by Sam Smith

During this turbulent economic time where stock market indexes are plummeting and rising almost every day due to the crisis calls for a special investment plan so that risk is minimized. There is a need for the clever planning of investment and saving strategies so that they reflect the changing nature of the playing field.

With the stock markets being fluctuating the way they are these days many investors are not clear on what is the best approach to investing. The two basic approaches are the conservative and the aggressive strategies and while both can be fruitful the question is which one will produce the best results in market conditions like these.

The ones who utilize aggressive strategies in stock marketing investing are known as day traders. These investors buy and sell many times a day and take on relatively larger risks than regular buy and …

by Sara Ferguson

As a general rule, online investors who use discount brokerages arent seeking the advice of a traditional broker theyve known for the last ten years. Most online investors want brokerages that are stable, provide excellent customer service, and offer different types of choices. The following list shows some of the criteria that investors use to judge discount online brokerages:

1. Ease of use: All online investors want their Web-based brokerages to be easy to use. Web sites need to be uncluttered and free of slow-to-download graphics and useless tools.

2. Prompt customer service: When online investors telephone customer service, being on hold for several minutes is unacceptable. Online investors with large portfolios want more sophisticated financial services and advice. Many are willing to meet with financial advisors for that human touch.

3. Reliable responsiveness: System-wide brokerage crashes arent acceptable. Quick and accurate trade executions are important …

The stock market is a dynamic place where investors can consistently make reasonable returns on their capital if they comply with the basic principles of the endeavor and if they don’t measure their progress too frequently against irrelevant indices.

The income securities market is most often a less dynamic place where investors can consistently make reasonable returns on their capital if they understand the basic principles of the endeavor and if they focus steadfastly on the income produced by their holdings.

Securities markets are truly fascinating— replete with promise, mystery, and unscripted daily drama. But individual investors are even more interesting. We’ve become media driven creatures that must have reasons, predictability, blame, scapegoats, instant gratification, and an imaginary sprite called certainty.

We are becoming a culture of hindsightful speculators, attempting to replace the raw beauty of unpredictable market and economic cycles with …

There’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel— finally. Most of the really well respected, long term investors are advising their audiences to hang in there, to stop the panic selling, and to look for the great companies that have withstood the economic downturns of the past.

Buffet, Bogle, Gross, Schwab, and company offer sound advice— don’t run and hide, it’s time to hit the Wall Street Mall and go shopping! They’ve seen the indicators; they’ve been there before. So have many of you. Clearly, it’s time for action.

With IGV stock prices down 50% or more, and income securities as low or lower, Chuck Jaffe points out in MarketWatch that the case for loading up on managed Closed End Funds (CEFs) is a strong one. The great companies are in garage sale mode, and managed CEFs are selling at …

First, the good news: From June 2007 through September 2008 (i.e., during the credit crisis) Income CEF payouts per share were virtually unchanged. From June 2008 through September 2008, payouts rose slightly— 29 funds raised their payouts and 17 lowered them. Your portfolio spending money should be higher than it was a year ago.

Brokerage firm monthly statements are designed to promote either fear or greed, depending on the current market environment. Nowhere on your statement can you find numbers that report your net investment, your total working capital, or your true asset allocation. Current and projected income numbers are given little attention, and monthly withdrawals are treated like losses of principal.

Income portfolios are reported upon using the same format as growth portfolios, and too much analysis is required to determine if the income production is either safe or adequate …

By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor Investor worry over the solvency of U.S. mortgage-giants Freddie Mac (FRE) and Fannie Mae (FNM) have gutted the stocks over the last few days more than halving their market capitalizations. News of a possible government-sponsored bailout sent Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae shares plunging yesterday (Thursday) dangerously close to new 52-week lows. Freddie Mac shares sank $2.15 yesterday, a 20% decline to close at $8.11. Freddie Mac is down 76% year-to-date as of Thursday’s close. Fannie Mae stock had a similar fate, shedding $1.95, an almost 13% to decline to close at $13.36. Fannie Mae shares are down nearly 67% year-to-date. Sign up below… and we’ll send you a new investment report for free:...

By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor He made his fortune as an oilman, but yesterday (Tuesday) legendary investor T. Boone Pickens unveiled a plan to cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil through the power of alternatives such as wind and natural gas. “We’re paying $700 billion a year for foreign oil. It’s breaking us as a nation, and I want to elevate that question to the presidential debate, to make it the No. 1 issue of the campaign this year,” Pickens said, USA Today reported. Pickens launched a Website titled “Pickens Plan,” which went live yesterday, to outline what he calls a “bridge to the future” to help cut foreign oil imports by focusing on wind-generated power and natural-gas burning autos. And Pickens isn’t being shy about taking his plan to the politicians. Story continues below…...

By Martin Hutchinson Contributing Editor Forbes Magazine has come out with its list of "Best Countries for Business" - and Denmark ranks as the world’s most business-friendly market. But unless an investor is looking to set up shop in one of these countries, you wouldn’t expect this list to be all that valuable. After all, it’s one thing to know that when a company operates in a business-friendly market, its employees and corporate officers will be well treated, and the company itself will be afforded respect. But does that necessarily allow us to predict whether or not investments in that country will appreciate in value? The truth may actually surprise you. Okay, it’s mean to leave you in suspense until the end. You can find out whether a good business climate is correlated with economic growth by comparing the country’s ranking ...

Like any good forward-thinking investor, here at the Stockmasters we’re trying to think of what is in store for America in 2009, when our next president takes office. I found what looks like a win-win situation for the Stem Cells Sector. Read on to find out: Obama’s Stance on ...

Shares of Discovery Labs (DSCO) have been drifting lower in recent trading and now are at the $1.55 level, which is a nice entry point for a long position for speculative biotech investors. Since meeting with the FDA in mid-June, DSCO has trended lower on investor disappointment that the Company would delay its response to the most recent approvable ruling for Surfaxin until September. However, the Company still expects a Class I review (60 days), which could result in approval for Surfaxin by late November or early December without the need for additonal clinical trials. Summer is typically a slow time for biotech trading and provides a good time to accumulate shares ahead of a Fall catalyst.