This Week on StockHouse May 14 to 18

The world’s most-watched stock index marched higher for most of the week, setting new records along the way. Similarly, the TSX Composite steamed ahead setting fresh closing highs.

Sean Mason and Keri Korteling sorted through the stats and strung together a list of Top Five (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19732) lists of the most popular posters, BullBoards and other features on StockHouse.

Nickel exploration companies (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19739 ) have investors seeing dollar signs, said Sean Mason, who looked into the Buzz on the BullBoard of a tiny junior exploration outfit.

Micro-cap Monday columnist Danny Deadlock showcased a small satellite technology company (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19718 ) in his weekly column, and although he liked the firm’s technology, he worried about its inability to market itself.

The new column by Don Rodgers, Trading Discipline, took a clear-eyed look at how Level II (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19720 ) can be a very useful trading tool indeed.

One of the secrets to building a successful portfolio, argued Donald Dony, is to abandon the search for quality companies, and start at the top, with an understanding of market direction (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19721).

While there is no official plan for the U.S. to attack Iran, there is a war of words ongoing between the two nations. The status quo is part of what’s driving gold prices (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19725 ), argued David Galland, of Casey Research, but a flare up would immediately set gold prices on fire.

Editors at International Research Partners fretted that there is no way to safeguard energy sources (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19726 ) for North America, Western Europe, and Japan without a serious look at nuclear energy and bio-diesel.

And the editors of the Bio Check, Leon Hamerling and J. Paul, worried that the FDA had developed a hostile attitude to therapies designed to harness the immune system (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19730 ) for fighting disease.

The yen (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19731 ), with its low interest rate, has helped provide the liquidity behind the recent market moves higher, said Steven Saville.

In companion pieces addressing the IPO beat, Jon Ogg of 24/7 Wall Street tackled the latest (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19733) new IPO filings for the week.

If executives were treated more like Paris Hilton, and sent to jail (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19734 ) for their misdeeds, they might be less likely to engage in illegal activities like back-dating options grants, opined Mark McNair.

A new mining company launched by the executive pair who built Bema Gold and El Dorado Gold was a key attraction for Luke Burgess at the New York Hard Assets Investment Conference (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19738).

According to Don Vialoux, the old adage “sell in May and go away” seems to be the best way to make sure your Diamonds (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19740 ) don’t lose their luster.

Following last week’s look at the oft-neglected mid-cap indices, Financially Fit reminded readers that large-cap indices (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19744 ) are the best reflection of the broader market.

And, STANDUP Advice columnist John De Goey took on the law of averages (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19745 ) in his latest column about mutual fund fees.