Top Takes from Real Money

The RealMoney contributors are in the business of trading and investing all day on the basis of ongoing news flow. Below, we offer the top five ideas that RealMoney contributors posted today and how they played those ideas.

TheStreet.com brings you the news all day, and with RealMoney's "Columnist Conversation," you can see how the pros are playing it on a real-time basis. Here are the top five ideas played today. To see all that RealMoney offers, click here for a free trial. 1. Markets Today

By Marc Chandler

7:52 a.m. EST
Global equity markets are higher as concerns about Dubai World continue to recede after Dubai indicated the loan package being negotiated will be about half the size ($26 billion) originally expected. That and the softer yen helped boost the Nikkei 2.4% and bring total gains since Friday's Dubai-induced drop to 5.4%.
Elsewhere, consumer and technology shares led China, Hong Kong and South Korean bourses higher. European bourses are up, with PMI manufacturing data helping boost industrials, which together with financials are lifting the DAX and CAC by about 2% in morning trading.

The FTSE 100 is up 1.7% helped by basic materials and financials while early indications suggest U.S. markets will open higher. Today's developments have not helped UAE equity markets, which are still down, falling 3.6% to 6.4% today.
No positions.

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2. Potash Price Target Increased

9:54 a.m. EST
Fertilizer stocks are sharply higher today on a price upgrade for Potash (POT Quote). I've been bullish on fertilizer for over a year now as the economics of the businesses look very compelling going forward: You can defer but you cannot avoid fertilizer application. After loading up a couple of years ago, farmers are nearing inventory depletion, which means they will buy at market prices. Second, more people plus less arable land equals more fertilizer needed to feed them. And the best part is that names like POT, Mosaic (MOS Quote), Agrium (AGU Quote) and CF Industries (CF Quote) are quality blue-chip-type companies that are quite cheap on a forward-looking basis.

3. Gold

By Timothy Collins

12:12 p.m. EST I'm taking a small position in the December 119 puts on the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD Quote) for $3.25 or better. GLD has become very extended from its 20- and 50-day moving averages, and I don't expect gold to plummet, but I suspect a short-term pullback from this $1,200 level may happen. I wouldn't expect GLD to go below $112.50, but that area is my target for a pullback.
Short GLD via puts.