Goldman Sachs added Microsoft Corp to its Americas ‘conviction buy’ list on improving revenue prospects, overshadowing a disappointing outlook from BlackBerry smartphone maker Research In Motion Ltd .

Shares of the software maker and Dow component rose 2.2 percent to $24.02 in premarket trading.

The Dow and S&P 500 snapped a three-day losing streak on Thursday as data on the job market and regional manufacturing revived hopes that the recession-hit economy is stabilizing.

“Sentiment is improving and a lot of people are taking the bet that the recession is over,” said Anthony Conroy, head trade for BNY ConvergEx, an affiliate of the Bank of New York, in New York.

Conroy added that the quarterly expiration and settlement of June equity options and futures, a convergence known as quadruple witching, will increase volatility throughout the session, possible pushing indexes higher.

S&P 500 futures rose 6.10 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futuresrose 52 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 12.25 points.

After gaining as much as 40 percent from a 12-year closing low in early March, the S&P 500 has retreated as investors reassessed the potential strength of an economic recovery. Thursday’s data revived some optimism, but analysts said real improvement is needed to sustain the rally.

Government data showed the number of people staying on jobless benefits fell for the first time since January, while manufacturing in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region contracted much less than expected in June.

After the close on Thursday, Research In Motion issued an outlook that fell short of expectations, sending the stock down 1.2 percent before the bell, even as the company reported a rise in quarterly profit that topped forecasts.

NEW YORK, June 19 (Reuters)

Not only can silver provide a hedge provide a hedge against inflation, it also helps you add asset allocation and diversification to your portfolio, owning silver is easy, convenient and affordable, and thanks to the US governments pro-inflation policies, it’s going to be much more valuable in the near future.

This from Investors Daily Edges’  Ted Peroulakis:

I’m bullish on precious metals in general and silver is a nice compliment to your gold holdings.

Now keep in mind that silver can be quite volatile as industrial demand fluctuates. Silver often tracks gold prices although the ratio can vary.

I suggest you hold silver in your portfolio and here are some common ways to invest in silver:

Buy Silver Bars

An established way of investing in silver is by purchasing actual bullion bars. Physical silver can be stored in your home safe or at a bank safety deposit box. You can even have a dealer store your silver for you.

Buy Silver Coins

Buying silver coins is another easy way of physically holding silver. For instance, you can just buy American Silver Eagle bullion coins or Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins.

Buy Options and Futures Contracts on Silver

Silver options and futures, currently trade on a number of exchanges around the world. Using options and futures as an investment strategy is usually reserved for the more experienced investor because this type of trading is quite speculative. You could multiply your potential profit several fold, giving you huge leverage on silver by investing in options and futures.

Buy Silver Mining Companies

Many investors buy silver mining stocks. Silver mining companies are leveraged to the price of silver and since they have millions of ounces of silver, every time the price of silver goes up, the value of their reserves increases. As the price of silver rises, the stock price should rise along with it. Some investors prefer to diversify by investing in precious metal mining mutual funds.

Buy Silver Exchange-Traded Funds

Silver Exchange-Traded Funds represent a quick and easy way for an investor to invest in silver. ETFs are a liquid, cost effective and a secure way to invest in silver. My favorite is the iShares Silver Trust (SLV). I see tremendous upside with this silver investment.

Source: Invest in Silver!