by Jim Bach
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes today did little to quell confusion over when the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.
The expectation is that the Fed will raise rates sometime in the summer. But the direction of Fed monetary policy has become more complicated than simply pegging a rate increase to what has become an arbitrary consensus estimate.
That's because there are so many potential policy directions, and Fed ambiguity makes nothing certain.
Here's how you should read today's latest round of Fed uncertainty.
The Dow Jones today slipped 17 points. The cause? The U.S. Federal Reserve released minutes from its January Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
The verdict: The central bank is unlikely to raise interest rates in the near future. Gold prices ticked up from a seven-week low after the release of the minutes. Brent crude oil prices slumped nearly 4%, while WTI fell 3.5%.
Here are the other top market stories from today - plus our new profit tip for investors...
Crude oil prices continue to be volatile, with both Brent and WTI falling about 3% Wednesday.
But near-term volatility aside, oil prices are recovering from their recent lows. Brent has gained more than 30% since late January and is now over $60 a barrel. WTI is over $52.
While oil isn't going to surge in the short term, there are definite opportunities here. Oil won't have to hit triple digits for them to pay off, either.
Here's how to the play the rebound in energy...
The IPO boom is exploding all around you. Problem is, most retail investors can't get anywhere near hot IPOs.
That's because there's a hefty premium to pay for the stock after it's already begun trading, and this seriously cuts into your profits.
But we know how to side-step the gluttons on Wall Street with just one lucrative play...
All eyes are on Greek debt crisis this week, and rightfully so.
The country lied to get into the European Union, managed its finances terribly during its membership, and now wants to renege on its obligations. I'm not surprised and chances are you aren't either. We've been talking about the fallacy of central banking and the dangers associated with derivatives trading for years.
The U.S. marijuana industry is booming. Medical marijuana is now legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Recreational use is legalized in four states, with others eyeing legislation. Research firm GreenWave Advisors estimates the U.S. market could be worth $35 billion by 2020 if it is legalized federally.
But that industry growth has come with a dangerous trend: Pot stocks are scamming investors by trying to pass themselves off as the next hot marijuana startup.
Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) and another market leader are coming together in California to tackle the solar power industry's biggest roadblock.
And half a world away, an entire country has announced a major push to provide 15% of its electricity needs from renewables in just a few short years – starting with solar power.
Here's the scoop on the impending solar power boom...
U.S. stock futures for Wednesday, Feb. 18 were down 20 points from yesterday's close as investors seek clarity on the Greek debt situation.
This morning, investors will be looking ahead to this afternoon, when the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its January meeting. The focus will center on whether the FOMC has changed any language of its policy statements to hint a sooner-than-expected interest-rate increase.
About two weeks ago, my local alarm company came out to upgrade my backup cellular transmitter. I got a package deal that also included installation of the advanced touch-screen control panel.
As a gadget and security geek, that touch-screen blew me away. It includes a mobile app for remote monitoring, and it seamlessly integrates with the system's digital surveillance video.
I ended up ordering three more motion-sensitive, full-color surveillance cameras. Plus, I ordered a second control panel.
And then I had a "eureka" moment...
by David Zeiler
Cybersecurity news: This was just what the 29 million customers of tax preparation software TurboTax feared most – a fraud alert.
On Feb. 6 TurboTax, a unit of Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), was forced to suspend its processing of state tax returns for 24 hours. In the preceding days Intuit and 19 states had noticed a spike in fraudulent state tax returns.
It means taxpayers need to get a lot more proactive about cybersecurity.
