Jason Hall

Mortgage originations are expected to fall as much as 20% next year, and participation in the job market is at a 35-year low. How does this bode for Zillow and competitor Trulia? What does any of this have to do with LinkedIn?

Berkshire Hathaway's exposure to oil and gas has increased by billions over the past two years, and now includes ExxonMobil and National Oilwell Varco, on top of ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66. But one of these positions may not be a part of the portfolio this time next year.

Solar stocks like SunPower, GT Advanced Technologies, First Solar, and Trina Solar were all way up in 2013. Will we see a major correction in 2014?

If you're worried that the market is peaking, and thinking about new investment strategies in 2014, there's one proven method that's worth considering.

The latest jobs report had some troubling data: More people leaving the workforce left more than 37% of Americans not working, and 13% of those working are "underemployed." Will the growing number of those giving up on the job market -- plus those just not having enough work -- hurt the prospects of Cheniere Energy and Ultra Petroleum? What about natural gas vehicle engine makers Cummins and Westport Innovations?

After giving up massive gains over the summer, SodaStream ended the year up only 5%, underperforming Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Monster Beverage, and even Dr Pepper Snapple. Will 2014 be a big year, or is the fizz all gone?

The combination of uncertainty around who the new CEO will be and the risk of a divisive board make Microsoft a bad bet this year. Better to look at Cisco recovering.

The combination of uncertainty around who the new CEO will be and the risk of a divisive board make Microsoft a bad bet this year. Better to look at Cisco recovering.

The Oracle of Omaha looks like a believer in the sustainability of domestic oil and natural gas production, based on Berkshire Hathaway's investments in ExxonMobil, National Oilwell Varco, and Phillips 66. Toss in the recent announcement to acquire part of Phillips 66, and it's even more apparent that Buffett believes in domestic energy.

Momentum is picking up for natural gas vehicle plays like Clean Energy Fuels, but so is the competition from big players like Royal Dutch Shell. Will partners like GE and Westport Innovations be difference-makers in 2014?

Chipotle Mexican Grill's concepts are at the heart of a changing restaurant world, where Darden Restaurants and Yum! Brands are quickly losing relevance.

With housing starts approaching the highest point in a decade, is this the start of another bubble that will see homebuilders like Meritage Homes, Toll Brothers and KB Home crashing?

While the 15% drop in Seadrill Limited over the past month has made the stock and dividend quite attractive, the risk remains relatively unchanged. Is an investment in Seadrill Partners, despite a lower payout, a better bet? Should investors look at Transocean instead?

Access to energy drives our modern world. SolarCity's GivePower Foundation is providing access to electricity in places that may never get it otherwise. Likewise, the SunPower Foundation works as both an advocate for solar energy, as well as to help provide access to solar power in unserved areas, while First Solar contributes equipment to other nonprofits' projects. Are these just PR campaigns, or is there a deeper benefit for investors?

Mexican oil production is soon to be opened up to private companies after 75 years of government control. Does this boom for the Mexican economy, and for U.S. oil companies like ExxonMobil, spell disaster for companies that rely on cheap natural gas -- relative to the price of diesel -- like Clean Energy Fuels, Power Solutions International, and Westport Innovations?

$60 billion hedge fund D.E. Shaw acquired 1.78 million shares of NV Energy in the third quarter -- several months after it was announced that the company was being acquired by Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary MidAmerican Energy. What's the angle here? What can individual investors learn here?

SunPower and Vestas Wind Systems have posted stellar returns over the past year. Will SunPower lift Total to new heights? Will GE's wind business keep Vestas from reaching new heights?

With the explosion in domestic production of oil and natural gas combined with reduced domestic consumption, Cheniere Energy and Sempra Energy are planning large export terminals for natural gas. General Electric and others claim that LNG facilities of similar size could produce enough gas to reduce domestic consumption of diesel by 30%. Is export of this valuable and non-replaceable asset bad for America in the long run?

The way management talks about financial discipline and growing from captured assets, Chesapeake Energy is beginning to sound more and more like industry giant ExxonMobil. Will this new strategy -- a complete departure from the "Bold Moves" past under its founder -- lead the company and its shareholders to new and sustainable heights?

The domestic energy boom is helping drive robust and sustainable growth in the U.S. economy, to the tune of more than 2 million jobs at companies like Chesapeake Energy, as well as in domestic manufacturing like Nucor Steel. For smart investors willing to invest for the long-haul, this is a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of a key driver of the growth in domestic manufacturing.