The Next Silver is Platinum

Today the price of gold and silver soared once again as gold touched a new all-time high and silver closed in on $50 per ounce. But, by the end of the session the price of silver fell from the highs as investors began banking profits.

The exact opposite occurred with platinum, which began a rally during the last afternoon hours and broke out to new highs today.

A few ways to play platinum:

1. iPath Platinum ETN (PGM) - Tracks price of platinum futures.
   
2. ETFS Physical Platinum ETF (PPLT) - Actually has the physical metal to back up the holdings.
   
3. E-Tracs Long Platinum ETN (PTM) - Tracks the price of platinum futures.
   
4. First Trust Global Platinum ETF (PLTM) - Basket of platinum-related stocks.
   

Five Stocks added to Watchlist

Over the last week we added 5 stocks to the PFG WatchList. They come from varying sectors, but all have solid charts and fundamentals to back the move to our list of potential buy candidates heading into next week.

1. Ion Geophysical (IO) - Offers seismic imaging to help energy companies find more oil and natural gas underground. Makes a lot of sense with oil above $110/barrel.
2. Canadian Imperial Bank (CM) - A lower risk way to play the financials with a big dividend of 4.2%. (Note: we did buy shares of CM for several clients this week.)
3. Marketaxess Holdings (MKTX) - Offers trading platforms for fixed income products based around the globe. Finding support on a pullback after touching a fresh all-time high.
4. Clean Harbors (CLH) - The environmental waste company has it hands in traditional waste management as well as cleanup efforts for spills, etc. Trying to breakout of a base on support - great chart setup.
5. Verifone Systems (PAY) - Electronic payment firm that has been on a tear for over 2 years recently hit an all-time high and is now consolidating, offering a buying opportunity.
   

What to do with Gold and Silver

I tweeted yesterday (Monday) around 11am ET that I felt both gold and silver were putting in short-term tops. I am not calling for the end of the rally or the "bursting of the bubble", however after parabolic gains over the last 2 weeks it is normal to see some profit-taking.

My gold and silver holdings have more than doubled since the original purchase and I will not take profits at this time. I will hold as long as the long-term uptrend remains intact and as a matter of fact, would be a buying on a pullback to support for my clients that are underexposed to the precious metals.

Levels to watch on SLV are: $41, $38.75

Levels to watch on GLD are: $143.85, $140.50

Also keep an eye on Platinum and Palladium as potential buys on more weakness.

Stocks Popping up on the PFG Buy Scan

Everyone loves to buy a stock when it is hitting highs.... For some emotional reason it makes a human feel better. When in reality the better strategy is to wait for a stock to pullback from a high and move into oversold levels.

Within the last few days a large number of high flyers have pulled back to support and are now beginning a new leg higher.

Some of these stocks are below, BUT if you want the full list of 22 Ideas you must email Penn Financial Group at info@pennfinancialgroup.com

First Five:

1. Flir Systems (FLIR)
2. Cubic (CUB)
3. Clean Harbors (CLH)
4. Wellcare Health Plans (WCG)
5. SPDR S&P Metals & Mining (XME)

AGAIN FOR THE COMPLETE LIST EMAIL: info@pennfinancialgroup.com

How to Win the Food and Energy Arms Race

Here is a link to a FREE 6-page report on how to profit from the increasing demand for food and fuel around the world as supplies remain stagnant.

What makes this investment opportunity so interesting is the fact it does not involve the risk of just one stock!!

Read the report below:

http://nbtequitiesresearch.com/sites/default/files/uploads/4-19-11_CROP_NBT_Report_Finalv2.pdf

Stocks & ETFs of Interest at or Near New Highs

The comments out of S&P today regarding the US credit rating combined with weak stocks overseas last night was enough to push down the market by over 1 percent.

Even as the market sold-off, a number of stocks and ETFs were either hitting fresh highs or held up well and continued to trade near the highs. Here are a few I find intriguing:

1. SPDR Gold ETF (GLD) - Yet another new all-time high for the yellow metal. Considering this is Penn Financial Group's largest holding we are happy with the continued success with GLD.
2. CPFL Energia (CPL) - The Brazilian utility surged to a new all-time high on twice the normal volume. With no major news announcement it suggests there is something brewing.
3. Genesee & Wyoming (GWR) - Railroad company that has been booming with the economy recovering and the demand for commodities increasing. Down 1.5 percent today, but on light volume.
4. Mercadolibre (MELI) - The Ebay of Argentina has been a favorite stock of mine for years, but unfortunately do not own any as of today. The Latin American firm closed at a new historic high today.
5. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) - The maker of small tools is not exciting, however a report over the weekend that highlighted the amount of money being spent fixing up their homes is a good news for SWK.

** PFG currently owns shares of GLD, CPL, and GWR.

Who is Laughing Now??

Over the last year I have been touting the fact that Gold via the SPDR Gold ETF (NYSEArca: GLD) was Penn Financial Group's largest holding.

This was met with the usual responses:

"You are too late to make money in gold and precious metals"

"The bubble is about to burst"

"The commodity trade is over"

"Are you some type of conspiracy theorist that thinks the world will end?"

"No investor will hold gold for the long-term"

All were very witty comments, however all were untrue. And in the last year Gold has risen from $1125/ounce in mid-April to over $1465 today. Silver in the meantime has more than doubled in the last 12 months.

I am not here to brag, but I am here to make a point that is important in investing. When everyone thinks you are wrong and they attempt to call the top of a trend - you are typically the one that is correct. No matter how hard it is to be the minority, it often pays in the end. When is the last time the masses made lots of money?? Exactly!!

On Hannity Tonight on Fox News Channel

I will be on "Hannity" tonight on Fox News Channel at 9:40 ET for 2 segments with the Great American Panel. This will be my second appearance on the highly rated show.

I am psyched to get back on and share my thoughts on 4 interesting topics.

Make sure to tune-in and I look forward to your feedback.

Matt

Stocks Flashing Buy Signals

Every morning I run through a number of scans to find stocks and ETFs that are at or near high reward-to-risk entry points. Today there was an unusual amount of stocks at levels that could be considered buying opportunities.

Here is a list of the stocks.

(For more info on any of the stocks listed please email PFG at info@pennfinancialgroup.com)

1. Brookdale Senior Living (BKD)

2. Apple (AAPL)

3. Amerigon (ARGN)

4. Mentor Graphics (MENT)

5. Carbo Ceramics (CRR)

6. IMAX (IMAX)

7. FLIR Systems (FLIR)

8. Polypore (PPO)

9. CareFusion (CFN)

10. Altra Industrial Motion (AIMC)

11. CBS (CBS)

12. EMC (EMC)

13. CSX (CSX)

14. WP Carey & Co. (WPC)