The slump in stock markets this year has value investors licking their lips. But Louis Basenese says there are at least three value traps for every true deal out there. How do you spot a bargain from a lost cause? Louis provides the 10 questions that every value investor must ask before making a purchase.

Election day could bring a change in gambling legislation in Maryland, says Laura Cadden. And this would be great news for Penn National Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ:PENN), which has the cash to expand into new operations. Laura says the new law (if passed) could give PENN a post-election spike of up to 20% in November.

The bears are back out for Halloween. US futures are down sharply this morning, as edgy investors anticipate more weak economic data. October 2008 has been the worst month for stock markets in decades. But Lynn Carpenter says the reasons for the next bull market are already in place….