50 stocks to buy in March

Feb 28, 2011

StockScouter, MSN Money’s stock-picking tool, identifies companies capable of outperforming the broader market in the weeks ahead.

Libya crisis confounds investing

Feb 25, 2011

A spike in oil prices means higher inflation, which makes it much harder for governments to slow growth without tanking their economies.

5 funds that shouldn’t be so popular

Feb 25, 2011

Familiar names and past glories have a lot of appeal. But if a mutual fund’s performance no longer lives up to its shiny reputation, investors should take heed.

A bull market in risk rages on

Feb 25, 2011

When stocks are driven higher by central bank money-printing, they also get riskier. That’s exactly what is happening now, and it’s sure to end badly.

Prep your portfolio for inflation

Feb 24, 2011

Experts see a trend toward rising prices, and you see the signs in your daily life. Here are 4 investment vehicles that can help ward off the inflationary dragon.

For-profit colleges face tough test

Feb 23, 2011

Fierce criticism that students have been left with big debts and dashed dreams has inspired reforms and left the industry on the run. That’s an opportunity for investors.

Playing catch-up: Start in your 50s

Feb 23, 2011

Don’t despair if you’ve waited longer than you should have to save up for retirement. You’re not alone, and it’s not too late. But now you have to get really serious.

Was that as good as the market gets?

Feb 22, 2011

Investors and experts are ultrabullish, corporate profits are at historic highs and earnings growth is blazing. But a rising tide of problems suggests things have gone too far. Here’s how to protect yourself.

5 funds that could kill your nest egg

Feb 22, 2011

It’s a long climb back if your portfolio takes a tumble, so pick your funds carefully. Here are some that are just wrong for the average investor.

Be wary of this market’s head fakes

Feb 21, 2011

Getting into a stock early is good. Getting in too early can be painful. Getting it right requires that you not fool yourself before you jump in.

Kill Fannie and Freddie? Not likely

Feb 21, 2011

The mortgage giants that badly wounded the housing market are now crucial to keeping it alive. So the government has to prop them up, and the joke’s on the taxpayer.

5 energy stocks to buy now

Feb 18, 2011

Major oil companies are struggling to obtain new reserves. I suggest looking at some oil producer and oil services stocks, which will benefit from their search.

Start building your first nest egg

Feb 18, 2011

You don’t have to work until you’re 85, but you do need to start putting some money aside for retirement. Luckily, there are sources of free money that can help your nest egg grow.

Even Cisco can’t cool a giddy market

Feb 18, 2011

The company took a beating over earnings, but investors still bid up its rivals. Such disconnects illustrate the effects of too much free money.

10 Things You Should Know About Reverse Mortgages

Feb 17, 2011

More than 78,000 reverse mortgages were insured last year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These federally insured loans, also called Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), have become more popular as older Americans are looking to tap the equity in their homes so they can age in place.

Invest abroad without getting burned

Feb 16, 2011

Red-hot growth in emerging markets could cool as policymakers try to tame inflation. Investors chasing opportunities must remain vigilant to new risks.

Emerging markets’ inflation trap

Feb 15, 2011

Don’t get caught investing in developing markets until it is clear that interest rate hikes have tamed inflation. India and Brazil may be safe by June; other emerging nations likely have more pain ahead.

Is Apple still cheap growth stock?

Feb 15, 2011

The Apple bandwagon is rolling like a chariot, and investors are lining up to jump aboard. Nobody can see all the way down the road, especially in the tech world, but for the near future at least, the epic roll seems likely to continue.

The steady star among fund families

Feb 14, 2011

Stability predicts good performance, and T. Rowe Price tops Morningstar’s list of its most consistent US fund managers. But global expansion could alter the corporate culture.

5 ways to play a global water crisis

Feb 11, 2011

Water shortages threaten hundreds of millions of people the world around. Believe it or not, there is a way to invest in this trend. Hint: Consider ripple effects.