Microsoft may not be recession-proof but it turned in a strong performance in a year most companies would like to forget.

Profits jumped 25.7% to $17.7 billion on revenues of $60.4 billion as the software giant offset declining sales of its Windows operating system with increased revenues from its server and tools software products.

Dollar Tree

A newcomer to the Fortune 500, Dollar Tree was also its best performing stock last year, returning nearly 61%. That was no small feat: As a group, the Fortune 500 sank 41%. The company cashed in on the recession, as a $1 (or less) price on everything from candy to glassware drove sales at more than 3,500 stores.

Continue reading Top performing stocks you should invest in

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Oil ended just shy of $50 a barrel Thursday as investors weighed a glut in supply amid dour sentiment about the economy. Crude oil for June delivery added 77 cents to finish the day at $49.62 a barrel.
Continue reading Still thinking of investing in oil?

NEW YORK (Fortune) — Very few of the esoteric funds touted during the last boom protected investors from the severe downdraft of 2008, but some stumbled far less than others.
Continue reading Permanent Portfolio Fund – A Secure Mutual Fund

Apple Inc.  (AAPL: Apple Inc) is projected to post a fiscal second-quarter profit of $1.09 a share.

AT&T Inc. (T:AT&T Inc) is estimated to report a profit of 48 cents a share in the first quarter.

McDonald’s Corp. (MCD:McDonald’’s Corp) is likely to report a first-quarter profit of 82 cents a share, according to analysts.
Continue reading Stocks to watch (04-21-09)

An interesting interview with Jim Rogers is up at Businessweek.com

So you reject the advice about diversified portfolios?

Diversification is something that stock brokers came up with to protect themselves, so they wouldn’t get sued [for making bad investment choices for clients]. Henry Ford never diversified, Bill Gates didn’t diversify. The way to get rich is to put your eggs in one basket, but watch that basket very carefully. And make sure you have the right basket.
Continue reading How to invest during a financial crisis – The Jim Rogers way

You may ask yourself, how can one invest in a time like this? Is it worth the risk with the market at a downturn without no forseable resolution in the horizon? One of the answers that a conservative investor will tell you is that to invest in low risk stocks. Enclosed in this category are utility stocks.
Continue reading How to invest during times of recession

1. Allocating Assets
If your portfolio is geared toward stocks it is more likely to have a long-term return of investment. It will also mean you’ll have a dynamic flactuation of your assets. Instead consider a short-term high gain investment.
Continue reading Succeed in Investing: A short How-To