by Greg Madison
Inflation can be tough to contend with, yet investors should guard against inflation lest it eat away at their portfolios – which isn't hard to do if they know the best investments to hold when inflation rates rise.
Official interest rates are notoriously unreliable – outright false at times – which can downplay or underestimate the situation. Don't trust the numbers. Make that mistake, and your investments' value can evaporate before your eyes.
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by David Mamos
For over a year now former Google all-star Marissa Mayer has been at the helm of Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) and has managed to steer the ship in one focused direction.
So far Wall Street has been enamored with Mayer as a businesswoman and a personality. She has outlined a much clearer vision for Yahoo than her predecessors.
by Tara Clarke
Today's FOMC meeting will kick off a two-day discussion of economic policy – and will leave unprepared investors confused…
Both the FOMC policy statement and its economic and market projections will be released on Wednesday at 2 p.m. EDT and will be followed by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's press conference at 2:30 p.m.
[Editor's Note: Stay tuned to Money Morning for a Wednesday FOMC Meeting roundup.]
The question hot on everyone's tongue is what the FOMC will decide to do about the $85 billion in monthly bond buying – will the inevitable quantitative easing (QE) taper finally begin?
by Shah Gilani
From the Editor: No fewer than 165 stocks on the major exchanges hit new 52-week highs yesterday, which is all the more reason to take notes today… Shah's been identifying bubbles for decades, ever since his hedge fund days. And now that he uncovers them for individual investors, his readers know firsthand that "bubble watching" is more than a wealth protection strategy.
They made 218% the last time Shah prepared them. And they made 371% and 455% the time before that. Those bubbles were little, too, compared to this one…
There are lots of reasons to be fully invested in the stock market. And that's why it's so important right now to keep an eye on all the bubbles.
They're everywhere. And we have plenty of reasons to fear any number of them bursting.
Larry Summers shocked Wall Street and Washington circles on Sunday by withdrawing his name for consideration as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chairman.
Summers wrote in a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, "I have reluctantly concluded that any possible confirmation process for me would be acrimonious and would not serve the interest of the Federal Reserve, the Administration, or ultimately, the interests of the nation's ongoing economic recovery."
His decision comes at a critical point for the Federal Reserve.
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Your stock market news today: Equities are higher across the board this morning after Larry Summers withdrew his name from the candidates to replace Ben Bernanke as head of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Summers told President Barack Obama on Sunday that he believes his appointment would be too controversial.
The Dow is up 1% at 15,536, Nasdaq is up 0.3% at 3,732, and the S&P 500 is up 0.8% at 1,701.
Stocks are holding their gains even as new manufacturing data on the New York region reflects an unexpected decline in manufacturing activity there. Investors also received data on industrial production and capacity utilization in August this morning that revealed the biggest monthly gain in six months last month.
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A U.S. debt ceiling debate is once again on Congress' agenda. Congress has about three weeks to pass a budget, and the White House has said that U.S. President Barack Obama will not negotiate over raising the 2013 debt ceiling provisions.
We've seen this script before on debt ceiling deadlines, and with so many other pressing issues. Congress will again kick the can down the road.
Before that, a brewing showdown will again unfold, one with distinct consequences for other forms of legislation and the country.
by Diane Alter
Our silver price news today looks ahead at another volatile week for the white metal as global precious metal sentiment remains guarded.
In early-morning trading Monday, spot silver was trading down 1.5% at $21.88.
Silver traders are closely watching the Wednesday outcome of the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) two-day meeting to see if the U.S. Federal Reserve finally follows through on plans to start weaning the U.S. economy off five years of quantitative easing (QE).
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by Diane Alter
Americans following the stream of Obamacare facts out of Washington aren't as happy with the new law as they were before, according to a new poll.
According to this just-released CNN/ORC International survey, support for the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, slipped from 51% in January to a current low of 39%.
Support dropped in all demographics, with the steepest slide in two core Democratic groups: women and Americans making less than $50,000.
by Diane Alter
Optimism returned to Wall Street last week, as Syria attack talk subsided and the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped.
Triple-digit gains Monday through Wednesday last week added 401.10 to the Dow. Stocks closed with modest losses Thursday, with the S&P 500 Index snapping a seven-day winning streak. But the bulls were back in force Friday, helping the Dow log its best week in nine months.
Yet, the market pendulum continues to swing between risk-off and risk-on trading, leaving investors cautious.
Money Morning's updated list of the best stocks to buy – and some to avoid – address today's biggest market concerns and find the smartest opportunities for your money now.
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