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How the Election Will Affect the Fiscal Cliff
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/6/12
In the final hours before the election, Russ takes a look at potential outcomes and what they would mean for avoiding the fiscal cliff.

3 Reasons to Consider Russia
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/5/12
With US investors largely focused on domestic matters these days, it can be easy to miss potential opportunities in international investing. Here, Russ K discusses the pros and cons of one such opportunity Russian equities.

High Yield is Looking Expensive
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/2/12
High yield has enjoyed a rally over the last several months. Russ explains why it may be a good time to reexamine your exposure to the asset class.

US Stocks Facing a Bumpy Ride
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/31/12
The US stock exchanges are slated to reopen for trading on Wednesday, after Hurricane Sandy prompted the longest weather-related closure of the New York Stock Exchange since 1888. What can investors expect when trading resumes? Russ K explains.

Narrowing It Down: Single Country vs. Broad Exposure
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/29/12
With the number of exchange traded products continually growing (globally, there are now more than 4700 ETPs and counting), an interesting debate has arisen about whether investors should gain access to international equity markets through a fund that tracks a broad benchmark or through more granular regional or country exposures. Typically choice is a positive thing, but it's understandable that the size and scope of the ETP market can add a layer of complexity to an investor's selection process.

Going Cheap with Chinese Stocks
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/23/12
Inexpensive valuations and stabilizing growth make Chinese stocks a category to watch right now. Russ K explains his overweight view of the controversial country.

3 Investment Strategies for the New World
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/22/12
No doubt about it the investment climate has changed, and it's unlikely to change back anytime soon. Russ K gives 3 possible solutions for investors seeking to adjust to the new investment world.

Beyond Borders: Currency Considerations for Investing
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/19/12
As more international assets are finding their way into investment portfolios, it's important for investors to recognize the effect that currency exposure may have on their portfolios.

As Global Growth Falters, Consider Emerging Markets
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/18/12
Global growth this year is forecast to lag that of both 2011 and 2010, and the outlook for 2013 isn't much better. These sobering forecasts are bolstering Russ K's view that investors should consider being overweight emerging market stocks.

The New Investment World is Not Near, It's Here
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/15/12
The recent pace and magnitude of economic change has left many investors disoriented, to say the least. Russ K explains why this new environment is unlikely to change any time soon, which may have implications for investors' current and long-term strategies.

Potential Picks for a Yield-Starved Portfolio
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/10/12
Yield-hungry investors today are faced with a stark choice: accept lower yield or more risk. Russ K explains why given those options, investment grade bonds may be one of the better bargains.

Dont Be Fooled By September's Market Rally
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 10/1/12
September has historically been the worst month of the year, but this time around it did not play to script. The surprising rally distracted complacent investors from signs of increasing volatility. Russ K explains.

Look Out Below! The Fiscal Cliff Steepens
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/28/12
Despite the recent happy headlines, most measures of US economic activity point to slower growth, which makes the threat of the fiscal cliff pushing the US economy into a recession even greater. Russ K explains how investors can prepare.

QE3: Better for Gold than the Economy?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/27/12
The Fed's recent actions may not have much impact on the economy, but, as Russ explains, keeping interest rates low for an extended period may help support commodities, particularly gold.

Seeking Solace in Northern Europe
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/25/12
The risks in Europe are slowly improving, but it will take a long time to fully implement needed reforms. Until that happens, Russ will continue to focus his European exposure on some northern countries.

About That Swiss Neutrality
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/21/12
Swiss stocks still merit a positive long-term outlook but on a short term basis, Russ is changing his allocation to underweight from neutral.

Housing Recovery? Try Long Convalescence
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/18/12
The US Federal Reserve's decision to expand quantitative easing is dramatic, but we don't think it will have a significant impact on the US housing market. While the extra liquidity is supportive of risky assets in the very near-term, lower mortgage rates are not a game-changer for a consumer still struggling with little income growth and too much debt.

QE3: Ineffective Parachute for Fiscal Cliff
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/14/12
While the most likely scenario is that Washington reaches a compromise at the last minute, until then the uncertainty will keep the markets volatile and potentially drag down fourth quarter growth. Given recent comments out of Congress, there is also a non-trivial chance that we will, at least temporarily, go over the cliff. If that happens, QE3 will not be a particularly effective parachute.

Ready, Set, Fed! Weak Jobs Report Raises QE3 Odds
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/11/12
Russ says the US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee has more reason to consider quantitative easing at this week's meeting, after the latest payroll report suggests the US economic recovery is likely to remain weak into the end of the year.

An Upgrade of UK Equities
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 9/4/12
With UK economic growth showing signs of stabilization, the downside of investing in the region now appears more balanced versus the potential benefits. Russ believes it's time to upgrade equities from the United Kingdom to a neutral status.

Prepare Now for the Looming Fiscal Cliff
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/31/12
The general election season is finally upon us, and investors should begin shifting their focus from theoretical discussions about the impending fiscal cliff of potential tax hikes and spending cuts to more concrete action plans of what to do about it.

A Two-Pronged Case for Holding Gold
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/29/12
Gold continues to benefit from today's low interest rate monetary climate, and Russ says its diversifying effects mean the metal can be a valuable risk management tool for investors.

Russ Ks Guide to Economic Indicators (Infographic)
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/24/12
Pundits like to throw around a lot of numbers when trying to predict the direction of the US economy. The most popular economic indicators, however, aren't necessarily the best. Russ K explains why the economic indicators you hear most often are overrated and identifies which indicators you should use instead.

The Bullish Case for Energy Stocks
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/22/12
Lower crude oil inventories and less spare capacity among OPEC oil producers are just two of many reasons why I continue to be bullish on energy and energy stocks over the long term. As I've been writing about for months, oil supply remains tight by historical standards. Among the reasons I gave in a post early this summer, I expect crude prices to rebound in the long term...

Groundhog Day: Will Septembers Sell-off Repeat?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/17/12
Investors might feel they are trapped in their own version of Groundhog Day this year as Russ K expects September, which has historically been the worst month of the year for capital markets, to once again fall victim to its well-documented negative seasonal bias.

Thinking about Treasuries? 2 Reasons to Think Again
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/13/12
The Fed will soon own more long-term Treasuries than the entire private sector. Russ explains the implications of this milestone for US long-dated debt and shows investors where to look for more attractive alternatives.

Global Telecom Stocks Lose Luster
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/10/12
As their prices have increased in recent months, global telecommunication stocks have started to lose some of their luster. Russ K explains why factors such as valuation and profitability have prompted him to change his view of the sector.

CASSH-ing In
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/8/12
Many of the large, developed markets, including the United States, are mired in excess debt and prolonged deleveraging. Russ believes that some of the smaller developed countries the ones he refers to as the CASSH countries -- are proving more resilient.

2012 Outlook: Signposts for the Second Half
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/5/12
Continued slow global growth or a recession? Russ offers some signs investors can watch for to help determine which scenario is likely to play out in 2012.

Mythbusting: How Elections Affect Markets
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/2/12
Elections do matter for the markets, but not necessarily for the reasons that investors tend to believe. Ahead of the next presidential election, Russ debunks some common myths surrounding markets and elections.

Whither Global Stocks? Be Sure to Track This Data
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 8/1/12
Sometimes, either weak economic numbers or strong economic numbers can point to a surge in US and global equities. This could be one of those weeks. Russ has his eye on two important economic reports that are being released this week, and he explains why weak data may be positive for global equities.

Days of Reckoning - The Potential Impact of the 2012 Elections on the Markets
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/26/12
Elections can, and often do, matter for markets, but not necessarily for the reasons investors tend to emphasize. For example, there is little historical evidence that markets perform better or worse depending on which party occupies the White House. There is also no concrete evidence that markets do better under divided government, a myth that seems to have taken hold thanks to the bull market of the 1990s.

After the Downgrade: German Stocks or Bonds?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/25/12
Amid rising uncertainty surrounding Europe, Moody's earlier this week lowered its outlook for Germany. Now, given the likelihood that Europe will continue to be a source of economic risk and investor angst, many investors are wondering whether they should stick with German assets. Should investors stick with German assets? Russ says the answer is yes on German stocks but no on the country's bonds.

US Utilities: Don't Overpay for Yield
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/25/12
As short-term interest rates remain at or close to zero, investors starved for income should be wary of overpaying for yield, particularly when it comes to US utilities. In the search for yield, Russ believes investors have pushed US utilities prices too high. His advice: Don't overpay for yield.

The Fiscal Cliff: 4 Reasons To Be Concerned
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/20/12
The bottom line: If were still stuck at an impasse come fall, investors should consider positioning their portfolios for a higher probability of a recession in 2013 by implementing five strategies that I outline below.

Global Slowdown: Preparing for a Recession
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/17/12
While Russ believes that the most likely scenario for the global economy in 2012 is continued slow growth, he explains what's behind the recent global slowdown and what investors may want to consider doing if it grows worse.

Chile at a Crossroads
by Russell E. Hoss of Euro Pacific Capital, 7/13/12
Chile's accession to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in 2010 was more than just a confirmation that they'd earned the right to join the world's top ranked economies. As the first South American country to be accepted into the OECD, it was also a symbolic affirmation of several decades worth of market-oriented reforms that transformed the country from an illiberal backwater to what is arguably one of Latin America's most stable and thriving nations. As a result, we feel that Chile qualifies as a good choice for international investment.

4 Reasons to Like China
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/12/12
The Chinese central bank last week announced its second surprise rate cut within a month. The action from the central bank was an acknowledgement that the worlds second largest economy is slowing. Despite Chinas economic slowdown, Russ continues to hold an overweight view of Chinese equities for four reasons.

Swimming with Black Swans: The Volatile Decade Ahead
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/10/12
So long smooth sailing. Russ Koesterich explains why he expects the rest of this decade to be characterized by more market volatility and why seemingly out-of-the-ordinary Black Swan events could become more frequent.

After the EU Summit a Host of Unresolved Questions
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 7/3/12
Last weeks European summit went better than it might have, according to Russ, but it fell far short of solving the regions structural issues. Here he outlines the big questions facing the European Union and why the regions crisis will drag on.

The Coming Oil Supply Gap
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/29/12
Prices at the gas pump are falling and slow global growth is expected to keep oil prices down in the near term. But Russ has a handy new chart showing why he expects crude prices to rebound in the longer term: global oil demand is likely to greatly outstrip supply by 2030.

The Rocky Road Ahead This Year
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/27/12
Back in February Russ warned that an eerie quiet had settled over the market and investors should prepare for an increase in volatility. Well, four months later that eerie quiet has lifted, and Russ outlines three reasons he expects the second half of this year to be much more volatile than the first.

Where in the World is Risk Today
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/26/12
With the sovereign debt crisis centered in the developed world, the traditional notion that all developed markets are less risky for investors than all emerging markets doesnt hold up anymore. Today, while developed markets certainly top the list of the least risky countries and vice versa for emerging markets, some developed markets are now just as risky as emerging markets. At the same time, some emerging countries are now just as safe as their developed market counterparts.

Dont Expect A Double Dip This Year
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/22/12
Renewed fears of a US double dip are making the rounds. While Russ gives four reasons why the United States is not likely to tip back into recession this year, he has a word of caution about a risk looming over 2013.

Not-So-Indian Summer: 5 Reasons to Underweight India
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/20/12
Russ elaborates on his underweight view of India with a BlackRock Investment Institute list of five things wrong with the Indian economy, and shares how investors can be positioning portfolios as a result.

After the Greek Vote, Now What?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/19/12
The relief rally Monday following Sundays Greek election was short lived. To be sure, the outcome of Sundays election is near-term good news for investors. A government led by the pro-bailout New Democracy is likely to follow more of the austerity program and to try, at least for now, to keep Greece in the euro. That said, there are two main reasons why markets arent continuing to celebrate the Greek vote.

Why Oil Prices Can Move Higher
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/12/12
With oil prices down roughly 25% from their 2012 peak, many investors are asking about the future direction of crude. In my opinion, while fears of a hard landing in China and overall weakness in global growth are likely to keep prices down in the near term, crude should rebound in the longer term for three reasons.

4 Reasons Europe is a Major Risk for US Stocks
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/4/12
Some investors have argued that events in Europe are having a disproportionate impact on US stocks. Their logic: the US is in the midst of a recovery, albeit a fairly anemic one, that is unlikely to be derailed by Europes travails. Its true that the US economy is doing much better than Europes, and especially southern Europes. But from my perspective, the trajectory of the US economy and the US stock market are very much tied to eurozone events. Here are four reasons why US investors should not underestimate the potential impact of events in Europe.

After Disappointing Jobs Data, Now What?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 6/4/12
Stocks tumbled Friday after particularly disappointing May jobs data. Russ provides his take on what the report means for the US economy and stocks going forward. First, the implications for the economy: As jobs numbers tend to lag broader economic activity, the report doesnt in itself suggest that the United States is slipping back into recession. In addition, its worth calling out that according to the new data, the United States created only 69,000 net new jobs in May, less than half of what economists were expecting and the slowest rate of net new job creation in a year.

The Eurozone Crisis: 4 Developments to Watch
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 5/31/12
With the future of Greece and the eurozone still so uncertain, many investors are asking how they might predict what the most likely outcome is. While I dont have a crystal ball, in addition to paying attention to eight pivotal eurozone events happening from now until July, Im also watching for four critical developments in the run-up to the second Greece election on June 17. Heres my watch list.
Results 651–700 of 833 found.