After noting that at least one part of the precious-metals market is returning to normal, I spotted another way to buy gold that’s highly unusual: A German company is selling the shiny stuff through a vending machine at the Frankfurt…

Here’s another sign that the financial panic may be over: The U.S. Mint is no longer rationing sales of its gold and silver coins. Mint News Blog reports:

The news comes via a brief memorandum sent to authorized purchasers of US Mint…

I don’t know whether Wistar Holt and Larry Swedroe have ever met, but the two financial advisers are conducting a vigorous debate in my inbox.

First comes a letter that Holt, a partner at Holt & Shapard Capital Management in St.…

Looks like we’ll be inviting money manager Wistar Holt back to Business Beat very soon. We ended last month’s discussion like this:

I’ve missed plenty of  interesting  news during  a 3-week hiatus — the stock market’s rollercoaster ride, the mortgage market’s continued turmoil and Des Peres’ decision to kiss and make up with Edward Jones, to name three — but rather than dwelling…