As investors get lured back into stocks by the illusion of economic “good news,” the US equity markets are posting new year-to-date highs. Here at Notes, we reckon you’d have to be a lemming to be part of the frenzy… or an ice-cold cynic using each upward spike to take short-term profits before the feds start hiking the capital gains tax.

Anyone who follows a chart knows that the 200-day moving average can give clear signals whether a stock is in a bull run or a bear run. Since the moving average is for 200-days, it gives you a clearer picture of the fundamentals driving a company.

As much as I love how shnazzy Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) computers and electronics can be, it doesn’t take away from the high cost of Apple’s products. And this is set to cause AAPL some pain in the year ahead.

With millions of people tuning in each week to American Idol, chances are some readers of Whiskey & Gunpowder are among them. Although many may not like to admit it. Either way, you can learn a valuable investing tool by paying attention to the finer points of Fox’s hit reality show. There are plenty of people out there making money for nothing.

Rental car or train? It’s a question I face every time I head back to England, trying to figure out the best way to travel. And after doing a few sums, there was no contest.