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After Last Week's US Rally: Proceed with Caution
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 3/12/13
While last week's rally was supported by better-than-expected economic data and improving investor sentiment, the magnitude of US stocks' advance is starting to cause some indicators to flash yellow. Russ explains.

After the Dow Record Close: What Comes Next?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 3/7/13
After Tuesday's record setting Dow Industrials close, are US stocks still cheap? Can the market move higher? Russ answers these questions and more.

The Sequester: A Second Quarter Worry
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 3/5/13
Now that March 1 has come and gone, what will the sequester mean for the US economy and markets? Maybe not much in the near term, but Russ explains why the second quarter will be a different story.

3 Reasons Market Volatility Has Returned
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 3/1/13
In the last week, stocks have pulled back and volatility has once again spiked. Russ outlines the 3 factors that hindered the rally and explains the implications for investors.

Market Gains Will be Tougher to Come By
by Russ Koesterich of BlackRock, 2/25/13
Markets saw a return to more volatile conditions last weeka trend that is likely to continue. The sequester is likely to contribute to an increased fiscal drag in the first half of the year. Nevertheless, stocks have the potential for increased gains, although the road ahead will be bumpier.

The 4 New Defensive Strategies
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/22/13
Waiting for a market correction? Wondering how to potentially protect your gains? Forget merely opting for traditional defensive sectors. Instead, consider Russ' four suggestions.

Two New Country Views for a Two-Speed Global Economy
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/20/13
The global economy is stuck in a two-speed regime: Developed markets like Europe, Japan and the United States are stalling, while China is re-accelerating. Russ explains what this divergent growth landscape means for his country outlooks.

All is Not Well Down Under
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/19/13
Though Russ continues to like Australian equities for the longer term, he explains why he may downgrade his near-term view of the Australian market soon.

All is Not Well Down Under
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/15/13
Though Russ continues to like Australian equities for the longer term, he explains why he may downgrade his near-term view of the Australian market soon.

January Retail Sales: Why Stocks May Be Vulnerable
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/13/13
When the Commerce Department releases the headline January retail sales number on Wednesday, economists expect to see a big drop from December. Russ explains why the number could come in even lower and the implications for investors.

When to Worry About Inflation
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/11/13
Though the Fed continues to flood the US economy with money, Russ explains why inflation isn't likely to be a problem until 2014 and what investors can do in the meantime to prepare.

Overcoming 3 Bad Investing Behaviors
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/8/13
Do you avoid the stock market? Shun diversification? Trade inefficiently? Russ and guest blogger Nelli Oster an investment strategist on Russ' team examine three common bad behaviors among investors and provide tips for potentially mitigating their impact.

2 Major Threats Facing the US Economy
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 2/1/13
While markets cheered the House of Representatives' recent vote to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling, the US economy isn't out of the woods yet. Russ highlights the two major risks it still faces.

A Look Back at My 2012 Calls
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/31/13
It's time again for Russ K's annual look back at the investment calls he made in 2012. Find out what he got right and the couple of things he got wrong.

The Case for Japan with a Caveat
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/25/13
While Im optimistic that Japanese stocks can move higher in coming months, Id advocate investing in them only if dollar-based investors have the flexibility to hedge the currency effect of a weaker yen (more on that below). So with that caveat out of the way, here are four reasons why I think Japanese stocks can move higher in the near term.

Economic Backdrop Supports Stocks, Credit Sectors and Munis
by Russ Koesterich of BlackRock, 1/23/13
Thanks to solid earnings, some decent (if mixed) economic news and indications that the debt ceiling debate may be delayed slightly, stocks posted additional gains last week, continuing their strong start to 2013. For the week, the Dow Jones industrial average climbed 1.2% to 13,649, the S&P 500 index advanced 1.0% to 1,485 and the NASDAQ composite rose 0.3% to 3,134. Bonds have remained relatively steady, with the 10-year Us treasury closing the week at a yield of 1.84%, two one-hundredths lower than the previous Friday close.

Consumer Staples: Don't Overpay for Safety
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/22/13
Many investors have flocked to the perceived safety of defensive sectors over the past few years, including consumer staples. But Russ gives three reasons they might want to think twice about the sector now.

Is the US Consumer Back?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/17/13
Some market watchers are interpreting Tuesday's better-than-expected US retail sales report as a sign that the US consumer is coming back. But as Russ explains, a closer look at the numbers shows this much heralded return is likely to be delayed a bit longer.

3 Reasons the Stock Market Rally Could Falter
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/16/13
Enjoy the US stock market rally while it lasts. Russ Koesterich has three reasons why investors should remain cautious in the near term.

2 Reasons to Stick With Emerging Markets
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/11/13
Think emerging markets equities have run their course? Not so fast despite recent strong performance, Russ explains why there's room for further EM gains in 2013.

3 Key Dates to Watch After the Fiscal Cliff Deal
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/8/13
After last week's partial deal, Russ explains when investors should expect more market volatility and another round of late-night drama from Washington.

Early 2013 Looks to Feature Slow Growth and Ongoing Fiscal Drama
by Russ Koesterich of BlackRock, 1/8/13
Stock markets started 2013 off with a bang, as investors expressed relief over the down-to-the-wire agreement on the fiscal cliff that came on January 1. For the week, the Dow Jones industrial average jumped 3.8% to 13,435, the S&P 500 index rose 4.6% to 1,466 and the Nasdaq composite advanced 4.8% to 3,101. Although the deal reached last week was good news for the markets, Washington's fiscal soap opera is far from over. Although the deal reached last week was good news for the markets, Washingtons fiscal soap opera is far from over.

Outlook 2013: Fiscal Cliff Remains Unresolved, but Opportunities Still Exist
by Russ Koesterich of BlackRock, 1/3/13
As we look ahead to 2013, it is impossible to make any sort of forecast without first turning our attention to the still-unresolved fiscal cliff debate. We have long said that unless we were to see significant movement on the issues of tax rates and entitlement spending, the most likely outcome would be some sort of bare-bones deal. At the time of this writing, congress and the President were still negotiating, but our analysis suggests that such a bare-bones resolution remains the most probable result, even if it does not come before the January 1 deadline.

5 Investment Ideas for a Post-Fiscal Cliff Deal World
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/3/13
As discussed in previous posts, Congress kicked off the New Year with a bare bones deal to avert (or at least delay) the fiscal cliff. Though markets responded positively to the news Wednesday morning, the euphoria isn't likely to last.

Deal or No Deal? Assessing a Bare Bones Fiscal Plan
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 1/2/13
A grand bargain in fiscal cliff negotiations remains elusive, but a bare bones deal seems likely. Russ K explains what that means for the economy and investors.

With German Growth Slowing, Time to Take Some Profits?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 12/19/12
Overweighting Germany has made a great deal of sense this year, but now Russ gives 3 reasons why it may be time to take some profit and revert to a neutral position.

Fiscal Cliff Deadlines Draw Near
by Russ Koesterich of BlackRock, 12/17/12
In addition to the seemingly never-ending focus on the fiscal cliff, markets turned their attention to last week's Federal reserve meeting and the corresponding announcement of the central bank's continuation of its bond-purchase program. Following a very brief rally after the announcement, however, stock prices fell and ended the week marginally lower. For the week, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 0.2% to 13,135, the S&P 500 index fell 0.3% to 1,413 and the NASDAQ composite dropped 0.2% to 2,971.

The Cost of Viewing the US as a Safe Haven
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 12/15/12
Since exiting the recession in mid-2009, US stocks have significantly outperformed international markets. But can the United States still be viewed as a safe port in a storm? Russ K explains why it might be time for investors to consider raising their allocation to international stocks.

3 Potential Scenarios for 2013
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 12/13/12
Despite getting lucky in 2012, many of the major risks that economies and markets faced this year remain. With the current environment in mind, Russ K shares his 3 potential scenarios for 2013 along with potential investment strategies for each.

Jobs Growth, Cliff Negotiations Continue Slow Pace
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 12/12/12
As Russ K has said in the past, the danger posed by the fiscal cliff is not solely whether we go over the side or not it also matters what shape our economy is in before the plunge. Last week's jobs report may have seemed like good news for the latter, but unfortunately a closer look at the numbers revealed a mixed bag.

3 Implications of a Fiscal Cliff Tax Hike
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 12/7/12
From the outside, its hard to find much evidence that Washington is getting closer to a fiscal cliff deal. Perhaps there is more going on behind the scenes than the headlines suggest, but as of today it is hard to find much evidence that the odds of a deal have risen. As the potential for fiscal drag rises, it is worth reiterating why this is so dangerous. From my perspective, the biggest risk to the economy, and to financial markets, comes from the tax side of the equation.

Waiting for Signs on the Fiscal Cliff and From the Fed
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 12/5/12
Investors are stuck between a rock and a hard place: Theyre trying to plan for the end of 2012, while also looking ahead to 2013. Its being reflected in the questions Im getting from clients right now, who are worried both about the fiscal cliff and the outlook for interest rates in 2013. As we saw last week, the markets are focused on every utterance out of Washington on the fiscal cliff. For better or worse, this is unlikely to change until we have a deal. And in terms of getting to one, the truth is we did not see much progress last week.

3 Reasons to Hold Off on Holiday Sales Celebrations
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/30/12
Is the US consumer saying goodbye to the Great Recession and hello to a heady holiday season? Initial holiday sales results may paint a rosy picture, but Russ K explains why investors shouldn't be prematurely uncorking the New Year's champagne.

The Calm Before the Storm?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/26/12
Between the US Thanksgiving holiday and a recessed Congress, there was not much news to drive the markets last week. Russ K expects that to change this week, and he explains why, in the face of potentially higher market volatility, he favors municipal bonds.

Two Portfolios Moves to Consider As Fiscal Cliff Looms
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/22/12
As fiscal-cliff gridlock reigns in Washington, Russ K has two portfolio moves to consider: going neutral on industrials and overweighting global technology stocks.

Favoring France: The Newest Bright Spot in Europe
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/20/12
Europe may be stabilizing, but it's not out of the woods yet. One bright spot on the continent? France. Russ explains why he would now overweight the country's equities.

4 Reasons Not to Taiwan On
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/19/12
Russ K shares four reasons hes downgrading his view of Taiwan from overweight to neutral and shares potential single country solutions he prefers instead.

3 Reasons Not to Flee Dividend Stocks
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/15/12
As the fiscal cliff approaches, investors are becoming wary of dividend stocks, unsettled by the potential for a near tripling of the tax on dividends. But Russ K explains why he remains comfortable with dividend paying stocks with one major exception.

Seeking Shelter from the Storm? Consider Mega Caps
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/13/12
Russ Koesterich discusses how mega cap stocks are attractively valued and may be more resilient to the impact of the potential fiscal cliff.

What If US Economic Growth Is Over?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/12/12
A new research paper argues that investors may be grossly overestimating how fast the United States is likely to expand in the coming decades. Could this be the case? Russ K weighs in.

What If US Economic Growth Is Over?
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/9/12
A new research paper argues that investors may be grossly overestimating how fast the United States is likely to expand in the coming decades. Could this be the case?

With the Election Over, Get Ready for the Fiscal Cliff
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog, 11/9/12
Russ Koesterich discusses how the close election could translate into more gridlock on the fiscal cliff, as well as longer-term tax and entitlement reforms.

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.
Results 601–650 of 825 found.