In 2011, companies worldwide announced 27,668 mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, bringing the total transaction value to USD2.22 trillion. Two major up-cycles in corporate dealmaking have occurred in the 12 years. Check out this graph of quarterly deal flow

Over the past two years, I have discussed at length the benefits of the coming U.S. trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Exporting LNG will offset the glut forming from excessive shale gas extractions, bringing balance to the U.S. market. It will also cause a small group of companies already involved in the development of this trade to become a main focus of investors.

This is a complete game-changer.

Remember, the LNG process cools the gas to a liquid, allowing it to be moved over long distances by tanker instead of just via pipeline. It is then regasified on the receiving end and injected into existing transit pipeline systems for delivery to consumers.

Already, the construction of LNG receiving terminals in Asia and Europe is accelerating. These are the two markets most in need of large increases in imports. The continents need to both meet rising demand and restrain the

With the Federal Reserve's latest statement (January 25, 2012) serving notice that the near-zero interest rate policy is likely to extend through late 2014, an individual investor seeking income has no practical alternative to dividend-paying stocks. While there are many stocks to choose from, at the highest level, there are really only two choices: invest in bellwether, large-cap, blue-chip stocks yielding, on average, 2% to 3%; or invest in higher-yielding stocks that are less well known, and are likely higher risk. The high-yield stocks tend to be concentrated in just a few groups or sectors. While not an all-inclusive list, some of the most well known high-yield groups are Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Business Development Companies (BDCs), and Rural Telephone Companies. While investing in blue chips vs. high yields does not have to be an either / or decision, it would be helpful if one

To find out which will be the top dividend stocks in 2012 for cash payouts, we looked back to see which dividend paying stocks paid out the most cash in dividends in 2011. This year's group are all large cap Dow dividend stocks, which is logical, since market cap is an important part of this equation.

These 5 stocks paid out from over $6 billion to $10 billion-plus in 2011, and appear likely to increase those amounts in 2012, given their historic and recent dividend growth rates. (Even though GE lowered its dividends in 2009, it began increasing them again in 2010):

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Upcoming Dividends: All of these stocks pay quarterly dividends, and 3 of them are listed in our High Dividend Stocks By Sectors Tables. The projected dividends listed below are based upon the most recent quarterly payout:

Except for GE, these stocks were rewarded by investors

I talk to a lot of investors who are looking for a "safe" way to obtain what they consider to be reasonable yield. Obviously, money market funds, bank deposits, and short-term treasuries may offer assurance of protection of principal - but in today's market they offer virtually no yield. There are a variety of fixed income strategies but none are without risk. We have reached the point at which merely going out the duration curve does not produce much yield as the 30-year treasuries hover around a yield of 3% (with the government immediately taking some of the money back in taxes). And there is a real risk that, if rates go up, the value of the bonds will decline and the investor will be faced with the choice of selling at a loss or waiting 30 years for maturity to get back what he paid.

Another strategy is to