(Shutterstock) What is a CFD? CFD stands for Contract for Difference, a type of financial agreement that allows investors to speculate on the price movements of an underlying asset without taking ownership of it. A trader will open a long or short position in the asset, entering into an agreement with the CFD broker to exchange the difference in the price of the asset from when the contract was opened until it is closed. If the price of the asset moves in a favorable direction, the trader will make a profit, and if it moves in an unfavorable direction, the trader will suffer a loss. Should You Trade CFDs? CFD trading has several advantages that make it an attractive option for investors. Firstly, CFDs offer higher leverage than traditional financial vehicles, allowing traders to take significant positions with less capital at risk. Secondly, CFDs offer diversification as commodities, Forex, major stocks, and indexes are all available for trading from the same platform. Thirdly, CFDs

  (Shutterstock) A pipe dream?  Cannabis investors in Canada had their dreamy eyes set on pies in the sky since back in 2018 when the Canadian marijuana market was setting its roots. Earnings results have largely missed the mark across the board and some legal Canadian producers seem to be struggling to remain an ongoing concern at these levels of burning cash. Across the border, our American neighbors were similarly bullish over cannabis stocks in the follow-up to the 2020 election when Democrats gained control. President Biden has actually made very limited progress on cannabis reform and US-based stocks have underperformed as a result. On first look, these early results haven't been promising. Our view is that this is because the market potential has yet to be properly realized. The cannabis market is expected to be worth over $73 billion by 2027. This means investors can still get in on this cash crop relatively early. Cannabis Stocks - They aren't created equal. Cannabis

(Shutterstock) You should be allocating something to this asset class.  I understand why you might have not yet. It can seem daunting to get into, or even potentially unsafe. Maybe the volatility in the headlines has scared you off, or maybe you don't understand its appeal or utility. It's time to get over it and do some research. Crypto is here to stay and it is likely to continue increasing in value over an extended period of time.  Ruchir Sharma , Chief Global Strategist with Morgan Stanley has detailed some of the best factors for a long-term bullish case, in this  report .  The report discusses the growth and future of cryptocurrencies, with a focus on Bitcoin. It argues that cryptocurrencies are following the natural path of new inventions, and that they are here to stay as a serious asset class due to factors such as growing distrust in fiat currencies and the younger generation's preference for digital advances. The report also notes that Bitcoin is still a relative