Barron's: Coal Rally Won’t Last

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The coal market has been burning brighter lately. But don’t expect the glow to last too long.

That’s because the reasons for the rally aren’t sustainable. The surge in demand for coal is likely to be ephemeral, and production isn’t falling as much as would have been expected. The long-term prospects for coal aren’t promising in the U.S. and Europe, thanks to environmental concerns. But coal-generated power still accounts for two-fifths of global electricity supply. Read more here.

Forbes Video: Retiring The C-Note Is A Ruse, Says ECRI

By SIMON CONSTABLE

There is an establishment move to eliminate high denomination currency, such as the hundred dollar bill and the 500 euro note. The typical reason given is that doing so would help crime. However, not everyone is buying that logic.

It’s actually a ruse, says Economic Cycle Research Institute cofounder Lakshman Achutan. Watch, listen and learn in this video.

Forbes Video: Recession Fears Still Overblown -- ECRI

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It was only a few weeks ago when investors seemed convinced that the economy was grinding to a halt.

Few people would disagree that growth isn’t exactly robust. Still there’s a long way to go before calling a recession, says ECRI’s Lakshman Achutan . Watch, listen, and learn in this video.

U.S. News: Why Fine Art Can Beautify Your Portfolio

By SIMON CONSTABLE

For the vast majority of Americans, investments fall into broadly three categories: stocks, bonds and real estate, with the latter usually being the family home. Perhaps some people will own some commodities.

Basically, that's it. But it doesn't have to be.

For those willing to put in some effort to educated, the fine art market provides opportunities to add some return, while reducing overall risk in a portfolio. Still, it isn't without potential problems. Read more here.

Forbes Video: ECRI: U.S. Headed For 'Stagflation Light'

By SIMON CONSTABLE

If you are old enough to remember the 1970s, then you’ll know that lava lamps and disco were only two of the horrors of the era. On the economics front, the U.S. was hit with stagnation and inflation at the same time. It came to be known as stagflation.

Unfortunately, a mild version of the same is set to arrive in the U.S. economy shortly. It’s what the Economic Cycle Research Institute calls stagflation-light. Watch, listen, and learn in this video.

Chris Li chrisli, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Forbes Video: Why Silver May Head to $25

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Despite the steady increase in silver prices over the past month, there could be even more of a rally to come. Veteran commodity markets observer Jeff Christian, the founder of New York specialty consulting firm CPM Group, explains why the white metal could trade as high as $25 an ounce in this interview: Watch, listen, and learn here.

Forbes Video: What The Fed Can Learn From Carl Sagan

By SIMON CONSTABLE

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” said Carl Sagan, astronomer extraordinaire.

That philosophy should apply to anything. If you say you can read minds or levitate, then at least back it up with substantial evidence that you can do so.

The same should be true for the policies of the Federal Reserve, which has implemented some extraordinary monetary policy over the last few years. The question is, where is the evidence that it works?

Unfortunately, the Fed’s policy making experts haven’t got the goods to back up their claims, says Economic Cycle Research Institute’s cofounder Lakshman Acuthan. He explained to me what he meant in the latest installment of “Outside On Wall Street:” Watch, listen, and learn in this video.

Godot13 / Smithsonian Institute, 

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons