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Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged.
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Tag Archives: investors
Investors exit stock funds for 8th month in a row
The stock market ended up going nowhere in 2011 despite a bumpy ride, and investors continued to hit the exits. For the fifth year running, they withdrew more cash from stock mutual funds than they put in. Bond funds continued to attract new cash. Read More
Investors learn lessons in ’11 on hot stocks, IPOs
To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it’s tough for investors to make predictions, especially about the future. That was certainly the case in 2011 for investors whose portfolios were hurt by unforeseen developments — from Libya to Japan to Europe to Washington. Read More
Heard Off The Street: Real Assets – Private or Public?
Investor interest in “real assets” has risen relentlessly during the financial crisis and its aftermath. By real assets we mean claims on the value of tangible items such as timber, oil, soybeans, copper and the like (as well as the companies that own them) or claims on changes in the value of inflation-linked assets (such as Treasury inflation-protected securities, or TIPS). Read More
7 year-end tax tips for mutual fund investors
A surge of cashflow into a business can make it seem like a powerhouse. Yet its bottom line might be underwhelming after taxes and other expenses are figured in. The same can hold true with investing. Read More
Boomers flock to bonds, but do they know basics?
Baby boomers fully embraced the stock market by riding its ups and downs throughout their peak income years. But now that the oldest boomers are turning 65, their focus has turned toward ensuring a steady income from their investments. Read More
A look at the best options for stashing your cash
Cash is king again for many unsettled investors. The crisis in confidence that has spooked investors this summer is prompting many to pull their money from the stock market, with others poised to follow.
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Markets are more predictable than you think
The markets may be rational after all.
The threat of severe nuclear contamination from a breached Japanese nuclear reactor still looms. The outcome of the escalating war in Libya is uncertain. Yet The Standard & Poor’s 500 index ended the week up 2.7 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 3.1 percent. So what happened to all that headline-driven volatility from two weeks ago? Read More
Ultra-Short Bond Funds: Know Where You’re Parking Your Money
Ultra-short bond funds are mutual funds that generally invest in fixed income securities with extremely short maturities, or time periods in which they become due for payment. Like other bond mutual funds, ultra-short bond funds may invest in a wide range of securities, including corporate debt, government securities, mortgage-backed securities, and other asset-backed securities. Read More
Home prices plummet in most big US cities
Home prices are hitting new depths in most major U.S. cities and are expected to fall further over the next six months. In a majority of metro areas tracked by Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller, prices have fallen to their lowest points since the housing bubble burst.
High unemployment, stricter lending rules and fears that prices will continue to fall are among the reasons why few people are buying homes. A rising number of foreclosures are also weighing down prices. And as more people get stuck in depreciating homes, housing could slow the economy. Read More
Fund investors begin slowly embracing US stocks
It appears investors are beginning to get comfortable with risk again. Not only are they pulling money out of bond mutual funds at the fastest pace in two years, but they’re slowly starting to embrace stocks again.
The shift in sentiment comes as positive economic news and robust corporate earnings lift stocks, which have risen 20 percent since the start of September.
Prices of bonds, typically less risky than stocks, are heading in the opposite direction. A broad measure of the bond market, the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond index, is down nearly 3 percent since early November…read more Read More
How the new Congress could affect stocks in 2011
Next year will be a year unlike any other for the stock market.
The Republican takeover of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 2, means Wall Street will be contending with three situations in 2011 that drive stock prices . . . read more Read More
Stock market apt to stay difficult for some time
Get used to a difficult stock market.
It’s nearly four months since stocks reached their 2010 highs and began falling on investors’ doubts about the economic recovery. Some analysts say it could be another year before investors get up enough confidence to restart the rally . . . read more Read More
Average mortgage rates hit low of 4.42 percent
Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in decades for the eighth time in nine weeks, a sign that investors are concerned about the weak economy.
The average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.42 percent, down from 4.44 percent last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday, August 19 . . . read more Read More
