How do you pick out the good junior mining stocks?

Last week, I came back from PDAC – the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. This is the biggest mining conference in the world. Something like 30,000 people from 120 different countries turned up in Toronto for the convention. Today, I’m going to share some of my observations from the conference with you.

Germany Set to Invest $260 Billion in a Renewable Revolution

The moment Germany announced its highly publicized decision to phase out nuclear energy in the wake of the Japanese triple disaster; observers began to ask one very important question. Just what energy source would replace such a huge swath of power in Europe's dominant economy? The short-term solution had to be natural gas. But this would make Germany more dependent upon imported energy, especially from Russia. In that sense, the nuclear phase-out made the Nord Stream pipeline - from Russia, under the Baltic Sea, to northern Germany - absolutely essential. Today, the first line of the twin pipeline is already in operation. The second should be on line at the end of next year (if not sooner). Then there is the other Russian project - South Stream. This one intends to move Russian and Central Asian gas into Southern and Central Europe. Much of that will also reach Germany. In addition, several pipeline projects are vying for the excess production from the second phase of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz offshore development in the Caspian Sea. Included among these is Nabucco, a venture to bypass Russia and transport gas into the Baumgarten hub in Austria for ongoing distribution. Nabucco has long been the European Union favorite, but it has been unable to attract sufficient supplies. Three other pipeline proposals also are attempting to secure the Caspian gas for transit to Europe. But there is a problem for Germany in all of this. It does not want to form an increasing dependence upon imported gas to power its economy. And this sentiment is driving one of the biggest alternative energy revolutions in recent memory.

Recovery Not Real, Crises Dead Ahead

- Energy costs above 9% of global GDP = recession - Financial crisis has transitioned to social and political crisis - Global growth will peak by May, then watch out below

Rising prices are making some statistics look better than they really are

Now that inflation is beginning to pick up, it is vital to distinguish between what is real and what is just an illusion caused by inflation. If one does not, one might very well come away with the impression that the economy is shifting into higher gear when, in fact, it is not.

Ben Bernanke tells EU to clean up banks

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has exhorted Europe’s leaders to take further action to beef up banks and help southern Europe claw its way back to health, warning that the world financial system is not yet on a sound footing.

Pimco chief Mohamed El-Erian expects 'second Greece’ in Portugal

The giant bond fund Pimco said Europe has not yet tamed its debt crisis and will soon face a “second Greece” in Portugal as the country’s economy spirals downwards.

IMF sees $160 oil risk despite Libyan boost

Libya's oil exports have rebounded much faster than expected and will exceed pre-Arab Spring levels as soon as April, plugging a crucial gap in world crude supply as the Iranian crisis comes to the boil.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde fears oil spike poses serious threat to global recovery

The International Monetary Fund has warned that surging oil costs pose a serious risk to the global economy, threatening to smother expansion before a fresh cycle of growth is safely under way.

Global liquidity peak spells trouble for late 2012

The global liquidity cycle has already rolled over. Assuming that no fresh action is taken, world economic growth will peak within a couple of months and then fade in the second half of the year - with grim implications for Europe’s Latin bloc.

Germany's monetary doyen slams ECB's 'shocking' balance sheet

The doyen of German monetarism has denounced the stimulus policies of the European Central Bank as a dangerous leap into the unknown, giving voice to growing misgivings among the German policy elite.

Legal skull-duggery in Greece may doom Portugal

Europe has ring-fenced Greece's debt crisis for now but its escalating recourse to legal legerdemain has shattered the trust of global bond markets and may ultimately expose Portugal, Spain, and Italy to greater danger.

Triple trouble in Europe, US and China brings out the bears

The blistering asset rally of 2012 has run ahead of economic realities in Europe, America and China. It is exhibiting symptoms of a schizophrenic market, with technical indicators flashing signs of exhaustion.

Dutch Freedom Party pushes euro exit as €2.4 trillion rescue bill looms

The Dutch Freedom Party has called for a return to the Guilder, becoming the first political movement in the eurozone with a large popular base to opt for withdrawal from the single currency.

Eurozone unemployment hits record high of 10.7pc

The eurozone's unemployment rate rose to a record high of 10.7pc in January, reaching levels of extreme social distress across large parts of Southern Europe.