Another iPhone Tip: Toss your Cookies

Here is another tip to add to my Top 18 Apple iPhone Tips. If you use Safari a lot on your iPhone, maybe it is time to clear out your history, cookies, and cache.

Here is how you do it:
1. Click on the Settings icon.
2. Scroll down and click on Safari.
3. At the bottom of the Safari page, you will see Clear History, Clear Cookies, and Clear Cache.
4. Click on each one of these. It will asked 'Are you sure?', then click Clear.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Top 10 Box Office Hits and their Distributors

It seems like every major studio has at least one successful movie. The top ten motion picture box office hits for the end of the first quarter, and the companies that distribute them, are as follows:

21 distributed by Columbia Pictures, which is owned by Sony Corp. (SNE). PE of 15.5, PEG of 0.92, and yield of 0.5%.

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation subsidiary of News Corp. (NWS-A). PE is 18, PEG is 1.06, yield is 0.6%.

Superhero Movie Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., subsidiary of Sony, and Comcast Corp. (CMCSA). PE is 23, PEG is 1.42, and yield is 1.3%.

Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF). Forward PE of 28.

Drillbit Taylor Paramount Pictures owned by Viacom, Inc. (VIA-B). PE is 15.

Shutter Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation subsidiary of News Corp. (NWS-A).

10,000 B.C. Warner Bros. Entertainment, subsidiary of Time Warner (TWX). PE is 12, PEG is 0.95, yield is 1.8%.

Stop-Loss Paramount Pictures owned by Viacom.

College Road Trip Walt Disney Pictures (DIS). PE is 15, PEG is 1.04, and the yield is 1.1%.

The Bank Job Lions Gate Entertainment.

Author owns NWS-A, TWX, and DIS.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Alternative Energy Wind Bags

A British scientist, Professor Seamus Garvey, has a plan to use wind energy to fill up giant balloons with compressed air that would be stored on the ocean's floor. The air would be released from the energy bags when needed to generate power. One major utility, E ON AG (EONAF.PK), which trades on many European stock exchanges and on the Pink Sheets in the U.S., is so impressed with the idea that they have invested in the project.

Ryanair CEO Didn't Bet on Own Horse: Lost 33-1 Odds

Speaking of airlines, Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY), the noted Irish airline, didn't bother to bet on his own horse which was racing in the Irish Grand National. The horse, Hear The Echo, won and paid odds of 33 to 1.

Author owns RYAAY.

Cheapest Air Travel Ever: Get Paid to Fly

Flybe Airlines, which is partially owned by British Airways (BAIRY.PK), is paying people to fly back and forth between Dublin and Norwich, in order to meet certain passenger numbers at Norwich Airport. If they don't meet those numbers, they will have to give up approximately $550,000 in rebates. The paid-to-fly flyers received about $70 each.

Playboy Launching in Philippines

Playboy Enterprises Inc. (PLA), which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, is launching their Playboy Magazine in the Philippines, and will appeal to the more mature, "over 30", male. It will have tasteful pictures of women and high quality articles. The price of the magazine will be $4.76 per issue.

Asthma Stocks

Did you know that during the 1930's and 1940's, asthma was considered a psychosomatic disease? It is now one of the fastest increasing medical conditions in the United States, which reportedly affects one out of every four urban children, according to the Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology. If you didn't see James Altucher's video interview about George Soros which discusses asthma stocks, you should take a look at it.

Here are ten companies involved in the production and marketing of drugs for the treatment of asthma. Obviously, this is a small part of the business of some of the major pharmaceutical companies. But when the second best selling drug in the world is used to treat asthma, this is apparently a major business opportunity.

Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) is a British based pharmaceutical company which produces Advair, also branded as Seretide, the second highest selling drug in the world, for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Flixotide [Flovent], an inhaled steroid for the treatment of asthma related inflammation. They also sell Serevent for asthma treatment. The stock has a P/E of 11 , a PEG of 4.19 , and pays a yield of 5.9% .

MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MAPP) has various products in clinical development, including Unit Dose Budesonide for pediatric asthma in children, and MAP0005 for the treatment of adolescent and adult asthma. The stock has been generating negative earnings.

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) produces the popular drug Singulair, the 15th best selling drug in the world, which is a leukotriene receptor antagonist for the treatment of asthma. The stock has a P/E of 30 , a PEG of 1.36 , and pays a yield of 3.40% .

AstraZeneca plc (AZN) based in London, produces Symbicort for the maintenance treatment of asthma. They also produce Pulmicort for the treatment of asthma, and is one of the top 80 best selling drugs. The stock has a P/E of 10 , a PEG of 2.46 , and pays a yield of 5% .

Roche Holdings Ltd. (RHHBY.PK) produces Xolair for the treatment of asthma. The stock has a P/E of 14 , a PEG of 1.51 .

Genentech Inc. (DNA) is in partnership with Roche for the production of the Xolair asthma drug. The stock has a P/E of 31 , a PEG of 1.04 .

Sepracor, Inc. (SEPR) sells XOPENEX [levalbuterol HCl] for the treatment of asthma and bronchospasm of the lungs. The stock has a P/E of 37 , a PEG of 0.7 .

Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) produces Foradil and Asmanex for the treatment of asthma. The stock has a forward P/E of 11 , a PEG of 0.7 , and pays a yield of 1.30% .

Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) has the drug Alvesco [ciclesonide] used for the treatment of asthma. The stock has a P/E of 12 , a PEG of 3.43 , and pays a yield of 2.70% .

Theravance Inc. (THRX) is a South San Francisco based biopharmaceutical company which develops long-acting beta2 agonist products for the treatment of asthma. The stock has been generating negative earnings.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Top Pink Sheet Stocks

Many investors believe that Pink Sheets stocks are speculative and dangerous investments. I've even been criticized for mentioning Pink Sheet stocks in some of my articles, in spite of the fact that the stocks I mentioned were major large cap companies. Pink Sheet stocks shouldn't be dismissed out of hand as sometimes that is the only way to invest in many foreign stocks. As a matter of fact, dozens of European companies have opted out of trading on the New York Stock Exchange and have decided to have their ADR's traded on over-the-counter.

Here are ten of the top Pink Sheet stocks, based on market cap, P/E ratios, and PEG ratios.

Roche Holding Ltd. ( RHHBY ) is a Switzerland-based company which is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The stock has a P/E ratio of 17 and a PEG of 1.43 .

E.ON AG ( EONGY ) is a German based energy company which distributes electricity and natural gas in Europe. The stock has a P/E ratio of 11 and a PEG of 1.02 .

Volkswagen AG ( VLKAY ) is the German car manufacturer which has the Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands. The stock has a P/E ratio of 18.

Suez SA ( SZEZY ) is a French based company which distributes electricity, natural gas, water and waste management. The stock has a P/E ratio of 16.

Enel Societa per.Azioni ( ENSTY ) distributes electricity in Italy. The stock has a P/E ratio of 14.

BASF SE ( BASFY ) is a German based chemical conglomerate. The stock has a P/E ratio of 10 and a PEG of 1.71 .

RWE AG ( RWEOY ) is a conglomerate involved in power generation, natural gas distribution, and oil and gas production. The stock has a P/E ratio of 15 and a PEG of 0.87 .

Tesco PLC ( TSCDY ) is involved in the retailing business in United Kingdom, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, South Korea, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, China and Japan. The stock has a P/E ratio of 15 and a PEG of 1.33 .

Bayer AG ( BAYRY ) famous for its Bayer aspirin, is a producer of health products, agricultural products, and high performance materials. The stock has a P/E ratio of 16 and a PEG of 1.67 .

Telstra Corporation Limited ( TLSYY ) is an Australia based provider of telecommunications services. The stock has a P/E ratio of 15 and a PEG of 2.35 .

Please note, the stock symbols for these stocks use the .PK extension for certain sites such as Yahoo Finance. These stocks can be tracked at Stockpickr.com. You can also get an Excel list of the top Pink Sheet stocks which you can download and sort, at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Top Selling Real Estate Books

The Best Selling Investing in Real Estate Books at Amazon are:

Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad's Advisors)

The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction

Real Estate Investing for Dummies

Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies

Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition

Top Selling Business and Investing Finance Books

Best Selling Business and Investing Finance Books according to Amazon:

The Trillion Dollar Meltdown: Easy Money, High Rollers, and the Great Credit Crash

Greenspan's Bubbles: The Age of Ignorance at the Federal Reserve

Where Does the Money Go?: Your Guided Tour to the Federal Budget Crisis

The Essays of Warren Buffett : Lessons for Corporate America

Financial Management: Theory & Practice

Currency Trading For Dummies

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications (New York Institute of Finance)

Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, Fourth Edition

Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty

Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets: Surviving the Public Spectacle in Finance and Politics (Agora Series)

Few Investment Domains Selling at Top Prices

The DN Journal has published its Year-To-Date Top 100 Domain list. However, only a few of them were business or investment related. It is interesting to note that the top one, fund.com, does have a finance connection. It just sold a couple weeks ago for $9,999,950 in a private sale. It looks like about a quarter of them are gambling or adult oriented. Here are a few other business domains that sold recently:

Offer.com $180,000
Auditors.com $125,000
Invest.net $45,000
LowInterestLoans.com $35,000
FraudProtection.com $32,500

Flying Spy Drones over Miami

Citizens of Miami may see something new in the sky, instead of just planes ans birds. Flying spy drones may be flying overhead in the near future. The Miami police will be using these devices to fight crime. The drones are manufactured by Honeywell International Inc. (HON), which trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Honeywell has a PE of 18, a PEG of 1.16, and pays a yield of 2%.

These 14 pound drones are also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV's.

Author does not own the above.

Top Canadian Income Trusts

Since the price of oil has eased off a bit from its high recently, investors have been looking at Canadian Income Trusts, also known as Canadian Oil Income Trusts or Canadian Royalty Trusts. These trusts pay a very high income. These trusts pass through all their earnings from oil and gas wells to the trust holders, similar to real estate investment trusts. There is no taxation at the corporate level since they are structured as trusts. Also, a portionof the dividends may be non-taxable due to depletion and depreciation deductions.
A lot of changes have taken place with these trusts during the last year, including mergers, delistings, and payout terminations.
You should be aware that the Canadian government came out with a plan to tax all Canadian trusts at the corporate level beginning in the year 2011. However, the average yield from Canadian trusts is still higher than the U.S. royalty trusts.
Below is a list of the Canadian Royalty Trusts that are traded on United States stock exchanges.

Harvest Energy (HTE) is a Calgary, Canada company which has paid monthly dividends since July 2005. It pays a yield of 15.6%.

Penn West Energy Trust (PWE), also based in Calgary, has paid monthly dividends since June 2006. The stock has a P/E of 38 and a yield of 15.5%.

Pengrowth Energy (PGH) has been paying dividends since July 2004. The stock has a P/E of 13, with a yield of 15.0%.

Provident Energy Trust (PVX), has been paying monthly dividends since October 2002, and pays a yield of 14.1%.

Advantage Energy Income (AAV), has paid dividends since April 2004. The stock has a yield of 13.9%.

To get an Excel list of all the US-traded Canadian Income Trusts, which you can download and sort, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author owns PWE.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Alaska Stocks

Some trivia about Alaska, the 49th state:
1. It is the largest state by area.
2. It is only one of two states which does not have a border with another state.
3. It is the 6th wealthiest state by median income.
4. It ranks 3th in the US for Gross State Product.
5. It has the lowest population density of any state.
6. 80% of the state's revenues come from oil.
7. Its third largest export after oil and gas is seafood.
8. It has the lowest individual tax burden in the US.
9. It has no state sales tax.
10. It has no individual income tax.

Alaska Communications Systems (ALSK) is an Anchorage based telecommunications company which provides local phone service, long distance phone service, Internet networking, wireless services, and satellite television. The stock has a PE of 17, a PEG of 5.04, and a yield of 7%.

First National Bank Alaska (FBAK.OB) is a member of the 'over-a-$1000-a-share club', currently trading in excess of $1800 per share. This Anchorage based bank was founded in 1922. The stock has a PE of 16 and pays a yield of 5.5%.

General Communication Inc. (GNCMA) provides provides cable television services, Internet access, landline and cellular telephone services throughout Alaska. The stock has a PE of 24, and a PEG of 2.43.

Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) owns Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and serves the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. The stock has a PE of 6 and a PEG of 1.1.

Alaska Power and Telephone Co. (APTL.PK), although based in Port Townsend, Washington, provides electrical energy and local and long distance telecommunications services in Alaska. The stock has a PE of 9.5. This is a very low market cap, and therefore, very speculative stock.

Alaska Pacific Bancshares Inc. (AKPB.OB) is the holding company for holding company for Alaska Pacific Bank. The stock has a PE of 11 and pays a yield of 2.1%. This is a very low market cap, and therefore, very speculative stock.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Aloha to Hawaii Stocks

Hawaii, the 50th state of the United States, is the birthplace for some interesting people:
Barack Obama
Bette Midler
Nicole Kidman

Hawaii is also the home to some interesting companies:

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) is a Honolulu based company which is in the business of shipping, real estate, sugar cane, and other agriculture. They are one of the largest landowners in Hawaii. The stock has a P/E of 13, a PEG of 1.6 and pay a yield of 2.8%.

Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) is Hawaii's largest local bank and Hawaii's second oldest bank, tracing its history to 1897. The stock has a P/E of 14, a PEG of 1.78, and has a yield of 3.5%.

Central Pacific Financial Corp. (CPF) is Hawaii's fourth largest bank. The stock has a P/E of 104, a PEG of 1.64, and a yield of 5.1%.

Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (HA) owns Hawaiian Airlines, the 11th largest airline in the United States. The stock has a P/E of 31.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (HE) is the largest electric utility in Hawaii, providing electricity to 93% of the power to the state. They have paid dividends for 107 years. The stock has a P/E of 23, a PEG of 4.1 and a yield of 5.4%.

Maui Land and Pineapple Co. Inc. (MLP) has three divisions: Agriculture, Resort, and Real Estate Development. They own the Kapalua Resort golf resort. The stock has a P/E of 33.

Author owns HA.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Maui Land & Pineapple moving to New York SE

The Maui Land & Pineapple Company (MLP), which currently trades on the American Stock Exchange, will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange around April 2 with the same stock ticker symbol. This Hawaii based company has been in business for a hundred years. They are in the agricultural business along with owning the Kapalua Resort.

What if They Gave an Election and Nobody Voted?

This actually just happened. There was an election in Tamarac, Florida relating to the annexation of a neighborhood, and out of all the registered voters, no one showed up, yet it cost $2500 to keep the polling site open.

Women's Legs Stocks

You should check out James Altucher's latest video on thestreet.com called Make Money Off Ladies' Legs, where he discusses a couple stocks involved in the removal of varicose veins and how the market for these types of 'leg' products and services will continue to increase for years. Since there appears to be a big interest in legs by both men and women, you might want to get a leg up on these investments that include leg rejuvenation companies and stocking companies.

Syneron Medical Ltd. (ELOS) is a manufacturer and seller of aesthetic medical products using electro-optical synergy technology that can be used for vascular treatments, hair removal, and reduction in the appearance of cellulite. . The stock has a PE of 14 , and a PEG of 0.81 .

Vnus Medical Technologies Inc. (VNUS) is a manufacturer of medical devices for the treatment of varicose veins using a proprietary radio frequency generator. The stock has a forward PE of 41 , and a PEG of 3.6 .

Cutera Inc. (CUTR) manufacturers laser aesthetic systems for hair removal, leg veins and and skin rejuvenation. The stock has a PE of 18 , and a PEG of 0.47 .

Vascular Solutions Inc. (VASC) is a medical device manufacturer which markets the Vari-Lase endovenous laser, that is used for the treatment of varicose veins. The stock has a forward PE of 17 , and a PEG of 0.86 .

IRIDEX Corp. (IRIX) is a provider therapeutic-based laser systems for dermatological and eye conditions. It has laser systems for aesthetic treatments, such as hair removal, leg veins, and sun damage. The stock has recently generated negative earnings and has a very low market cap.

Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) manufactures hosiery and stocking under the brands Hanes, L'Eggs, and Just My Size. The stock has a PE of 21 , and a PEG of 0.54 .

Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) , although a smaller part of their business, their Victoria's Secret division makes stockings. The stock has a PE of 9 , and a PEG of 0.66 . The yield is 3.8%.

Frederick's of Hollywood Group, Inc. (FOH) owns women's clothing stores which sell stockings and other intimate apparel. The stock has a PE of 9 .

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Airline to Charge for Legroom

Jet Blue Airways (JBLU), which trades on NASDAQ, is planning to charge an extra fee for extra legroom, however, they are not planning to offer Business Class. They anticipate a 60% increase in revenues for this year.

Four Year Old Voicemail Recovered by Verizon

A voicemail that was recorded by the wife of an 80 year old man before she passed away, disappeared when the Verizon (VZ) voicemail system was upgraded. However, much to the delight of the man, Verizon was able to find and reinstate the voicemail from their backup files.

eBay Auction of a Man's Life

An Australian man is auctioning his 'life' on eBay (EBAY), which includes his house, clothes, his clothes, his furniture, his car, his motorbike, his jet ski, and even his job. He is upset about the termination of his marriage and wants to start life anew. The starting price is around $400,000.

Nose Insured for $7.9 Million

A top winemaker and wine taster, Ilja Gort who owns Chateau de la Garde in Bordeaux, had his nose insured by Lloyds of London for for 5 million euros. Gort can distinguish between over a million different scents. This is the second nose insured by Lloyds, the first being Jimmy Durante's nose.

The US Dollar Worth Zero in Amsterdam

Due to the value of the US dollar dropping so dramatically against other currencies, many small foreign exchange offices in Amsterdam, in The Netherlands, are refusing to accept dollars at any exchange rate.

One Cornflake on eBay: $1525

Would you buy one Kellogg (K) cornflake on eBay (EBAY) for $1525? How about if the cornflake is shaped like the state of Illinois? Two sisters are selling this cornflake from a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and bidding has already reached $1525 (actually they are selling a coupon redeemable for the corn flake as eBay prohibits the selling of food). Over 18,000 people have viewed this auction.

Mitsubishi Unveils All Electric Car

Mitsubishi Motors (MMTOF.PK), which trades in Europe and occasionally on the Pink Sheets, has brought an all electric car to the New York International Auto Show this week. The car can travel 80 miles without a recharge. The car, called the iMiEV, will start selling in Japan next year for less than $30,000.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Salary Remains Flat

The richest man in the world, Warren Buffett received a salary from Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) of only $100,000 for the year, the same as what he has received each year for the last 27 years. He doesn't even receive stock options or stock grants. Who says you can't get rich on a salaried job.

iPhone Tip of the Week: #%*+=|~

Did you know that you can type all kinds of symbols on the Apple (AAPL) iPhone including #,%,*,+,=,|,~, the bullet, the Euro symbol, the British Pound sign, the Yen symbol, and several more. You may not even realize that this level of symbols is even on the iPhone. The way to access it is, when you are in Notes, and activate the keyboard, press on the .?123 key, then look in the lower left portion of the keyboard and press the grey #+= key. You will find a whole additional keyboard of symbols.

In case you missed the 18 iPhone Tips, or the iPhone no service tip, you should check them out.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Traveler Stopped for Carrying MacBook Air, Missed Flight

A man who was carrying the new Apple (AAPL) MacBook Air was detained by the Transportation Safety Administration because they didn't know what it was. Apparently, they couldn't believe that a laptop could be so thin. They even took X-rays of it. Eventually, after letting the traveler start up the computer, and launching a program, they let the man through, however, he still ended up missing his flight.

Top Tax Exempt Dividend Stocks

There are a group of investment vehicles which invest in municipal bonds that generate tax free income. I am referring to them as stocks in this article although they are structured as closed end funds [CEF's], a slightly different animal. The tax-free CEF's have several advantages over buying individual municipal bonds directly:

1. Muni CEF's have better liquidity, with share prices quoted daily.
2. The CEF's provide much greater diversification, for the amount of money invested.
3. There is no minimum investment with a CEF, whereas, you will be lucky to find a brokerage firm that will sell you one $5,000 bond.
4. Most of the CEF's generate monthly dividends, versus a muni bond which only pays semi-annually.
5. It is easier to reinvest your income with CEF's.

Some things you should be aware of before investing in these securities.

1. They may be subject to state income tax.
2. There may be an alternative minimum tax consequence.
(Check with your accountant before investing.)
3. For most of these, there is no yield to maturity.
4. The yield will fluctuate.
5. The price will fluctuate.

Here are a few of the highest yielding tax exempt stocks which came from the list of over 200 tax free stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com:

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund (PMF) is one of the highest yielding tax exempt CEF's, paying a yield of 6.3%. This stock has paid the same monthly dividend, 8.1 cents, since April 2002.

One of the highest yielding tax exempt stocks which does have a maturity is the BlackRock Municipal 2018 Term Trust (BPK), which has a yield of 6.0%. Their monthly dividend has been 7.6 cents since July of 2005.

One of the two highest yielding Florida municipal bond CEF's is the BlackRock Florida Municipal Bond Trust (BIE), which yields 6.2%. They have been paying 7.8 cents per month since July of 2003.

If you are looking for California tax free income, you might want to look at the Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (NZH), which yields 5.6%. The fund has been paying monthly dividends since November 2001.

Nuveen also has a Texas CEF called Nuveen Texas Quality Income Municipal Fund (NTX), that yields 5.9%. Their dividends have been paid since October of 2001.

There are also New Jersey muni CEF's. BlackRock New Jersey Municipal Bond Trust (BLJ) pays 5.9%. They have been paying dividends since June 2002.

A New York CEF that pays about 5.9% is the PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (PNI). They have been paying monthly dividends since August 2002.

For a list of over 200 tax exempt stocks that you can sort, change, and download, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Don't Get Stock Scammed

The BBC just published an article with five stories of individuals who were the victims of investment and stock selling scams. Make sure that none of this happens to you.

Increase Your Financial IQ: Book Review

I was kind of hesitant to review the book Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money, by Robert Kiyosaki, since I was concerned that it may be just another 'get rich quick' guide to real estate, and my only exposure to him was his occasional telemercials on TV. (I had never read any of his previous books.) However, I was pleasantly surprised after reading through the entire book.

A lot of the book is about the psychology of investing and the psychology of making money. He discusses in great detail his five Financial IQ's: Making more money, Protecting, Budgeting, Leveraging, and Improving financial information. He gives many real life examples from his past, including how he started his first major business, the first company to market surfer wallets. Not only does he discuss his business experiences, his also discusses his psyche behind the business decision making process, from beginning to end. The best anecdote in the book was about how he flew into North Vietnam, during the war, to buy gold.

In one chapter, he goes into great detail about how the government and politics can affect the economy and investments. He even discusses which he thinks is the best investment opportunity at this time. I won't ruin it for you by telling you what it is, but I'll give you a hint; it's not real estate. Check out Chapter 7.

If you are looking for a book that gives great advice on being a financial success, then this is well worth reading.

Direct Selling Stocks

Direct selling stocks, which are also known as multilevel marketing stocks and network marketing stocks, can be considered to be recession proof, because people turn to ways of generating extra income when times get tough. Direct selling companies operate by recruiting salespeople to sell their products. The salespeople receive additional commissions from the sales of people recruited in their downline.

Here is a list of some of the major publicly traded direct selling stocks.

Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP) is an Orlando, Florida based company which markets kitchen products, cosmetics and personal care products. Their P/E is 19, and their PEG is 0.82. They offer a yield of 2.4%.

Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) is a Los Angeles based company which markets weight management, nutritional supplement, and personal care products in over 60 countries around the world, through their sales reps. Their price earnings ratio is 18, their PEG ratio is 1.18, and they pay a yield of 1.7%.

Avon Products Inc. (AVP) is a New York based company which markets cosmetics, fragrances, skin care, and toiletry products, along with various other consumer products. Their P/E is 31, a PEG of 1.51, and the company pays a yield of 2.1%.

Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. (PPD) is an Oklahoma company which markets legal expense plan memberships throughout the United States and Canada. Their P/E is 12.

Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NUS) is a Provo, Utah based company which markets personal care products and nutritional supplements. They have a P/E of 27, a PEG of 1.23, and a yield of 2.4%.

USANA Health Sciences Inc. (USNA) is a Salt Lake City based company which markets vitamins, minerals, skin products and personal care products. They have a P/E of 11, and a PEG of 0.55.

Mannatech Inc. (MTEX) is a Texas based company which markets nutritional supplements, skin care products, and weight-management products. The company's P/E is 12, with a fairly high yield of 4.2%.

Nature's Sunshine Products Inc. (NATR.PK), which trades on the Pink Sheets, is a distributor of nutritional, herbal and personal care products. The stock has a P/E of 8.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Free Virus with Your iPod?

According to an article by Associated Press, many gadgets come bundled with viruses. These gadgets include the Apple (AAPL) iPods, a few of which were infected in 2006 which were tested with an infected PC. Other affected products include the Tom Tom (TMOAF.PK) navigation equipment and digital picture frames which have been marketed by Best Buy (BBY) and Target (TGT).

Google Android: Competition for the Apple iPhone

If you aren't familiar with the Google (GOOG) Android yet, you should check it out. It looks like competition for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone. This open source product is expected to be released during the last half of 2008.

Real Live Hobbits found on Palau Island

Anthropologists have found the remains of what are sort of very small humans, actually Homofloresiensis instead of Homosapiens, which lived on one of the islands of Palau in the South Pacific thousands of years ago. These were people of very short stature.

Gold Breaks through $1,000 an Ounce

In case you were too busy watching the stock market drop and didn't notice, gold just went over $1,000 an ounce for the first time ever. Gold was up 32% last year and is up approximately 20% just for the first part of 2008.

iPhone Tip of the Week: No Service

If any of you Apple (AAPL) iPhone users missed my 18 top iPhone tips and tricks, you should check it out. However, I just came across another iPhone tip that I had to use myself.

If you ever notice a No Service in the upper left corner of your screen instead of the bars, and you are located in an area where you have always had service in the past, then here is what you need to try, before calling AT&T (T) to ask if their transmission towers are down. Go to the Settings, turn on Airplane Mode for 10 seconds. Then turn it off. Your Edge and Wireless settings should be reset and you should see bars.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Oil and Gas Explorers and Drillers

With the price of oil breaking $100 a barrel and poking around $105 per barrel, maybe now is the time to look at the explorers and drillers of oil and natural gas. Did you know that the first oil drilling took place in the 9th century in the area around where Azerbaijan is.

Here are some of the largest oil drillers and explorers by market cap:

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO (PBR) is a Brazilian based explorer and producer of oil and gas in in Argentina, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, Tanzania, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The stock has a P/E of 19 and a yield of 0.3% .

STATOILHYDRO ASA (STO) is a Norwegian based producer and distributor of petroleum. The stock has a P/E of 8 , a PEG of 2.13 and a yield of 1.8% .

TRANSOCEAN INC (RIG) is an offshore drilling contractor with a speciality of deepwater drilling. The stock has a P/E of 10 , and a PEG of 0.27 .

DIAMOND OFFSHORE (DO) $16.7 B is a Houston, Texas based offshore oil and gas drilling contractor. The stock has a P/E of 20 , a PEG of 0.32 and a yield of 0.4% .

NOBLE CORP (NE) is a Sugar Land, Texas based contractor of oil and gas drilling services. The stock has a P/E of 11 , a PEG of 0.4 and a yield of 0.3% .

NABORS INDUSTRIES (NBR) is a Bermuda based oil, gas, and geothermal land driller in the United States, Canada, South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The stock has a P/E of 10 , a PEG of 0.73 .

ENSCO INTERNATIONAL (ESV) is a Dallas, Texas based offshore contract driller in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The stock has a P/E of 9 , a PEG of 0.35 and a yield of 0.2% .

ENERPLUS RESOURCES (ERF) although primarily a Canadian based oil and gas investment trust, also does development drilling. The stock has a P/E of 16 and a yield of 11.8% .

PRIDE INTL (PDE) is a Houston based provider of offshore and onshore contract drilling services to oil and natural gas companies. The stock has a P/E of 8 , and a PEG of 0.61 .

SANDRIDGE ENERGY (SD) is an Oklahoma based explorer and producer of oil and natural gas. The stock has a P/E of 412 , and a PEG of 3.14 .

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Disney Museum Bonds get AA- Rating

The Walt Disney Family Museum with be built in the Presidio of San Francisco and will utilize over 70,000 square feet of three historic buildings. The museum bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation, also known as the Disney Foundation. The $59.1 million bond issue received a AA- rating by Fitch. The Disney Company (DIS) has no connection to the project.

Top 20 High Yield U.S. Income Partnerships

United States Income partnerships, generally known as Master Limited Partnerships or MLP's, are investment vehicles that are similar to income royalty trusts, except that they are structured as limited partnerships. MLP's have several advantages over regular high income stocks. They avoid double taxation because they pass through income without being taxed at the corporate level. In addition, they can pass through tax deductions. However, there are a couple issues you should be aware of, that make them different from income trusts.

First, they don't send out 1099 forms, they send out a Schedule K-1 Form, and the income is reported on your tax return much different from regular dividends. In addition, you should never, ever put an MLP into a retirement plan because of the UBTI or Unrelated Business Taxable Income problem, which could put the tax deferred status of your retirement plan in jeopardy, based on my understanding. MLP closed end funds should not be a problem. However, I am not an accountant; please discuss MLP's with your accountant or CPA for clarification, before making an investment.

The MLP's are generally involved in pipeline businesses, usually oil and gas. Most of these MLP's have very high dividends.

Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNH) pays a yield of over 13%. This Sioux City, Iowa based company produces and distributes nitrogen fertilizer products, such as anhydrous ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate solutions. The company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, has a P/E of 12.

Another high yield partnership is Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) which has a payout of 9.6%. The company is in the business of transporting and storing natural gas through its pipeline systems. The stock, which trades on the NYSE, has a P/E of 12.

Ferrellgas Partners LP (FGP), the propane distribution company, has a yield of 9.1%. This Overland Park, Kansas company distributes gas in all 50 states. The stock has a P/E of 33 and a PEG of 4.4.

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (APL), is another natural gas distributor with about 7,900 miles of intrastate gas gathering pipelines. The Pennsylvania based company has a forward P/E of 13.7 and a PEG of 4.31.

For a list of 20 of the top American based master limited partnerships, which can be sorted, changed, added to and downloaded, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Platinum Stocks

I remember back in 1995 and 1996, gold and platinum were both selling for around $400 an ounce. Now gold is selling for around $972 per ounce, a bit more than doubling. Yet platinum is now at over $2,000 per ounce, a quintupling in price.

Platinum has the following characteristics:

1. It is thirty times rarer than gold.
2. The top producer is South Africa, then Russia, then Canada.
3. There is a large amount of platinum on the Moon.
4. Platinum complexes are used in the treatment of cancers.
5. King Louis XV of France declare it the only metal fit for a king.
6. It is used in the manufacture of jewelry, electronics, dentistry, lab equipment, and automobile emissions controls.

Here are some stocks that participate in the mining of platinum.

Anglo American PLC (AAUK) which trades on NASDAQ, is a miner of platinum, gold, diamonds, coal, and industrial minerals. The stock has a P/E of 12, a forward P/E of 19, and pays a yield of 2.6%, with a market cap of 86 billion.

Anglo Platinum (AGPPY.PK) produces platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. They have a market cap of 37 billion and a net profit margin of 24%.

Anooraq Resources Corporation (ANO) is a Vancouver, Canada based mining company involved in the exploration of platinum group metals in South Africa. The company recently reported diluted earnings per share of negative 3 cents per share.

Aquarius Platinum (AQPBF.PK) mines for platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The stock has a market cap of over four billion and a P/E of 18.7.

Impala Platinum (IMPUY.PK) is a miner of platinum group metals, also known as PGMs, including platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and iridium. They operate in South Africa and Zibabwe. This company, which has a $26 billion market cap, has a 28% profit margin.

JSC MMC Norilsk (NILSY.PK) is a Russian miner of platinum, palladium, copper, nickel, cobalt, rhodium, silver, gold, tellurium, selenium, iridium and ruthenium. The market cap is 56 billion and the net profit margin is over 49%.

Lonmin PLC (LNMIY.PK) is a South Africa-based miner of platinum group metals. They have a market cap of almost 11 billion and a PE of 34.

North American Palladium (PAL) which trades on the American Stock Exchange , mines for palladium, platinum, gold, copper and nickel. The stock had negative earnings per share of 46 cents per share, with a market cap of 383 million.

Northam Platinum Pty (NMPNF.PK) mines for platinum, palladium and rhodium in South Africa. The stock has a net profit margin of 31.5%.

Stillwater (SWC) which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, is based and operates in Montana. They mine, refine, and sell palladium and platinum. The stock has a forward P/E of 16.

Jubilee Platinum (JUBPF.PK) is a London based company that explores for platinum and other minerals. The stock has a 73 million market cap.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Man 'Borrows' Charity Money to Invest in Stock Market

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the CFO of the Music Community Concourse Partnership in San Francisco admitted that he 'borrowed' $3.6 million from the charity to invest in stocks, but he had fully intended to pay them back.Unfortunately for him, the market tanked.

Speaking of Cars, How About One that Runs on Air?

Interested in a car that runs on one of the cleanest fuels in the world? How about a car that runs on air, manufactured by Tata Motors (TTM), which trades on the New York Stock Exchange. It is called the OneCAT and releases no pollutants at low speeds. It runs on compressed air and only costs about $5,000.

Gas-Free Sports Car rolls out in Two Weeks

Are you ready for an all electric sorts car that can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds, and can travel 221 miles non-stop, all without gasoline? Watch for the Tesla automobile that is being released in a couple weeks. manufactured by Tesla Motors in San Carlo, California. The price is a reasonable $98,000. Sounds like a good investment.

Can You Retire? Get a Free Retirement Analyzer Program

Do you think you will be able to retire when you want to? If you are not sure, you should check out the free retirement analyzer program called RetAnalyzer, available at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. This program is similar to one that I created many years ago that was marketed in a software package for $99.

The program allows for the changing of variables such as the growth rate of your taxable and non-taxable investment, the estimated annual increase (inflation rate) in your desired income, etc. In the example that comes with the program, it assumes a 45 year old who wants to retire at age 59 and start receiving Social Security at age 62. In the example, the taxable investments are $500,000 and non-taxable investments are $70,000. Assuming the returns entered in the analysis, this person would run out of money at age 83. Could be cutting it a little close. however, that assumes a return of only 3.5% after-tax and 4% on non-taxable investments.

The program can either be downloaded or used online. The program requires that any version of Excel be installed on your computer. There is currently no charge for the RetAnalyzer program at this time.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Top 18 Apple iPhone Tips

Here are several Apple (AAPL) iPhone tips that I recently discovered during the last six months since I've owned my iPhone. Many new iPhone owners may find these of interest, and even long term (six month) owners of iPhones might find something new here.

1. Make Your Icons Jiggle
Want to scare your friends when you show them your iPhone for the first time? Hold down your finger on one of the icons for a few seconds and they will all start to jiggle. Then hand the iPhone to your friend. They will think something is going wrong with their eyes. (By the way, to turn the jiggling off, just press the indented Home button at the bottom of the phone.)
2. Move Your Icons Around
As long as you are jiggling your icons, you can move your icons around on the screen, then when you press the Home button, the icons will stop juggling and will stay in place.
3. Umlauts and Other Neat Symbols
Need to type an umlaut or a letter with an accent mark, such as a tilde? No problem, just hold down your finger on the letter similar to the one you are looking for (try it with the a, the c, the e, the i, the l, the n, the o, the s, the u, the y, and the z). Then just slide your finger over the accented letter. How about an upside down question mark or upside down exclamation point for typing in Spanish? Of course it is possible; just hold your finger down on either of those symbols.
4. Quick Period
Need to type a period quickly? Press the .?123 button, and holding your finger down, slide it to the period. As soon as you take your finger off, the keyboard reverts back to the alphabet keyboard. This saves an extra step.
5. Period-Space-Revert
As an alternative to the above, and as long as you are typing periods, and don't like the hassle of clicking on the .?123 button to revert back to the alphabet keyboard, all you need to do is type a space after the period, and the alphabet keyboard will appear. This works with any punctuation, by the way.
6. Unfreezing
I've had to use this a couple times, when I've had two phone calls with one on hold and I drive under a bridge; I end up not being able to talk to either call or do anything else with the phone. If your phone ever freezes, hold down the button at the top of your iPhone for 10 seconds, and it will completely power off your phone. Press the button at the top and it will restart.
7. Zooming
Have a hard time reading the notes you've typed on your Notepad? Just hold your finger down on the words and your words will be magnified.
8. Wider Keyboard
If you need a wider keyboard when using Safari, turn your iPhone sideways first, before clicking on the URL (web site address) box. A larger keypad will appear all the way across the screen.
9. Throwing Out Junk Email
This is one of my favorite tips. Have you ever seen email that you know is spam but you don't want to open it in order to delete it? Just drag it off the screen to the right, a Delete button will popup asking you to confirm that you really want to delete it, then just click on Delete.
10. Scrolling Frames
Ever got stuck in a web page on Safari with a scrolling frame that you couldn't scroll? Just do the scrolling with two fingers.
11. Caps Lock
If you ever need to use Caps Lock, you have to activate it first (one time only) by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Enable Caps Lock. Then to get Caps Lock, hold your finger down on the Shift and it will turn blue, indicating Caps Lock is on.
12. Quick Phone Call
If you see a phone number in Safari, just click on it to make a phone call (no need to write it down or remember it for entering in the phone mode).
13. Jumping to a City
When you are looking at Google (GOOG) Maps and you want to get to a city quickly, you can just type in the airport code, such as LAX or SFO. It's a lot quicker than typing the name of the city.
14. Verify the Link
Ever get an email from eBay (EBAY) or Amazon (AMZN) that you couldn't be sure was real? Wanted to check the link where it says Click Here? Just hold your finger down on the link and the true link will appear.
15. No Need for .Com
If you are typing in the URL for a .com web site address on the iPhone's Safari, you don't need to type in '.com'. You don't even need to click on the .COM button. Just type the first part of the web site address, such as www.Stockerblog, and click the GO button. Safari will automatically put in the rest of the URL, the '.com' part, in this case www.stockerblog.com, and it will bring you to the web page. (This obviously won't work if you are trying to get to a .net, .org, or .gov web site.)
16. Scroll Home
To quickly scroll to the top of a web page in Safari, just double-click on where it says ATT (T) at the top of the screen.
17. Page Down
As a follow-up to the previous tip, to do a Page Down, double-click near the bottom of the page. The same works in reverse, double-click near the top of the page (but don't accidentally double-click on a link) to do a scroll up.
18. Mark as Unread
If you have just read an email, but you want to mark it as unread, click on Details in the upper right, then just below the subject line, click on Mark as Unread.

Author owns AAPL and EBAY.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Suggested Mother's Day Gift: $40,000 Laptop

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Time to plan ahead and start looking for gifts for your wife and/or mother. (By the way, Mother's Day is May 11 this year.) BillionairesLife.com has come across an item that would make a great present, a 24 karat gold plated Apple (AAPL) MacBook for only $40k.
BillionairesLife.com also found a great gift for your mother-in-law, the hat of the Wicked Witch of the West. (Just kidding, I get along fine with my mother-in-law.)

Author owns AAPL.

Nanomagnets May Be Used to Treat Cancer

Scientists at the at the University of Edinburgh have discovered a way of utilizing nanomagnets to treat magnets, by guiding them to tumor sites and then destroying the cancerous cells.

British Hedge Fund Collapses due to Credit Crisis

The London based Peloton Partners, which had $2 billion under management and returned an 87% return in 2007, has shut down due to the credit crisis.

Lumber and Forestry Companies

With the move towards the production of renewable transportation biofuels from nonfood sources, such as lumber and wood waste, maybe it is time to look at lumber and forestry stocks.

Weyerhaeuser Co. (WY) , the largest lumber company in the United States, manufactures, and sells forest products. The stock has a P/E of 17 , a PEG of 7.58 , and a yield of 3.80% .

Deltic Timber Corp. (DEL) harvests timber and sells lumber throughout the United States The stock has a P/E of 55 , and a yield of 0.60% .

Universal Forest Products Inc. (UFPI) produces preserved and unpreserved dimensional lumber. The stock has a P/E of 26 , and a yield of 0.40%.

Pope Resources LP (POPEZ) is a limited partnership that manages timber resources. The stock has a P/E of 12 , and a yield of 4.20% .

MAXXAM Inc. (MXM) grows and harvests redwood and Douglas-fir timber, and produces logs and lumber. The stock has had negative earnings.

Masisa S.A. (MYS) is a forestry and lumber company in Chile. The stock has a P/E of 29, a PEG of 1.05, and a yield of .6%.

Aracruz Celulose (ARA), which is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is one of the major manufactures of pulp in Brazil, and is the world’s leading supplier of eucalyptus pulp. Their shares are traded on the Sao Paulo, New York and Madrid stock exchanges. The stock has a P/E of 12, a PEG of 7.35, and a yield of 2.4%.

One of the largest pulp and paper companies in Brazil, Votorantim Celulose e Papel (VCP), manufactures printing and writing paper, coated paper, tissues, labels and thermal paper. Votorantim owns two paper and pulp mills located in Jacarei and Luiz Antonio, and two paper mills in Guaiba and Eunapolis. In addition to selling throughout Brazil, Votorantim also markets and exports its products internationally. The stock has a P/E of 5 and a PEG of 1.82.

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. (LPX) is a manufacturer of wood products for new home construction, repairs, remodeling, and manufactured housing. The stock has had negative earnings, and a yield of 5.3% .

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com