Markets Articles

The U.S. economy is at risk from many factors, and some are more likely than others.

Learn how retail forex spreads affect your ability to trade currencies.

Can't get a credit card without a credit history, and can't get a history without a card? Break the Catch-22.

Move beyond simply buying calls and puts, and learn how to turn time-value decay into potential profits.

The financial media and investors are haunted with the prospect of a double-dip recession. We look to the past to see if a double-dip recession is in our future.

We look at the Federal Reserve's Operation Twist, and see whether it's got what it takes to right a shaky economy.

Reduce your stock portfolio's risk by trading with foreign currencies.

Negative sentiment on global economic growth prospects has actually pushed many asset classes into appealing territory.

A look at how asset bubbles are formed according to different schools of thought.

We break down the stodgy stereotype to see what these investments can do for you.

Sovereign debt defaults are scary, but should they be? They are actually more common than you think.

The financial, labor and economic statistics show the current recession is worse than most people think.

Whether up, down or sideways, learn about some of the factors that drive stock market moves.

Britain may have dodged a bullet, but it certainly was not an innocent bystander and still managed to become collateral damage.

Emerging markets are risky, but the rewards they can create make them a worthy addition to any portfolio.

Stocks are not the only securities underlying options. Learn how to use FOREX options for profit and hedging.

How can the presidential election affect your portfolio? Find out here.

This index can provide insight into economic growth and production, but it has its critics.

Check out the history and inner workings of the world's six most well-known stock exchanges.

George Soros sold his gold, but that may have nothing to do with whether you should follow him.

As consumer spending is a dominant component of the U.S. economy, how consumers feel about the economy can become self-fulfilling.

These websites are among the best for you to find financial information on a variety of topics.

Find out the history of FINRA, and how it's organized to monitor the markets and protect investors.

Find out how investing success can be more about your mindset and less about the markets.

Speculators often get a bad rap, but it's important to remember that they only observe trends, not manipulate them.

Gold holds up well in the face of fear, but offers little in times of true collapse.

Stock tickers can say a lot about a company in just a few letters. Find out how to read them.

If you thought your taxes as an American were high, think again. Here's a list of the top five countries with the highest tax revenues as a percentage of GDP.

The S&P's 0.00% change over the past three years will make you wonder whether your money's in the right place.

Match monopolist Ivar Kreuger started as a brilliant businessman, but his high-flying lifestyle led to some shady dealings.

You might be carrying more risk than you think if your fund invests in derivatives.

The past decade has taught us a lot about how gold and governments are interdependent.

Why is being trade-dependent a problem for these countries, and how does that affect investors?

The Chinese are gobbling up real estate across the country and making multi-billion investments in other business sectors, including construction, fuel and green technology.

As a strong alternative to the dollar it is likely that the pound will remain a preeminent global currency for some time to come.

Does it make sense to invest in these countries with high government spending levels as a percentage of GDP?

In this strategy, traders cash in when the underlying security rises - and when it falls.

Starting to invest can be a scary process. Luckily, steering clear of common errors is half the battle.

Find out how these securities can protect you from a market bust.

The attack on the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001 had a profound impact on the market.

Investing internationally is a great way to diversify your portfolio, but you need to know the risks.

Should Europe see another bout of stress, or continued stress, the single currency could face dire consequences.

The Misery Index measures a combination of unemployment and inflation, but what does it mean for your finances?

Is there a correlation between education level and a state's economic output?

The S&P is generally respected, but several missteps have damaged the company's reputation.

Find out what you need to know before you start trading the Swiss franc.

These analytical methods will help you size up a biotech company and make a winning investment.

Interest rates can have both positive and negative effects on U.S. stocks, bonds and inflation.

The biggest holders of gold account for 30,500 of the world's estimated 160,000 tonnes.

A recession can be tough on your finances, but by planning ahead you can increase your financial resiliency.

A high-risk security can reduce risk overall. Find out how it works.

Learn to keep your losses to a minimum and consistently produce positive results.

The next two years will continue to be volatile for many countries as they try to reign in their debt and avoid recession in the process.

If the market's got you feeling low, these investments could pick you up.

When it comes to investing in other countries, knowing how much is being spent on research and development, and where it's be spent, is important for any investor.

Trade what you see: Follow the charts, buy breakouts and honor stops. We'll look at a case study to show you how.

Find out who the major players are in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and who has been kicked out recently.

The U.S. Census Bureau maintains lists of many state-by-state comparisons. One of the most interesting is the list of states with the most educated population.

There are many ways to fund a child's education including loans, scholarships, grants and protecting your investments.

Investors who want to avoid future bubbles should learn from the past in order to protect their investments.

Some companies improve their bottom line as many people make more conservative decisions with money during a recession.

With a collective faith in its value, insensitivity to price and a lot of debt underpinning it all, could higher education be the next bubble?

The foreign currency market is the largest financial market in the world, and investors in this market have many options.

Gold has doubled in price over the last two years, and many say gold is the new currency but will it continue to outperform?

Read on to learn more about the the nature of stocks and the true meaning of ownership.

Google’s most recent deal bulks up defenses against Android patent infringement claims, and opens opportunities to operate as a dominant integrated smartphone vendor.

Find out everything you need to know about the eighth most traded currency in forex.

The role of the sales broker, as a purely transaction-based salesperson, is changing. Find out what's next for this industry.

Whether disasters are natural or caused by man, they all leave behind a devastating toll and huge bills.

Unlike a funded loan, the exposure from a credit derivative is complicated. Find out everything you need to know about counterparty risk.

We look at how the market signals impending economic cycles and sector performance during each stage.

Automated trading systems minimize emotions, allow for faster order entry, lead to greater consistency and resolve pilot-error problems.

These indicators can illuminate the depth and severity of problems in the credit markets.

Liberalization provides new opportunities for diversification and profit.

While numerous states, including Michigan, Florida, California, Nevada and others struggle with double-digit unemployment, we'll look at four states with above average employment.

Find out about this committee's tactics and members, and see whether you think they can solve America's financial problems.

The stock market has changed dramatically since its inception, but the use of ticker symbols has remained largely unchanged.

Europe's central bank has its work cut out for it in the coming months, especially as it works for long term solutions.

Find out which currencies are most affected by fluctuations in gold and oil prices, and improve your trading.

Don't learn these lessons the hard way. Read on to make sure you can weather an unstable market.

Discover tips from a long-term strategy that can help you make better short-term trades.

The official statistics in some countries need to be taken with a grain of salt. Find out why you should be skeptical.

While these bubbles have held up fairly well so far, what happens if poor economic conditions continue or get even worse?

Despite growing fears of another recession, these five industries have shown strong sales and profit growth in recent months.

When it comes to keeping your money safe, don't rely on the FDIC - there's much more you can do.

The first few moments of trading provide a lot of information. If a trader analyzes this information, it can give a lot of insight into the market's moves for the day.

These funds can reduce your exposure to market risk or enhance portfolio performance.

Margins have been raised and new regulations are in place for gold trading. How is this going to affect investors?

Those that are able to capitalize on this rather obscure report will benefit immensely from it.

All that glitters isn't gold. Find out how to get started on your treasure hunt.

We take a look at high frequency trading and see if it's one of the reasons for stock market losses.

History proves that the current meltdown is not a first, and those who avoid panic selling now should be rewarded with better exit points as recovery unfolds in the months ahead.

These areas make for very poor investment choices right now.

Unlike some of its troubled sister countries, Italy's financial problems are being felt globally, especially in the U.S.

How can patent wars, and patent trolls, affect new businesses?

Market contractions - like the one we are currently feeling - produce both winners and losers. Find out which side you are on.

Valuing a company is a difficult task, regardless of the size of the business - but these methods can help.