Hot Stocks

Hot stocks are not about hype. They emerge when powerful themes, policy shifts, and capital flows converge. InvestorPlace analysts track fast-moving market narratives, especially in technology, AI, and infrastructure, to identify stocks drawing outsized attention and explain what is really driving those moves.

Major Market Support and Resistance Levels

Find out where the major support and resistance levels are for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq.

How to Invest in Gold Bullion – China’s Appetite is a Golden Opportunity

Investing in gold is easy, and can be quite profitable. China is fast emerging as an enormous market for precious metals of all types, and particularly gold bullion. For many years now India has been the world's largest gold market, but that designation has recently come under pressure from the Red Dragon. In fact, last year demand for gold bullion in India fell by a whopping 33%, while demand in China surged 9%. This renewed Chinese investing in gold, as well as the current flux in the equity and currency markets, means big profit opportunities in gold ETFs such as the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD).

The Best Major China Oil Stock to Buy Right Now (CEO, PTR, SNP)

There's a lot of talk about a "China bubble" and how China stocks are peaking. Don't believe it. The reality is that China's stock market is like any stock market – there are good investments and bad investments. So how do you find the good stocks in China? Simple: Buy what China buys. And since the People's Republic is seeing soaring energy demand -- specifically demand for crude oil. That means good things for major China oil stocks like CNOOC Ltd. (NYSE: CEO), PetroChina Co. Ltd. (NYSE: PTR), and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (NYSE: SNP).

4 Hot Coal Stocks (SSL, BTU, PUDA, YZC)

Coal is a cheap source of energy. This is the biggest reason why the Chinese use coal to produce 80% of their electricity, while the U.S. uses coal for about 60%. India is another big consumer of the fuel, but it consumes only one-fifth as much as China. This big demand means big potential for coal stocks such as global coal stocks Sasol (NYSE: SSL), Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU), Puda Coal (AMEX: PUDA) and Yanzhou Coal (NYSE: YZC).

McDonald’s MCD, Burger King BKC Fight All-Out Promotion War

Fast food heavyweights Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC) and McDonald's Corp. (MCD) continue to duke it out in a fight for a bigger share of an increasing crowded fast-food marketplace. First it was the $1 double cheeseburger war. Then, the fight over breakfast. Now it appears MCD stock and BKC stock have come to blows over a price war for summer drinks.

How a Rising China Yuan Will Affect Your Portfolio

After nearly two years of currency stability, I believe we are growing closer to a new round of yuan appreciation. And considering that the most frequently asked questions I receive from subscribers are when and how much the Chinese yuan will appreciate against the U.S. dollar, followed by how the currency appreciation will impact our China Strategy portfolio, I'd like to dig deeper into the issue.

Top 6 Stocks for May

Traders need to exercise caution and invest only in the stocks that will benefit most from the economic recovery.

Japan’s Yen Is the Next Euro (NSANY, TM, HMC, HIT)

With Greece's debt troubles, a lot of international investors are bullish on the euro. But there is one Asian currency that may soon follow the unraveling euro, and that's the Japanese yen. But you can find good stocks there. Nissan (NASDAQ: NSANY) is boosting capacity in China by 70% by 2012 as the country surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest car market. Toyota (NYSE: TM) and Honda (NYSE: HMC) are not far behind. Everyone knows that the battle for market share is critical at the moment. Even General Motors, which is a ghost of its former self, is selling more cars in China in the first three months of 2010 than it is in the U.S. And Hitachi (NYSE: HIT), which at one point was 2% of the Japanese economy, is a huge industrial conglomerate that will also be a direct beneficiary of BRICs' growth.

Occidental Petroleum OXY is a Good Crude Oil Stock to Buy

Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE: OXY) is a California-based company with a portfolio of oil- and gas-producing properties in the U.S., Latin America, and the Middle East. Occidental Petroleum stock offers favorable exposure to higher oil prices. According to the firm's most recent presentation, a $1.00 increase in crude oil prices -- a move of about 1.2% at today's levels -- adds about $34 million to its net income. OXY earnings that could be boosted by this trend.

Stock Picks – Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust-GGN

Despite its appreciation in the past year, Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust (GGN) is still in a powerful bull market.

Stock Picks – Teva Pharmaceutical-TEVA

Investors should take a full position in Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA), which just issued a buy signal.

Humana HUM Earnings Up, Shares Fall (UHI, CI, AET)

Health benefits provider Humana Inc. (HUM) posted quarterly diluted EPS of $1.52 this morning, higher than analysts' estimates of $1.14 and above the company's own forecast of $1.10-$1.20. Humana also raised its full-year guidance, following the footsteps of United Health Group Inc. (UHI), which raised its guidance last week following a strong quarterly report. Cigna Corp. (CI) is scheduled to report quarterly earnings next week and is expected to post good numbers. Aetna Inc. (AET), which is reporting later this week, is not expected to post similar gains.

Goldman Sparks Financial Stock Upgrades, Downgrades – BAC, BAM, WFC, UBS, CS, GS

In the wake of the Goldman Sachs (GS) bombshell, there have been a number of stock upgrades and stock downgrades to financial companies in the last week. GS stock was beaten down recently on news of a civil fraud investigation of Goldman by the SEC, and has sent shockwaves through the financial sector. Stock upgrades include Bank of America (BAC), Brookfield Asset Management (BAM), TD Ameritrade (AMTD) and New York Community Bancorp (NYB). Stock downgrades include Wells Fargo (WFC), UBS (UBS) and Credit Suisse (CS). Goldman Sachs itself also saw a stock downgrade.

3 Hot China Biotech Stocks to Buy Now

Don't go chasing companies based on American health care reform – the bottom line is that the biggest profit and sales growth is going to healthcare companies in China right now! Here are three China biotechs to buy right now: WuXi PharmaTech (WX), Mindray Medical (MR) and China Biologic Products (CBPO).

McDonald’s MCD Earnings Up Despite Weak U.S. Economy

All signs to the contrary, U.S. consumers are still feeling the pinch of high unemployment, stagnant wages, rising health care costs, and rising gasoline prices. What makes a difference to people still struggling with the effects of the near collapse of the financial system is cheap stuff, like the $2.99 meal at McDonald's (MCD) or lower prices on 10,000 items at Walmart (WMT).

Best Way To Play China’s Currency Is Gold, Not Renminbi ETN (CNY)

A lot of investors think that the Chinese currency should appreciate against the dollar and most major currencies, and we agree. It is possible today, even though the currencies are not free-floating, to receive the investment return of the currency rate via the Market Vectors Renminbi/USD ETN (CNY) and the Market Vectors Indian Rupee/USD ETN (INR). Still, I advise against buying those ETNs, even though I am bullish on both the renminbi and the rupee.

Toyota TM Stalling Before May Earnings Report

Toyota (TM) has come under fire recently on continued coverage of its brake recall, big incentives to boost TM sales and rumors of a Toyota dividend cut. Some investors are fleeing this stock like a rat from a sinking ship, while others want to buy Toyota while TM stock is cheap.

March Retail Sales Jump Might Not Be Sustainable (JCP, HOTT, TGT, WMT, JWN)

Retail sales for the month of March rose 1.6%, but there is some concern that the rise in consumer spending is only temporary.

Stock Picks – Corning Inc-GLW

With a new pattern of heavy accumulation and a buy signal, Corning Inc. (GLW) looks capable of breaking through previous highs.