Zurich, Switzerland

It's always interesting to visit the Fund Fair in Zurich, or Funds 2010. Each year in early February some of the biggest and most prominent traditional and alternative asset managers attend this investment show, including some great speakers. Later this afternoon I'll be hearing Jim Rogers on commodities – one of my favorite investors.

Held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich and located across the street from beautiful Lake Zurich, the Fund Fair this year offers more index-linked providers than last year.

- Dugald Malcolm

Montreal, Canada.

On the morning of January 22nd I wrote about the possible breakdown of support of the S&P 500. By the close of the market later that afternoon, the breakdown was indeed confirmed. The S&P 500 had crossed an important level of support at 1,115 to close the day at 1,091.76, down 2.21% from the previous trading day's close.

Montreal, Canada

The January Barometer or January Effect might be a prelude to a bad year for stocks in 2010. Though certainly not a perfect forecasting tool, stocks historically have tended to rise or fall for the remainder of the year following January's total return outcome.

Montreal, Canada

Even prior to the USDA's (United States Department of Agriculture) surprising forecast for crop yields earlier this month, the grains complex ranked as one of the worst-performing sectors of the commodities space since prices peaked in July 2008. Adjusted for inflation since 1980, corn, soybeans and wheat remain among the cheapest raw materials along with silver; only live cattle and livestock have performed worse over the last 30 years.