You can still practically smell the wreckage. Stocks of the nation’s largest banks, most of which were overexposed to toxic subprime assets, crashed and burned during the financial crisis. The KBW Bank Index (an index of the largest American banks) fell from a high… Read More

Just a little more than a decade ago, most investors wouldn’t put a dime in this emerging country, even if they were using someone else’s money. But plenty can change in a short amount of time, and today the story is vastly different. Now… Read More

In global economics, there are several emerging truisms. Growth is likely to be somewhat muted in... Read More

In global economics, there are several emerging truisms. Growth is likely to be somewhat muted in the West as efforts to reverse massive budget deficits will create a drag as governments tax more... Read More

Which sector is going to be hot in 2011? If history is any clue, it won’t be what was hot in... Read More

Which sector is going to be hot in 2011? If history is any clue, it won’t be what was hot in 2010. In fact, a look back through history tells us the leading groups in one year often become... Read More

China hogs most of the headlines these days, given it represents an extremely compelling growth market for investors. I recently explained why investing in other countries can make more sense, naming India as an example of a country that may have more compelling long-term prospects for investors. But it doesn’t… Read More

It’s become a bit of a holiday tradition. Each year in October, I step back and take a long hard look at where I think the market will be heading for the next year. It’s easy to get caught up in the trivial aspects of day-to-day market… Read More

Investing guru Warren Buffett doesn’t think much of diversification . In his view, it’s for investors who don’t really know what they’re doing. Those who do can actually lessen risk by betting big on a few investments they thoroughly understand, Buffett asserts, and will earn the greatest returns in the… Read More

Since the financial crisis in 2008, corporate executives have taken a cautious approach to making big decisions. This has been especially the case with mergers & acquisitions (M&A). But according to a recent survey from Thomson Reuters and Freeman (a consulting firm), it looks like 2011 is… Read More

Back in the heady pre-recession days, all was right with the world. Global production was booming and precious metals prices were through the roof. Since then, gold has punched through to reach record prices, as producers work furiously to get it out of the ground and investors continually snap up… Read More

Although most of us are too young to remember, imagine what it must have been like during the Great Depression or the Second World War. Shortages at those times had most everyone scrapping for basics like sugar, butter or coffee. Such things may seem unfathomable… Read More