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Black Friday, Blue Christmas
Retailers enjoyed better sales over the weekend than expected. But few believe the good news will last and some fear a wave of bankruptcies ahead. Cheap is the new black for retail With consumers pulling back, its not surprising that the retail stocks that have done well in 2008 are mostly discounters. But will this trend continue? Beware the Obama stimulus bubble Construction stocks have surged since the election on hopes of increased infrastructure spending. But some stocks have run up too much. 6 funds revisited Investor Daily: A look at how several asset-allocation funds we recommended this spring have weathered the market storm. 4 ways to bet on emerging markets Investor Daily: Experts say theres money to be made in select overseas industries and developing countries - if you can stomach the risk. Why Citigroup got Detroits money The government wants the Big Three to prove they are worthy of a $25 billion loan but Citigroup didnt have to twist any arms to get another $20 billion. The stock to buy when regulators call Investor Daily: A British company has built a thriving business helping companies to minimize legal risk when watchdogs come knocking. Sirius XM at 17 cents - look out below The satellite radio company has to deal with Detroits woes, a tapped out consumer and its own debt. So even at 20 cents a share, the stocks not a buy. Are you the next Lehman Brothers? The errors that killed the big banks were so elementary anyone could make them. Be sure you dont. The bear market goes global As the financial crisis spreads abroad, its clear that foreign stocks havent saved your portfolio. 5 ways to tame your market fears Thinking of cashing out? Who isnt? But dont do anything until youve read this article. Call it a recession, already The National Bureau of Economic Research gets to make the official call. Whats it waiting for? Stocks: New president, same problems Investment experts say that despite Barack Obamas convincing win, the market volatility isnt over yet. Stocks: New president, same problems Investment experts say that despite Barack Obamas convincing win, the market volatility isnt over yet. Bailout? Some banks say, No thanks Cullen/Frost, a bank in San Antonio, announced it wont need government money. Other banks may follow suit to show how strong they are. Is now the time to bail out? A volatile market isnt necessarily a bad market. But selling when stocks are down is usually a bad idea. Retail stocks: Where the smart money is Investor Daily: The outlook for retailers isnt good. Heres one way pros are separating the winners from losers. No stopping this wild ride Stocks are up. Stocks are down. And experts say as long as the economic outlook remains murky, investors should expect more swings ahead. Obama stocks, McCain stocks A win for the Democrat could be good for alternative energy and bad for health care. A win for the Republican could be a boon for defense and bust for coal and ethanol firms. Bank stocks look tempting, but be wary Investor Daily: Giants arent as cheap as they appear. The pros, meanwhile, are hunting for bargains among smaller fry. Value hunting in insurance wreckage Shares of MetLife, Prudential and Hartford have been whacked during the credit crisis. Is the worst finally over or are they the next meltdown? Foreign investors hit the road Overseas investors are unloading everything but U.S. Treasurys. Just one problem: We need the money. Bank stocks miss the rally Stocks surged Monday on hopes that the worst of the credit crisis may be over. Too bad someone forgot to invite bank stocks to the party. Emergency rate cut: This better work Will the rate cuts by global central banks eventually calm the markets down? Making money in this market? Heres how The manager of this years top stock mutual fund -- and only one thats up in 2008 -- explains how to do well in a bear market. Hint: He bought yesterday. Making money in this market? Heres how The manager of this years top stock mutual fund -- and only one thats up in 2008 -- explains how to do well in a bear market. Hint: He bought yesterday. Market meltdown: Global problem, global cure Investing experts say Europe needs to address its banking problems to get markets back on track - but stocks may almost be cheap enough to attract more foreign cash. No love for the bailout Stocks around the globe plunged on news of the bailout bill. Treasurys rose and the dollar rallied - but for all the wrong reasons. The world sticks with the U.S. Bond experts say foreign investors will likely scoop up Treasurys to fund a bank bailout. The bad news is that higher interest rates may be the price we pay. Be ticked off - but get over it You should be angry about the $700 billion plan to save banks. But once the rage subsides, realize that doing nothing would be disastrous. Ban the shorts? A BIG mistake! By temporarily banning short-selling on banks, the SEC is setting a dangerous precedent and is failing to address the real problems plaguing Wall Street. The Fed tries to stop the bleeding The decision to pump $180 billion in fresh cash to the financial markets by world banks is a good move. But will it restore lasting confidence in the markets? Should Bank of America save Lehman? With reports suggesting that Bank of America may take over the embattled investment bank, Wall Street debates if a purchase is worth the risk. The next bubble: pessimism Yes, the banking industry is a mess. But with so many short sellers targeting the entire financial sector, this is starting to look like a bubble in reverse. Lehman: Too big to fail? Wall Streets tepid reaction to the investment banks plan to raise capital might mean the Fed will have to save Lehman just as it did Bear Stearns. Why Wall Street loves the bailout The takeover of Fannie and Freddie removes a huge cloud over the markets and could be a sign that the economic pain is closer to the end than beginning. Oil: How low can it go? With oil prices heading toward $100, that should be good news for consumers. But some think there wont be true relief until crude hits $80 again. Making money in a bearish decade While the last 10 years havent been a stellar decade for stocks, performance was better than most media reports claim. Markets still yielded decent returns. Stagflation? Or just stagnation? The inflation figures for July were ugly. But oil prices have fallen and the dollar has strengthened in August. Too bad a global slowdown is the reason. What every investor should know Before Moneys veteran stock picker departs for academe, he shares his insights on investing. El-Erian: Buy more foreign stocks Pimcos global guru says times have changed, and its time for investors to add more global reach to their portfolios. The wild world of frontier funds The usual emerging markets arent exciting enough for some folks. Have you considered...Namibia? Hows your global portfolio? Wall Street loves to benchmark against the S&P 500 index. Heres a better approach. 3 blue chip stocks to watch After nearly a decade, these growth stocks are finally showing some signs of life. Big business to the rescue - for now A surprising jump in durable orders is a good sign for the economy. But how much longer can demand hold up in the wake of a possible global consumer slowdown? Oil: What goes up... After months of rising oil prices, crude has finally started to fall from record levels. Is it possible that oil below $100 and gas under $4 a gallon are in sight? The consumer stands strong Yes, the economy is in rough shape. But consumers still are spending and thats helped lift profits at companies like Pepsi, Mickey Ds and Hershey. Day of reckoning for banks Bad news from AmEx and Wachovia should serve as a reminder that its still a troubling time for many financial stocks. Park your cash in a safe place Before you sock your rainy day funds under the mattress, consider these safe-haven options, which offer a better return. The new safe haven is... ...drugs? Biotechs, pharma companies and medical equipment firms have outperformed the broader market during the past few weeks. Heres why they may stay healthy. The it-coulda-been-worse market Wall Streets been in a better mood the past few days but there is still skepticism about whether the worst is really over just yet. Scared yet? Sure, but dont panic In sobering testimony to the Senate Banking Committee, Fed chair Ben Bernanke says the credit crunch and inflation are both key concerns. Calm down - behind the Fannie and Freddie panic Yes, there is a lot of fear about whats next for the government-sponsored mortgage giants. But Fannie and Freddie are unlikely to go away. This too will pass. Warren Buffett gets busy For the second time in the past few months, the Oracle of Omahas Berkshire Hathaway is helping to finance a big deal. Thats an encouraging sign. Earnings deja vu Alcoa and GE will kick off second-quarter earnings season this week. And overall growth will probably look a lot like the first quarter. Thats not good. How online videos can make you rich As demand for bandwidth grows, Corning and Cisco will profit from a new Internet construction boom. Fireworks for the dollar A jobs report that failed to live up to the most gloomy forecasts and signs that Europe may hold off on more rate hikes could help the greenback. Bad news is good news The markets showing some tentative signs of recovery despite more gloomy economic and corporate news. Is that a good sign? Now is not the time to panic It was an abysmal first half of the year for the economy and markets. But experts say the worst thing to do now is act like Chicken Little. Bear Market Guide: Relax, make money Stocks are down about 20% from their highs, and even the bravest investors might be tempted to cut their losses. Heres why thats not a winning strategy. Watch what the Fed says... not what it does. With the market expecting the central bank to keep rates at 2%, investors will focus closely on the wording of the Feds statement. Betting the farm on agriculture stocks Shares of food, grain and fertilizer firms are on fire this year thanks to strong demand and surging commodity prices. But are the stocks still worth buying? Gold: Dont count on $1,000 With oil prices rising and the dollar weakening, gold has climbed back above $900. But theres not much more headroom. Ignore the Lehman takeover chatter There are rumors that the troubled investment bank is for sale. But even if someone is brave enough to buy Lehman, it would probably be at a discount. Bond yields spiking on inflation fears Only a few weeks ago, the 10-Year Treasury yielded 4%. Now yields are up to nearly 4.25%. How much higher will yields climb? 6 bank stocks worth buying Many bank stocks are at multi-year lows and more trouble lies ahead. But some value fund managers argue that not all banks are doomed. Global investing: One world, one fund Many experts say you dont need to invest in U.S. and foreign stocks separately. So are new global funds the way to go? Sirius-XM: Its about time FCC chair Kevin Martin is supporting the satellite radio merger. Final approval of the deal has been long overdue for both customers and investors. Global investing: One world, one fund Many experts say you dont need to invest in U.S. and foreign stocks separately. So are new global funds the way to go? The next merger boom is here Experts expect a wave of deals in the second half of the year, news that could lift the markets. Inflation: 4 ways to protect your assets No matter how bad it gets, the same investing rules always apply: dont put all your nest eggs in one basket. 8 banks: Fat yields and looking safe More and more banks are slashing their dividends or announcing new subprime bombshells. But some banks are holding up just fine. Hot commodities The big question about resources: Is it too late to invest? Short answer: Nope. And its easier than ever to get into the game. 6 funds that let you sleep at night Portfolios that combine stocks and bonds provide a smoother ride without sacrificing returns. How to invest in bonds The fixed-income markets are a mess. Keep your maturities short, and dont forget about inflation. Math favors tax-free funds - for now It shouldnt work this way, but its true: Tax-exempt mutual funds are today yielding more than Treasury funds. Is it time to swap your portfolio? Seeking Citis silver lining Grim news hits Citigroup seemingly every day, but some analysts think the stock may be excessively battered. Bill Miller fights back The famed investors flagship fund has a two-year losing streak vs. the S&P 500. Now hes loading up on takeover targets like Yahoo and Countrywide Financial. He explains his strategy to win again. Optimistic about the stock market Heres why long-term investors should see the current bear market as a positive opportunity. Retailers in the bargain bin Store stocks are often the first to fall on recession fears - and the first to bounce back when growth picks up again. Are high-fee funds worth it? With all the no-load mutual funds available, a loaded investment might not be worth the price of admission, says Money Magazines Answer Guy. Beware: Late-day rally killer on the loose Market volatility in the final hour is a sign that nobody really knows where Wall Street is headed for the next few months. Beware: Late-day rally killer on the loose Market volatility in the final hour is a sign that nobody really knows where Wall Street is headed for the next few months. Oil stocks: There will be profits If you look past the big energy giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, there are still many good bargains in the energy sector. A new way to value the market The latest technology enables novel analysis of whether stocks are attractively priced now. (Hint: They might be.) Get ready for a recession...in 2009 High inflation may keep the Fed from lowering interest rates much further...and that could lead the economy to weaken even more next year. A new way to value the market The latest technology enables novel analysis of whether stocks are attractively priced now. (Hint: They might be.) How to profit from Castros resignation Shares of companies that hope to eventually conduct more business in Cuba surged on news that Fidel was stepping down as president. Bad news is good news There is a rally on Wall Street Tuesday despite weak guidance from Wal-Mart, another bank writedown and surging oil prices. Are investors no longer afraid? Sirius-XM: One year later and still waiting The satellite radio companies announced merger plans a year ago but regulators are taking their time. Its time for them to say yes. Where the growth is now (hint: not the U.S.) Everybody is talking about a U.S. recession...but there are still plenty of good investment opportunities if you look at the rest of the globe. Big business shows the love As bad as the economy seems, many companies have lots of cash...and they are starting to share it with their shareholders. The new market leaders Money is moving out of last years hot tech and energy stocks and back into beaten down sectors like financials and retailers. Munis: The new power portfolio In a stomach-churning market, investors are finding safety - and value - in an often overlooked asset: lowly municipal bonds. How to tell if we are in recession Investors will need to pay attention to earnings reports from News Corp., Disney and Time Warner to find out just how bad the economy is. How to make money on volatility With wild swings the norm for the stock market, the VIX offers a way to profit from fear and a hedge against market declines. Why munis are a buy now The turmoil in the credit markets doesnt involve tax-free bonds, but its creating a tremendous buying opportunity for ordinary investors. Rocky market, smart strategies Indexing and dollar-cost averaging are always sound approaches to long-term investing, but right now theyre especially timely. |
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