stock

Should Uncle Sam get stock in the companies it helps?

There is a big temptation for companies to cut their R.& D. spending, especially during bear markets. But such thinking is shortsighted, a study says.

Demand has spiked so much that many dealers are low on stock. If you're an investor in the metal, pay attention, because some unusual crosscurrents are at work.

Fundamental analysts and the big value players want to know every facet of a company's story, but we can't beat them at that game. So just look for stocks that consistently go up.

The credit card giant posted a quarterly loss and the stock slipped, but revenue grew 25%. That makes this a buy for me.

Screening points me to Ciena, which is trading well below its 50-day moving average.

A bearish market has its share of risks, but plenty of opportunities, too. This 20-stock buy is based on strategies devised by the masters of the market.

Two funds show how a broad portfolio can help overcome sharp losses in individual picks, even in a down market.

When short sellers are betting your stock will go down, be wary. Here's a Web site that helps you to peek into this side of the market -- and put that information to use.

Also: Good short plays for right now.

I'm still waiting for soaring oil prices to take a bite out of the market. Meanwhile, I'll buy MEMC Electronic, a stock that should feed off oil's rise.