The U.S. Dollar rallied following the release of a better than expected existing home sales report and never relinquished its gains. The rise in the Dollar following the release of good economic news is another sign that investors are returning to watching traditional fundamentals for direction. Gains are being limited this week because of thin holiday trading.

In the last several trading days, I've been watching the dollar strengthen, which, if you've been reading my articles, doesn't make a lot of sense -- at least not on the surface. The Fed (and every other major central bank) is creating currency and easing credit more than ever in history, and that, by definition, is inflationary.

After months of a rising unemployment rate, the November jobs report saw the unemployment level decline to 10% from 10.2%. The U.S. dollar, which has been falling most of the year, promptly reversed course and has rallied versus nearly all other major currencies.

When it comes to handling your money, do you get smarter every year? Do you get smarter for a while and then level off? Or do you get smarter for a while, hit your peak, and then get less smart every year after that?

During President Obama's recent trip to Asia, the issue of a potential revaluation of the Chinese Yuan heated up. For investors looking to play this ETF trend, there are several options available.

It seems like winter hits and suddenly the good times are behind us. Whether this is just a mild pullback or another prolonged bearish run, the fact remains that, as the holiday season is upon us, more and more people will begin to feel the crunch.

Brazil, Russia, India, and China, collectively known as the “BRIC” economies. Together, these four countries currently comprise 40% of the world’s population and 15% of GDP, ensuring that they will be a force to be reckoned with on the global stage for years to come.