Central Mexico, which held the largest concentration of silver found by the conquistadors, has been the center of Mexico’s billion-ounce silver production history. Having given up as much as a third of the total amount of silver ever mined globally, the Latin American country is today is the world’s second largest producer (after Peru)—and the largest producer of silver from mines.

The white metal may have a lower profile that its yellow counterpart, but while the price of gold rose 31% in the past 12 months, silver quietly leaped 37% over the same period, definitive proof that all that glitters is not the yellow metal. Even so, and despite economists and analysts expressing bullish sentiments on silver, it remains heavily undervalued when compared with gold, energy commodities and stocks.

One company banking on silver’s rise is Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: ASM), a family-owned small-cap mining play based in Vancouver, Canada. Founded by Louis Wolfin in 1968, the company is primarily engaged in the exploration and acquisition of precious and base metals in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, Canada and Durango State, Mexico.

The company operated their Onvia mine in Mexico, about 50 miles northeast of…

Before all else, I see that there’s a good measure of dissonance on the talkbacks regarding last week’s trade and what action, exactly, was to be taken regarding the SPX PUTS.  Know that I take full responsibility for the confusion and urge readers, before doing anything else, to take profits on the position immediately.

Moreover, a hearty dose of thanks to those of you who took the time to read the report carefully and write us regarding the obvious contradiction therein.

Now the explanation.

The confusion regarding whether to hold or sell the PUTS stemmed from an unfortunate delay in publication of the piece, which was supposed to be in your hands at the beginning of last week.  Due to forces beyond our control (yes, this still happens in the computer publishing age!), the report was late in getting to you.  Therefore, you saw this:

Last week’s recommendation to buy September SPX 1000 PUTS is still a keeper, even though we’ve lost a little ground since then.  We see a potential gain on the position as early as the open on Monday.  Hold on for now.
(exhibit A)

The “open on Monday” referred to was last Monday, the 9th…

The talk continues in a lively manner from nearly every quarter about 1) a double dip recession, 2) the weakness of the U.S. consumer, and 3) the likelihood of more Federal Reserve ‘Quantitative Easing’ (money printing) to get the economy moving.

There’s been an undeniable stall in activity for more than a full quarter now, and the worrywarts are ratcheting up their warnings to near hysterical levels.  But the question remains: just how dire is the mess we’re in? and is it beyond the scope of the economy, the banking system and American business as it’s currently constituted to do anything about it?

Hmmm…

The issue is in focus today because the U.S. Federal Reserve will be meeting this week to discuss the current lacklustre state of affairs and to determine exactly what action needs be taken to address it.

It’s a given that the nation’s top bankers will be leaving short rates alone for an ‘exended period’ – we don’t expect any change in their language relating to interest rates.  What is of interest is where they see fit to venture next.  Simply put, there’s a clear and present need for action.

Aside from the employment numbers, which just…