U.S. News: After Brexit, Keep Calm and Carry On

By SIMON CONSTABLE

After two days of relative panic, global markets are beginning to return to normal following the U.K.'s surprising vote to leave the European Union, which would end four decades of membership of the free-trade area. The referendum result crushed the value of Britain's currency to lows not seen since the 1980s.

The referendum result was seen as a monumental move by the U.K. to extricate itself from the superstate, which itself was developed in an effort to end the devastating wars between the nations of Europe. How Britain's exit works out will depend on all the parties involved.

What should investors make of all this? Read more here.

TheStreet: Small-Cap Manager Bets on Steel, Concrete to Lift Returns

By SIMON CONSTABLE

At least one small-cap manager is going old school with his stock picks. Never mind a portfolio stacked with small but potentially game-changing tech-stocks. Instead, think steel girders, pre-mixed concrete and airlines. 

That's at least part of the story at Dallas-based Hodges Capital, according to Eric Marshall, the company's president and a portfolio manager of the Hodges Small Cap Fund  (HDPSX) .

Marshall says the investment philosophy centers around buying stocks as if the fund were becoming a private owner. Then it does extensive bottoms-up analysis of industries, individual stocks and the management of the companies in which it invests. 

"We want to be looking where others aren't," he said in an interview with TheStreet. "If it's on a screen" -- referring to ideas mentioned by news services and investing platforms -- "then the chances are someone has already discovered it."

Following is an edited summary of Hodge's comments here.

TheStreet: A Better Explanation of What Moves Real Estate

By SIMON CONSTABLE

What really drives house prices?

Low interest rates and loose regulation just don't seem to cut it. They only explain the short period starting around the turn of the millennium.

It could be currency. Or in the simplest terms, the real value of the dollar in terms of gold -- as in the gold bullion held by the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)  exchange-traded fund -- has a huge impact on the trend in home prices. While it doesn't explain everything, it does explain at lot. Read more here.

Forbes: Why Brexit Is The Phantom Menace

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Market reaction to Britain’s referendum result has been harsh and totally unjustified.

Before New York had even opened for trading the Japanese market had already been pummeled, down more than 7% by the close. Likewise, European markets got hammered with the German and French indices down 6.8% and 8% respectively.

Why? Investors were nervous about the future of the European Union now that Britain has said it wants to leave the superstate.

Here’s the thing though. Most of the things that we worry about simply don’t happen.  Put another way, the shark that we see isn’t the one we should worry about. Read more here.

Forbes Video: Keep Your Pets Inside for July 4, Says Mervin The Chihuahua

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Mervin the Chihuahua is back, this time with a warning. America's cutest Chihuahua says he doesn't like fireworks and neither do other cats and dogs.

Actually, he didn't say anything, because not only does he have no teeth, but be also can't 

speak. But his minder, Joey Teixeira, senior manager at the ASPCA Adoption Center, spoke for him, with the same sentiment.

It matters because Independence Day celebrations usually involve massive firework displays, which will in all likelihood alarm Merv and others like him. For that reason, keep your pets indoors and safe for the holiday. Teixeira explains in this video. 

TheStreet: Study Blows Hole In 'Free Condom' Programs

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Do condoms really reduce teen pregnancies?

Not so much, according to a study recently published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Free or low-cost distribution seems to have the opposite effect: fertility rates rise 10%. Read more here.

Forbes Video: Be The Next Carl Icahn -- Play Trading Games

By SIMON CONSTABLE

When people first start investing they tend to make a lot of mistakes. That’s just like any other activity worth pursuing.

So what do you if you want to be the next mega successful investor, such as Carl Icahn or Warren Buffett, but don’t have any money to lose? Try using a simulated trading program where you can play at being an investor without actually needing any money.

Before the advent of new technology people would write down their trades in a note book to see how they would have performed.  But these days its even easier. It can all be done online. If you use such a service, then hopefully  you can make your mistakes before you start using real money. Nicole Slavitt, CEO of financial services firm Kapitall, explains. Read more here.