I expect the beginnings of a recovery in the latter half of 2009. However, shaky market performance and continued weak economic data highlight the need to balance your portfolio. Hold a mix of traditional defensive stocks, income-oriented names and stocks well-placed to capitalize on the coming recovery. Read More

I recommend a small number of stocks involved in the uranium industry as part of what I call a field bet. The concept is simple: The uranium mining business is highly risky and full of company-specific pitfalls. Read More

US stocks rebounded in today’s session, led by the financial sector where share prices recovered somewhat from yesterday’s bloodbath. News that the long-awaited economic stimulus is progressing toward approval likewise boosted investor sentiment. Read More

US stocks sold off dramatically after the Treasury Dept’s updated financial stabilization plan reminded investors that there’s no quick fix to banking sector’s problems. Read More

Weak economic conditions will put a ceiling over oil prices in the $55-to-$60 range. We won’t see real cracks in this ceiling until there’s clearer evidence of a turn in the global economy. My expectation remains this will happen in the latter half of 2009 as an unprecedented wave of global stimulus begins to filter through economies and as credit markets continue to revive. Read More

US stocks finished the day little changed, as investors remained nervous about the effectiveness of the government’s stimulus plan and the administration’s plan to shore up the financial sector. Read More

The three major US stock indexes rallied impressively in today’s session, buoyed by hopes that the proposed stimulus package might provide some support to the sinking economy. Read More

The three major US stock indexes posted gains in a day marked by volatility--especially in the financial sector, which rallied handsomely on news that the government will announce plans next week to shore up the nation’s largest financial institutions. Read More

US stocks slumped after Kraft’s (NYSE: KFT) disappointing fourth-quarter earnings sparked a selloff among consumer stocks and concerns about the health of the financial sector weighed on bank stocks. Read More

US stocks resurged today, led by health care stocks and commodities producers--two of our favorite sectors for 2009. Meanwhile, share prices in the financial sector struggled after PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC) announced its first loss since 2001. Read More