This Week on StockHouse June 18 to 22

What are the qualities that make an investment in a recent IPO (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19874 ) a good idea? The staff at Financially Fit has some advice to help investors choose when to add newly public companies to their portfolios.

The Canadian Institute of Actuaries released a study a week ago that said that just one in three Canadians was saving enough to meet basic retirement expenses. Clearly, there’s a need to begin financial education at an early age (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19873 ). STANDUP Advice columnist John J. DeGoey recommended a new book that could go a long way to remedy the education gap.

China equities markets are hot right now, but the benchmark Shanghai index has shown that it can cool just as quickly. In fact, a drop in Shanghai set off the world-wide sell off in late February. Don Vialoux looks at the ETFs that represent the China market (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19870 ).

Columbia can be a dangerous place. Because of the lucrative cocaine trade, it has been the site of violent conflict between rival rebel groups for years, but it’s also rich in natural resources including oil and gas. The new Energy Update column by Bob Oberndorf profiled Pacific Status Energy (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19869 ), a company with connections in the South American country.

And Mr. Oberndorf also put on his meteorologist’s hat for StockHouse, to provide a long-range look at the outlook for natural gas (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19839 ).

Micro-cap Spotlight editor Jaison Thomas launched a series of CEO interviews (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19867 ) with Rick Egan, CEO of Simtrol (OTC:BB: SMRL), a maker of software that manages media for the healthcare and government markets.

Steven Saville said there’s a bear (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19867 ) lurking in today’s equities markets, and you can see it when you look at a long-term chart comparing the Dow to the growth in money supply.

How should an investor choose a healthy biotech investment (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19864 )? Look for top-notch science, stellar management, and a clear path to bring the therapy to market, said Bio Check authors Leon Hamerling and J. Paul. The authors also said investors should look more closely at Modigene (OTCBB: MODG).

Sean Mason and Keri Korteling gathered a list of lists detailing the Top Five (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19863 ) features, posters and more that grabbed the attention of StockHouse members last week.

One more idea from Trading Discipline: pay attention to the volume numbers (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19861 ), and be stealthy to escape the sharks.

Jon Ogg said that Indian non-ferrous metals producer Sterlite (NSYE: SLT) was the week’s IPO (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19859 ) to watch.

The Resource Report profiled Axmin Resources (TSX: V.AXM), a small mineral exploration company, and said that its exploration prospects (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19856 ) outweighed the unsteady political climate where it operates in Central and western Africa.

Danny Deadlock was talking gold in his Micro-cap Monday column, which featured a company with a promising Nevada property (http://www.stockhouse.com/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19855 ).

Reporter Sean Mason, meanwhile, looked at the discussion surrounding a flu stock surge that’s nothing to sneeze at in Buzz on the BullBoards. (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/article.asp?edtID=19876)

And, the Aden Forecast looked at what’s next in the gold market. (http://www.stockhouse.ca/shfn/editorial.asp?edtID=19875)