Anyone who reads the financial pages is well aware of the mortgage industry’s struggles, and the oft-cited statistics bear testament to a pervasive lack of oversight and due diligence at all levels--from mortgage brokers and lenders to regulators and secondary market investors. Read More

Coal and natural gas prices are steadily rising as demand growth outpaces production. China continues to rely on coal for most of its energy production, and global demand for natural gas is expected to more than double on global growth and environmental concerns. Read More

General elections bring a lot of uncertainty and opportunity for investors. But if we can get a handle on potential changes, we can better arm our portfolios for the post-November world. Read More

Nibbler Thornburg Mortgage (NYSE: TMA) held a conference call outlining the company’s current balance sheet position, its potential prospects going forward and the status of the tender offer for preferred shares--needless to say, there was little good news. Read More

The three major US stock indexes returned to the green, after the Federal Open Market Committee announced its intention to hold interest rates for the time being, while acknowledging the risk of inflation Read More

The three major US stock indexes finished the day slightly lower after light trading. Investor sentiment took a hit earlier today when United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) announced that a weaker US economy and higher fuel costs had cut into its earnings expectations for the second quarter. Read More

I don’t take my job of picking stocks, bonds and funds lightly. But to hear some of my subscribers tell it, you’d think sometimes I’d grabbed some darts and tossed them at the stock tables in the papers. Read More

With falling share prices in the financial sector once again weighing on the markets, the three major US stock indexes ended mixed, struggling to regain any of the ground lost on Friday. Higher oil prices likewise dampened investor sentiment. Read More

US stocks plummeted today, as higher oil prices once again cut into share prices of consumer and transportation companies. The financial sector also pummeled investor sentiment, with analysts from Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) reducing earnings estimates for several banks. Read More

US stocks found themselves in greener pastures today, as lower oil costs buttressed consumer and transportation companies’ share prices. Meanwhile, embattled regional bank BB&T unexpectedly announced a dividend increase, further buoying investor sentiment.. Read More