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Top gold mining stocks, both in earnings and stock performance, include Randgold,Agnico Eagle ( AEM ),Iamgold ( IAG ),Royal Gold ( RGLD ) andAllied Nevada Gold ( ANV ). But low interest rates and fear of inflation, due in part to quantitative easing, give gold a chance to show its strength as a shape-shifting asset. As for gold miners, said HSBC Securities analyst Patrick Chidley, "I think the stocks are very cheap and trading on multiples we haven't seen in decades."

However, the ECB seems reluctant and the unexpected rise in the September flash CPI reading of 2.7% (Bloomberg consensus was 2.4%) reported at the end of last week, will give it cover. A subtext is because the ECB has knowingly gone against the Bundesbank and its hard money stance with its Outright Market Transaction program and its liberal collateral framework, some concession must be made. Prime Minister Rajoy meets with regional leaders on Tuesday, but it will be difficult to diffuse the situation ahead of the local elections in Galicia and Basque Country on Oct 21.

ET, with the Labor Department expected to report that initial unemployment filings rose to 375,000 from 367,000 last week. Export and import prices come out at the same time but are unlikely to move the market because inflation is not a pressing concern for traders at present. Last week natural-gas inventories climbed 77 billion cubic feet, and oil supplies shrank by 480,000 barrels.

ET, with the Labor Department expected to report that initial unemployment filings rose to 375,000 from 367,000 last week. Export and import prices come out at the same time but are unlikely to move the market because inflation is not a pressing concern for traders at present. Last week natural-gas inventories climbed 77 billion cubic feet, and oil supplies shrank by 480,000 barrels.

ECB Governor Jorg Asmussen spoke overnight, saying that the new OMT program is not inflationary and that the aid request does not automatically trigger bond purchases, rather it is just one condition. Standard and Poor's downgraded BNP Paribas to A+ from AA- and lowered its outlook on Credit Agricole and Societe Generale, the other two French mega-banks. Brands (NYSE: YUM ) fell 1.7 percent pre-market as investors fear that one of its strongest units, its Asian arm, is set to see growth rates continue to slow.

However, the ECB seems reluctant and the unexpected rise in the September flash CPI reading of 2.7% (Bloomberg consensus was 2.4%) reported at the end of last week, will give it cover. A subtext is because the ECB has knowingly gone against the Bundesbank and its hard money stance with its Outright Market Transaction program and its liberal collateral framework, some concession must be made. Prime Minister Rajoy meets with regional leaders on Tuesday, but it will be difficult to diffuse the situation ahead of the local elections in Galicia and Basque Country on Oct 21.

O'Neil discussed the action and traits of big winners in the 2009-11 bull market, includingAlexion Pharmaceuticals ( ALXN ),Baidu ( BIDU ), Chipotle Mexican Grill ( CMG ),Lululemon ( LULU ) andUlta Beauty ( ULTA ) . Indeed, that bull market, spurred by President Reagan's tax cuts and Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker's success in killing inflation, produced huge gains. Today the plunge in natural gas prices spurred by hydraulic fracturing could be a potential catalyst for new big stock winners -- and the overall economy, which continues to struggle three years into a recovery.

Wall Street analyst upgrades helped shares of PNC Financial ( PNC ) and Family Dollar Stores ( FDO ) end the day in positive territory. Elsewhere, we were watching other big names move in opposite directions with the likes of Time Warner Cable ( TWC ) and Phillip Morris International ( PM ) attracting buyers, while shares of Yum! Buying Power Erosion As the Federal Reserve continues to punish savers, investing in income-producing assets is one of the few options investors have to remain ahead of real-life inflation.

These ventures are expected to contribute immensely to Apache in setting up a strong foothold in the rapidly growing global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Apache - which partners Chevron Corporation ( CVX ) in another Australian natural gas venture, Wheatstone Project - currently retains a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating). However, Apache's sensitivity to gas/oil price volatility, its drilling results, inflationary cost conditions, geo-political risks and project timing delays continue to be an overhang on the stock.

The 2008 crisis was triggered by a return of risk to the markets: as investors had to price in rising volatility -- for no apparent reason -- banks had to de-lever to make their sophisticated value-at-risk models work. Good luck to the Federal Reserve in containing fallout in the bond market if indeed we get the sort of growth Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is advocating. We just point to the most recent debt ceiling discussion where both Democrats and Republicans appeared open to changing the definition of the Consumer Price Index (( CPI )) to do just that.

Today'seconomic calendarincludes data on inflation and consumer sentiment, but bank earnings could be the key catalyst. This data is unlikely to sway investor sentiment because the market is not focused on inflation risks or the possibility of tighter monetary policy. A weaker number could hurt sentiment, while a strong one could support risk appetite.

The index's current SPDR holdings areFinancial Select Sector ( XLF ),Health Care Select Sector ( XLV ),Industrial Select Sector ( XLI ) andTechnology Select Sector ( XLK ). Economist and best-selling author Robert Shiller, who developed the Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, has rolled out an exchange traded note with Barclays Bank. "The premise of this strategy is that inflation-adjusted trailing 10-year-industry price-to-earnings ratios, or PE10 have predictive power," said Rick Ferri, founder of Portfolio Solutions in Troy, Mich., with $1.1 billion in assets under management.

The index's current SPDR holdings areFinancial Select Sector ( XLF ),Health Care Select Sector ( XLV ),Industrial Select Sector ( XLI ) andTechnology Select Sector ( XLK ). Economist and best-selling author Robert Shiller, who developed the Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, has rolled out an exchange traded note with Barclays Bank. "The premise of this strategy is that inflation-adjusted trailing 10-year-industry price-to-earnings ratios, or PE10 have predictive power," said Rick Ferri, founder of Portfolio Solutions in Troy, Mich., with $1.1 billion in assets under management.

ECB Governor Jorg Asmussen spoke overnight, saying that the new OMT program is not inflationary and that the aid request does not automatically trigger bond purchases, rather it is just one condition. Standard and Poor's downgraded BNP Paribas to A+ from AA- and lowered its outlook on Credit Agricole and Societe Generale, the other two French mega-banks. Brands (NYSE: YUM ) fell 1.7 percent pre-market as investors fear that one of its strongest units, its Asian arm, is set to see growth rates continue to slow.

Inflation data hasn't been a major theme recently because the Federal Reserve has pledged to keep interest rates low, but an especially strong reading could be negative for stocks. Given that its results are considered a barometer for the broader industry, it could affect a wide range of Nasdaq companies. Sentiment has been bearish in technology recently because of weak enterprise spending and a moribund PC market.

Today'seconomic calendarincludes data on inflation and consumer sentiment, but bank earnings could be the key catalyst. This data is unlikely to sway investor sentiment because the market is not focused on inflation risks or the possibility of tighter monetary policy. A weaker number could hurt sentiment, while a strong one could support risk appetite.

Membership warehouse operator Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ) on Thursday posted a rise in September sales numbers, helped partially by the recent inflation in gas prices. The Bottom Line Shares of Costco ( COST ) have a 1.10% dividend yield, based on last night's closing stock price of $99.62. Costco shares posted small gains in premarket trading Thursday.

PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish ( UUP ) slipped 0.23% to 21.90. Shutterstock photo Gold prices were flat Wednesday as the buying hype surrounding the Federal Reserve's third round of quantitative easing faded and the metal lost appeal as a safe haven amid an outlook for weak corporate earnings and inflation. The program's $40 billion a month in mortgage-backed securities purchases is too little to make a difference in a market worth $8.5 trillion.

However, the world's second-largest oilfield services company after Schlumberger Ltd. ( SLB ) believes that despite certain issues in North America - characterized by depressed natural gas fundamentals and cost inflation - the long-term prospects for the business remain robust. HALLIBURTON CO (HAL): Free Stock Analysis Report SCHLUMBERGER LT (SLB): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. However, the company's per share adjusted profits came sharply lower than the third quarter 2011 level of 94 cents (excluding an asset impairment charge) amid sluggish activity in its core North American operations.

The 2008 crisis was triggered by a return of risk to the markets: as investors had to price in rising volatility -- for no apparent reason -- banks had to de-lever to make their sophisticated value-at-risk models work. Good luck to the Federal Reserve in containing fallout in the bond market if indeed we get the sort of growth Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is advocating. We just point to the most recent debt ceiling discussion where both Democrats and Republicans appeared open to changing the definition of the Consumer Price Index (( CPI )) to do just that.

Disclosure: I am long [[GLD]] via options. One must also keep in mind that during times of economic boom inflation can often run at higher levels, but gold will not be sought as an investment, since stocks and other asset classes will be better performers. In very basic supply & demand economic theory one would expect no change in the EUR/USD exchange rate, and hence, if that was the currency pair one used to determine the value of the USD, they would say it was just as strong as it was yesterday.

No local economic data was released but a raft of companies held their Annual General Meetings ( AGM ) while the Australian dollar was well supported ahead of tomorrow's key inflation numbers. AFTERNOON REPORT (5pm AEDT) The Australian share market managed only a small win today. After reaching an intra-day high of 4588.7pts, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed higher by 3.4pts or 0.1pct to 4568.

And that's why just like QE1 and QE2, the launch of QE3 has encouraged droves of investors to stockpile part of their wealth in gold and other hard assets like oil, timber, copper, andreal estate ... anything but depreciating greenbacks. With QE3 officially underway, investing in hard assets like gold and silver (and the companies that mine for the metals) is the best solution to safeguard against the erosive impact of inflation on your purchasing power. On Sept. 13, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to unleash a thirdwave of quantitative easing (QE3) to combat the economic slowdown.

ECB Governor Jorg Asmussen spoke overnight, saying that the new OMT program is not inflationary and that the aid request does not automatically trigger bond purchases, rather it is just one condition. Standard and Poor's downgraded BNP Paribas to A+ from AA- and lowered its outlook on Credit Agricole and Societe Generale, the other two French mega-banks. Brands (NYSE: YUM ) fell 1.7 percent pre-market as investors fear that one of its strongest units, its Asian arm, is set to see growth rates continue to slow.

Top gold mining stocks, both in earnings and stock performance, include Randgold,Agnico Eagle ( AEM ),Iamgold ( IAG ),Royal Gold ( RGLD ) andAllied Nevada Gold ( ANV ). But low interest rates and fear of inflation, due in part to quantitative easing, give gold a chance to show its strength as a shape-shifting asset. As for gold miners, said HSBC Securities analyst Patrick Chidley, "I think the stocks are very cheap and trading on multiples we haven't seen in decades."

The iShares Barclays Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Bond Fund (NYSE: TIP ) is another popular option for the same reasons. TIP is perceived to be safe, the expense ratio of 0.2 percent is fair and the trailing 12-month yield of almost two percent is better than a money market account. That said, owning PCY does mean incurring more risk than holding TLT or TIP.

PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish ( UUP ), measuring the greenback against a basket of foreign currencies, shed 0.23% to 22.07. Shutterstock photo Gold prices rallied along with the stock market from oversold levels Tuesday as investors cast overwhelming support for precious metals and energy producers on Election Day. "First, the Australian central bank's decision not to raise rates was driven by a view that growth is back on track in China and, to a much more moderate degree the U.S." Keep in mind that commodity-centric Australia is prone to inflation, they noted.

Today'seconomic calendaris dominated by consumer data and comments by the Federal Reserve. Economists predict contraction of about 0.3 percent excluding autos, while the overall number is expected to be little changed. The report will probably have a muted impact on trading because inflation hasn't been a major concern for investors recently.

Moody's backing of the stable outlook and India's investment-grade status could serve to calm investor fears that the country's departure to junk territory is imminent. The ratings agency criticized India's high government deficit and debt ratios, problems with inflation and decrepit infrastructure, among other issues. With heavy allocations to the country's financial services and energy sectors, EPI and INDY can ill afford Indian debt to be rated as junk.

Offshore drilling giant Transocean Ltd. ( RIG ) reported mixed third quarter 2012 results, reflecting better utilization levels and controlled operating costs, partially offset by a dip in average daily revenue in midwater floaters. The company has business contracts with oil firms such as Eni SpA ( E ), Total SA ( TOT ) and Royal Dutch Shell plc ( RDS.A ). However, operational issues such as fluctuating dayrates and inflationary cost conditions along with the company's high debt have kept us on the sidelines.

For this reason, even if we call U.S. Treasury securities ( TLT ) "debt," they have very little in common with debt securities such as mortgages and corporate bonds. My view is that the U.S. government, regardless of whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney is President in 2013, will continue to exhibit an inflationary bias, making investments that thrive in that environment more ideal. Homebuilders, real estate, and financial institutions might also be losers in one sense, since the mortgage tax deduction might get chopped in this proposal, but this might be partly offset by a general economic boost.

SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ), tracking a 10th of an ounce of bullion, jumped 1.82% to 166.20 in heavy volume. Gold prices rallied along with the stock market from oversold levels Tuesday as investors cast overwhelming support for precious metals and energy producers on Election Day. "First, the Australian central bank's decision not to raise rates was driven by a view that growth is back on track in China and, to a much more moderate degree the U.S." Keep in mind that commodity-centric Australia is prone to inflation, they noted.

SPDR Gold Trust( GLD) Gold has attracted investors' attention for a very long time, not only due to its status as store of value and inflation-hedge, but also due to excellent diversification that it provides to the portfolio. GLD, launched in 2004 provided an innovative, cost-efficient and secure way to invest in the metal to such investors. Thus it's no surprise that GLD is the second most popular ETF with about $75 billion in assets under management.

For many folks that are well into retirement, conventional wisdom has been that the bulk of their fixed income portfolios belong in U.S. Treasuries due to perceived safety. That perceived safety increases the allure of an ETF such as the iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (NYSE: TLT ). The iShares Barclays Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Bond Fund (NYSE: TIP ) is another popular option for the same reasons.

In the first article , I asserted that the relationship expressed in the simple equation EY - DY - 10y + 1y = 0 did a remarkable job of expressing the movements of the S&P earnings yield (EY), the S&P dividend yield (( DY )), the ten-year Treasury yield (10y), and the one-year Treasury yield (1y). EY - DY - 10y + 1y does not equal zero. Since the 1960s or thereabouts, we can say that EY - DY - 10y + 1y = CPI%.

Examples include DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit ( DBL ) and PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund ( PDI ). Disclosure: I am long [[DBL]], [[PDI]], [[HYS]], [[AMLP]], [[VGK]], [[FEZ]], and [[DOO]] but positions may change at any time. Broad Opportunity Set Outside of Government Bonds Source: PIMCO Natural Resources Since the range of potential outcomes in a deleveraging process can be extraordinarily wide, we believe the optimal portfolio should maintain a barbell approach to hedging both inflation and deflation risks.

Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF ( GDX ) climbed 2.64% to 23.70. Gold prices rallied along with the stock market from oversold levels Tuesday as investors cast overwhelming support for precious metals and energy producers on Election Day. "First, the Australian central bank's decision not to raise rates was driven by a view that growth is back on track in China and, to a much more moderate degree the U.S." Keep in mind that commodity-centric Australia is prone to inflation, they noted.

For example, many MMT followers favor focusing fiscal policy on the goal of full employment and adjusting tax rates to moderate aggregate demand when and if a threat of inflation develops. The proposition that we do not have to worry about debts and deficits because the government can never "run out of money" has become a mantra among followers of Modern Monetary Theory (( MMT )). Is MMT correct in its claim that a government can never become equitably insolvent?

The Financial Select Sector (XLF) tumbled 3.3%. Benchmarks suffered heavy losses on Wednesday following Barack Obama's victory, as investors' focus switched to the impending "fiscal cliff" debate and Europe's debt crisis. Meanwhile, European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said the risk of inflation in Europe is very low, but the debt crisis is starting to affect Germany.

The ratings agency criticized India's high government deficit and debt ratios, problems with inflation and decrepit infrastructure, among other issues. With heavy allocations to the country's financial services and energy sectors, EPI and INDY can ill afford Indian debt to be rated as junk. Shares of the WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (NYSE: EPI ), the largest India ETF by assets, traded higher by 1.1 percent Tuesday after Moody's Investors Service reiterated a stable outlook on India's sovereign debt rating.

Its peer, The TJX Companies Inc. ( TJX ) carries a much better rank, Zacks #2 Rank (short term Buy rating). KIRKLANDS INC (KIRK): Free Stock Analysis Report TJX COS INC NEW (TJX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Kirkland incurred a loss due to input cost inflation and weak sales.

Specific examples, and current holdings include Vanguard's MSCI Europe ETF ( VGK ), SPDR's Euro STOXX 50 (FEZ) and WisdomTree's International Dividend Fund Ex-Financials (DOO). Disclosure: I am long [[DBL]], [[PDI]], [[HYS]], [[AMLP]], [[VGK]], [[FEZ]], and [[DOO]] but positions may change at any time. Broad Opportunity Set Outside of Government Bonds Source: PIMCO Natural Resources Since the range of potential outcomes in a deleveraging process can be extraordinarily wide, we believe the optimal portfolio should maintain a barbell approach to hedging both inflation and deflation risks.

In most of those years though, the average dividend yield acted as a partial hedge, only offsetting a portion of the inflation rate. The dividend yield on an individual stock can vary greatly from that average, providing the capability to outpace inflation. By selecting individual stocks with higher dividend yields - but that are still stable companies - it is also possible to significantly outpace inflation.

"Despite today's positive performance, UGA is consolidating the October down move in the form of a 'bear flag' (chart pattern)," said Zev Spiro, CEO and chief market technician at Orips Research in New York. United States Gasoline ( UGA ) -- the largest ETF tracking gasoline futures -- soared 3.8% to 56.53. ETFs tracking gasoline prices flared up Friday as futures surged 3.5% on tight supplies in the storm-ravaged Northeast and expectations of the region's slow recovery boosting demand.

Retail may dominant the shortened trading session (markets close at 1pm) as millions of Americans head out to snag deals on Black Friday. Talks are ongoing among the Troika -- the ECB, EU and IMF -- over changing Greece's deficit targets prior to handing out the next tranche of aid. Canada's central bank officials have made comments in the past hinting that some form of monetary tightening may be necessary, a strong CPI number may lend credence to that view.

United States Oil Fund ( USO ), tracking West Texas Intermediate crude oil, added 1.37% to 31.73 as it bounced off of a four-month low. ETFs tracking gasoline prices flared up Friday as futures surged 3.5% on tight supplies in the storm-ravaged Northeast and expectations of the region's slow recovery boosting demand. "Despite today's positive performance, UGA is consolidating the October down move in the form of a 'bear flag' (chart pattern)," said Zev Spiro, CEO and chief market technician at Orips Research in New York.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. Japanese opposition candidate for Prime Minister Abe reiterated his stance on the Bank of Japan overnight, stating that the BoJ should adopt a 3 percent inflation target (currently 1 percent) and commit to unlimited QE to weaken the yen. Earnings Notable companies expected to report earnings Friday include: Foot Locker (NYSE: FL ) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.54 vs. $0.43 a year ago.

REPUBLIC SVCS (RSG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. We reaffirm our Underperform recommendation on Republic Services, Inc. ( RSG ) with a target price of $24. The top line declined due to reduction in fuel surcharge, volumes and recycling commodities pricing, partially offset by inflationary effect of core prices and acquisitions (net of divestitures).

Inflation (%) vs. Dominion Resource Dividend Yield (%) - January 1 Numbers Over the same timeframe, the dividend yield of Ventas Inc ( VTR ) also outpaced inflation consistently. In most of those years though, the average dividend yield acted as a partial hedge, only offsetting a portion of the inflation rate. The dividend yield on an individual stock can vary greatly from that average, providing the capability to outpace inflation.

Retail may dominant the shortened trading session (markets close at 1pm) as millions of Americans head out to snag deals on Black Friday. Talks are ongoing among the Troika -- the ECB, EU and IMF -- over changing Greece's deficit targets prior to handing out the next tranche of aid. Canada's central bank officials have made comments in the past hinting that some form of monetary tightening may be necessary, a strong CPI number may lend credence to that view.

The biggest losers here would be companies like H&R Block ( HRB ), Jackson-Hewitt, and tax lawyers. My view is that the U.S. government, regardless of whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney is President in 2013, will continue to exhibit an inflationary bias, making investments that thrive in that environment more ideal. Homebuilders, real estate, and financial institutions might also be losers in one sense, since the mortgage tax deduction might get chopped in this proposal, but this might be partly offset by a general economic boost.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) lost 2.6%. Benchmarks suffered heavy losses on Wednesday following Barack Obama's victory, as investors' focus switched to the impending "fiscal cliff" debate and Europe's debt crisis. Meanwhile, European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said the risk of inflation in Europe is very low, but the debt crisis is starting to affect Germany.

Two other reports will be released at the same: The New York Federal Reserve's Empire Manufacturing Survey and the Consumer Price Index. Politics and public finances remain the biggest concern for investors. Israel began an offensive against militants in Gaza yesterday, while uncertainty remains in the United States and Europe over government spending and debts.

Today'seconomic calendaris dominated by consumer data and comments by the Federal Reserve. Economists predict contraction of about 0.3 percent excluding autos, while the overall number is expected to be little changed. The report will probably have a muted impact on trading because inflation hasn't been a major concern for investors recently.

Notably, iron ore imports, a key measure of raw material demand in China, rose 8.2 percent as compared to a year ago, which is a strong increase and bullish for the economy. In addition, China reported fixed asset investment, retail sales, and inflation data Sunday, all of which further the bottoming thesis that many economists have held for some months now. Watch the iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 ETF (NYSE: FXI ) and the price of copper as key market indicators of the health of the Chinese economy as well as the AUD/USD exchange rate.

Geithner has stated that the Treasury will defer and delay some payments to create approximately $200 billion worth of additional room under the ceiling, but exactly how much time this buys is unknown. Newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced some of his cabinet members economic advisor Hamada spoke overnight, stating that the BoJ should consider buying more longer-dated JGB's and other longer-dated assets and would even consider buying foreign bonds to boost inflation through currency devaluation. However, they expect gold to rally in the face of increased central bank liquidity and rising inflation fears.

Said another way, DXJ has outperformed the ProShares UltraShort Yen (NYSE: YCS ), a double-leveraged play on the yen against the dollar. The Nikkei 225, Japan's benchmark equity index, has surged almost nine percent in the past month as investors have bought into the notion that newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could actually prove successful in weakening the yen. The headlines are a welcome respite from nearly two decades of spiraling equity prices, deflation, rising deficits and assorted other black marks that have plagued Japan, the world's third-largest economy.

Treasury Bonds had another impressive year, with the 10-year Treasury note returning about 4.4% year-to-date, despite several gurus talking about the bond bubble burst. Bond yields may finally rise in 2013 as the macroeconomic situation improves, even though the Fed will maintain the rates near zero at least until the unemployment rate drops to 6.5% or inflation exceeds 2.5%. They will also continue massive purchases of bonds.

Geithner has stated that the Treasury will defer and delay some payments to create approximately $200 billion worth of additional room under the ceiling, but exactly how much time this buys is unknown. Newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced some of his cabinet members economic advisor Hamada spoke overnight, stating that the BoJ should consider buying more longer-dated JGB's and other longer-dated assets and would even consider buying foreign bonds to boost inflation through currency devaluation. However, they expect gold to rally in the face of increased central bank liquidity and rising inflation fears.

This year, TIP outperformed both the iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund ( IEF ) and the iShares Barclays 10-20 Year Treasury Bond Fund ( TLH ) on a total return basis. Monetary inflation refers to the dilution of ancient coins' intrinsic value-back when gold and silver were the currency of the day-by the alloy of precious with base metals. This makes sense since the principal value of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities adjust to accommodate changes in CPI-U, i.e., inflating apace with an upward CPI trend to protect the holder's purchasing power.

In 2011, the company's international business generated earnings of $2.21 billion against $780 million in 2010, followed by consistent growth thus far in 2012, primarily backed by American Life Insurance Co. (ALICO), which was acquired from American International Group Inc. ( AIG ) in November 2010. AMER INTL GRP (AIG): Free Stock Analysis Report GENL ELECTRIC (GE): Free Stock Analysis Report METLIFE INC (MET): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. However, management views moderated growth in 2013 based on the inflationary pressure and an extended low interest rate scenario across economies.

PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish ( UUP ), measuring the greenback against a basket of major foreign currencies, ticked up 0.14%. Gold and silver prices sold off as traders booked profits Thursday following a rally the prior session sparked by the Federal Reserve announcing more economic stimulus. Christopher Blasi, president of gold and metals dealer Neptune Global Holdings in Wilmington, Del., sees a deflationary angle.

Japanese Finance Minister Aso spoke overnight, stating that the government would intervene in currency markets when gains or losses in the yen become excessive. The People's Bank of China released a statement overnight saying that current inflation levels are are stable and that the PBOC will use various policy tools to drive credit growth. Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) shares fell 2.5 percent as the company reached a deal with Blackberry maker Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) to license some patents.

Geithner has stated that the Treasury will defer and delay some payments to create approximately $200 billion worth of additional room under the ceiling, but exactly how much time this buys is unknown. Newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced some of his cabinet members economic advisor Hamada spoke overnight, stating that the BoJ should consider buying more longer-dated JGB's and other longer-dated assets and would even consider buying foreign bonds to boost inflation through currency devaluation. However, they expect gold to rally in the face of increased central bank liquidity and rising inflation fears.

Japanese Finance Minister Aso spoke overnight, stating that the government would intervene in currency markets when gains or losses in the yen become excessive. The People's Bank of China released a statement overnight saying that current inflation levels are are stable and that the PBOC will use various policy tools to drive credit growth. Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) shares fell 2.5 percent as the company reached a deal with Blackberry maker Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) to license some patents.

Watch the iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 ETF (NYSE: FXI ) and the price of copper as key market indicators of the health of the Chinese economy as well as the AUD/USD exchange rate. Notably, iron ore imports, a key measure of raw material demand in China, rose 8.2 percent as compared to a year ago, which is a strong increase and bullish for the economy. In addition, China reported fixed asset investment, retail sales, and inflation data Sunday, all of which further the bottoming thesis that many economists have held for some months now.

Inflation hasn't been a worry for investors recently and is unlikely to affect broader market sentiment. The so-called core reading, which excludes food and energy, is expected to rise about 0.4 percent. The biggest news may actually occur well before the market opens when China's HSBC flash PMI manufacturing index is released overnight.

Japanese Finance Minister Aso spoke overnight, stating that the government would intervene in currency markets when gains or losses in the yen become excessive. The People's Bank of China released a statement overnight saying that current inflation levels are are stable and that the PBOC will use various policy tools to drive credit growth. Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) shares fell 2.5 percent as the company reached a deal with Blackberry maker Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) to license some patents.

Geithner has stated that the Treasury will defer and delay some payments to create approximately $200 billion worth of additional room under the ceiling, but exactly how much time this buys is unknown. Newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced some of his cabinet members economic advisor Hamada spoke overnight, stating that the BoJ should consider buying more longer-dated JGB's and other longer-dated assets and would even consider buying foreign bonds to boost inflation through currency devaluation. However, they expect gold to rally in the face of increased central bank liquidity and rising inflation fears.

Amgen ( AMGN ) shares finished nearly unchanged after the biotech giant updated the investment community with news of a hefty dividend hike (bringing it above 2%). This morning's CPI numbers, which showed that the cost of living fell 0.3% last month, gave skeptics some fresh ammunition to question the validity of governmental statistics. Best Buy ( BBY ) gave back much of yesterday's rally, as the company extended the date for its former founder to make a bid.

Inflation hasn't been a worry for investors recently and is unlikely to affect broader market sentiment. The so-called core reading, which excludes food and energy, is expected to rise about 0.4 percent. The biggest news may actually occur well before the market opens when China's HSBC flash PMI manufacturing index is released overnight.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S. Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd ( WIA ) has announced an ex-dividend date of December 12, 2012 and a cash dividend payment of $0.032 per share scheduled for December 31, 2012. Shareholders who purchased WIA stock prior to the ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment. For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the WIA Dividend History page.

With the long term outlook on energy improving, the impact of rising fuel prices on retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target ( TGT ) and Costco ( COST ) should lessen. In the recently concluded quarter, Wal-Mart's ( WMT ) growth slowed due to sluggish consumer spending and higher gasoline prices. For instance, consumer spending in September 2012 remained below average when gasoline prices were at a peak of $3.85/gallon .

( HNZ ) and BRF Basil Food ( BRFS ) carry a Zacks #3 (Hold) Rank. Learn more about earnings estimates and our proven stock ratings at http://www.zacks.com/education/ BRF-BRASIL FOOD (BRFS): Free Stock Analysis Report CONAGRA FOODS (CAG): Free Stock Analysis Report HEINZ (HJ) CO (HNZ): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Results in the quarter were driven by improved potato operations, moderating inflation and contribution from acquired businesses.

Market Vectors Vietnam ETF (NYSE: VNM ) Due to inflation problems that, until this year, could best be described as rampant, the State Bank of Vietnam has not been able to cut interest rates in more than two years . If that does happen, expect a bounce in VNM. Granted, Abe is less than two weeks removed from victory, but his pre- and post-election rhetoric about weakening the yen and getting Japan's inflation rate to two percent has been sharp.

The longer the fiscal cliff remains unsolved, odds increase that the full $600 billion in government spending cuts will be seen, draining the U.S. economy in the process. That is the case because this ETF's bullish performance in recent weeks is tied solely to expectations that new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be successful at forcing the Bank of Japan to engineer at least two percent inflation and unlimited, yen-weakening monetary easing. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility Index Fund was even better as that ETF found a way to close modestly higher on the week.

Japanese Finance Minister Aso spoke overnight, stating that the government would intervene in currency markets when gains or losses in the yen become excessive. The People's Bank of China released a statement overnight saying that current inflation levels are are stable and that the PBOC will use various policy tools to drive credit growth. Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) shares fell 2.5 percent as the company reached a deal with Blackberry maker Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) to license some patents.

Notable 2012 IPOs that had strong earnings results last week include Five Below ( FIVE ), Splunk ( SPLK ) and Infoblox (BLOX). Withdrawals highlight week of slow filing activity Five companies withdrew their IPO filings last week, including oil and gas E&P Ute Energy (UTE), Texas-based bank PlainsCapital (PCB) hydraulic fracturing company FTS International (FTSI), Chinese light bulb maker TCP International (TCPI.RC) and biofuel producer Fulcrum Energy (FLCM). While eight companies were able to update their filings this past week, data suggest that half of the US pipeline consists of stale or postponed deals.

TIPS can be considered the closest thing to a truly risk-free asset, as they combine the security of Treasuries with inflation protection in the form of Consumer Price Index-adjusted principal. Many investors buy a laddered portfolio of individual TIPS to immunize future cash flow, which is a straightforward and generally successful way to preserve purchasing power between two points in time. The other option is iShares Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ( STIP ), which is far smaller and much less liquid (as measured by average trading volume) than STPZ.

Granted, Abe is less than two weeks removed from victory, but his pre- and post-election rhetoric about weakening the yen and getting Japan's inflation rate to two percent has been sharp. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told a Vietnamese press outlet that the country has room to cut rates. The Indonesian Rupiah has faltered against the U.S. dollar this year, but the country has a widening current-account deficit and a $1.5 billion trade gap as of October, according to Bloomberg .

Japanese Finance Minister Aso spoke overnight, stating that the government would intervene in currency markets when gains or losses in the yen become excessive. The People's Bank of China released a statement overnight saying that current inflation levels are are stable and that the PBOC will use various policy tools to drive credit growth. Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) shares fell 2.5 percent as the company reached a deal with Blackberry maker Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) to license some patents.

Best Buy ( BBY ) gave back much of yesterday's rally, as the company extended the date for its former founder to make a bid. This morning's CPI numbers, which showed that the cost of living fell 0.3% last month, gave skeptics some fresh ammunition to question the validity of governmental statistics. Amgen ( AMGN ) shares finished nearly unchanged after the biotech giant updated the investment community with news of a hefty dividend hike (bringing it above 2%).

The Bank of Japan is set to accept the new 2 percent inflation target from Prime Minister Abe and will issue a joint statement following next week's BoJ meeting. General Electric (NYSE: GE ) shares rose 0.99 percent pre-market as the company received new patents over the weekend. Heartland Express (NASDAQ: HTLD ) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.16 vs. $0.20 a year ago.

One fear ahead of the Fiscal Cliff was that private investment in fixed assets would weaken demonstrably as companies lost confidence in the economy. Inflation also remained in check in the most recent quarter, which could prompt the Federal Reserve keep policy loose for the foreseeable future. Markets flinched on the release into a more risk-off mode, as stock futures and other risk assets declined quickly.

The prospect of a stable currency not only reduced inflation and its multiple distortions, it also increased the market's confidence in China, and helped boost investment in the country, since it all but eliminated foreign exchange risk. China's central bank started buying up capital inflows in earnest in early 2001, right about the time that gold was hitting a multi-year low. Don Luskin, a good friend, got me started down the path to an explanation for how China's forex reserves are connected to the rise in the price of gold.

( GIS ) recently announced the launch of its Yoplait branded Greek yogurt for kids, revealing its yet another effort to turnaround the sluggish Yoplait yogurt business. CONAGRA FOODS (CAG): Free Stock Analysis Report GENL MILLS (GIS): Free Stock Analysis Report KELLOGG CO (K): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. General Mills' Yoplait yogurt business is presently struggling as increased sales prices in response to dairy cost inflation is reducing the competitiveness of its products.

In that light, one of my favorite infrastructure stocks is a company called Brookfield Infrastructure ( BIP ) . The theme here seems clear: Investors who have a place for these types ofstocks in their portfolio are able to not onlyprofit from a rapidly-growing sector, but have a layer of insulation fromstock market volatility, economic downturns andinflation . Its transport and energy platform is geographically diverse, consisting of pipelines in the United States; ports in the U.K., Europe and China; a rail network and energy-distribution operation in Australia; and a toll road in Chile.

As of January 23, the Fed's balance sheet climbed by $48 billion to $3.01 trillion, according to a release from the central bank Thursday from its Washington headquarters. The recent moves by the Fed are being called the most revolutionary policy measures taken by the central bank since its inception, potentially second only to Paul Volcker in the 1970's. Volcker, the Fed Chairman from 1979 to 1987, raised interest rates as high as 22 percent during his tenure to end the stagflation that plagued the era and cool inflation.

Thestochastics indicator has developed a sharpbearish divergence since GLD topped in the summer of 2011 and completed a bearish crossover at the end of December. Gold Sells Off Despite Good News SPDR Gold Trust ( GLD ) fell 1.5% last week.Gold bugs have every reason to be bullish in the long term with news out of Japan indicating that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) intends to pushinflation up to about 2%. GLD is below its 10-monthmoving average ( MA ), a signal that it could be starting abear market .

Market Vectors Preferred Ex Financials ( PFXF ) with its approximate annual distribution yield near 6.0% fits the bill. Reasons have included record low yields for the asset class, an imminent rise in interest rates, questionable balance sheets, recession, inflation and overvaluation. In fact, an undesirably rapid rise in rates would probably hurt common stocks of all sizes and shapes, since the U.S. economy would fret the loss of consumer spending power.

A position in TIPS ( TIP ) also makes sense along with precious metals and senior loans ( BKLN ) to protect against the threat of inflation and rising interest rates. Disclosure: I am long [[GTU]], [[PSLV]], [[BAB]], [[HYG]], [[BKLN]], [[AGG]], [[TIP]]. Fiscal Policy Paralysis - A fact that is repeatedly reinforced by the Federal government in Washington is that absolutely nothing of substance is going to be accomplished in addressing the critical issues facing the U.S. economy until politicians are up to their knees in the fire of the problem.

One of the world's leading consumer products company, The Clorox Company ( CLX ) is likely to beat the expectations while reporting its fiscal 2013 second-quarter results on Feb 4. COLGATE PALMOLI (CL): Free Stock Analysis Report CLOROX CO (CLX): Free Stock Analysis Report INTER PARFUMS (IPAR): Free Stock Analysis Report PROCTER & GAMBL (PG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. During the previous quarter, the company mainly benefited from improved sales resulting from higher prices, while inflation played spoilsport impacting manufacturing and logistics costs, as well as other supply chain costs.

Investors in cleaning products supplier Ecolab ( ECL ) have enjoyed steady dividend growth and capital appreciation over many years. But Zacks Equity Research said Dec. 21 that it's concerned about currency fluctuations and "aggressive competition" from rivals Clorox ( CLX ) and Church & Dwight ( CHD ). "Sluggish European markets and raw material price inflation also remain head winds," said Zacks, which has a neutral rating on Ecolab's shares.

The prospect of a stable currency not only reduced inflation and its multiple distortions, it also increased the market's confidence in China, and helped boost investment in the country, since it all but eliminated foreign exchange risk. China's central bank started buying up capital inflows in earnest in early 2001, right about the time that gold was hitting a multi-year low. Don Luskin, a good friend, got me started down the path to an explanation for how China's forex reserves are connected to the rise in the price of gold.

As of January 23, the Fed's balance sheet climbed by $48 billion to $3.01 trillion, according to a release from the central bank Thursday from its Washington headquarters. The recent moves by the Fed are being called the most revolutionary policy measures taken by the central bank since its inception, potentially second only to Paul Volcker in the 1970's. Volcker, the Fed Chairman from 1979 to 1987, raised interest rates as high as 22 percent during his tenure to end the stagflation that plagued the era and cool inflation.

But Zacks Equity Research said Dec. 21 that it's concerned about currency fluctuations and "aggressive competition" from rivals Clorox ( CLX ) and Church & Dwight ( CHD ). Ecolab said Wednesday it completed its buyout of Mexico-based Quimiproductos, a top maker of cleaning, sanitizing and water treatment products. "Sluggish European markets and raw material price inflation also remain head winds," said Zacks, which has a neutral rating on Ecolab's shares.

Along the way, the iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund (NYSE: FXI ), the largest China ETF by assets, has surged 15 percent. Even after the stellar performances turned in by developing markets stocks over the past few months, the group remains inexpensive on a valuation basis, notes Koesterich. Assuming Brazil's inflation remains at current levels and the country's growth picks up this year as I expect, valuations have significant room to expand.

Data showed that consumer inflation accelerated in the previous month, spooking investors and creating fears that China will have to go through another rate hike cycle. Copper futures fell 0.73 percent to $368.20 per pound as investors worried that China will not grow as fast as expected, hampered by strong inflation. Brands (NYSE: YUM ) shares fell 1.13 percent pre-market as the company released a formal apology for mistakes made in China and also as Chinese inflation spooked investors.

The Bank of Japan is set to accept the new 2 percent inflation target from Prime Minister Abe and will issue a joint statement following next week's BoJ meeting. General Electric (NYSE: GE ) shares rose 0.99 percent pre-market as the company received new patents over the weekend. Heartland Express (NASDAQ: HTLD ) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.16 vs. $0.20 a year ago.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke Monday at the University of Michigan's Ford School, addressing students on monetary policy. In regards to current policy choices, Bernanke reiterated that the Fed has a dual mandate, full employment and stable inflation. The Chairman highlighted the weakness in Europe resulting from policies aimed at resolving the debt crisis has been a large drag on the economy, however those effects seem to be waning recently.