Investing expert James Stack was one of the first on Wall Street to predict the stock market meltdown and recent bear market. In the late 1990s, the editor of the biweekly newsletter InvesTech Research warned of a high-tech bubble that would spread to other sectors and take down many small investors. More recently, he has left the bear behind and has been making the case that the economy is rebounding for real.

Even in the face of dismal corporate earnings, Stack says we have truly turned the corner and that recent stock market gains will not be short lived. In fact, he says they will continue through 2010. We caught up with Stack to discuss why this is the case. He makes an important point: Investors would be wise not to look at corporate earnings to figure out where the stock market is headed. Read on to find out why.

When companies take on the task of making their corporate networks secure, they are facing, to say the least, a huge rigmarole. Hundreds, if not thousands, of employees access their corporate networks from all over the world at all hours. They come in via desktop computers, laptops and netbooks running on various operating systems. Mobile devices such as BlackBerry's and iPhones all want in to the networks, too. For the managers of these networks, making them accessible to all these devices is daunting. But making them secure is critical.

Tel Aviv-based Check Point Software Technologies (CHKP), which offers security software such as firewall technologies and encryption technologies, has the fix and is capitalizing on the problem. Under its chief executive, Gil Shwed, the company embarked on a new strategy of creating "software blades" around its security software last April. The idea: Instead of buying software from various vendors and piecing them together, corporate customers can turn to Check Point and cherry pick from a library of software blades -- say one for firewalls, another for intrusion prevention -- to get the exact security protection they need and the ability to tailor the software on the fly.

The stock market's fall last week was not dramatic enough to alarm investors. But there are signs that things could be getting worse. Jack Adamo, editor of the newsletter Insiders Plus, warns that danger lurks if individual investors remain complacent while bigger players quietly sell their investments and "slip out the back door."

It's worth listening to Adamo. Adamo focuses on insider transactions, which often can tip off investors as to where stock prices are headed. He also analyzes smart money plays by wealthy investors such as Warren Buffett and Sam Zell. What's more, he uncovers stocks that are undervalued as a result of special situations. The result of all this handiwork has been market-beating returns. Over the past five years, Insiders Plus has delivered an 8.7 percent annualized return, versus a loss for all the major averages, according to Hulbert Financial Digest.

DailyFinance interviewed Jack Adamo about the economy's danger signs.

We're celebrating the conclusion of our first DailyFinance Sweepstakes and we're pleased to announce, we have a winner. On its way to Edna Gazaille is an 8GB iPod Touch (worth $199).

It's always nice to give a prize to someone who -- we found out after the announcement -- enjoys giving back to society. Every year on Christmas Eve, Edna, who works in a small machine shop, crochets a dozen baby afghans and delivers them to a local hospital. She is also the mother of two grown children. With the kids now on their own, she lives in Woonsocket, RI with her husband and her three "boys" -- two adult cats and a four-month-old Boston Terrier.

More business professionals and investors are carrying around an iPod touch these days to stay on top of their investments and their businesses. It's not surprising -- the iPod touch is quickly becoming a "must-have" product. Even the University of Missouri now requires that all incoming journalism students to have either an iPhone or an iPod touch in addition to their textbooks.

So we've decided to give our readers an opportunity to win one by giving away a free iPod touch with 8 GB of storage (worth $199).

Eligibility: The Daily Finance Touch Screen MP3 Player Giveaway (the "Giveaway") is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Employees of AOL LLC, its advertising or promotion agencies, those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of Giveaway, any agents acting for, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, service providers, prize suppliers any other person or entity associated with the Giveaway (collectively "Giveaway Entities") and/or the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members (whether related or not) of each such employee, are not eligible. All U.S., federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.

Sponsor: The Giveaway is sponsored by AOL LLC, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 ("Sponsor").

Agreement to Official Rules: Participation in the Giveaway constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

Entry Period: The Giveaway begins at 9:00 am ET on September 14, 2009 and ends at 5:00 pm ET on September 28, 2009 (the "Entry Period"). Entries received prior to or after the Entry Period will not be accepted.

Entry: During the Entry Period, go to www.dailyfinance.com/sweepstakes and follow the instructions to submit your entry. The use of any agencies or automated software to submit entries will void all entries submitted by that person.

Drawing: On or about September 29, 2009, Sponsor will select the name of one (1) winner in a random drawing of all eligible entries received during the Entry Period. The odds of being selected as the potential winner depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Entry Period. Potential winner may be contacted via email and asked to provide their full name, age and mailing address within a specified time period. If a potential winner does not respond within the timeframe stated in the notification email, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from all entries received during the Entry Period.

Requirements of the Potential Winner: Except where prohibited, the potential winner may be required to complete and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release (the "Affidavit/Release") within seven (7) days of being notified. If a potential winner fails to sign and return the Affidavit/Release within the required time period, an alternate entrant may be selected in his/her place in a random drawing of all entries received. Acceptance of a prize constitutes consent to use winner's name and likeness for editorial, advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.

Prize: One (1) Winner will receive an iPod touch® (8GB). Approximate Retail Value of prize is $229. No cash or other substitution may be made, except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Winners are responsible for any taxes and fees associated with receipt or use of a prize.

General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Giveaway is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) suspend the Giveaway to address the impairment and then resume the Giveaway in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) award the prize at random from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Giveaway or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the Giveaway may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In case of a dispute as to the owner of an entry, entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the screen name from which the entry is made. The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Giveaway, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Giveaway Entities from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Giveaway or receipt or use of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Giveaway; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or network lines; (c) printing errors; (d) lost, late, postage-due, misdirected, or undeliverable mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Giveaway or the processing of entries; or (f) injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Giveaway or receipt of any prize. Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Giveaway Entities' liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Giveaway, and in no event shall the Giveaway Entities be liable for attorney's fees. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Giveaway or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsors in connection with the Giveaway, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the Commonwealth of Virginia or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Giveaway Results: To request the name of the winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Daily Finance MP3 Winner's List, AOL – Attn: Marketing, 44900 Prentice Dr, Dulles, VA 20166. Requests must be received by September 30, 2009.

Kai-fu Lee has $115 million, and he wants to put it to work. Monday, he announced that his new angel-focused venture fund, Innovation Works, is targeting a rate of five successful Chinese start-ups a year. Previously, Lee was in charge of Google's (GOOG) operations in China.

The new endeavor is backed by several high-profile investors – including YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, electronics manufacturer Foxconn (FXCNY) and Legend Holdings (LGDI), Lenovo's parent company.

For smaller companies trying to plant a stake in the ground of larger, more established companies, one strategy is simply to team up. That's what three small well-known players in mobile phones could soon announce in Japan, as NEC, Hitachi (HIT), and Casio Computer discuss combining their mobile-handset operations.

In the deal, NEC could take a stake of more than 50 percent in Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications, a joint venture created in 2004. The result would be a cell-phone manufacturer second to Sharp Corp. but still dauntingly competitive. As of the end of March, the three had a combined market share of 20.2 percent in Japan, according to research firm BCN -- compared with Sharp's 21.8 percent share.

Despite the surging stock market rally this year, many investors are a bit gun shy about getting back into the market. Their nerves are still frazzled, their retirement accounts still uncomfortably low and their expenses mounting. When it comes to getting back into stocks, many -- especially those planning for retirement -- are more likely to stash their funds somewhere else, like in cash or in government bonds.

But there could be a better way to safeguard your investment while profiting from a rising market – if that ends up being the case.

Struggling Sprint Nextel (S) is trying to boost its tarnished name with a new, environmentally friendly phone: the Samsung Reclaim. The phone, which is constructed from eco-friendly plastics, will become available on August 16.

The Reclaim is an environmentalist's dream. According to Fierce Mobile Content, it is free of polyvinyl chloride phthalates and contains no flame retardants. Most if it is made from corn-based bio-plastics; once you decide to ditch it, 80 percent of its parts are recyclable. That is critical since, according to a report by CNet, the Natural Resources Defense Council says that more than 100 million cell phones are tossed every year in the United States, potentially leaking mercury, cadmium, arsenic and other substances into water streams.

Even the packaging and phone tray are made from 70 percent recycled materials and the box's images, text and warranty information are all printed with soy-based ink. No paper manual either – you have to go online to read it.