Two distinct groups of investors have emerged since the U.S. stock market rally began in early March. Initially overly cautious and smug in their desire to protect themselves, the first group of investors were convinced the rally was going to sputter and stall. It hasn’t, and 57% later these investors now believe they’re getting left behind, so they’re piling into the key indices in effort to make up lost ground.

While the rest of the global banking system falls apart, Canadian banks are receiving the highest rankings as healthy, competitive stocks. Mark Skousen of Investment U says that superior bank stocks will soar when the markets recover. 

I dropped in on the Cambridge House gold show in Vancouver this weekend. It was busy. People were generally upbeat and felt smart about the bargains they loaded up on during the recent rout. It was then that I realized that one gold ratio would lead to lower gold bullion prices while leading gold shares higher.

In the currency market, the dollar was shoved down mercilessly against the euro. Late Friday, the euro was trading at $1.5777 vs. $1.5568 on Thursday.

In the currency market, the dollar erased early losses and firmed against the euro for the second straight day. Late Thursday, the euro was trading at $1.5432 vs. $1.5459 on Wednesday.

The base metals were mixed on Wednesday. Copper bottomed in the pre-dawn hours, then was up through most of the day, finishing at $3.9472/lb., up almost 2¼ cents.

In the currency market, the dollar slipped against the euro late in the session. Late Wednesday, the euro was trading at $1.5612 vs. $1.5566 on Tuesday.

In the currency market, the dollar sank to yet another record low against the euro. Late Tuesday, the euro was trading at $1.5993 vs. $1.5913 on Monday.