ: Why Fund Investors Could Roil Bonds

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Could the reactions of mutual-fund investors to Federal Reserve policy lead to turmoil in the bond market?

Maybe so, according to a new working paper. It says there are incentives for “run-like behavior” among investors in fixed-income mutual funds if the Fed unexpectedly raises interest rates or raises them more than expected. Read more here.

WSJ: What ‘Multiple Contraction’ Means for Investors

By SIMON CONSTABLE

If the economy starts to slow further, investors likely will start talking about “multiple contraction.” It is important to anyone invested in stocks.

Typically, the term refers to what is going on with the price/earnings multiple of stocks. The P/E tells investors how much they are paying for a stock in earnings per share. Read more here.

TheStreet: Why Best and Worst Mutual Funds Have More in Common Than You Think

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

What do the best and the worst performers have in common?

Not much, in most professions. But when it comes to managing mutual funds, the surprising answer is quite a lot. Read more here.