It looks like the summer of 2013 could be a repeat of last summer with extreme volatility in crop prices thanks to more potential drought concerns. Little, if any snow cover or moisture to replenish the soil across much of the Midwest leaves the season ahead vulnerable to another price… Read More

The wholesale price of coffee is down 40% on the year from $2.50 to $1.50 per pound after recent peaks above $3 in 2011. The commodity price discount increases profit margins on the expensive… Read More

The disappointing earnings from Yum Brands (NYSE: YUM), operator of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, has been attributed to the slowdown in China. The sharp pullback that began at the end of November has found support at the… Read More

The Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF) offers a diversified way to invest in the banking sector. The fund’s top 10 holdings include Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFX) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), which make up more than… Read More

Currency fluctuations are driven by global economic strength or weakness, and recently fear has increased demand for the safety of U.S. dollars as growth in China and Europe has slowed. These short-term crises have not, however, solved the larger negative fundamentals of… Read More

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ (Nasdaq: GMCR) shares have dropped from atmospheric heights over $100 in 2011 to finally stabilize at the $20 level, which the stock has not seen since 2009.    As of this writing, Green Mountain is trading around… Read More

High-end retailers have taken a beating as global woes have weighed on consumers, causing many to forgo non-essentials like luxury goods. Handbag maker Coach (NYSE: COH) peaked at multi-year highs just before the euro concerns reemerged this spring. The overall market has… Read More

Some investors think if it’s good enough for Warren Buffett, then it’s good enough for them. And he likes banking giant Well Fargo (NYSE: WFC). The stock has traded in a sideways range largely between $32 and $36 for the past eight months. The initial upside objective on a channel… Read More

While equity indices were making multi-year highs, resource and commodity markets were largely left behind. The CRB Index basket of commodity prices remains 20% lower than its… Read More

Tech shares have led the market resurgence with the Nasdaq hitting new decade-long-plus highs in recent weeks. As you can see in the chart below, the year-to-date gains in the Nasdaq closely mirror… Read More