U.S. News: Why Resource-Rich Economies Are Really Cursed

By SIMON CONSTABLE

When it comes to investing in overseas markets, beware of countries that are heavily endowed with natural resources. 

Contrary to popular belief, if an economy has lots of oil, iron ore, natural gas, timber or other industrial materials, is usually an economic curse rather than a blessing.

The problems are multifaceted, but for investors it can make investing in resource-heavy economies something of a roller-coaster ride. Some examples of countries that have recently seen an economic swoon include Australia, Canada, Brazil, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Read more here.

Barron's: Oat Prices Poised to Rebound

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Oats aren’t just for horses and quakers anymore. investors should get a helping of them, too.

Prices for the grain, which is used as animal feed as well as breakfasts, started weakening steadily in 2014 and have since reached levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. In early 2014, oats fetched more than $4.60 a bushel compared to $1.83 recently.

The fact that prices are so low by historical standards suggests a bounce is in the offing. As economists say, the cure for low prices is low prices. Read more here.

Photo by Łukasz Rawa on Unsplash

U.S. News: 5 Reasons Why You're Bad at Investing

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Every generation has its share of would-be stock market traders hoping to strike it rich.

There have also been more than a few people with dreams of being astronauts, race car drivers or Olympic gold medalists. Those would-be sportsmen and sportswomen have a lot in common with wannabe top-level traders. 

The chances you'll successfully make it in either field are slim. Read more here.

TheStreet: Small Investors Are Worried, Which Means You Shouldn't Be

By SIMON CONSTABLE

You wouldn't know it by looking at all the dire news headlines, but there are plenty of reasons to be bullish on the stock market right now.

So forget the naysayers and their concerns about the U.S. presidential election, the Federal Reserve's money-printing and Vladimir Putin's sabre-rattling. They are all distracting you from making money.  Here are some key points:

TheStreet: Bond Rally Points to Higher Global Growth -- Here's How to Take Advantage

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Great news for the global economy: Risk-taking is back on.

The crucial piece of evidence can be found in the bond market, by looking at how much more lenders charge to extend credit to corporations than to the U.S. Treasury. America gets to borrow at the so-called risk-free rate. Corporations pay extra. 

The higher amount, known as the credit spread, has shrunk dramatically over the past few months. Companies with a BBB-rating, which is moderately risky, have been paying a third less in premium than they did earlier in the year. Read more here.

Forbes: ObamaCare Now On Life Support And You Are Going To Pay

By SIMON CONSTABLE

ObamaCare (aka the Affordable Care Act) is now on life support, and guess who is going to pay to resurrect it?

You are.

One way or another it will be the American people who pay.

Here’s the background and why your hard earned cash is now even more at risk than usual. Read more here.

John Batchelor Show: Talking Brexit / Gold

By SIMON CONSTABLE

John Batchelor kindly invited me to be on his fantastic radio show last night. We talked about the need for Britain to get its swashbuckle back on and the flood of money being used to buy gold.

Photo by Dolapo Ayoade on Unsplash