Consumer activity drives about 70 percent of the US economy, making a recovery in consumer spending the primarily driver of improvement all along the US value chain. But how much improvement can we really expect to see with elevated unemployment and little access to lending? Read More

The media is laying most of the blame for Thursday’s troubles on the keyboard of a fat fingered trader at Citigroup (NYSE: C) who accidently placed a sell order on billions of Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG) shares instead of millions. There’s also evidence of problems in trading of Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and a number of other securities. Read More

Many investors already consider short-term bond funds an alternative to money market funds because of their higher yields and similar investment profiles. Read More

These are the top funds in five major categories, ranked according to three-year returns. Read More

Every fund manager touts his or her unique approach to investing, but few can claim absolute exclusivity. This fund manager has proof that he’s the only one using his process: US Patent Number 7,107,229 B1. Read More

This multi-sector bond fund is one of Benjamin Shepherd's favorites and should continue to perform regardless of what the future holds. Read More

Sam Stovall shares his current take on the market and discusses how an old adage can help nervous investors preserve capital if the markets correct. Read More

If you’re holding shares in one of the funds that fail to catch on, you’ll find yourself scrambling to find another fund that fills that niche in your portfolio. You might also get stuck with an unexpected tax bill on any gains you might have, since liquidations count as taxable events. Read More

Exchange traded funds (ETF) have a lot going for them—more diverse than a single stock, more dynamic than a mutual fund, great liquidity for hedge and trading positions. Read More