W hat not to buy for 2010: Shares of companies with minimal profit growth, or no profits at all. Small, unproven stocks. Volatile stocks.

T he world may have averted another Great Depression, but the aftershocks of the 2008 financial meltdown continue to rattle the global economy. The debt threat stalking some of Europe’s weaker economies, the tumbling euro, the United States’ eye-popping deficit and its still-deteriorating job market are all powerful reminders that the deep-rooted fiscal problems that pushed the global financial system to the brink continue to pose serious risks to stability. The latest flashpoint is Portugal, where the country’s parliament defeated an austerity plan Friday

Market Update 28th January 2010 The Technical Trader’s view: WEEKLY CHART The sell-off has been brisk with a sharp increase in volatility. But in the context of the bull run from the beginning of 2009 it has yet to be extensive. Nor is there any reversal pattern in place

When reviewing a loan application, lenders do not want to see bad credit history or a low credit score. However, because there is such a huge market for bad credit loans, lending companies have introduced a type of loan especially offered for people who cannot qualify for standard loans. In the past, getting approved for a loan can be difficult if you have unimpressive credit history

A consequence of being a non-benchmark manager and running a transparent shop is that we are asked direct and incisive questions. At a presentation last week, a client asked what criteria I would use for changing a manager on one of our funds.

N eel Roberts, 44 Occupation: Accountant Portfolio: Currently in cash, but his watch list includes WestJet, Rogers Communications, Imperial Oil, Tim Hortons and possibly the new General Motors in 2011 when it has its IPO, “but that’s a long shot!” he says. Prudent Financial Manager While he specializes in helping late tax filers, Neel Roberts has always stuck to the straight and narrow. “My parents taught me to pay your bills on time and put away something for a rainy day, and that’s helped me throughout my life,” he says

I n the first signal that Alberta’s new oil sands rules could be costly, UTS Energy Corp. UTS-T said it has trimmed its oil sands reserves because complying with environmental regulations will make them too expensive to extract.