Asia is poised to become the “new” Detroit.

Steel maker Nucor Corp.’s (NYSE: NUE) stock has rallied some 51% from its March 3 low of $29.84 a share and has twice bumped against its recent high of $49.91 a share. 

When you are about to invest in a penny stock, the number one question you need to ask yourself is: What’s the catalyst?

India remains a great long-term profit play. But global investors should beware of the near-term exuberance that followed that nation’s weekend elections.

Abu Dhabi Buys Daimler Stake; Tata Launches Nano; Walgreen Beats 2Q Estimates; Banks Hurt by Plunging Commercial Property Prices; Gannett Furloughs Workers Again; Oil Nears 3-Month High; TreeHouse Foods Climbs on Private-Label Buying

Dollar-Euro parity? Crude at $12 a barrel? 15% unemployment? J. Christoph Amberger presents the Today’s Financial News top predictions for 2009…

As the 2009 approaches, we look back to some of the free recommendations we’ve made to TFN eNews readers over the past year.

Our closed recommendations (i.e., stock recommendations with specific buy and sell recommendations), we recorded average gains of 24.1%, with an average holding period of 27 days.

Some gains in particular were truly stellar…

· 50.1% on Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:SWHC)
· 87.1% on National City (NYSE:NCC) Jan 2.5 calls
· 79.6% on Boeing (NYSE:BA) Feb 55 puts
· 190% on Boeing Aug 90 calls
· 55.5% on Rex Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:REXX)

But now it’s time to throw in the towel on some duds…

The shipping sector sank with the global recession. If you are still holding any, it’s time to unload shares of:

· China…

With its central bank’s surprise interest-rate cut on Monday, India may actually be ahead of the monetary-policy curve for the first time ever as it moves to avert a recession that Asia’s third-largest economy needs to avoid, India investing expert Karim Rahemtulla said yesterday (Tuesday).

Shares of Ford Motor Co. (F) and General Motors Corp. (GM) posted gains yesterday (Tuesday) on speculation that consolidation in the U.S. domestic auto industry could be the struggling sector’s saving grace.Over the last three trading sessions, Ford shares are up almost 18%, while GM shares are up over 37% on reports of possible merger talks and asset sales.

Last week it was the Democrats, this week the Republicans… Alternative energy will be the winner, regardless of who wins the election… Bill Bonner says the Fed’s easy credit policies may have set off a dangerous ripple effect in the economy… It’s a Wrap! Here are some of your top stories for this week: