For decades, American investors have had little reason to send their assets on an overseas journey. Our own stock market offered solid long-term returns with acceptable volatility. By contrast, international investments tended to fall into one of two categories: slow-growth bores (European and, recently, Japanese stocks and bonds) or boom-and-bust roller coasters (emerging-market stocks and bonds). Times have changed. << MORE >>

The building and construction boom is in full swing, and investors should sit up and take notice. Not only has this industry strengthened over the past year, but signs indicate that it's about to get even better. For many investors, that might sound like a ridiculous statement. After all, domestic housing starts plummeted to a 17-year low in March. Even worse, the number of new residential building permits plunged more than -40% — a sign that the U.S. residential housing market isn't likely to turn around anytime soon. << MORE >>

As you are probably aware, the U.S. dollar has been stuck in a precipitous decline, sliding to record lows against the euro last week. While this freefall has made life tough for U.S. citizens traveling abroad, it has provided a brisk tailwind for domestic multi-national firms that take in a large chunk of their revenues overseas. Not only does a weak dollar sweeten currency translation, but also makes exported products less expensive for foreign consumers.<< MORE >>

Wachovia Bank (NYSE: WB ) extended an intriguing offer late last year. The bank asked investors to lend it money by purchasing its preferred stock and promised a juicy 8% yield in return. The quarterly payments qualify for the reduced dividend tax rate, and they're secured by an investment-grade credit rating from both Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Tempted? With stocks in a slump and bond yields at their lowest level in years, yield-hungry investors are scratching their heads in search of a safe place to park their money. Stock market volatility has been extremely high, but preferred stocks like Wachovia's offer income investors the best of both worlds — a safe income stream and a relatively stable<< MORE >>

Before the advent of container shipping in the 1950s and 1960s, shipping goods meant loading individual irregular-shaped items onto a ship. This proved inefficient, as there was no way to move many individual items at once, and securing odd-shaped goods for an ocean voyage took a great deal of time and labor.<< MORE >>

In this special 25-page report, StreetAuthority's Chief Investment Strategist, Paul Tracy, brings you an in-depth look at his BEST investing ideas for the next 12 months and beyond.StreetAuthority Chief Investment Strategist Paul Tracy and his research staff have prepared an in-depth 25-page special report entitled "Top Ten Stocks for the Next 12 Months." After hundreds of hours of research, due diligence and healthy intra-company debate, we've managed to narrow the vast investing universe down to just ten stocks that we think are poised to deliver above-average returns not only throughout 2008, but also in the years that follow.<< MORE >>

In the 16th century, European adventurers sailed across the Atlantic to a new land, in search of better lives than they could find in the Old Country. Their settlements grew into colonies that eventually became the United States of America, now the world's largest economy by far. << MORE >>

Most investors have heard the argument for defense stocks on countless occasions. The basic pitch goes something like this: if there's one consumer that never stops spending, even in the weakest economies, it's Uncle Sam. And defense remains a key destination for much government spending; therefore, companies that sell defense products and services to the government are sure-fire winners. There is truth to this argument. But, as the trite old saying goes, "there's no such thing as a free lunch." This is particularly true on Wall Street. Although the U.S. government may never stop spending, that doesn't mean large defense stocks are a risk-free road to riches. << MORE >>

The new WisdomTree India Earnings Fund would have returned +1010% over the last ten years according to backtested data — handily beating the benchmark MSCI India Index by +340%. That translates to an additional return of $34,000 dollars on an original investment of $10,000... and this extra gain was with less volatility. << MORE >>

Waste Management (NYSE: WMI) is the largest provider of municipal solid waste management in the U.S. with a roughly 26% share of the $52 billion industry. Roughly 64% of revenues come from waste collection fees, 22% from landfill-related tipping fees, 9% from recycling and 5% from WMI's waste-to-energy operation, Wheelabrator. Competitive Advantages: WMI's primary competitive advantage lies in its unparalleled network of landfill capacity. In total, WMI owns or operates 283 landfills in the U.S. — capable of handling some 116 million tons of waste per year. This represents the largest number of landfills of any U.S. waste management firm.<< MORE >>

In the late 19th century, a handful of fur traders set up a trading post in a remote corner of northeastern Alberta. Those traders and their employer, Canada's Hudson Bay Company, could have hardly imagined that their obscure outpost would one day become the very center of North America's oil boom. It's hard to ignore the transformation of Fort McMurray, Canada — a city so prosperous that it has been dubbed "Fort McMoney" by local residents. Real estate prices have roughly tripled in the past seven years; the median price of a single family home stands at $650,000, up more than $150,000 in just the past year alone. And with the vacancy rate on rental properties stubbornly stuck under 0.5%, entire extended families cram into small two-bedroom apartments. Others choose to rent campsites on the edge of the city to accommodate mobile homes. The town's population has doubled in the past decade to 65,000 and is set to rise to more than 100,000 by the end of 2012.<< MORE >>

As investors, we are always on the lookout for interesting new stock ideas. In fact, many of us spend countless hours of research in pursuit of revolutionary, game-changing companies, those with the potential to have a dramatic impact on their market — and on the portfolios of their shareholders. However, sometimes the simplest of ideas can be the most influential and profitable. In other words, innovative companies aren't always Silicon Valley start-ups known only to savvy venture capitalists. Sometimes they can be found right under our noses in the most mundane places. << MORE >>

Most investors have heard the argument for defense stocks on countless occasions. The basic pitch goes something like this: if there's one consumer that never stops spending, even in the weakest economies, it's Uncle Sam. And defense remains a key destination for much government spending; therefore, companies that sell defense products and services to the government are sure-fire winners.<< MORE >>

Eaton Vance is a leader in the tax-efficiency movement and has launched a number of funds designed specifically to reduce tax exposure, including Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend (NYSE: ETG ). ETG is a broadly focused fund with a heavy weighting in foreign markets. The primary goal is simple: distribute a high level of dividend income that qualifies for the reduced tax rate. The managers don't simply toss any stock that qualifies into the portfolio; they focus on companies that are likely to raise dividends and have substantial capital appreciation potential. << MORE >>

On March 21, 1924 three Boston businessmen pooled together $50,000 to form a company called the Massachusetts Investor's Trust. The purpose of the company: to invest in the roaring 1920s stock market boom. These three men unwittingly gave birth to a financial revolution. In fact, in the ensuing 80 years their invention, the mutual fund, has come to dominate the retail investing landscape. By 2006, U.S. mutual fund assets had grown from that $50,000 seed invested in a single fund into $8.9 trillion invested across roughly 9,000 different funds. Over 50 million American households now own mutual funds, making them by far the most popular and common means of participating in the stock market. << MORE >>

Ares Capital (Nasdaq: ARCC, 11.32) — This business development company (BDC) invests in mid-sized private firms. Since our last update in February's issue of High-Yield Investing, the "Dividend Optimizer" Portfolio holding has announced a rights offering. The offering entitles existing investors who bought the shares by March 24th to buy one additional share for every three shares owned. You have until April 21st to exercise your rights. The purchase price for the new shares will be determined after the offer expires at the market close on April 21st. If you exercise your rights and buy the shares before then, you will pay an estimated subscription price and then get a refund or pay an additional amount to make up the difference once the price is set. << MORE >>

ARC Energy Trust (OTC: AETUF/TSX: AET-UN,) is the 14th-largest oil and gas producer on Canada's benchmark Toronto Stock Exchange and one of 25 companies that produce 90% of the oil and gas in western Canada. In 2007, production was estimated to be approximately 63,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). From its inception in 1996, ARC has provided investors with an annual return of +26.6%, including dividends and share price gains. Since November 2005, ARC has paid out $0.20 Canadian per unit monthly, for a total of $2.40 per year. Currently, the U.S. and Canadian dollars are near parity. As such, U.S. investors can expect to receive a similar amount — which equates to a yield of 9.5%. The company has a history of steady dividend payouts. Prior to increasing its dividend in 2005, the company paid $0.15 per unit monthly for nearly three years. << MORE >>

According to lore, or at least the back of the menu, Buffalo Wild Wings (Nasdaq: BWLD) started out as little more than a dream for two transplanted Buffalo residents living in Ohio. The pair began selling their beloved hot wings to Ohio State University students in 1982, and the concept quickly spread to more than 35 states throughout the country. A few weeks ago, the company opened its 500th location. Along the way, sales have more than doubled over the past five years to reach $330 million, while profits have risen +300% to $20 million, or $1.10 per share. << MORE >>

Until this decade, investing in Latin America was similar to a canoe trip on the Amazon River: a potentially rewarding journey — but watch out for piranhas! A country's stock market reflects its economy, and most Latin American economies were characterized by instability, unpredictability, and wild boom-and-bust cycles. But since the turn of the century, we've witnessed a sea change in Latin America. Thanks to the confluence of several positive factors, the region's largest economies have become paradigms of strong, stable economic growth — and its stock markets have surged as a result.<< MORE >>

After starting out the second quarter with a bang, the market's bid for back-to-back weekly gains fell apart almost as soon as it began. As surmised, investors have begun shifting their attention away from the credit crisis and towards corporate profitability — unfortunately, the early results aren't encouraging. On Monday, aluminum giant and Dow Jones component Alcoa (NYSE: AA) kicked off the earnings parade with a -44% slide in adjusted first quarter earnings. That news was followed by weak sales figures from chip maker Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) and a soft outlook from shipper UPS (NYSE: UPS).<< MORE >>

Investors just can't get enough of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In the mid-1990s, less than two dozen of these funds were trading on the American Stock Exchange. Today, more than 600 different ETFs — worth over half a trillion dollars in total market value — trade on all the major U.S. exchanges. In fact, ETFs are the fastest-growing segment of the fund market. Investors poured some $146 billion into the 291 new ETFs that debuted last year. That's an average of nearly 25 new exchange-traded funds per month (versus only four new closed-end funds per month).<< MORE >>

Gushan Environmental (NYSE: GU ) is China's largest producer of biodiesel fuel and related products and thus, a key element of the country's plan to reduce air pollution while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Biodiesel is derived from natural oils by a chemical process that splits oil (usually soybean) into biodiesel and glycerin. Compared to traditional diesel, biodiesel results in almost complete elimination of acid rain-causing emissions. Since trucking fleets are nearly completely diesel-based, it can provide a tremendous benefit to the environment, as well as some freedom from oil imports. << MORE >>

Alternative energy has been among the hottest investment themes of the past few years. There are several key drivers of this trend. Consider that as recently as 2002, crude oil was trading below $20 per barrel and natural gas cost less than $2 per million British Thermal Units (BTUs). Now, oil is trading at over $100, while natural gas is trading at more than five times its lows.<< MORE >>

In the late 19th century, a handful of fur traders set up a trading post in a remote corner of northeastern Alberta. Those traders and their employer, Canada's Hudson Bay Company, could have hardly imagined that their obscure outpost would one day become the very center of North America's oil boom. But it's hard to ignore the transformation of Fort McMurray, Canada — a city so prosperous that it has been dubbed "Fort McMoney" by local residents. Real estate prices have roughly tripled in the past seven years; the median price of a single family home stands at $650,000, up more than $150,000 in just the past year alone.<< MORE >>

Nathan Slaughter has developed a long and successful track record over the years by investing primarily in deeply discounted securities. He uses advanced discounted cash flow techniques, along with a host of fundamental research, to uncover quality stocks that are trading well below their actual intrinsic value. Nathan's previous experience includes a long tenure at AXA/Equitable Advisors, where he provided comprehensive investment advisory services to small businesses and high net-worth clients. He also honed his research skills at Morgan Keegan, where he performed asset allocation, retirement planning, and consultative portfolio management services.<< MORE >>

The first quarter of 2008 was a dismal one for most investors, with the major averages chalking up one of their worst periods in more than five years. However, stocks recovered smartly on the first day of the new quarter (April 1st) — giving the market renewed optimism that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. It may have felt like a cruel April Fools' Day joke, but the Dow Jones really did rocket nearly 400 points this past Tuesday, driven by a healthy recovery in the beleaguered financial sector. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and Citigroup (NYSE: C) all put in gains of around +10%, and Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) surged almost +20%. << MORE >>

Until this decade, investing in Latin America was similar to a canoe trip on the Amazon River: a potentially rewarding journey — but watch out for piranhas! A country's stock market reflects its economy, and most Latin American economies were characterized by instability, unpredictability, and wild boom-and-bust cycles. But since the turn of the century, we've witnessed a sea change in Latin America. Thanks to the confluence of several positive factors, the region's largest economies have become paradigms of strong, stable economic growth — and its stock markets have surged as a result.<< MORE >>

If you're looking for both high yields and enormous capital gains, then you need to learn more about our "Income Security of the Month" for April 2008. This stable, diversified fund has a long track record of paying some of the biggest dividends in Wall Street history. In fact, the fund has paid an average dividend of 24.5% per year over the past five years — over 12X greater than the yield delivered by the S&P! This fund invests exclusively in one of the fastest-growing and most undervalued foreign markets on the planet. Thanks in large part to its international strategy, the fund has posted total returns of +297.3% over the past five years, and it ranks in the top 10% of its category over the past decade. << MORE >>

Right after a week where the major averages turned in one of their best performances in more than five years, all registering gains of +3.5% or better after the Fed's latest rate cut, uncertainty has quickly returned to the market. For a time, the Fed's bold actions and the resulting euphoria on Wall Street had some asking if maybe, just maybe, we had put in a bottom. And that optimism spilled over into this past week, as the Dow shot up nearly 200 points on Monday, bolstered by JP Morgan's (NYSE: JPM) sweetened offer for Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) and a surprisingly upbeat report from the most unlikely of places — the housing sector. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes actually rose about +3% in February. << MORE >>

When gut-wrenching volatility hits the market and the economic outlook is negative, nervous investors look for safe, dependable investments. And you would be hard-pressed to find any safer payouts than those offered by U.S. Treasuries. Treasury bonds are considered credit risk-free, in that interest and principal payments are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. But this safety doesn't come at the expense of returns, particularly when the markets are in a rut. Treasuries trounced the S&P 500 in 2007 for the first time in five years. Many exchange-traded treasury funds more than doubled the S&P 500's total returns of +5.5%.<< MORE >>

Right after the major averages turned in one of their best performances in more than five years, all registering gains of +3.5% or better after the Fed's latest rate cut, uncertainty has quickly returned to the market. For a time, the Fed's bold actions and the resulting euphoria on Wall Street had some asking if maybe, just maybe we had put in a bottom. And that optimism spilled over into this past week, as the Dow shot up nearly 200 points on Monday, bolstered by JP Morgan's sweetened offer for Bear Stearns and a surprisingly upbeat report from the most unlikely of places — the housing sector. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes actually rose about +3% in February. << MORE >>

It was greeted as "an oddball security from Canada" when it debuted in December 2003. Wall Street pundit Richard Steinberg compared this new security to "the roach motel where you check in, but you can't check out." Steinberg thought investors wouldn't be able to easily trade this new type of security since it was so different, and people at the time were still favoring growth over yield.<< MORE >>

With April 15th right around the corner, millions of last-minute tax filers will be scrambling to complete their 1040 form over the next couple weeks. By that point, nearly every taxpayer will know whether they have to cut a check to Uncle Sam, or whether they can expect to receive a nice refund. In either case, there's a good possibility that you could have been sitting even better — with either a narrower tax liability or a fatter refund. I'm not referring to any obscure deductions you may have missed. Instead, take just a few minutes to skim back over Schedules "B" and "D" one more time.<< MORE >>

Shares in debt recovery specialist Portfolio Recovery Associates (Nasdaq: PRAA ) have continued to rally sharply, gaining +18.0% over the past month. In late February, PRAA reported fourth-quarter earnings of $0.70, below analysts' consensus expectations of $0.73. However, PRAA beat expectations in other areas, reporting fourth-quarter revenues of $57.3 million against expectations of $54.7 million.<< MORE >>

Whenever economic uncertainty roils the markets, investors often turn to the defensive healthcare sector. After all, people get sick and need medical treatment regardless of economic conditions, which makes a company like Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) somewhat resistant to a downturn. Abbott is a leading pharmaceutical provider, riding the success of blockbuster products like Humira — a drug used to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's Disease. The firm is also a major supplier of diet shakes and other nutritional products, as well as diagnostic equipment for blood banks, hospital labs and other testing and screening facilities. Finally, the company also manufactures stents and other instruments to promote vascular health.<< MORE >>

On June 5, 1947 the U.S. Secretary of State delivered a commencement address in the famous Harvard Yard. In a move that's almost unthinkable in modern politics, the Secretary chose this venue in an effort not to attract significant attention from the press. You see, the Secretary's words were intended to kick off a major new policy initiative for then-President Harry S. Truman. But President Truman suspected that the new policy would be met with significant initial resistance from the U.S. public and several prominent members of Congress.<< MORE >>

If you've traveled abroad recently, then you probably understand the impact of a weaker dollar when it comes to purchasing power. In early 2002, it took about $0.83 to buy one euro — now it will cost you about $1.57. In other words, the same 200 euro-per-night Paris hotel room that cost $166 several years ago will now set you back about $314.<< MORE >>

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) is the nation's sixth-largest bank in terms of assets — with nearly $238 billion at last count. The Minneapolis-based firm operates over 2,500 branches in 24 states, mostly in the western and mid-western parts of the country, including an established presence in key markets such as St. Louis, Denver and Seattle. As of last quarter, the bank had a growing portfolio of credit card, commercial, residential mortgage, automobile, construction, and other loans totaling $151 billion. To support those loan activities, the firm has attracted more than $125 billion in deposits, roughly one-fifth of which are non-interest-bearing — essentially free money. << MORE >>

Although there were only four trading days in the past holiday-shortened week, there were enough market gyrations to last a month. On March 11th, the Dow Jones Industrials shot up 416 points on reassuring news that the Fed was pumping $200 billion in loans to liquidity-stricken financial institutions. Unfortunately, those gains unraveled within a few short days after worries intensified that Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) was in dire need of a bailout. And those fears came to surface this past Monday when word got out that JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) had engineered a deal to acquire the beleaguered company (which has borne the brunt of the mortgage-backed security meltdown) for the fire-sale price of $2 per share — a remarkable collapse for a stock trading above $150 at this point last year. << MORE >>

Nervous investors are spouting a lot of four-letter words at the market these days — and one of them is "SAFE." And you would be hard-pressed to find any safer payouts than those offered by U.S. Treasuries. Amid gut-wrenching volatility in the stock market and a slowing economy, investors are fleeing to the safety of these risk-free government bonds. Ultra-safe Treasuries trounced the S&P 500 last year for the first time in five years. The iShares Lehman 7-10 Year Treasury exchange-traded fund (NYSE: IEF), which tracks U.S. Treasuries, returned a hefty +10.4%, nearly double the S&P 500's total return of +5.5%. Inflation-linked government bonds have done even better — with the iShares Lehman TIPS ETF (NYSE: TIP) returning +11.9% for the year.<< MORE >>

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) is the world's largest producer of a fertilizer known as potash. Potash is a potassium compound that is not synthetically produced, but mined from a few key locations around the world — Canada is a key producer. Prices for agricultural commodities are soaring. Corn prices are up +135% over the past five years, wheat prices are up +250% and soybeans are up +170%. One driver of that growth: surging demand for ethanol. << MORE >>

It's one of the biggest investment topics being discussed at the moment... The news coming from this sector has become so bad, and sentiment has become so negative, that I mentioned to my wife the other evening that perhaps we should look to capitalize on it. The Mrs. is very bright (that must be where the kids get it from), but one thing she is not is a risk taker. And certainly not when all hell is breaking loose in the markets.<< MORE >>

New Zealand is one of the world's most beautiful countries, full of rolling meadows, breathtaking mountain ranges and unspoiled shorelines that stretch from the tropics to the edge of the Antarctic region. With only four million citizens, it's a lovely place to travel if you love scenery but hate crowds. And it's also a potentially gorgeous source of investment opportunities, especially if you like high-yield securities. That's because the country boasts the world's highest-yielding stocks — 8.5%, on average. << MORE >>

Hardly any investor likes to see the market drop, especially as sharply as we have seen over the past few months. The good news? A declining market not only makes stocks more affordable for value investors — it can also dramatically ratchet up their yields. And over the long-term, a little extra yield goes a long way. << MORE >>

If you've traveled abroad recently, then you probably understand the impact of a weaker dollar when it comes to purchasing power. In early 2002, it took about $0.83 to buy one euro — now it will cost you about $1.57. In other words, the same 200 euro-per-night Paris hotel room that cost $166 several years ago will now set you back about $314.<< MORE >>

Cemex (NYSE: CX) is the world's #3 supplier of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and other products. The company boasts a production capacity of 75 million cubic meters of ready-mix concrete and nearly 100 million tons of cement annually. With operations spanning 50 countries around the globe, revenues are expected to approach $25 billion this year. Like many commodities (including coal and iron ore), cement shipping costs can be high — which often means that purchasers will do business with the closest suppliers to minimize transportation expenses. This often serves as a formidable barrier to entry, giving entrenched market leaders a distinct edge over outside competitors. And Cemex has a dominant hold in many parts of the world, including Mexico — where it commands more than 50% of the market. << MORE >>

Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMP ) is one of the largest owners and operators of energy-related pipelines and storage facilities in the U.S. KMP operates natural gas, refined products and carbon dioxide pipelines that ship these commodities around the nation. Competitive Advantages: Pipeline and storage assets offer large barriers to entry for would-be competitors. Such assets require significant planning and regulatory approvals before they're built. << MORE >>

Published: March 5, 2008 "I think we need to tell the American consumer that [prices] are going up. We're seeing cost increases that we've never seen in our business." That's direct from Larry Pope, chief executive of Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD), the largest U.S. pork processor. And he's merely voicing the beliefs of many in the agriculture industry, who warn that "real food inflation" is here to stay.<< MORE >>

After a seemingly endless stream of disappointing news, investors finally had a few reasons to cheer this past week. The Fed, in conjunction with its counterparts in Europe, unveiled bold plans on Tuesday to help rescue troubled lenders. Beginning later this month, banks, investment houses and other financial institutions will be able to put up mortgage-backed debt (for which there is little demand) as collateral for $200 billion in Treasury loans. By pumping this money into the system, the Fed is hoping to ease the cash crunch, mend the fragile credit markets and encourage banks to extend loans to businesses and individuals. Stocks rocketed higher on the news, with the Dow Jones Industrials soaring 416 points, or +3.6% — its sharpest one-day percentage gain since March 2003.<< MORE >>

If you're looking for both high yields and enormous capital gains, then you need to learn more about our "Income Security of the Month" for March 2008. This stable, diversified fund has a long track record of paying some of the biggest dividends in Wall Street history. In fact, the fund has paid an average dividend of 24.5% per year over the past five years — over 12X greater than the yield delivered by the S&P! This fund invests exclusively in one of the fastest-growing and most undervalued foreign markets on the planet. Thanks in large part to its international strategy, the fund has posted total returns of +295.8% over the past five years, and it ranks in the top 10% of its category over the past decade.<< MORE >>