Do we have boom times in the U.S. or the start of a nutcracker of a new recession? For some of you, the next year is going to feel like a depression. For others, opportunities will be abundant, and you will enjoy tremendous gains in your portfolios. To help you end up on the latter side, this month I give you an overview of this complex economic, monetary, and investment scenario. And while the market’s volatility amid the credit mess can cause investors to worry, there are some reasons for optimism — especially considering the differences between today’s digital-age economy and the economy of old. Also remember that with volatility come opportunities to buy some very cheap stocks. In this issue, I also have updates to both my Monster Master Lists, with two new stocks and one new fund. Plus, all of our Top Ten Common Stocks remain strong buys, so read the January issue to find out more. Happy Holidays.

Tags: ABER, aber diamond, Anheuser Busch, BA, BAC, BACprJ, Bank of America, barclays, BHP, BHP Billiton, BKH, Black Hills, Boeing, BU, C, CDO, citigroup, coca-Cola, CPRF, credit cycle, Credit Suisse, CS, DIA, Dodge & Coz Stock, DODGX, don imus, dowdiamonds trust, EWS, EWZ, export, FDG, Fording Canadian Coal, GE, general electric, GLD, Harry Winston Diamon Corp., Hormel Foods, HRL, illinois tool works, industrial production, iShares Brazil, iShares Singapore, ITW, JNJ, johnson & johnson, KO, mcCormick, MKC, models, nestle, NILSY, Norilsk Nickel, NSRGY, nutcracker, PCL, PEP, Pepsico, pum creek, Rayonier, Rio Tinto, RTP, RYN, schlumberger, securitization, SLB, StatoilHydro, STO, streetTracks Gold Shares, TAVIX, Third Avenue International, Vanguard GNMA, VFIIX, WFMI, Whole foods, Young World Money Forecast

How should you improve your returns in the current low-growth environment? Take a look at this month’s Economic Analysis and review the year-to-date returns. This will help you understand what you’re going to need to profit from this market. With new money your focus should be on alternatives to the weak U.S. dollar. There are two components to this approach–precious metals and currency investment. I have long been an advocate for precious metals. In this month’s issue, I give you an overview of some of my top choices for foreign currency funds and four of the six countries that I feel are your best options. I also have a detailed rundown on my Top 10 Countdown along with some of our other Master Monster List stocks. Make it a good month.

Tags: aber diamond, Alcan, Alpha Natural Resources, American Express, Argentina, Australia, Big Mac, Black Hills, Bombardier, British Petroleum, Canada, citigroup, counterbalancing, Credit Suisse, currency, Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund, Federated Investors, Fidelity Canada, Fidelity International real Estate, Ford, Garmin, General Dynamics, harley-davidson, Imus, income tax, inference, iShares Australia, Japan, Jardine Matheson, johnson & johnson, NBC, Newmont Mining, Obama, Pepsi Bottling, Plum Creek, Precious Metals & Mining, reading, ruger, Russia, Singapore, Sturm, Switzerland, Syngenta, T. Rowe Price Emerging Europe & Mediterranean Fund, T. Rowe Price Japan, Tiffany, tort reform, United Kingdom, vanguard