by Drew Shaw Commodities posted stellar performances in 2010, but in the first few days of the new trading year, they took a beating. Should investors buy the dips in commodities? Or does this early January setback mark the end of the commodity bull run? Overall, I think we are simply seeing pure and simple [...]

by Drew Shaw Metals prices have been soaring, and gained steam after the U.S. government approved a two-year extension of Bush-era tax cuts this week, which had been set to expire. If you are an investor who keeps waiting for a major pullback before buying precious metals, you probably aren’t finding many opportunities to do [...]

by Drew Shaw and Kyle McEwan The euro has been gaining ground on the U.S. dollar amid speculation that the Federal Reserve may announce new quantitative easing measures. The dollar declined to $1.3639 per euro, the weakest level since April 15, 2010. If you are long the euro, you might want to let your position [...]

by Drew Shaw The moving average convergence-divergence oscillator, or more commonly referred to by its acronym “MACD,” is a well-known buy/sell indicator frequently used by technical analysts. Due to the popularity of this particular indicator among traders, I strongly suggest that you take a few minutes to understand its mechanics. The MACD oscillates above and [...]

by Drew Shaw We’ve seen some good moves in a variety of markets in the past few weeks. Gold’s run to new record highs has garnered the most attention, but if you aren’t trading softs, you may not realize these markets have also made some impressive moves. Cotton has surged to its highest level in [...]

by Drew Shaw On July 20, the Bank of Canada raised its key short-term interest rate for the second month in a row by 25 basis points, to 0.75 percent. Hawkish policy should support gains in the Canadian dollar, and it’s worth considering bullish strategies using futures and options. However, parity with the U.S. dollar [...]

Once the currency of choice among moguls and supermodels, the euro is no longer in vogue. The debt crisis in the Eurozone pushed the euro to a four-year low versus the U.S. dollar, and it’s hard to find many market participants who feel the prospects for the eurozone and its single currency look bright—including our [...]

by Drew Shaw This month the Canadian dollar broke parity with the U.S. dollar, an exciting development. Will these gains continue for the Canadian dollar? I think so, but commodities are key to the equation, as are interest rates.

by Drew Shaw At its March 2 policy meeting, the Bank of Canada (BOC) maintained its benchmark short-term interest rate at an all-time low of 0.25 percent. It’s been at this level since April 2009, and is not expected to change until the end of the second quarter of this year. The BOC said that [...]

by Drew Shaw On February 18, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced it would increase the discount rate by 25 basis points, to 0.75 percent. That has left market participants wondering if a hike in the Federal Funds rate is coming next—and what the implications will be for the economy and the markets. To understand the [...]