Analysts have reset their expectations for a basket of commodities. Here's how investors can turn the bear market to their advantage.
Buffett thinks the value of all stocks in the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index should be worth less than the U.S. gross national product (GNP).
Slowing economic activity in these regions won't likely drag the U.S. economy into recession. But it could lead to slower-than-expected growth, creating a vast disconnect between stock valuations and corporate profit growth.
Do commodities also have a place in your portfolio? After all, they seem to rise and fall with alacrity, and investors often only notice them after they've made sharp gains or plunges.
Though investors were a bit spooked in late December in the face of the budget crisis (which temporarily spiked the VIX), the long-term volatility trend has been gliding lower. Simply put, investors know the typical risks that can derail the market, and they are expecting little drama in coming months.
Chinese stocks surged in the last decade, but dropped sharply by the end of the decade and have been in a trading range ever since. Looking ahead, the share price moves are likely to be less dramatic than a decade ago, simply because the Chinese economy is now much larger and poised for a phase of solid, but not sizzling growth.
When investors have sought to gain exposure to less developed economies, they've largely focused on Brazil, Russia, India and China, mostly ignoring the dynamic growth that has been taking place beyond the "global top 20."
These three hotly-debated stocks have been in the headlines recently as bulls and bears duke it out.
Every year around this time, financial publications publish their list of America's fastest-growing companies. And their advertising departments love them. These are often the most popular issues of the year, as consumers try to find "the next Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT)" or "the next Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)."
Simply being associated with this sobering trend has been toxic for many defense-oriented stocks. Indeed, a pair of smaller, but more promising defense contractors have been tossed aside.
To put that in perspective, the recent pullback in Apple's stock means projected 2015 cash will be more than half of the current value.
When the market starts to wobble, many investors act predictably. They sell stocks of smaller companies while holding on to their blue chip, large-cap stocks in a move known as a "flight to quality."
If you think the U.S. will fare much better than Europe in 2013, then it might be wise to focus your investments on companies that derive most of their revenue domestically.
Many emerging markets in Asia and Latin America have a much better M/O ratio, and are only now entering the sweet spot of the M/O cycle.
As we roam towns and cities, or simply like to surf the Web from the comfort of our own bed, a wireless Internet connection has become a necessity -- especially when our employers want us to remain in constant contact.
If you can't decide, then don't worry. I've found three tech stocks that land into each camp and, if taken together, then they may give you the perfect GARP positioning.
Japan's steady decline -- relative to other economies -- can be attributed to a pair of factors: A rapidly-aging population and a too-strong currency. These two factors are crimping demand for goods and services at home, as well as foreign demand for exports.
Our economy is unlikely to handle three more years of gridlock, which keeps us stuck in a phase of higher government spending and shrinking revenue.
You can usually spot these unwanted stocks by checking how long they have been slapped with a "Buy" rating. These ratings often get quite stale, and analysts infrequently update their ratings on particular stocks.
companies are increasingly tempted to take advantage of share price weakness by buying back stock, but only if two conditions are met.
