The 'dumb' money is not so dumb

By Lee Munson

There is a feeling out there by some in the financial media that small-time investors are getting back into the stock market at the worst possible time. They -- or 'them' -- think this is entirely predictable and repeatable mistake.

I get it: "them" are smart and 'you people' only make mistakes.

Let's look at what's really going on.

First things first: Who said this is the worst possible time to MORE

Research in Motion surges 10% while Apple tanks

Oh, how the tables have turned in the smartphone world ... at least when it comes to stocks.

Apple shares continued to take a tumble, while shares of Research in Motion rallied again. Traders on StockTwits could barely contain themselves.

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$AAPL breaks below $500. Meanwhile, $RIMM up nearly 25% in less than 2 trading days.

Yes, RIM (RIMM) shares jumped more than 10% Monday. And the mighty Apple (AAPL), the most valuable tech company in MORE

Nike shares pop on strong sales

On your mark, get set. Go!

Shares of Nike (NKE) jumped 5% Friday morning, after the company's second quarter results topped analysts' expectations.

Nike said late Thursday that earnings rose 11% on sales of $6 billion in the quarter, driven by surprisingly strong demand in North America.

The company also said future orders for Nike footwear and apparel were up 14% in North America. These orders would be delivered in the December to MORE

Smith & Wesson down 10%

As the nation reels from the latest act of gun violence, investors have the unenviable task of analyzing what last week's mass shooting means for shares of U.S. gun makers.

Shares of Smith & Wesson (SWHC)  and Sturm Ruger (RGR)  have tumbled since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook school in Connecticut. Cabela's (CAB), a sporting goods story that specializes in hunting gear and guns, MORE

Bill Gross: New Normal is here to stay

The fiscal cliff may be the biggest short-term threat for the market, but there are even scarier problems to worry about, according to Pimco chief investment strategist Bill Gross.

In his latest letter to investors, posted online Tuesday, Gross outlines the long-term challenges facing the U.S economy and lists his "picks and pans" for investors operating in the so-called New Normal.

The New Normal, a term made famous by Pimco CEO Mohamed MORE

Gold demand slips ... but not for long?

The weak global economy took a toll on demand for gold in the third quarter, according to an industry report released Thursday.

The World Gold Council said demand for the precious metal fell 11% in the three months ended Sept. 30, down from record high levels in the same period a year ago.

The decline was driven by a sluggish market for gold bars and coins in the United States and Europe. MORE

Yelp rallies on Facebook halo effect

Yelp (YELP) shares jumped nearly 10% Wednesday after the company, which provides user-generated reviews of local businesses, announced plans to buy a European rival.

The rally came as companies across the social media "ecosystem" basked in the glow of Facebook's second quarterly report as a public company. Facebook's third-quarter earnings topped forecasts, and investors were impressed with the social network's ability to make money off users that access the social network MORE

Home is where the recovery is

This article was published in the October issue of Money magazine.

By Paul R. La Monica

Stop me if you've heard this one before: The housing market has finally hit bottom. After years of false hope, that may seem hard to believe. But home sales are indeed rebounding. And prices nationwide climbed 2.5% in June.

Be careful, though, about how you invest in this nascent recovery. Homebuilder stocks have been surging for months MORE

Rx for buying health care stocks

This column appeared in the September issue of Money magazine.

By Paul R. La Monica

After the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, the prognosis for health care shares generally improved. Some managed-care companies and hospitals were dubbed big winners, since reform's survival means that more Americans will probably utilize -- and have the coverage to pay for -- medical services.

While the ruling clearly lifted a huge uncertainty from this sector, MORE

Staples goes splat but Target is on the mark

Investors are discerning shoppers when it comes to retail stocks.

The clear winners appear to be big-box stores such as Wal-Mart and Target, while specialty outlets such as office supply chain Staples are bringing up the rear.

Shares of Target (TGT) rose to a new 52-week high Wednesday after it reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and raised its forecast for full-year profits. The stock has gained 26% so far this year, outperforming Wal-Mart's MORE