Taipan Publishing Group’s Adam Lass stays bearish while unemployment soars and the U.S. economy dives.

The oldest, most trusted technician in the world is telling you to sell now. Recession? Depression? Nascent recovery? Market bottom? Dead cat bounce?

Oil prices are down over 60 percent from their peaks just last summer. With the economy crumbling across the globe, most investors think buying an oil company is the same as suicide.

But not Adam Lass, writing for the Taipan Publishing Group. He readily points out that ExxonMobil made $45.2 billion in pure profits last year alone.

For a company producing enormous amounts of cash in a “Cash is king” economy, he recommends you stay long ExxonMobil.

OPEC wants transparency and the White House is on the verge of giving it to them. The result is the virtual destruction of speculation in the oil markets. But the upside is that oil companies will have a clearer gauge of supply and demand. And what’s good news for the oil market is good news for major oil companies. Here’s what you need to know:

Amazon (Nasdaq:AMZN) has declared that the holiday season was its “best ever”. But despite its cost advantages over bricks and mortar retailers, Adam Lass says the company will struggle to profit during this recession. Amazon’s earnings report on Friday could reveal the troubles that lie ahead. And that means a chance for quick profits with short selling or put options.

When firms stop advertising, it is a sure sign of distress says Adam Lass. He says General Motors (NYSE:GM) and FedEx (NYSE:FDX) will be conspicuous by their absence at this year’s Super Bowl. As they struggle to survive the crisis, Adam says both companies a ripe for shorting right now.

Adam Lass says funding pressures will increase political pressure to investigate the practices of big health insurers. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) is ready to pay out $50 million in reimbursements. Adam says traders stand to make triple-digit gains by shorting UNH and other insurers being scrutinised by the courts.

These are uncertain and confusing times for investors, says Adam Lass. For those willing to hold for the long-term, Adam says the surviving financials and automakers could one day return huge gains for today’s investors. In the near future, Granite Construction (NYSE:GVA) could make investors 75% by the summer as shares soar on the stimulus plan.

The battle between inflation and deflation is the most important thing for investors to watch right now, says Adam Lass. Fears of falling prices are rife in Washington today. But the inflation cycle will come around again soon, especially with all the new money being pumped into the economy by the Fed. Adam says that’s why investors should buy the PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bearish ETF (NYSE:UDN).

The deep recession expected in 2009 will likely lead to higher rates of crime. Adam Lass says investors can play this trend by picking up shares of commercial jails. Florida-based Geo Group (NYSE:GEO) operates in several countries and is rapidly expanding its detention facilities. Adam says investors could be in line to double their money by the summer.