It's time once again to make New Year's financial resolutions.Financially profligate countries such as Greece and Ireland should have done the same a year ago. Subsequent austerity moves throughout Europe have prompted irate protests by its the

How would you invest $10,000 in the coming year?We pose that question annually to a panel of investment experts.For 2010, funds based on select stock indexes have dominated the successful choices.For example, the recommendations of Sheldon

Bling, sports apparel, electronics, and plastic gift cards are expected to be the most desirable presents in this cautious 2010 holiday shopping season.Investors must determine if favored gifts will translate into strong performances of the of a

Big can be beautiful, especially when investors are wary of the stock market.Large-cap stocks, low in price but high in exposure to rapidly-growing international markets, appear poised for a comeback.Companies with market capitalizations of a

No one said socially responsible investing was perfect.Just as a number of funds with ethical goals made the mistake of holding Enron stock a few years back, many this year owned BP Plc stock when the company's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as

Tractors are pulling in profits for stock investors.The dramatic growth of emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil; strong crop prices; and the potential for a U.S. economic recovery continue to boost the prices of agricultural a makes

Investors are chasing yields, and former homeowners are moving into apartments.That combination has provided the one-two punch in 2010 of real estate investment trusts (REITs), those dividend-producing investments that trade as stocks and use to

Are mutual fund investors jumping from the frying pan into the fire?Many have been aggressively shifting their mutual-fund money around in 2010, but often aren't as careful as they should be in selecting the new locations for their dollars.It

With risk a preoccupation in volatile 2010 investing, it shouldn't be surprising to hear a Wall Street pundit quoting tough-guy Clint Eastwood."A good man always knows his limitations," the actor, in his role as detective "Dirty Harry" Callahan,

Everybody wants a discount in 2010, and the online brokerage industry is anxious to provide it.Full-service broker Merrill Lynch is the latest to enter the online discount brokerage business with its new Merrill Edge online account. This move by