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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.

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.

db-X MSCI Japan Currency-Hedged Equity Fund (DBJP) With the yen sliding, DBJP is an interesting option to pick with the Japanese economy set to revive after four years of continuous recession and decades of deflation. DBJP tracks the MSCI Japan US Dollar Hedged Index, which provides exposure to Japanese equity markets and hedges the Japanese yen to the U.S. dollar by selling Japanese yen forwards ( Is It Time To Buy The Hedged Currency ETFs? However, DBJP does not appear to be as popular as DXJ.

If prices rise, then companies like Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO ) , Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD ) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG ) simply raise the prices of their own products. Asthe Fed pushes all of those bonds back into the market, many fear it will trigger an unwanted (though not unexpected) rise inbond yields and inflation. Even in a weak economic environment, these items can still rise in value as producers cut output to the point where historical processing profit levels are restored.

Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF ( GDX ) jumped 2.12% to 45.30. "He stated that inflationary pressures remained contained and also cited other factors including strong capital inflows into the euro area and a rise in deposits at banks in periphery countries that indicate potential growth in the second half." "Therefore in real terms (inflation adjusted), interest rates will remain negative for a long time and continue to erode paper money's purchasing power."

Commodity prices -- such as those for agricultural products, meat and poultry -- could hurt margins, should inflation develop. The company has benefited from a November 2011 acquisition fromUnilever ( UL ) of brands that included Mrs. The stock recently cleared resistance around 31.05, which could serve as an entry for an aggressive investor.

Results at U.S. Bancorp ( USB ) were along the lines of JPM: beating on earnings, but coming short on the top line. BANK OF AMER CP (BAC): Free Stock Analysis Report GOLDMAN SACHS (GS): Free Stock Analysis Report JPMORGAN CHASE (JPM): Free Stock Analysis Report US BANCORP (USB): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Investors have a slew of data to chew on today, ranging from earnings reports from JPMorgan ( JPM ) and Goldman Sachs ( GS ) to a benign-looking inflation reading.

Other China ETFs such as the iShares MSCI China Index Fund (NYSE: MCHI ), the SPDR S&P China ETF (NYSE: GXC ) and the Guggenheim China Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: HAO ) have participated in the rally as well. 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.

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.

U.S.-listed shares of Petrobras Brasileiro ( PBR ) are down near 5% after the state-owned energy company from Brazil raised the price of gasoline by 6.6% and boosted the price of diesel fuel by 5.4%, effective at midnight today, according to a U.S. regulatory filing this morning. The price hikes were less than many traders were expecting, according to Credit Suisse, leaving PBR's gasoline prices 13% below the international average. The Latin American markets are mixed, with Brazil's Ibovespa down and weakening further in late trade Wednesday.

Though the company forecasts volume gains and strong free cash flow in the near-term, commodity cost inflation will continue to be a headwind. Other stocks that are presently doing well and hold a favorable rank include B&G Foods, Inc ( BGS ) and Flower Foods, Inc ( FLO ). B&G FOODS CL-A (BGS): Free Stock Analysis Report FLOWERS FOODS (FLO): Free Stock Analysis Report HORMEL FOODS CP (HRL): Free Stock Analysis Report UNILEVER N V (UN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

If prices rise, then companies like Coca-Cola ( KO ) , Anheuser-Busch InBev ( BUD ) and Procter & Gamble ( PG ) simply raise the prices of their own products. Asthe Fed pushes all of those bonds back into the market, many fear it will trigger an unwanted (though not unexpected) rise inbond yields and inflation. Even in a weak economic environment, these items can still rise in value as producers cut output to the point where historical processing profit levels are restored.

SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ), tracking a 10th of an ounce of bullion, popped 1.17% intraday to 162.36 in heavy volume. "He stated that inflationary pressures remained contained and also cited other factors including strong capital inflows into the euro area and a rise in deposits at banks in periphery countries that indicate potential growth in the second half." "Therefore in real terms (inflation adjusted), interest rates will remain negative for a long time and continue to erode paper money's purchasing power."

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.

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.

Providers ofconsumer staples such as Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CG) always raise prices when their costs go up. Well, the government has been pursuing that policy in recent years as well, as the Federal Reserve has initiated a series of programs (formally known as quantitative easing) that aim to keep interest rates -- andinflation -- at very low levels. Now concerns are growing that the steps taken to spark the economywill have negative long-term consequences and the current period of low inflation and interest rates will again come to an abrupt end.

Dollar Down Vs. Euro PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish ( UUP ), measuring the greenback against a basket of major foreign currencies, gapped down 1.02% to 21.80. Shutterstock photo Gold and silver prices brightened Thursday as the dollar fizzled against the euro after the European Central Bank kept its key interest rate the same. "He stated that inflationary pressures remained contained and also cited other factors including strong capital inflows into the euro area and a rise in deposits at banks in periphery countries that indicate potential growth in the second half."

The Bank of Japan late Monday adopted a new, aggressive stance on inflation and asset purchases aimed at stimulating the economy following decades of stagnant growth. However, markets should not fret so much on this detail as the BoJ on December 20, 2012 announced a new round of easing of 1 trillion yen, increasing the size of the asset purchase program by 9.5 percent. Current head Masaaki Shirakawa's term ends in April and the appointment of a pro-stimulus leader who pledges even more stimulative policies would be a positive sign for easing and stimulus efforts.

While the ETF tracking the broader equity market iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund ( EWJ) is almost unchanged in the last one month, MSCI Japan Index Fund Fundamentals ( DXJ ) which provides exposure to Japanese stocks without any exposure to the currency is up 3.8% during the same period. WISDMTR-J HEF (DXJ): ETF Research Reports ISHARS-JAPAN (EWJ): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. During its recent meeting, BOJ doubled the inflation target to 2% but decided to start "open-ended" asset purchases next year.

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.

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.

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 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.

"Gold and silver appear to be falling with materials generally, trading more like commodities than precious metals, on negative global economic news," Tom Winmill, manager of Midas Fund , said in an email. Gold and silver prices gave back nearly all of their prior day's rally and the dollar and yen slid further Friday after China reported inflation accelerated in December. Traders are slamming gold and silver to shake out the weak hands to create an opportunity to buy back at lower prices, says Dent.

The two largest ETFs in the category, Vanguard FTSEEmerging Markets ETF (NYSE: VWO ) and the iShares MSCI Emerging MarketsIndex (NYSE: EEM ) now have a hefty $125 billion in assets under management. These economists say the yen will restrengthen in coming weeks, which means that an ETF such as the MAXIS Nikkei 225 Index (NYSE: NKY ) will likely get a lift from the currency reversal. Here's the problem with inflation: It forces government to take a series of punitive measures to slow the economy to help reduce inflationary pressures.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S. Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd ( WIA ) has announced an ex-dividend date of January 11, 2013 and a cash dividend payment of $0.032 per share scheduled for January 31, 2013. 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.

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.

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.

The iSharesSilver Trust ETF (NYSE: SLV ) is the most popular, trading more than 10 million shares per day and with nearly $10 billion in assets under management. We spelled out those concerns in this article, and thoughthe Fed 's bold $1 trillion move hasn't led to ruinousinflation just yet, many inflation hawks have been loading up on gold and silver -- just in case. Action to Take --> These ETFs provide exposure to the metals and the miners and typically carry expense loads that are far lower thanmutual funds focused on thisasset class .

By the way, I'm not discussing the PowerShares DB US Inflation ETN (NYSEArca:INFL) or the ProShares 30 Year TIPS/TSY Spread ETF (NYSEArca:RINF), as these securities are designed to rise and fall with the market's expectation of inflation rather than to provide real returns. These products are expressly designed to provide one-stop shopping for investors looking to preserve capital while earning so-called real returns-returns over the rate of inflation. The chart below paints CPI as the "steady Eddie" of the bunch, meaning it has provided extremely low volatility and small positive returns.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd 2 ( WIW ) will begin trading ex-dividend on February 13, 2013. Shareholders who purchased WIW 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 WIW Dividend History page.

Silver Wheaton ( SLW ) announced yesterday that it has entered into a binding term sheet to acquire Vale's gold production from two mines located in Brazil and Canada. In addition, Silver Wheaton will pay the lesser of $400 or market price for each ounce of gold produced, subject to a 1% inflation related adjustment after 2016 for Salobo. This deal will be valid for 20 years and production will accrue retroactively to Silver Wheaton as of January 1, 2013, even as the term sheet remains subject to negotiations and approval by Vale's board of directors.

But inflation is expected to fall back to around the target thereafter, as a gradual revival in productivity growth dampens increases in domestic costs and external price pressures fade." The bank also noted that growth is likely to remain weak in the near term and pick up later, aided by a better global back drop. However, they understand that the Eurozone and its debt woes as well as issues in emerging markets pose serious threats to an uptick in growth.

The share price ofiShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury ETF ( TLT ) -- which mainly holds 25-year bonds -- tumbled 11.4% from its 52-week high from July 25. ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury ETF ( TBF ), designed to move opposite TLT, rises along with interest rates. The market faces "an impending rise in interest rates" as the economy improves and inflation heats up in 2014, says Jason Schenker, president of Austin-based Prestige Economics.

Market Vectors Vietnam ETF ( VNM ) Slow growth rate, higher inflation level, trade deficit and bad banking system impacted the Vietnam economy to a great extent in 2011. In order to play the positive trend in the economy, investors can opt for Market Vectors Vietnam ETF (VNM), the lone ETF tracking the economy. VNM started the year on a strong note posting a whopping gain of 18.9% in the first month of the year.

We spelled out those concerns in this article, and thoughthe Fed 's bold $1 trillion move hasn't led to ruinousinflation just yet, many inflation hawks have been loading up on gold and silver -- just in case. Of course, buying and storing gold and silver bullion is no simple task. ETFs focus on gold and silver miningstocks , as well as the commodities themselves.

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) sanctioned CVS's SilverScript Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for issues related to claims processing. ((CVS Caremark: CMS Sanctions SilverScript Plan for Claims Processing Issues, Wall Street Journal, January 2013)) With generics dragging down retail pharmacy revenues, we expect pharmacy services to become the primary business of the company over the coming quarters. Revenue per mail choice claim increased by 23% compared to the prior year period primarily due to drug cost inflation in the specialty business.

Materials was the biggest gainer among the S&P 500 industry groups and the Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) gained 1.3%. Better-than-expected earnings from major companies and encouraging comments from St. Louis Fed President James Bullard lifted benchmarks higher on Friday. Fed policy makers believe buying bonds of such a huge quantum would increase inflation and create disturbance in the financial markets.

RLY gets this exposure from a single ETF, the SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF (NYSEArca:GNR). These products are expressly designed to provide one-stop shopping for investors looking to preserve capital while earning so-called real returns-returns over the rate of inflation. The chart below paints CPI as the "steady Eddie" of the bunch, meaning it has provided extremely low volatility and small positive returns.

Despite concerns about inflation, decrepit infrastructure and the potential loss of the country's already tenuous investment-grade credit ratings, Indian equities were stellar performers in 2012. For example, the WisdomTree India Earnings ETF (NYSE: EPI ) devotes just 3.7 percent of its weight to the consumer staples sector. EPI is even more attractively valued.

IShares MSCI Japan Index ( EWJ ) climbed 1.33% to 10.13, a 10-month high.WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund ( DXJ ), designed to neutralize currency risk, rose 1.48% to 41.13 -- a two-year peak. Japan ETFs defied global stock market weakness Wednesday, surging to new highs after the country's central bank governor unexpectedly announced he would resign before his term ends. Abe has asked the BOJ to undergo unlimited easing policies to devalue the currency, invigorate exports and fan inflation.

Of course, this has had a tremendous impact on the Federal Reserve's balance sheet which has expanded to gigantic proportions (read Can the Dollar ETF (UUP) Finally Break Out? Therefore the Federal Reserve seems likely to continue with the purchase of mortgage backed securities and treasury bonds worth $85 billion until the unemployment and inflation thresholds are met (read Have We Seen the Bottom in Gold ETFs? However, with the benchmark 10 year rates nearing 1.88% at present, the biggest question still remains-How low can yields go from current levels despite continuation of the monetary easing measures?

High-quality foods and simple meals manufacturer, Campbell Soup Company ( CPB ) reported robust second-quarter 2013 financial results. CAMPBELL SOUP (CPB): Free Stock Analysis Report CHIQUITA BR INT (CQB): Free Stock Analysis Report FLOWERS FOODS (FLO): Free Stock Analysis Report J&J SNACK FOODS (JJSF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. However, lower advertising expenses and productivity improvements more than offset by volume declines and cost inflation, resulted in an 8.8% increase in operating profits compared to last year at $37 million.

GXC trades 35% below its 2007 peak.iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ( EEM ) trades 21% below its 2007 pre-bear market peak. The underlying weakness suggests the global economy is worsening, deflation is on the way and stocks are due for a correction, investing strategists say. It fell to a three-week low and broke below its 50-day moving average for the first time in two months, sending the red metal into short-term downtrend.

The Korean Kospi fell 0.26 percent following the reported nuclear test in North Korea and Australian shares were flat overnight. McGraw-Hill (NYSE: MHP ) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.72 vs. $0.63 a year ago and could comment on the recent legal action taken against Standard and Poor's. Overnight, eurozone industrial production figures are to be released as well as the Bank of England's inflation report, followed by outgoing Governor Mervyn King's press conference.

Check out the PowerShares DB Gold Double Short ETN (NYSE: DZZ ) , which moves in the opposite direction of gold prices. We spelled out those concerns in this article, and thoughthe Fed 's bold $1 trillion move hasn't led to ruinousinflation just yet, many inflation hawks have been loading up on gold and silver -- just in case. Action to Take --> These ETFs provide exposure to the metals and the miners and typically carry expense loads that are far lower thanmutual funds focused on thisasset class .

"UK banks' funding costs have fallen further, aided by the improved financial environment and the Funding for Lending Scheme ( FLS ). But inflation is expected to fall back to around the target thereafter, as a gradual revival in productivity growth dampens increases in domestic costs and external price pressures fade." The bank also noted that growth is likely to remain weak in the near term and pick up later, aided by a better global back drop.

We spelled out those concerns in this article, and thoughthe Fed 's bold $1 trillion move hasn't led to ruinousinflation just yet, many inflation hawks have been loading up on gold and silver -- just in case. Of course, buying and storing gold and silver bullion is no simple task. ETFs focus on gold and silver miningstocks , as well as the commodities themselves.

PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish ( UUP ), measuring the greenback against a basket of major foreign currencies, added 0.09% to 21.96. Selling from celebrity hedge fund managers, tighter U.S. sanctions in Turkey's gold-for-gas trade with Iran, liquidations ahead of the G-20 meeting in Moscow, and the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and continued strength in the dollar were all blamed for the sharp nose-dive in precious metals. Guild believes gold will rebound because central banks around the world are heavily buying the yellow metal to diversify their reserves in addition to debasing their currencies and fanning inflation.

Silver Wheaton ( SLW ) announced yesterday that it has entered into a binding term sheet to acquire Vale's gold production from two mines located in Brazil and Canada. In addition, Silver Wheaton will pay the lesser of $400 or market price for each ounce of gold produced, subject to a 1% inflation related adjustment after 2016 for Salobo. This deal will be valid for 20 years and production will accrue retroactively to Silver Wheaton as of January 1, 2013, even as the term sheet remains subject to negotiations and approval by Vale's board of directors.

Submitted by Sizemore Investment Letter as part of our contributors program The following is an excerpt from the January 2013 HS Dent Forecast . Friedman reveals an arrogant "Fed-centric" view of the universe in which Ben Bernanke is an all-powerful godlike figure who can manipulate prices at will, like some sort of cartoonish James Bond villain. The writer used those words to mock the Bank of Japan for failing to stop the deflation that has been wrecking the Japanese economy for the past two decades-again, a central-bank-centered view of the universe.

He recommends buyingSPDR Barclays Capital Short-Term High Yield Bond ETF ( SJNK ). The market faces "an impending rise in interest rates" as the economy improves and inflation heats up in 2014, says Jason Schenker, president of Austin-based Prestige Economics. Timothy Evans, chief market strategist at Long Leaf Trading Group in Chicago, favorsPowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish (UUP).

By contrast,iShares MSCI EAFE Index ( EFA ), tracking developed foreign markets, andiShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ( EEM ) ended nearly flat. Japan ETFs defied global stock market weakness Wednesday, surging to new highs after the country's central bank governor unexpectedly announced he would resign before his term ends. Abe has asked the BOJ to undergo unlimited easing policies to devalue the currency, invigorate exports and fan inflation.

The Korean Kospi fell 0.26 percent following the reported nuclear test in North Korea and Australian shares were flat overnight. McGraw-Hill (NYSE: MHP ) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.72 vs. $0.63 a year ago and could comment on the recent legal action taken against Standard and Poor's. Overnight, eurozone industrial production figures are to be released as well as the Bank of England's inflation report, followed by outgoing Governor Mervyn King's press conference.

Theinvestment management firm Van Eck, for example, offers theMarket Vectors Gold Miners ETF ( GDX ) and the Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF ( GDXJ ) . We spelled out those concerns in this article, and thoughthe Fed 's bold $1 trillion move hasn't led to ruinousinflation just yet, many inflation hawks have been loading up on gold and silver -- just in case. These companies typically have little or no sales yet, so investors are left to assess thereal estate value of those mines and try to anticipate what future cash flows might look like.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S. Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd ( WIA ) will begin trading ex-dividend on February 13, 2013. 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.

By contrast,iShares MSCI EAFE Index ( EFA ), tracking developed foreign markets, andiShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ( EEM ) ended nearly flat. Japan ETFs defied global stock market weakness Wednesday, surging to new highs after the country's central bank governor unexpectedly announced he would resign before his term ends. Abe has asked the BOJ to undergo unlimited easing policies to devalue the currency, invigorate exports and fan inflation.

But inflation is expected to fall back to around the target thereafter, as a gradual revival in productivity growth dampens increases in domestic costs and external price pressures fade." The bank also noted that growth is likely to remain weak in the near term and pick up later, aided by a better global back drop. However, they understand that the Eurozone and its debt woes as well as issues in emerging markets pose serious threats to an uptick in growth.

Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF ( GDX ) gapped down 4% to 39.89, a seven-month low. Selling from celebrity hedge fund managers, tighter U.S. sanctions in Turkey's gold-for-gas trade with Iran, liquidations ahead of the G-20 meeting in Moscow, and the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and continued strength in the dollar were all blamed for the sharp nose-dive in precious metals. Guild believes gold will rebound because central banks around the world are heavily buying the yellow metal to diversify their reserves in addition to debasing their currencies and fanning inflation.

Silver Wheaton ( SLW ) announced yesterday that it has entered into a binding term sheet to acquire Vale's gold production from two mines located in Brazil and Canada. In addition, Silver Wheaton will pay the lesser of $400 or market price for each ounce of gold produced, subject to a 1% inflation related adjustment after 2016 for Salobo. This deal will be valid for 20 years and production will accrue retroactively to Silver Wheaton as of January 1, 2013, even as the term sheet remains subject to negotiations and approval by Vale's board of directors.

CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust ( FXY ), measuring the yen against the greenback, is flirting with a three-year low after diving nearly 19% in the past year. Japan ETFs defied global stock market weakness Wednesday, surging to new highs after the country's central bank governor unexpectedly announced he would resign before his term ends. Abe has asked the BOJ to undergo unlimited easing policies to devalue the currency, invigorate exports and fan inflation.

As pointed out by Warren Buffett, the percentage of total market cap (TMC) relative to the U.S. GNP is "probably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment." In all the three approaches discussed above, the fluctuations of profit margin are eliminated by using GDP, the average of trailing 10-year inflation-adjusted earnings, and peak-P/E, revenue, or book value etc. This confirmed again the conclusions of earlier studies: The aggregated activities of insiders can serve a good indicator for locating the market bottoms.

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSE: DXJ ) One of 2013's most successful ETFs, both in terms of asset-gathering and pure performance, makes another appearance on this list. That sets up nicely for DXJ, USD/JPY and Japanese equities because Muto will tow the Abe line, which is to engineer inflation while deploying bold tools and unlimited easing to jolt the world's third-largest economy. Speaking of BoJ, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will reportedly name the new leader of the central bank as soon as this week and it very well could be former Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto.

Several decades of deflation and miserable market conditions have made revival in the Japanese economy in the near-term a difficult possibility. Some strength in the yen made the circumstances worse, and hurt the exporters of the world's third-largest economy. The currency gained strength, and Japanese equities fell, resulting in investors' exit from Japanese equities ( Asia Ex-Japan ETF Investing 101 ).

The Consumer Staples Select SPDR (NYSE: XLP ) was dragged lower by declines in consumer products giants Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG ) and Colgate Palmolive (NYSE: CL ). For more on ETFs , click here . Venezuela, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is grappling with rampant inflation, which may have prompted the currency devaluation.

If you're reallybullish on gold, check out the PowerShares DB Gold Double Long ETN (NYSE: DGP ) . We spelled out those concerns in this article, and thoughthe Fed 's bold $1 trillion move hasn't led to ruinousinflation just yet, many inflation hawks have been loading up on gold and silver -- just in case. Action to Take --> These ETFs provide exposure to the metals and the miners and typically carry expense loads that are far lower thanmutual funds focused on thisasset class .

The report is unlikely to sway market sentiment because inflation hasn't been a worry for investors recently. While there are no forecasts for the report, it will probably be eyed for clues about the broader economy and asset purchases by the central bank. Potentially important companies scheduled to report earnings before the opening bell include Dish Network, Owens Corning, and Toll Brothers.

The Korean Kospi fell 0.26 percent following the reported nuclear test in North Korea and Australian shares were flat overnight. McGraw-Hill (NYSE: MHP ) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.72 vs. $0.63 a year ago and could comment on the recent legal action taken against Standard and Poor's. Overnight, eurozone industrial production figures are to be released as well as the Bank of England's inflation report, followed by outgoing Governor Mervyn King's press conference.

Combined, the data raised new fears that the PBOC would tighten policy earlier than expected even as output indicators slow in order to cool inflation. Germany's trade balance was reported as in line with forecasts overnight, however exports and imports both grew faster than expected, showing slight underlying strength of the German economy in the face of a broad European recession. Overnight, German inflation, British industrial production, and Spanish and Italian bill auctions could move markets.

In accounts that don't allow short selling, the short position could be taken with an inverse bond ETF such as ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury ( TBF ), with a 0.95% expense ratio. First Trust Advisors has added a new menu item for investors starving for dividend income in an era of unpalatable interest rates. If the economy slumps, inflation declines and investors pile into risk-free Treasurys, the fund will "get squeezed on the short side," says Neil Leeson, ETF strategist at Ned Davis Research in Venice, Fla.

The CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (NYSEArca:FXY) is a fund that does just that, serving up access to the yen without tapping into equities. DXJ's momentum particularly picked up after WisdomTree changed the ETF's indexing methodology in November to emphasize companies with big export profiles-the very kinds of firms that stand to benefit the most from a weakening yen. From a fundamental perspective, since the prime minister took office in December, the Bank of Japan has already committed to double its inflation target to 2 percent and agreed to support an asset-buying program that could reach $1 trillion this year.

Results were dragged down by lower natural gas output, which declined 11.4% from the prior-year period due to CNQ's decision to shut production volumes and to allocate capital for oil projects that will provide higher return. CNQ shares have also been held back by operational challenges, continued weakness in natural gas prices and a fresh round of cost inflation in the oil sands regions. On Mar 19, Zacks Investment Research downgraded independent oil and gas explorer Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. ( CNQ ) to a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Western Asset/Claymore U.S Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd 2 ( WIW ) will begin trading ex-dividend on March 19, 2013. Shareholders who purchased WIW 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 WIW Dividend History page.

Combined, the data raised new fears that the PBOC would tighten policy earlier than expected even as output indicators slow in order to cool inflation. Germany's trade balance was reported as in line with forecasts overnight, however exports and imports both grew faster than expected, showing slight underlying strength of the German economy in the face of a broad European recession. Overnight, German inflation, British industrial production, and Spanish and Italian bill auctions could move markets.

Quick Take The Mongolian government and Rio Tinto are locked in a dispute over high management fees, cost overruns and transparency in the Oyu Tolgoi project. The Mongolian government representatives on Oyu Tolgoi's board had refused to approve the mine's budget in January this year, demanding an explanation for a cost inflation by $2 billion. The situation has been complicated by the upcoming presidential elections in June because no politician wants to be seen selling out to Rio Tinto, especially when they all have promised to garner a greater share of profits for the country.

IPS is home to 112 stocks, including spirits maker Diageo (NYSE: DEO ), which S&P has a four-star rating on. Cyprus is not even on par with Greece in terms of economic importance in the region, but a country's size rarely matters when it comes to the eurozone roiling global financial markets. "According to Rob Quinn, S&P Capital IQ's Chief European Investment Strategist, the key drivers of equity valuations in recent years have been excess liquidity, inflation expectations and the discount rate," said the research firm.

Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ), which is slated to report its second-quarter fiscal 2013 results on Mar 12, 2013, came up with robust sales for the month of February. Excluding the effects of gasoline prices and foreign currency fluctuations, Costco's comparable-store sales for February rose 6% with U.S. and international comparable-sales elevating 6% and 7%, respectively. After an increase of 4% in January, Costco's comparable-store sales for February climbed 6%, reflecting comparable sales growth of 6% at its U.S. locations and 4% at international outlets.

The following ETF(s) have WIW as a top-10 holding: PowerShares CEF Income Composite Portfolio ( PCEF ). The top-performing ETF of this group is PCEF with an increase of 1.7% over the last 100 days. Western Asset/Claymore U.S Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd 2 ( WIW ) will begin trading ex-dividend on March 19, 2013.

For example you buy longSPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ( JNK ), which carries a 0.4% expense ratio and currently yields 6.72%, and short sell iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond ( TLT ), with a 0.15% expense ratio. First Trust Advisors has added a new menu item for investors starving for dividend income in an era of unpalatable interest rates. If the economy slumps, inflation declines and investors pile into risk-free Treasurys, the fund will "get squeezed on the short side," says Neil Leeson, ETF strategist at Ned Davis Research in Venice, Fla.

Combined, the data raised new fears that the PBOC would tighten policy earlier than expected even as output indicators slow in order to cool inflation. Germany's trade balance was reported as in line with forecasts overnight, however exports and imports both grew faster than expected, showing slight underlying strength of the German economy in the face of a broad European recession. Overnight, German inflation, British industrial production, and Spanish and Italian bill auctions could move markets.

Clearly, Abenomics, the term coined for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to devalue the yen while boosting Japan's rate of inflation, has been kind to DXJ and EWJ. The Simple Minds hit is an appropriate one for Japanese small-cap ETFs because as the yen has plunged and the Nikkei has soared in recent months, the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSE: DXJ ) and the iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund (NYSE: EWJ ) have dominated the Japan ETF conversation. Investors are not likely to complain about the performances of either DXJ or EWJ.

For EWW, this outsized exposure is telecom giant America Movil( AMX ) , which currently accounts for about 17.5% of this fund's portfolio. The Mexican central bank reported that in February, foreign investors poured a record $80 billion into the nation's stocks and bonds, almost 5 times more than flows into Brazilian securities over that same span. Other near- and medium-term drivers for growth include a recovering U.S. economy, the return of some manufacturing previously lost to China as Chinese competitiveness begins to suffer thanks to wage inflation, and Mexico's young population.

Another noteworthy redemption was the $1.62 billion that came out of the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (NYSEArca:EEM), as well as the nearly $1 billion that bled out of the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEArca:VYM). VYM's redemptions, in particular, were interesting, as they amounted to a reversal of $1 billion in inflows last week. Investors plowed money into bond ETFs targeting Treasury inflation-protected securities in the past week in a sign of growing concern about mounting inflationary pressures as the U.S. economic recovery gains steam.

Both currency-hedged ETFs - WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ) and db-X MSCI Japan Currency-Hedged Equity Fund (DBJP) - have exhibited strong performances after the cabinet attempted to revive the economy through aggressive monetary easing. Investors should note that both DXJ and DBJP have posted solid gains of approximately 34.85% and 36.7%, respectively, over a period of six months. db-X MSCI Japan Currency-Hedged Equity Fund (DBJP) With the yen sliding, DBJP is also an interesting option to pick with the Japanese economy set to revive after four years of continuous recession and decades of deflation.

Economists expect that 350,000 people sought employment benefits for the first time for the seven-day period ending March 9, up slightly from the previous week's 340,000 total. A lower reading may be interpreted bullishly because it would mean that fewer Americans lost their jobs. Inflation has not been a major focus of the market recently, so the data is unlikely to affect sentiment.

Also today, U.S.-listed shares of Petroleo Brasileiro SA ( PBR ), also known as Petrobras, are down about 1.5% this afternoon with TheStreet Ratings today reiterating the stock as a Hold. Latin American markets are mostly lower in late trade, hurt by weekend data out of China showing inflation at a 10-month high during February while factory output and consumer spending were weaker than forecast. The new research note cites several strengths, including recent gains in net income and an attractive valuation as well as EPS growth.

A couple of their comments are as follows (link to the entire article at the bottom): Bill Nygren At Oakmark, we think many stocks look attractive, even if the "new normal" crowd is right that we'll have negligible economic growth. U.S. interest rates remain near historically low levels, and the fixed income markets offer limited inflation-adjusted returns. Link to the full article: _[www.fidelity.com] Read More: Ron Baron About GuruFocus: GuruFocus.com tracks the stocks picks and portfolio holdings of the world's best investors.

The flagship iShares FTSE China 25 ( FXI ), tracking 25 blue chip stocks, popped 0.95% after tumbling 1.76% to a three-month low the day before. China's stock market rebounded Tuesday from a sharp sell-off in the prior session after the government announced a hefty increase in defense and domestic security spending to support economic growth. In an effort to control housing inflation and speculation, Chinese officials said Friday they will enforce a 20% capital-gains tax on profits from home sales.

This week'seconomic calendaris relatively uneventful, focusing on retail sales and inflation data. Wednesday brings retail sales, which could potentially affect market sentiment. Weekly jobless claims and the producer price index follow on Thursday.

Combined, the data raised new fears that the PBOC would tighten policy earlier than expected even as output indicators slow in order to cool inflation. Germany's trade balance was reported as in line with forecasts overnight, however exports and imports both grew faster than expected, showing slight underlying strength of the German economy in the face of a broad European recession. Overnight, German inflation, British industrial production, and Spanish and Italian bill auctions could move markets.

Quick Take The Mongolian government and Rio Tinto are locked in a dispute over high management fees, cost overruns and transparency in the Oyu Tolgoi project. The Mongolian government representatives on Oyu Tolgoi's board had refused to approve the mine's budget in January this year, demanding an explanation for a cost inflation by $2 billion. The situation has been complicated by the upcoming presidential elections in June because no politician wants to be seen selling out to Rio Tinto, especially when they all have promised to garner a greater share of profits for the country.

Pool Corp. 's ( POOL) first-quarter 2013 earnings per share of 7 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.7% but were 12.5% lower than the year-ago level. Pool projects modest inflationary expense for the rest of the year. Our Take Despite tough weather comparisons, Pool delivered a better-than-expected quarter.

The cooling inflation does give the European Central Bank room to ease tomorrow should it want to do so. General Mills (NYSE: GIS ) shares fell 0.84 percent pre-market in the wake of its downgrade at Morgan Stanley on Monday. Monsanto (NYSE: MON ) is expected to report second quarter EPS of $2.58 vs. $2.28 a year ago.

The Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) gained 1.5%. The S&P 500 closed at an all-time high while the tech-laden Nasdaq rose to its highest level in more than a decade after investors turned bullish towards the energy and technology sectors. Continuation of monetary support, in light of low inflation from the Federal Reserve and expectations of rate cuts from the European Central Bank (ECB) added to investor confidence.

With an expense ratio of 0.55 percent and an effective duration of 4.83 years, ELD has gained prominence as investors have looked for ways to get exposure to strong government balance sheets in the emerging world . Flying under the radar is the FlexShares iBoxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund (NYSE: TDTT ), which charges just 0.2 percent per year. TDTT "gives investors access to the inflation-hedging qualities of TIPS and seeks to provide targeted duration exposure through changing interest rate and economic cycles," according to FlexShares .

The bearish China play is now flirting with a break above its 200-day moving average, a positive sign, and with CPI and PPI data looming Monday, FXP could keep running to the upside. ProShares UltraShort FTSE China 25 (NYSE: FXP ) Bad news for China bulls. There are plenty of speeches of by Federal Reserve members, including Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday, data points and earnings reports to deal with.

Both are the first bull ETFs to provide exposure of three times their respective markets, with BRZU focusing in on Brazil, and KORU honing in on stocks from South Korea. Direxion Daily Brazil Bull 3X Shares (BRZU) Brazil has been struggling in recent months due to slower GDP growth rate and persistent inflation. With this optimism, investors can now consider BRZU to make a bullish bet on this emerging economy.

's ( CBSH ) first-quarter 2013 earnings of 67 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. ASSOC BANC CORP (ASBC): Free Stock Analysis Report COMMERCE BANCSH (CBSH): Free Stock Analysis Report FIRST INTST MT (FIBK): Free Stock Analysis Report HUNTINGTON BANC (HBAN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. The decrease was largely attributable to lower inflation interest on the company's inflation-protected securities and the absence of a special dividend received on a private equity investment in the previous quarter.

But iron-ore miner Vale SA ( VALE ), which counts China as its biggest customer, has turned negative. Latin American markets are mostly higher in late Wednesday trade, with Brazil's Ibovespa index a standout having risen close to 2%, its fourth straight advance, supported by strong Chinese trade data and slower than expected domestic inflation figures last month. Brazilian inflation as measured by the benchmark IPCA index climbed 0.47% during March, trailing the median estimate of 38 economists surveyed by Bloomberg looking for a 0.50% increase.

In fact, describing the move in gold as a sell-off is an understatement because the 8% decline is the largest single day loss for the commodity in 3 decades. Unfortunately, as time progressed, patience began to wear thin and investors were seeing their investment values dwindle with no hope of rapidly rising inflationary pressures in sight. Between this morning's (Monday) softer U.S. economic reports, last night's weaker Chinese data and this month's disappointing U.S. retail sales and jobs numbers, there are definite signs that the global recovery is losing momentum.