Fed's Yellen: Inflation decline to be bumpy ride

(Reuters) - Risks remain skewed toward higher prices, especially
because of the possibility of wage inflation, meaning an
"asymmetric policy tilt" is appropriate for now, Yellen said.




However, talking to reporters after a speech to a business
leaders group, Yellen said that, among a range of employment
indicators tracked by the Fed, only the jobless rate was really
"flashing" signs of tightness in the labor market.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Richemont sees growing risks in luxury goods - FT

(Reuters) - Risks seem to be growing for the long-buoyant luxury goods sector, though demand from emerging markets remains robust so far, Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert said in an interview with the Financial Times published on Monday.

Rupert, whose Swiss company owns 16 luxury brands including Cartier watches, Piaget jewellery and Montblanc pens, said he believed a conservative strategy was best to navigate a possible cooling of the red-hot market for high-end accessories.


Read more at Reuters Africa

World economy doing fine, say G8 powers

(Reuters) - "Global growth remains robust and it is more balanced across regions and within our countries," said a communique published at the end of a two-day meeting at a lakeside hotel near Berlin.




"Risks for the outlook have abated, but high and volatile energy prices remain a concern and we will remain vigilant."


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Gold beaten down by stock market falls

Gold dropped to a one-week low on Wednesday as falling stock markets stoked fears about another global flight from risk, while industrial metals were supported by tight supply and oil markets awaited key U.S data.

Gold, traditionally seen as a safe investment in times of economic uncertainty, was hit by the Asia-led market plunge of early March, and took another knock after fears about U.S. banks' exposure to risky borrowers triggered sharp falls on bourses across the world.

Read more at Reuters South Africa

Oil drops below $60/barrel

Oil prices dropped sharply on Monday, losing nearly $2 a barrel, in a market driven by stock market declines and concerns about the world economy.

"There's a general sort of recoil from risk in the market," said Tobin Gorey, a commodity strategist with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney.

Read more at FIN24.co.za

Go International With Foreign Index Funds

International markets, through their index funds, offer excellent investment opportunities with parallel risks. Investors can gain appropriate exposure to these opportunities while mitigating the risks through several viable investment options.

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Creating The Modern Fixed-Income Portfolio

Fixed-income investing often takes a backseat in our thoughts to the fast-paced stock market, with its daily action and promises of superior returns, but if you're a retired investor, or are approaching retirement, fixed-income investing must move into the driver's seat. At this stage, preservation of capital with a guaranteed income stream becomes the most important goal. In today's ultra-low interest-rate world, fixed-income investing has become much more complex, and gone are the days where one could invest in U.S. Treasuries at 8%, sit back, and let the income roll in.

Today, investors need to mix things up and get exposure to different asset classes to keep their portfolio incomes high, reduce risk and stay ahead of inflation. Even the great Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, suggested a portfolio mix of stocks and bonds for later-stage investors. If he were alive today, he would probably sing the same tune, especially since the advent of new and diverse products and strategies for income-seeking investors. In this article, we'll lay down the road map for creating a modern fixed-income portfolio.

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The New World Of Emerging Market Currencies

In the shadow of more industrialized economies, interest in emerging market assets has increased in recent years. Although these assets tend to be somewhat volatile, the return is often worth the risk, as emerging market funds have produced higher percentages of wealth than benchmark rates.

Read Full Article at investopedia.com