Catching a Full House with a 7-2 Off Suit - December 31, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...When the market hand us a 7-2 off suit, we have to make the best of it. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to protect yourself in a shaky market, but there are a few ways to make it out alive. Using a simple screen, you can find some pretty safe bets. You may think that to play it safe you can’t make money… But that’s not true, as you’ll see..." From Hot Wheels to Hedge Funds - December 28, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...This was typical for the Westinghouse nuclear engineer. Unscheduled stops were scheduled. Everything was always “part of the plan.” Even a five-year-old reared in the heart of the Cold War knew better than to ever question the decisions of a man who spent his working days developing nuclear subs while his overindulged grandson dutifully did his part perfecting a wicked playground wiffleball pitch in between mandatory naps and afternoon story time..." Fill ‘er Up: Three Bargains in Small-Cap Oil - December 27, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...It feels as if it was years ago when I was in the Baltimore suburbs, baking in the hot summer sun as I waited in line at a gas station. I still remember the fear in some people’s eyes as they watched the gas station attendant change the price on the roadside sign. A gallon of gas was more expensive than it had ever been before. And I assumed many people waiting in line to fill up drove the 33 miles into the city for work every day in their fully-loaded SUVs..." Sky-High Profits from a Small-Cap Air Service Provider - December 26, 2007
by Joe Schriefer "...But after a few seconds, it was all over. The plane leveled out, the lights returned to their normal glow and the shaking stopped. To my amazement, though, the other 275 or so passengers on the plane sat completely calm during the entire process..." As the World Turns - December 21, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Morgan Stanley and Bear Stearns took one to the chin. They posted their first quarterly losses ever... Morgan boasts 72 years of banking experience. But somehow, a single trading team in the company’s fixed-income division conveniently fell on the sword..." The Second Gulf “Black Gold Rush” Heats Up - December 20, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The Gulf of Mexico used to be a thriving hub of drilling activity. But only a few years ago, it was declared a “dead sea.” Exploration slowed, and many oil industry professionals felt that the region would not be as profitable as it once was..." No Pain… Big Gain(s) - December 19, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...One-and-a-half billion people suffer from pain annually, according to Rodman & Renshaw. The global pain market is at $40 billion per year. In the U.S. alone, there are 40 million physician office visits and $65 billion worth of lost work productivity because of pain. The industry is huge. But those numbers are only going up. The U.S.’ slice of that pie, which is currently $19 billion a year, is growing at a 15% annual rate..." The China Syndrome - December 18, 2007
by Jamie Ellis "...The sun rises over Shanghai, cresting the towering skyscrapers that have become a signal of China’s recent rapid growth. The morning sun brings rise to a new day in a country where over one billion people have recently awoken from their long economic slumber. Like any other day, this one will be spent producing the products that we in the U.S. use every single day..." America’s Slow Suicide Is Just Beginning - December 17, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Rarely does the mainstream media accurately report on important trends. So it’s only natural to feel a bit skeptical when you read about rising obesity rates in America. However, this is one story they’re getting right. Obesity is indeed a horrible epidemic with no legitimate cure in sight..." TiVo’s Back: The Turnaround Story of the Year - December 13, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Television pioneer TiVo, Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) has struggled over the past few years with competitors like Comcast and Direct TV. After TiVo came out with its breakthrough technology, cable and satellite providers were beating themselves up trying to match it. Most people agree that TiVo’s interface is still the best, but many refuse to pay the still-astronomical prices. It costs $300 for an HD DVR box and another $129 for a year of service..." The Magic of Property Turns Sand Into Gold - December 12, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...Dubai has opened up its economy. The crown prince of Dubai has, for example, finally allowed 100% freehold interests in certain properties there. The government has also created free-trade zones, where there are exemptions on import/export duties, no personal income taxes, no restrictions on the repatriation of profits and 50-year exemptions on corporate taxes..." The New New York - December 11, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...This city will soon be home to the world’s tallest building, its largest shopping mall and its largest fleet of jumbo airplanes. There is a $4.3 billion World Trade Center in the works, as well as a $10 billion theme park and an $11 billion festival city. A signature hotel bills itself as the world’s only seven-star hotel. And Giorgio Armani, building a new hotel here, calls it “the new New York.”..." Robotic Avatars - December 10, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Broadly speaking, the word, “avatar” connotes the incarnation of the essence of something into a different context. In many Eastern religions, it speaks to a higher order being taking human form. In the world of gaming, it’s the representation of a person within the game world..." From Logs to Lead - December 7, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...My passion for infrastructure began at an early age, a deeply ingrained, natural byproduct of my upbringing. You see, my father, the former mayor of a small West Virginia town, worked relentlessly to rebuild our quaint little version of southern comfort from the ground up. For better or worse, he constantly dragged me along..." The E-mail Microsoft Doesn’t Want You to Have - December 6, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...You’ve just received a critical e-mail from your boss regarding your recent performance. Your dedication and work ethic have been called into question, and several company executives were copied on the note, as well..." Make Money Like It’s 2002 All Over Again - December 5, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The past few weeks have tested investors’ resolve — especially those invested in smaller stocks. November is over. The month turned out to be one of the worst the NASDAQ has seen since December 2002. There’s blood in the water; investors are panicking. The sharks are circling..." The One Small-Cap That Can Tell Shell Oil What to Do - December 4, 2007
by Byron King "...To set the stage, let’s think about how a drilling rig, whether onshore or offshore, is similar to an electricity-generating windmill farm. Both kinds of structures tend to reside in environmentally harsh and inaccessible locales..." Manipulating Human Behavior with a Parasite - December 3, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Toxoplasma gondii is carried by various warm-blooded mammals. Its effect on rats has been documented. Rats are normally very cautious around cats, for obvious reasons. Infection with the parasite makes them more likely to frequent areas marked by cat urine..." Just Close Your Eyes and Hope for the Best - November 30, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Our colleague, Dan Denning, reports that a majority of these ARMs due to reset held initial rates that ranged from 6-9%. This represents subprime territory. And the folks who hold these ARMs, based on Denning’s research, will be facing increases of 30-50%..." Ripe for a Double - November 29, 2007
by Ed Bugos "...The adult pacific salmon lays several thousand eggs in small nests. The male comes along and fertilizes most of them (90%). But less than 1% makes it to adulthood; and even fewer (less than two out of 1,000) ever make it back upstream to spawn. The rest are lost to predation and the other forces of nature (including humans) long before achieving success in re-production..." Profit from the “Next Real Estate” - November 28, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...As investments, infrastructure assets offer long-term and sustainable cash flows, like trees that never fail to bear fruit. Infrastructure assets possess a number of very attractive attributes: They usually (but not always) require minimal ongoing capital expenditure..." Thirty Years of Missed Opportunities - November 27, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Most people are a bit unsure about hybrid car technology. In fact, most people think that it is a relatively new phenomenon. With the Toyota Prius only 10 years old, how far back can the history of hybrid cars go? The answer may shock some people..." Heading Toward a Robotic World - November 26, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The system monitors and manages everything happening in the restaurant. It makes sure food is prepared exactly when needed and served when hot. Patrons are happy because the quality of service improves. Owners are happy because waste is reduced and costs are minimized. Profits go up..." Finally Putting the OTCBB Doubters to Rest - November 21, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Most investors are weary about the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB). That’s understandable, considering the amount of bankruptcies, shell companies and de-listings that occur in over-the-counter markets. But there is a very large misconception that is widely shared among investors: That no over-the-counter company has to report current financial information. That is the case with the Pink Sheets, but not so with the OTCBB..." You’ll Be Seeing Spots Soon - November 20, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...HP’s new chips are called Memory Spots. They represent a way of bringing the digital world into the physical world. Initially, they’ll hold 1/2 megabyte of information. That’s not a lot by today’s standards, but it’s enough to hold a typical book and will rapidly multiply..." Four Factors You Need to Know to Crush Market Mayhem - November 19, 2007
by Byron King "...We never want our readers to be mired in a single moment of doubt. When it comes to investments, we don’t follow the maxim “where there’s a will, there’s a way” — especially when our central bankers are thinking that!..." Desert Army Invades Chinese Capital - November 16, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Each year, the Gobi Desert devours 2,460 square miles of Chinese soil, an area roughly the size of Delaware. Violent sandstorms threaten to conquer Beijing. Dunes now tower just 43 miles from the ancient capital…firmly marching south, like Sherman through the soft Georgia pines, at a brisk 12-15 mile per year clip..." Wind-Powered Oil - November 15, 2007
by Joel Bowman "...The world's supply of crude oil may be enormous, but it is not infinite. Eventually, therefore, crude oil will abdicate its throne to an oligarchy of “alternative energy” sources like wind, solar, geothermal and liquefied coal..." A Mildly Shocking Discovery - November 14, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...New Scientist reports that Dr. Josef Penninger of the Austrian Institute of Molecular Biotechnology and Dr. Min Zhao of the University of Aberdeen, U.K., have shown that electric fields in tissue play a vital role in the wound-healing process. They attract cells to damaged areas responsible for repair..." Wall Street Hates Juniors, So They Must Be Good - November 13, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...As we see the dollar fall further every day, we have to think about how to protect ourselves from what some call an inevitable collapse of the dollar. Now, we could recommend buying other currencies or foreign stocks, but that won’t do it. Every other currency has been falling, too..." New Zealand Goes for the Green - November 12, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...New Zealand legislators are trying to completely ban dirty power plants in the small island nation in less than 20 years. The government is hard at work on a 10-year ban of the construction of any new coal or gas power plants..." The Greatest Story Never Told - November 9, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Consequently, stock returns look more like bond returns. The S&P limps along at 4.51% year to date. In euro terms, the world’s “benchmark” bleeds red. Returns are down 6.18% on the year..." Two Hot Garbage Stocks - November 8, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...China continues to struggle with pollution as the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing approach. Even in the midst of some serious cleanup efforts, the World Health Organization reports that seven out of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in China..." Oil of L.A. - November 7, 2007
by Byron King "...Los Angeles is one of the world's great oil provinces, with historical oil extraction over the past 110 years of something near nine billion barrels, and still counting. This volume easily places the oil production from the Los Angeles Basin in the ranks of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska (near 10 billion barrels), and about 50% greater than the East Texas field (about six billion barrels)..." Small-Cap Profits on Gray Gold - November 6, 2007
by Nick Jones "...Silicon is not exactly a rare element. In fact, silicon is the second most abundant metal on Earth. 25.7% of the Earth’s crust is made of silicon. SiO2 is one of the most common ways that you find silicon. The coming shortage that I’m going to discuss is not a lack of silicon in the Earth; instead, it is the limited refining capacity..." Is It Live or Is It Memorex? - November 5, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Imagine if brain cells could be enticed to perform like cells in a computer network. Thanks to a new breakthrough, that may not be far off. Dr. Yael Hanein of Tel Aviv University in Israel and his team have been able to get rat neurons to distribute themselves in regular patterns..." The Foolproof Way of Beating the S&P - November 2, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Unfortunately, beating the S&P has become like a golfing handicap, a number that gets bandied about, and maybe embellished a point or two, to impress any financial "mind" polite enough to listen..." A New Asian Small-Cap Market, All the Way from London - November 1, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...On Tuesday, the Tokyo Stock Exchange Group, Inc. (TSE) and the London Stock Exchange Group, Plc. (LSE) entered into an agreement to form a new market for emerging Asian companies. The new market is still without a name, but its purpose is clear — create funding for small and startup ventures in Asia..." The Hottest Solar Investment No One’s Talking About - October 31, 2007
by Nick Jones "...Just on the news of these contracts, Trina’s stock jumped 16%, but this company was hot before these contracts even came out. TSL is up over 47% since the middle of June! But it isn’t the only one taking advantage of the solar boom. In fact, the story for First Solar is even more impressive..." George Lucas-Inspired Satellites - October 30, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...They weigh just nine pounds. Similarly to a bat, it can locate itself relative to other objects by using two-dozen microphones to monitor ultrasonic beacons. When set up as a family, these satellites will communicate with each another via radio..." Bad Markets, Good Investing - October 29, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...Some of what makes a great investor is baked-in natural talent, beyond imitation, in the same way countless hours of golf practice won't turn you into Tiger Woods. But some things you can copy. In fact, a few things are very easy to copy. Three of them include discipline in the price you pay for an investment, keeping your turnover low (sticking with your investments longer) and focusing on your best ideas..." Rule Number One — Don't Lose Money - October 26, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Every professional investor wants to beat the S&P — both for the sake of ego and for the sake of continuing employment. A fund manager's performance relative to the S&P has become like a golf handicap — a source of prestige for the "alpha achievers"…but a mark of shame for the underachievers. The more successfully a professional investor speculates with his clients' money, the better his handicap..." The Bottom for Yellowcake - October 25, 2007
by Nick Jones "...The most frustrating part for long-term uranium bulls, myself included, is that the fundamentals never changed. There is still a tremendous growth in demand for U3 O8 , but the market just got a little too hot..." A Canadian Small-Cap Play That Can Do It All - October 24, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...But this infrastructure theme isn’t going away anytime soon. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials expects the upgrades and repairs to take at least another 20 years as a conservative estimate… Not to mention the maintenance associated with such projects..." The Delicious Charbroiled Smell of Laboratory Meat - October 23, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...AlterNet reports, with considerable fanfare and some hyperbole, that Dutch scientists are successfully growing "cultured meat" in laboratories. The current price is several thousand dollars per pound — out of reach of all but the most wealthy of epicures..." A Titanic Resurrection- October 22, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...It's been a source of fascination for anyone who has ever set foot on a boat. The world watched as this enormous craft pushed its way toward New York Harbor from Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912. Eighty-plus years later, a multimillion-dollar Hollywood recreation of its maiden voyage forever sealed the sinking of the RMS Titanic in our popular culture..." 23 Years of Missing COLA - October 19, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...The cost of U.S. goods (the CPI) rises over time. So the money the government promises you in future Social Security benefits, government pensions and other “pay as you go” social programs should increase proportionately..." The Anti-Investment - October 18, 2007
by Steve Sarnoff "...It's funny how quickly attitudes can change. Just a few years ago, most casual investors wouldn't touch stock options with a 10-foot pole. Now the airwaves and the Internet are clogged with offers to teach the secrets of "options investing."..." A Hidden, Small-Cap Way to... - October 17, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...With the heavy demand for triple-play services and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), DSL subscriptions are increasing exponentially. The total DSL market is currently around 193 million subscribers, and is estimated to become as large as 353 million by 2011. IPTV subscribers will increase to 63.6 million from 14.3 million now also by 2011..." Should Dracula Be Afraid? - October 16, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The Associated Press reports that paramedics are using a new compound as a blood substitute when time is of the essence for a transfusion, and blood isn’t available or time is of the essence. This is being done at 20 hospitals..." Medical Tourism in India — A Healthcare Revolution? - October 15, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...India, for example, is currently trying to figure out how to best advertise and support a growing medical tourism industry. Resort-like hospitals that cater to medical tourists are raking in clients by providing a level of care and comfort that’s…well…foreign to some Americans. Here’s the kicker: It’s also insanely cheap..." $400 Million Buried in the Mississippi Riverbed… - October 12, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...On Aug. 1, 2007, every child’s worst nightmare actually came true. The I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapsed in Minneapolis…killing 13 and injuring 100 motorists..." Globalizing Halo 3 - October 11, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The video game industry is incredibly competitive. And over the past two years, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony introduced rival gaming consoles. And although Sony's new Playstation 3 was launched in the United States slightly under a year ago, it's only recently become available in Australia and Europe..." Why the MillerCoors Joint Venture Doesn’t Matter - October 10, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...As I was listening to the joint press conference yesterday, the thing that stuck out to me was the emphasis on how competitive the U.S. market is. What they were undoubtedly talking about was the rock and the hard place they find themselves in..." The Cockroach Killer - October 9, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The Belgian team spent three years figuring out how to artificially simulate a cockroach so the cockroaches believe it. Their “InsBot” resembles a pencil sharpener. However, it smells like a cockroach and that’s what matters. It’s loaded with cockroach pheromones..." The Abundant Value of Scarcity - October 8, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...Buying scarcity is usually a good idea. Beachfront properties, mint condition coins and limited production automobiles all testify to the enduring value of scarcity. But sometimes scarcity is temporary, especially in the commodity markets..." Hail Alan, Full of Grace - October 5, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Oil and food prices continue to surge… M3, the fullest measure of U.S. money supply, keeps stretching its legs at a 12% annual clip. Entitlement programs goad us deeper and deeper into the red. Politicians promise more..." Anticipating the Profits on Tomorrow’s Hybrid Cars - October 4, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...Maybe the styling of current hybrid cars is simply a case of form following function. Though hybrids have entered the public consciousness as a way to conserve fuel and reduce emissions, they have yet to break any records in curb appeal..." Never Write a Check to the IRS Again - October 3, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Since 2003, the country's biggest check processor, the Federal Reserve, has reduced its number of check processing locations from 45 to 22. I seriously doubt that they are expecting fewer payments. So why would they get rid of the places that process these payments?..." Closing the Gap Between Mind and Matter - October 2, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Team member Peter Brunner recently demonstrated it at the European Research and Innovation Exhibition in Paris by spelling "B-O-N-J-O-U-R" purely through the power of thought..." Even Homer Couldn’t Ruin This - October 1, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...It’s no accident that the bumbling Homer Simpson works as the safety inspector of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. When The Simpsons was created in the 1980s, nuclear power was, well…a joke. The general public was spooked by the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents..." He Who Owns the Bank… - September 28, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Our hero reluctantly crosses the marble threshold. Silence hypnotically reverberates between the lobby walls. No one dares make a peep. The room engenders a hush any Sunday church service would envy..." Uncovering Wild Natural Gas Profits - September 27, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...When some slick-suited chap on CNBC tells you to invest in natural gas, he’ll usually start with this shocking stat: According to available data, the world will require in 2020 just about twice as much natural gas as it consumed in 1999..." A Sterling Play on the Collapsing U.S. Infrastructure - September 26, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...What people are simply forgetting, as they always do, is that not everything in the “construction” sector is housing related. In fact, many other types of construction markets are flourishing or will be soon..." A Chilling Idea - September 25, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Both scientists and science fiction authors have long mulled the possibilities associated with freezing a person, leaving them in a kind of suspended animation for a long time, and then unfreezing them back to life..." What It Takes to Trade These Special Investments - September 24, 2007
by Nick Jones "...Why would someone play the options market? Simply put, options trading provides a very beneficial risk-reward scenario. Unlike futures, you can’t lose any more money than you put in, while the possible profit is limitless..." Flying High on the Wings of Google - September 21, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Graham often shunned the term “investor.” Most so-called investors were truly nothing more than speculators. They were individuals looking for a “shortcut” to superior returns..." The Market That People Are Finally Waking Up To - September 20, 2007
by Kevin Kerr "...Again, all of this has changed, as the commodities markets have evolved. One sector that was mainly reserved for farmers and professional speculators was the grain markets. With the resurgence of ethanol and biofuels, these markets have suddenly become more precious than gold..." Another Case of Wall Street Suppressing Micro-Caps - September 19, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...I'm sure you've heard people say that Wall Street never gives you the whole story. That it's not in the Street's best interests to tell you about the market's biggest opportunities. That it keeps you in the dark about all the money over-the-counter and bulletin board stocks can deliver..." Penny Commodity Plays… A $1.20 Way to Trade Gold - September 18, 2007
by Joe Schriefer "...How many times have you heard that the price of gold is going to the moon? A few hundred times, I'm sure. As an investor and trader, you've got a few ways to make sure you profit when gold rises..." Coffee Company Sleepers - September 17, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...So in order to keep the wheels of society spinning freely, we (or at least many of us) drink coffee each day. And we tend to get our coffee in one of just a few places; in our homes, at a coffee shop, at convenience stores or at the office..." Where Our Grandfathers Would Look for the Alcoas of Today… - September 14, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...In the 1940s, when my grandfather bought shares of companies such as General Electric and Alcoa Aluminum, his main goal never involved generating a fortune overnight — only to make sure he had enough income for tomorrow..." Ethanol Evaporates - September 13, 2007
by Kevin Kerr "...A recent study by Iowa State University says owners of new ethanol plants will see returns evaporate by next year as ethanol prices plunge. I agree. Recently, I took a long driving trip through the Midwest, visiting farms and ethanol plants along the way..." Catching a Full House with a 7-2 Off Suit - September 12, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...When the market hand us a 7-2 off suit, we have to make the best of it. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to protect yourself in a shaky market, but there are a few ways to make it out alive. Using a simple screen, you can find some pretty safe bets. You may think that to play it safe you can’t make money… But that’s not true, as you’ll see..." Moving up the Brain Curve - September 11, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The only question in his mind was how we will address this phenomenon. I am writing a book that explores this and other phenomena related to the technological tidal wave. I’ll tell you more about it as it develops further..." Outliers and the Plight of the Little Guy - September 10, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...Gross generalizations like these are not only uncouth and often wrong, they’re bait for another kind of free radicals. I’m talking about statistical outliers. And while staking the farm on outlier philosophy is akin to jumping from an airplane without a parachute, there are lessons ahead for all small-cap investors..." The Price of the First Cigarette - September 7, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...The first sip of wine is always better than the last. The more we drink, the better we feel…and the better we feel, the more we drink. But consumption, like most things, comes at a price. For the fourth glass of wine, you pay with a headache. For spending more than you make, you pay with interest..." Hurricane-Sized Profits - September 6, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Many people I've talked to outside the financial world have looked at the state of the stock market recently and declared it a disaster. It's not just the folks on Wall Street who are shook up, but the general public as well..." Beer and Erin Brockovich Won’t Cure Diabetes, But This Might - September 5, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...The medical cost per year in America is $92 billion. The large majority of that is the cost of insulin and self-testing devices. But many Americans are naturally resistant to insulin. In fact, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, one out of three Americans are insulin resistant..." The Future of Military Body Armor is Quite Liquid - September 4, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...An amazing new use of nanotechnology will soon be deployed on the battlefield to save lives. It should also have police and security applications, not to mention a variety of consumer possibilities..." Investing in Silicon Valley’s Future - September 3, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...Semiconductors are made primarily from silicon. They are the integrated circuits otherwise known as the “chips” in your computer, cell phone and DVD players that conduct vital electrical charges. They might not seem like a big deal anymore to you and me, as we speedily travel through our brave new world of hi-tech gadgetry and always on-tap information..." The Breath of the Red Dragon - August 31, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...The costs of growth are often ignored in financial forums. That’s why we’re dedicating this week’s article to the environmental impact China’s massive industrialization places on both their own country as well as the greater global community..." The Next Great Black Blizzard Is on Its Way - August 30, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...A darkness blacker than night is how it was often described. At least one could pierce the black veil of night. Not so with this kind of darkness. It was opaque. People were afraid. It was only midmorning. They had never seen anything like it..." Why We Will Always Love Small Caps - August 29, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Here at Penny Sleuth, we always talk about small-cap stocks as the end-all answer for investors, but not often enough do we explain why. Many people wonder why small caps offer better potential. There are many answers, but the Tweedy, Browne Company explains it best..." Scientists are Finally Understanding Hot Fusion - August 28, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The Max Planck Institute’s scientists have figured out how to use underwater electrical bursts to generate ball lightning. (Technically, they call it “luminous plasma clouds” — but if it looks like a duck and quacks like one…)..." The Best Way to Profit from the Other 96.5% - August 27, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Asia's online population is growing by leaps and bounds, but it still has a long way to go. With more than 3.6 billion people, the Asian continent is home to approximately 54% of the world's population. But only about one out of 10 of them are online, according to Internet World Stats..." China Blesses Hong Kong - August 24, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...On Monday, Beijing announced that it would permit mainland Chinese citizens to invest in the Hong Kong stock market. The proposal allows Chinese citizens to open accounts at the Tianjin branch of the Bank of China, and then sell renminbi (RMB) and buy Hong Kong dollars without limit for the purpose of buying shares in Hong Kong..." Be a Smart Investor, Own Water - August 23, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...It’s no surprise to you that we have been seeing one of the most volatile markets of this century. It should also be no surprise to you that it takes sound investments to actually make money in times like these. I’d like to share with you one way to navigate around the falling share prices of late..." The Most Anticipated Scientific Discovery is Finally Ready - August 22, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...One of the biggest scientific discoveries since electricity is here. It is a subject covered by thousands of academic and scientific journals every year. This discovery is called carbon nanotubes (CNTs). You might have heard about it..." A Real Cure for Cancer - August 21, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The studies, led by Dr. Zhen Cui, have been repeated at Wake Forest University School of Medicine but not at other laboratories. There have not been enough of the naturally resistant mice been bred to supply other laboratories. (An aggressive breeding program is changing all that.)..." Has the Financial Reckoning Day Arrived? - August 17, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Regardless, the global economy still depends on the fact that the dollar acts as the standard world currency. And the United States Mint, exclusive to what any other truly sovereign nation may deem prudent, has the right to print as many dollars as the United States deems fit..." Look What Sputnik Can Do Now - August 16, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Satellite imagery is used in everything from natural resource exploration and production to intelligence. If you are unaware of what exactly this is, it can be summed up in three words — pictures from space..." The Ignored Pharmaceutical Industry That Shouldn’t Be - August 15, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...These are Big Pharma, little (emergent) pharma, biotech (breakthroughs in processes, rather than single new drugs) and, finally, generics. Though less exciting than the other three, cost factors and pressures are increasingly favoring generics..." A Small-Cap Way to Ride the Gold Wave - August 14, 2007
by Nick Jones "...Beyond the notion that the price of gold is rising in all global currencies, I would like to focus on one other simple notion. As previously mentioned, the carry trade is both a cause, and is a result of market volatility in the past and will continue to be so going forward..." Finding a Bull in a Bear Market - August 13, 2007
by Nick Jones "...These are the carry trade currencies. Essentially investors borrow the Yen and Franc at ultra-low interest rates and invest them abroad in higher yielding assets. To make these trades profitable, the Yen and Franc have to trade even or lower against the currency that denominates their higher yielding interests..." The One Growth Stock I Love to Own… - August 10, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Yesterday, in the wake of the Bear Stearns meltdown, French banking giant BNP Paribas announced it was suspending three of its asset-backed securities funds, saying it could no longer value them accurately because of problems in the U.S. subprime mortgage market..." But Will It Play The Piano? - August 8, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Newscientist.com reports that Dr. Yukiyasu Kamitani and fellow researchers at ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories, collaborating with scientists from Honda Research Institute, have figured out a way to control a robotic hand by thought alone..." The Last of the Great Resource Consolidations - August 6, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...A few weeks ago, we wrote to you about the Clean Energy Act of 2007 that the Senate passed in late June..." What Will China Buy Next? - August 3, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Last week we reported the inconvenient truth that M3 is increasing at 12% a year. M3 is the fullest measure of the U.S. money supply… and it is going up three to four times faster than the GDP itself..." The U.S. Dropped the Ball on the Future of Oil - August 2, 2007
by Nick Jones "...In Mergers and Acquisition news on Tuesday, we saw a major player in the Canadian oil sands get bought out. The board of directors at Western Oil Sands unanimously approved an offer from Marathon Oil Corp..." Oprah Winfrey Never Makes a Dud Reco (Unless You Bought James Frey’s Book)
- August 1, 2007
by Aaron Gentzler "...Oprah Winfrey is an absolute dynamo. Regardless of what you think about her television show or her choices for Oprah’s Book Club, you must acknowledge the fact that Oprah is quite possibly the most influential person on television...." Generating Electricity From Bacteria - July 31, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Wired reports that as part of a school science project, a high school student has conceived a new way of generating electricity. It’s so simple anyone could have done it. It’s tiny, yet may have big applications...." These Nonsense Energy Bills Have the Corn Industry Sitting Pretty…Again - July 30, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...No matter what your political preferences are, no matter what your alternative energy of choice is -- if any -- gasoline usage in this country has to have crossed your mind at some point...." An Inconvenient Truth - July 27, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Independent analysts tell us that M3 is increasing at 12% per year. M3 is the inconvenient truth that the Labor Department no longer reports. It is the fullest measure of the U.S. money supply… and it is going up three-four times faster than GDP itself..." The Non-Amazon Way to Invest in the Book Industry - July 26, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Back in the year 2000, there were an estimated 860 million illiterate adults around the world, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It forecast by 2015 literacy will increase around the globe by 7%..." Why Apple’s iPhone Can’t Change Anything - July 25, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...It was touted as the second coming; the next major innovation in mobile phone technology that would revolutionize the way we do all of those time-wasting activities we do. Listening to music, looking at a map, or arguing with your wife on the phone have become oh so simple and fun, thanks to the handy new Apple iPhone..." Seeing Solar from New Angles - July 24, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The silicon used to make most solar photovoltaic (PV) cells is costly. Researchers have attempted to reduce the use of silicon via solar concentrators. However, being large and conspicuous, these are hard to integrate into housing designs..." Brewing Up Huge Potential Gains - July 23, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...It is no new knowledge that the brewing industry, as a whole, has been suffering lately. Don't worry, people are just drinking a lot more wine and distilled alcohols. But what isn't necessarily common knowledge is how well this small section of beer producers is doing..." The World’s Most Expensive $85 Motel Room - July 20, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...To no one’s surprise, and to Mary Beth’s detriment, the commission discovered exactly what they were appointed to find! Consequently, it recommended price reductions for quality improvements in ordinary, run-of-the-mill items such as cars, computers and televisions..." How to Protect Your Portfolio from Plummeting Stock Prices - July 19, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Minimizing the magnitude of your mistakes within your own portfolio, and allowing your winners to dominate your results, is easier to achieve than you might think. In fact, it can be an almost automated process..." Super-Traction: Getting in on a Hot New Stock First - July 18, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Almost every company spins its wheels when it starts out. It takes time to develop a product, and then have it catch on with the public to the point the business is making some serious cash..." Designing Babies to Avoid Cancer - July 17, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...In the above-mentioned case, a couple created embryos via IVF. By removing a single cell, the doctors were able to make sure that there was no cancer-causing gene before transferred an embryo to her womb..." Making Big Money in the Fastest Growing Industry - July 16, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...The medical services industry is the fastest growing industry in the country. According to the Department of Labor, 10 of the top 20 fastest growing careers are in health care. Of these, medical transportation services jumps out at me. The future growth forecasts look really promising..." Russia's Call to Arms - July 13, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...The law, backed by 341 deputies in the 450-seat State Duma (the lower house of the Russian Parliament), gives the two state-controlled giants Gazprom and Transneft, Russia's pipeline monopoly, the right to employ and arm their own security units..." The Battle Over the 101 MPH Speed Limit - July 12, 2007
by Craig Walters "...The EU says that the average car traveling in its countries today puts out 161 grams of CO2 every kilometer. By 2008, it wants that down to 140 grams, and 120 grams by 2012. At the time this was announced, Porsche’s car emissions were somewhat…err…higher than these numbers..." California’s New Energy Boom - July 11, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The state of California and electricity love to make headlines together. It seems there’s never enough juice to go around on the West Coast. But all of this could soon change, thanks to a renewed interest in an efficient, green energy source..." Real "Penny Stocks" are Finally Easy to Trade - July 9, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...This happens all the time and is how some of the best investors in the world became the richest investors in the world. Buying some shares for pennies on the dollar and selling at $10 or $20 is possibly the fastest way from being a hobby investor to a super investor..." The Price of Political Morality - July 6, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...What’s happened? Won’t anybody listen anymore? I mean…come on already! Iran keeps playing with yellowcake. Hugo Chavez continues his thinly veiled exit-stage-left strategy to all things American. Russia lays claim to the North Pole and all its Christmas goodies, which just happen to include 10 billion tons of gas and oil deposits..." The Not-So-Obvious Investment in Hollywood - July 5, 2007
by Craig Walters "...But investing publicly in Hollywood today is pretty much limited to large-cap media giants. The domestic movie business is very competitive, but is dominated by the “big six.” They are Paramount, Sony, Buena Vista, Warner Brothers, Fox and Universal..." Water That Defies Gravity Could be the Future of Many Technologies - July 4, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The movement is possible because of a special “staircase” designed to take advantage of the characteristics of water. Essentially, the staircase is comprised of metal sheets with precise grooves carved into them..." The World is Your Investment Playground - July 3, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Investing globally is sometimes a turnoff for many investors. Understandably, it is not always easy. Different exchanges around the world require different prerequisites for companies to be listed. Many of these exchanges don’t require nearly as much financial information as say the NYSE or the NASDAQ..." Faster Gains from a “Mature” Bulletin Board - July 2, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...I’m sure you have heard stories about stereotypical penny stock day traders. You probably think they’re all chartists, frantically analyzing every sub-penny share they come across to make the right move. When the momentum is in their favor, they strike, making money when these ultra-tiny stocks move one-tenth of a cent..." Is China Winning the Middle East? - June 29, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...We here at the Penny Sleuth wonder… When exactly did China become Pakistan's closest ally? Did we miss something? And more importantly, when on God’s green Earth did radical Islamists embrace sensitivity training in the realm of diplomatic relations?..." How to Spot an Investment Bubble - June 28, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Researchers Caginalp, Porter and Smith showed in a study back in 2000 that stock prices could stray from their fundamental values for long stretches of time. Much of their study was based on experimental markets — where just about every variable was under their full control..." One More Step Towards the Holy Grail of Electricity Management - June 27, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The promise of superconductors is a world in which our power supplies are managed more efficiently. Transmission lines lose almost a third of the electricity they carry. Electrical circuits of all kinds waste a certain percentage of the power due to "resistance," a phenomenon whereby electricity is wasted as heat..." How to Profit from Being Stuck in Construction - June 26, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...The construction and building materials industries have been in trouble. From the moment when people realized that their home prices won’t go up forever, these industries have plummeted. And as you probably already know, when Wall Street reacts to something, they go overboard and bring down the wrong companies. This is the case here..." The Newest Old Idea in Energy- June 25, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Take ethanol, for instance. It was the choice fuel for some of the first combustion engines. In the 1820s, Samuel Morey used an ethanol blend in his experimental internal combustion engine. Due to the rise of steam power, ethanol remained an obscure fuel until 40 years later, when the internal combustion engine took off..." China’s Greatest Weapon- June 22, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...In fact, that’s exactly what’s happening. Baghdad hopes to revive a $1.2 billion dollar oil deal originally established with China National Petroleum Corp. before the war. That’s the principal reason behind Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrival in Beijing on Wednesday. The two nations are expected to discuss international and regional “issues” of common interest..." The Street’s Best Gain Fame with Small-Caps - June 21, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Here's how everyone was ranked -- and it's not as easy a process as you might think. First, every eligible research department's rating scale was converted to the standard scale used by financial data company Thomson Financial. For instance, a Strong Buy rating was given a 1, a Buy a 2 and on down to a 5, a Strong Sell. Some firms have less than five-tier ratings scales, some have more..." The Sky’s the Limit: A Technological Breakthrough of The Future - June 20, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Until the middle of the last century, many questioned whether humanity could ever escape the thrall of gravity. Our efforts looked feeble against the “gravity well” more than 100 miles deep that keeps us anchored to this globe. Not only that, but anyone who studies even our solar system — forget the greater regions — is left humbled and awed at how puny all things terrestrial seem by comparison..." Wall Street Has Overlooked the Most Explosive Side of this Tech Company
- June 19, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Intevac sells another machine, which is also as vitally important in the growing HDD field. The DLS-100 is a post-sputtering, lubricating machine. The purpose of this machine is to cover the finished HDDs with a layer of lubrication to extend durability and reduce friction between the disk and the read/write head..." Iceland’s Greatest Renewable Resource - June 18, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...For decades, we’ve been burning coal to generate most of our electricity here in the United States. While burning fossil fuels is a cheap and relatively inexpensive way to generate power, its downsides are widely known. And the public dialogue is shifting toward finding better alternatives..." This New Fuel Source is Paving the Way to an Oil Revolution - June 15, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...They call the process CTL, or coal-to-liquid technology. It’s more commonly known as coal-to-oil technology. That’s right: Known as the Fischer-Tropsch process that Germany used during World War II to get oil from its massive coal reserves, CTL technology works by first converting coal to gas..." Investing in the Most Contentious Theme of 2007 - June 14, 2007
by Craig Walters "...You can make budget comparisons all day long, but the fact remains that a year’s worth of Avastin, a Genetech treatment for colon and lung cancer, runs more than $50,000 per year, per patient. That’s not immaterial..." This Glowing Sea Creature May be the Next Medical Breakthrough - June 13, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...These dots should enable a new generation of medical imaging devices, safer and less expensive than traditional ones. It may be possible to affix additional proteins to the dot/protein matrixes, thereby creating a kind of chemical hook that leads unerringly to certain sites in the body..." The Future of a 50-Year-Old Tech Industry - June 12, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Hard-disk drives (HDDs) are some of the most important pieces of technology developed over the past 50 years. Everything stored on any electronic device either uses HDDs or owes thanks to them. HDDs are data storage devices used in everything from computers to DVRs, iPods, and even cell phones..." How to Find Growth First - June 11, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Armies of analysts don’t cover the small stocks. This leads to piles of unread press releases, innovative new products and fast-growing businesses that go unnoticed by the investing community at-large. It’s a treasure hunt filled with future high-flying companies that no one will bother to find until they become the next hot company on Wall Street..." Even in Bull Markets, There Are No Short Cuts! - June 8, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Equipment makers are playing the finest marketing game of all. And they’re playing it very well. Their greatest weapon: a mediocre swing. They know we strive for the quick fix. We’re looking for a shortcut to superior returns. Instead of spending countless hours hitting buckets of range balls, we’d rather you sell us $1,000 on a set of the latest Mizuno blades..." From Johnstown to India: Railcar Manufacturing is Overlooked - June 7, 2007
by Jim Nelson "...Coal is now on the forefront of the green energy wave. The technology is there to separate raw coal into three parts: Mercury-sulfur, CO2 and purified syngas. The mercury-sulfur is — then separated into its two elements..." Is This Glass Half Full or Half Empty? - June 6, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...These cells are very difficult to separate from a tumor mass, but have more recently been found in bone and brain cancer. Many researchers now believe that such cells are at the heart of all cancerous tumor formation..." Movies in the Mail are Ruining Your Portfolio - June 4, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...On the surface, shipping and store exchange appear to be a great improvement to Blockbuster’s store-only rental system. And the starting price for both Netflix and Total Access is $9.99. So if you really want to go out on a limb, Blockbuster is giving away two services for the price of one..." From Hot Wheels to Hedge Funds - June 1, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Anyhow, he walked me through the doors of Pittsburgh’s newest Toys R’ Us. Without a second thought, he instructed me to pick out any one single toy my heart desired. I knew he was serious. He never joked on monetary issues. For what it’s worth, neither did I..." A Robot in Every Home by 2010 - May 30, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Even more remarkable, it has assisted poor families in acquiring computers, offered widespread subsidize training, and became the first country on Earth to offer broadband access to every primary, junior and high school..." Profiting from the Long and Short of Mortgage Delinquencies - May 29, 2007
by Ian Cooper "...En masse, March 13, 2007, terrified investors plunged the major indices into red as the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its most unflattering report on mortgage delinquencies. Solely on fears that heavy delinquencies would destabilize the U.S. economy, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 242.66 points, or 1.97%..." Appetite for Destruction - May 25, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...The theory is simple: I’m scanning for companies with exceptionally strong earning power. You can roughly estimate a company’s earning power per share by taking the inverse of its price/earnings ratio. A stock with a P/E ratio of 8 can be said to have earning power of 12.5%..." One Company is Leading the Charge Toward Artificial Organs - May 23, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...BBC News reports that scientists at North Carolina's Wake Forest University have developed a technique that allows new bladders to be cultured from a patient's own cells then transplanted successfully into the patient's body..." The Technologies Most Likely to Make Driving Affordable - May 21, 2007
by Craig Walters "...But it really comes down to cost per mile. BMW motorcycles, for example, get outstanding fuel mileage, but have Sedan-like price tags. And the technology they carry easily rivals that found on their own 3-Series road cars. Look for 3-Series-like maintenance bills on occasion, too..." Asia Set to Scrape the Heavens - May 18, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Constructing the Empire State Building consumed 60,000 tons of steel…10 million bricks…1,172 miles of elevator cables…6,400 windows…60 miles of water pipes and over 3,500 miles of telephone and telegraph wires. But the world's tallest skyscraper is much more than the world's top-quality office space..." It's a Flower, a Car, a Spreadsheet... Now, It's a Nanotechnology Tool - May 16, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Anyone who has stared at one of these blossoms, protruding from a still pond and surrounded by huge flat lotus leaves, would appreciate the beauty. The scent (which I learned to relish while living in Thailand) is almost unearthly..." Could This 46-Cent Stock Take a Bite Out of Best Buy? - May 15, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Tweeter operates 153 electronics stores in 22 states. Its mission is to provide high-end audio and home theater packages to selective electronics shoppers. As we have detailed, this model is getting whipped by the big players like Best Buy and Wal-Mart, both of which can offer better prices on similar items..." A Cocktail of Small-Caps and the Only Thing To Beat Them in 70 Years - May 11, 2007
by Craig Walters "...These two small-caps are business development companies (BDCs). Regulated by the Investment Company Act of 1940, A BDC must be organized in the U.S. for the purpose of investing in or lending to mostly private companies and giving them managerial assistance when needed..." How to Make Money From the Big Picture - May 10, 2007
by Steve Sarnoff "...You can't find a better bet for the long-term direction of the market than these index funds. However, you can also rack up some nice short-term gains with them, too. That's because you can buy options on the index funds, just like with most other stocks. Index fund options behave the same way, too...giving you the power to use Superleverage on the entire market..." It's as Strong as Steel, Yet Light as a Feather - May 9, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Here's how it works: Unlike previous approaches that relied upon the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in liquids, this new approach is dry. Trillions of carbon nanotubes constantly rotate in a coordinated manner, with new ones attaching to the previous part of the sheet in a self-assembling fashion..." A Comeback Worth 35% Gains in Six Weeks - May 8, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Result: Inspire is back on track sooner rather than later, and its share price soared. Shares of Inspire climbed to a new 52-week high late last month on news that its eye infection treatment was approved and will be launched later this year..." Profiting from the World's Other Oldest Profession - May 4, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Have you ever noticed how quiet banks are? There's no written rule that you can't chat in a bank the same way soccer moms gossip in grocery stores. But do you notice that no one ever makes a peep? Banks create a silent hush that most Sunday church services would envy..." A Smarter Way to Offer RFID - May 2, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...This is important, because the main concern voiced by privacy advocates is that consumers may not remove tags, thereby leaving them open to tracking by intrusive governments or criminals. For example, if you buy a sweater that's got an RFID attached, in theory your movements could be tracked..." Turning a Good Olive Harvest Into a Fortune - May 1, 2007
by Steve Sarnoff "...When you buy a stock option, you are buying a contract that gives you certain rights for 100 shares of a particular stock. But don't let the word "contract" fool you. They are standardized, so an options contract for one stock works exactly like the option for another stock..." Biodiesel by Design - April 30, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Farmers all over the world may soon be able to grow all the fuel they need, without use of fossil fuels. In addition, various crops may be directly convertible to diesel fuel, thereby providing a cap on energy prices with an unexpected twist..." The Consumer Spending That's Really Driving the American Economy - April 27, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Considering the dollar just hit a 26-year low against the sterling while the Euro creeps towards record levels against the greenback as well, it seems one would have to factor a portion of this first quarter earnings strength to currency exchange rates..." What to Do As War Rages - April 26, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Raytheon and General Dynamics, while posting great results, are starting to get cagey about future prospects in the defense segment. Both powerhouses don't want to raise guidance in the midst of President Bush and Congress duking it out over defense spending and troop withdrawals..." The Great, Unprofitable Growth Story - April 24, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...But speculation can come in many different forms. Irrational decision-making does not require extreme illustrations like tulip bulbs or even cash-burning dot-coms for that matter. Investor traps can lie in some of the greatest growth stories of all time..." The Drug Sector Outperforms, Including Two Small-Caps - April 23, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Aspreva is a profitable small-cap drug developer. This $814 million company has a partnership with drug-giant Roche to develop and commercialize a drug called CellCept, which is used to help prevent rejection in patients receiving organ transplants..." How to Find Positive Returns in a Declining U.S. Soda Industry - April 20, 2007
by Craig Walters "...The soda-producing Warren Buffett mainstay has been performing beautifully lately. First quarter 2007 results were just released, with earnings beating what Wall Street had modeled and sales outdoing first quarter of last year..." Natural Building Blocks for Nanotechnology - April 18, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Scientists at the John Innes Centre have successfully added iron-containing molecules to the surface of this virus. The result is electronically active nanoparticles. They believe this will in the future facilitate the manufacture of nanotechnology electrical devices..." Two Hot IPOs for Your Penny Portfolio - April 16, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Tech and health care stocks aren't just filling up the IPO lists, the share prices are also taking off in a big way. In fact, the average one-day return of the nine technology stocks to go public is approximately 14%, according to the Journal..." The Best Way to Piggy-Back Buffett's Bet on Railroads - April 13, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...So what was Buffett thinking? It's anyone's guess. But the prevailing consensus believes globalization...specifically, moving the major staples of trade -- things like coal, oil, cars, and clothes...in other words, basic commodities and finished goods -- from producer to consumer is the long-term trend at play here..." How to Protect Your Portfolio with Trailing Stops...the Easy Way - April 12, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Let's pretend we bought shares of drug maker Dynavax Technologies (DVAX: NASDAQ) on January 18, 2007. That day, we were able to buy shares at $6.07 each. The stock had a nice little run for the next several trading sessions. A few days later on January 22, DVAX closed at $6.20..." Nanotechnology Gets Big - April 11, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Here's how it works: Unlike previous approaches which relied upon the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in liquids, this new approach is dry. Trillions of carbon nanotubes constantly rotate in a coordinated manner, with new ones attaching to the previous part of the sheet in a self assembling fashion..." Profit Potential from a Pink Sheet Nanotech - April 9, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...As for this new listing, the top tier is called PremierQX. These are securities that trade for a minimum of $1 and meet all of the requirements to be listed on a national stock exchange. This means the companies are required to post quarterly and annual reports, and also interim information that could affect share prices..." Genetic Wars in the Womb - April 4, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Half a million women die annually during pregnancy or childbirth. Millions more suffer serious injuries. It's no cakewalk. Dr. David Haig has a new theory that's rapidly winning acceptance among various stripes of scientists in medicine and biology. It holds that pregnancy is an ongoing battle between mother and fetus about nutrition..." Seven Lower-Risk Pinks - April 2, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The Pinks are crawling with pump-and-dump penny stocks and even sub-penny shell companies that do nothing more than issue periodic press releases and more shares of worthless stock. There are always new investors to scam, and new press releases with new business plans to push..." The Best Time to Make Money in Subprime Lending - March 30, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Therefore, it seems to me, lenders like AHM were taken to the whipping post as nothing more than collateral damage for the reckless indiscretion these ravenous B-rate chop shops pushing "self-certification" loans kept practicing at the expense of unqualified borrowers..." What WiMAX, Girlie Calendars and 17,457% Returns Have in Common - March 29, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Under the calendar business model, this stock literally traded for pennies -- 66 pennies to be exact. That's the level UGIR shares were the day before Towerstream took over and the stock became TWER...and immediately opened at $6.00 a share. That's a rise of 809%..." Far Faster than You Can Blink - March 28, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Some physicists believe the whole universe actually works this way. In effect, on an incomprehensibly short time frame, everything in the universe is "born," then exists for a blindingly fast moment, "dies" and the process is repeated again and again..." Investing in Subprime: The Worst is Far from Over - March 27, 2007
by Ian Cooper "...Subprime companies are over. Done. Kaput. With another $700 billion in mortgages about to reset this year (half of which are subprime), the worst is far from over for the lending market..." When Tiny Drug Makers "Pop" - March 26, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...One of its most promising candidates is a yet-unnamed drug aimed to treat cystic fibrosis patients. Cystic fibrosis, or CF, is a hereditary disease that causes lung and pancreas problems, eventually causing disability and early death..." "It's the Greatest Story Never Told" - March 23, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Take the S&P...the world's benchmark index. Beating the S&P has become like a golfing handicap, a number that gets bandied about (and maybe embellished a point or two) to impress any financial "mind" polite enough to listen..." Stock Picking is Never Out of Style - March 22, 2007
by Craig Walters "...If you look back five years at all the domestic stock fund categories of mutual funds, Small-Cap Value and Small-Cap Blend are ranked as the fourth and fifth best-performing fund categories over that period. Only real estate, natural resources, and utilities did better. The average returns of funds in those two small-cap categories were 12% and 11%, respectively..." A Weighty Topic of Discussion - March 21, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...It's very relevant because, among other things, it pertains to why our solar system is part of the Milky Way rather than isolated in deep space. Conventional physics explains the behavior of such isolated stars by relying on "dark matter." However, such dark matter is a matter of speculation and none has been found in the vicinity of our galaxy..." When 100 mpg is Worth Millions - March 19, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Major automakers sit on their hands, producing vehicles that only slightly improve on gas mileage. It's the smaller companies that are taking the lead in building concepts that will break the 100 miles per gallon (mpg) milestone..." A Small-Cap's Most Important Financial Metric, Bar None - March 16, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...There's a tipping point...a line in the sand. Once crossed, small caps can become blue chips. The trick: Determine which small caps sit on the brink. Find the penny stocks that rest just beneath this line. Because when they cross, their share price takes off..." Profiting from Global Warming Hysteria - March 15, 2007
by Craig Walters "...What we are talking about here are greenhouse gases. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely, where they trap the heat, ultimately leading to increased global temperatures -- as current research suggests..." Have Robots Been Oversold? - March 14, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...The intent is to identify what kinds of behaviors people find acceptable and preferable in robots. For instance, it can be established that a certain physical distance is preferable when speaking face to face. However, researchers acknowledge that this distance is culture-specific. Even worse, it is possible that people will have difference preferences when it comes to robots than with fellow humans..." There's Value in the Oil Industry - March 13, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...From 2002 to 2005, the top 10 major public oil companies sold $1.5 trillion worth of crude, according to MSNBC. And they turned more than $125 billion in profits. Just last year, Exxon Mobil grabbed the record for the biggest annual profit by an American company, posting a net income of $39.5 billion..." Sir John & the Hong Kong Experiment - March 9, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Sir John James Cowperthwaite was born on April 25, 1915 in Britain. Before joining the Colonial Administrative service in Hong Kong in 1941, Cowperthwaite studied economics at St. Andrews University and Christ’s College in Cambridge..." Start Watching This Stock That's Dropped 27% - March 8, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Also consider that we're in another big upgrade cycle for gaming consoles. Even if a large portion of our Penny Sleuth audience doesn't actually play these games, a lot of you have probably bought these new, expensive units for your children or grandchildren. The most glaring sign of the times in this industry has got to be Sony's audacity to price Playstation 3 at $600 for the all-singing, all-dancing iteration..." High Tech Meets Low Tech in a Fuel Cell - March 7, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Old-fashioned power plants do that "dirty work." Yes, fuel cell-based vehicles may emit nice water vapors, but the power plants making them possible will still be furiously cranking out carbon dioxide (CO2) hundreds of miles away..." Investing in Subprime Lenders: Headed to Bankruptcy - March 6, 2007
by Ian Cooper "...New Century Financial traded above $30 just weeks ago. It now trades under $6. Not only did NEW just announce it was the target of a Federal criminal inquiry into the accounting and trading in the stock, it warned that it will likely breach a lending covenant with financial backers..." Surviving a Volatile Small-Cap Market - March 5, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...It was Shanghai that started it all-dragging down the Asian markets with what would become a 9% drop. After Tuesday, it seemed like every market across the world was struggling to reclaim some of the gains it had lost..." The Mighty Greenback's Fall Bleeds Orange, Yellow and Red - March 2, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Fiat Money is a currency (like the United States dollar) that isn't backed by any tangible asset like gold or silver, or even bushels of corn for that matter. It's a currency that derives its entire worth on nothing more than a promise. It's a promise by the Federal Government..." Cloning People Electronically - February 28, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...At the University of Iowa, a program called Virtual Soldier Research is underway according to Wired News. As the name suggests, it was originally developed for military purposes. However, like many cutting-edge military projects, civilian applications are quickly following..." The Best of the Russell... - February 26, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...Ever since the Russell 2000 took a hit in May, a lot of money has been flowing into large-cap stocks. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial has soared while the Russell 2000 and the NASDAQ have lagged behind..." Investing With the Little Man… - February 23, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Everyone in the business seems to have their own magical formula for predicting price movements. Traders stare at charts. The value guys covet balance sheets. And a select few move solely on the word swirling around the office watercooler..." How to Make Money with Small-Cap Gold - February 22, 2007
by Craig Walters "...But no matter what you believe about gold’s immediate future, there are some things you need to know before you go out and buy a gold stock. The four that I’m about to highlight are critical..." Let’s Think This One Through - February 21, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Bayesian Analysis is already central to search engines and a host of other applications, so its practicality is well established. But the most interesting question is, does nature uses it in the design of organic computers, such as the human brain?..." Tough Times Ahead for Housing and Sub-Prime Lenders - February 20, 2007
by Ian Cooper "...In reality, the housing market has not bottomed. Sub-prime lenders are doomed. You can continue to listen to the delusional madness pouring from the mouths of Street analysts, and the mainstream press, or you can listen to the homebuilder CEOs and the sub-prime lenders that have gone belly up because of a weak housing market..." "We Live For Funerals" - February 16, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...As the 10-year-old son of an aspiring floral stylist, I spent a majority of February 14 stuck inside the back of a beat-up white delivery van, trying desperately to balance multiple glass vases filled to the brink with ice-cold water as the driver made his way along the bumpy mountain roads of southeastern West Virginia..." Will Crime Decide the Fate of Small-Caps This Year? - February 15, 2007
by Craig Walters "...And it's not just violent crime where this pattern holds. It turns out that petty and grand larceny follow a similar trend. Barron's reported that stickups rose significantly in '73, '80, '81, '90, and '01. These were all years that the U.S. entered recessions..." Up in the Sky! It's-It's-a Flying Cruise Ship! - February 14, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Modern air travel is noisy. It's also cramped (even first class is hardly first class, if you get my drift), and the airport indignities imposed on travelers for our "security" are unpleasant at best. (Isn't it curious that cargo shipments still are not subjected to the same scrutiny as are passengers?)..." A 100% Pop - February 12, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The next day, the stock was up from $1.40 to $4.40 a share. By February 2, it was up another 45 cents, to $4.85. Last Monday, the stock landed just a few cents shy of $6, nearly doubling its price in less than two weeks..." How Audi Plans to Save the Planet - February 9, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...Beijing does have a point. We're the world's most blatant carbon emitter. The United States produces roughly 25% of the world's total carbon emissions. And one third of those emissions are transportation-related. It's those damn SUVs we can't get enough of..." The Truth About Stock Buybacks - February 8, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Well, one of the causes could be that the company is buying back stock in an attempt to counter the exercise of employee stock options. And if you watch how investors react to these kinds of buybacks, they clearly hate them. That's because this type of buyback is a knee-jerk reaction to try to maintain a consistent share base..." Something New in Mind Control - February 7, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...All this raises a very provocative question: If parasites are capable of totally overriding the self-defense mechanisms of lower-order organisms, might they do the same to advanced mammals, or even to us?..." Still Bullish on Macau - February 6, 2007
by Ian Cooper "...For the longest time, one of America's largest shopping-mall developers, Taubman Centers, wasn't as enthused about stampeding into the new casino boomtown of Macau, thinking the area was being overly bombarded with development. But that was then. As of last month, Taubman broke ground in a joint-venutre casino resort project, which will include 750,000 sq. ft. of retail space..." Why Sell Crude for $40 When We'll Pay $60? - February 2, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...He certainly didn't disagree or show much concern. Maybe he knew something I didn't...maybe he was privy to the possibility of a Russian/Iranian natural gas cartel. Those two countries alone hold nearly half the world's natural gas reserves. Russia alone stands as the world's top natural gas producer and No. 2 in oil..." Suggestive Facts That Could Lead to Your Next Big Payday - February 1, 2007
by Chris Mayer "...A hardscrabble camel dealer with 20 years in the business in the dusty outskirts of Cairo knows a few very good things about camels. He is easily able to separate what really matters from what is not so important. He is hard to fool with predictions and fancy talk. He knows what he is looking for and he knows what he will pay for it - or sell it for..." Super Vision -- Watch for It - January 31, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...As I've commented before, every technological advance enables other technological advances. In this case, PixelOptics is building its new technology on the base of something called an aberrometer. This is the same technology behind custom LASIK. It bounces a laser beam off the eyeball, and then produces a computer map of any distortions in the returned light..." Fill 'er Up: Three Bargains in Small-Cap Oil - January 29, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...It feels as if it was years ago when I was in the Baltimore suburbs, baking in the hot summer sun as I waited in line at a gas station. I still remember the fear in some people's eyes as they watched the gas station attendant change the price on the roadside sign. A gallon of gas was more expensive than it had ever been before..." $355,000 for an Afghani Cave? - January 26, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...This past week, a 77-square-foot London flat sans electricity hit the market for $335,000. Apparently, the rather intimate proximity to Harrods and Hyde Park will reap an impressive $4,350 per square foot..." Diversify Your Portfolio...with Lasers - January 25, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Warfare technology continues to move rapidly away from conventional weapons. We will see more tests of weapons designed to disrupt our delicate information channels, as that probably is the most effective way to compromise our defenses..." Measuring the Pleasure Taken from Revenge - January 24, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...fMRI, as you may recall, is the revolutionary technology that appears able to distinguish those telling lies from those telling the truth. Because it can map activity in segments of the brain in real time, allowing them to be compared to ideal or "normal" test subjects, fMRI also has uses in diagnosing diseases involving the brain..." An End to the Blue-Chip Payday? - January 22, 2007
by Greg Guenthner "...The gist of the article is that it might be time for small-cap investors to rethink their investment strategy. The author thinks that this year, the best bet for anyone with a dime in his pocket will be the big-name stocks that can ride out any bumps in the economy..." The China Question: Pollution, Farming and the Earth's Most Precious Resource
- January 19, 2007
by Christopher Hancock "...I dropped to my bed fully dressed. Two hours of rock hard sleep passed when I woke up with a thirst that only multiple pints of the infamous Stella Artois could produce. I stumbled into the kitchen and checked out the fridge. All the water bottles were gone. This was not good..." One Place to Find Great Defense Stocks - January 18, 2007
by Craig Walters "...Over the last several months, readers of Small Cap Strategy Report and Small Cap Insider know that I have been very bullish on infrastructure investing, defense, and healthcare...." It Flies Like a UFO, and It's Being Made Here On Earth - January 17, 2007
by Jonathan Kolber "...Seemingly in defiance of gravity, they reportedly have vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), almost instantaneous acceleration/deceleration, can hover, and do all of this without the proper "lifting bod | 
