Long-Term Investing Revisited

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REIT's Rise Isn't Over

Top-performing real-estate fund managers at Neuberger Berman say 2011 should be another good year for commercial real estate.

Brian Jones and Steve Shigekawa grew up on opposite coasts, but they share the same view of the country's commercial real-estate market: It's headed higher.

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Stocks Still Rule

"When it comes to growing your wealth, the stock market isn't just your best option. It's the only game in town," Jim Cramer told the viewers of his Mad Money TV show Thursday, as he tried to get investors to once again fall in love with the market.

Cramer said he understands many investors' disenchantment with the markets, especially after the financial crisis of 2008, when even the good stocks got pummeled. But for those considering parking their life savings in U.S. Treasury Bonds, Cramer said to think twice.

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10 Good Reasons To Be Worried About The Stock Market In 2011

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Stocks, oil rise in festive cheer

By By Natsuko Waki

PARIS (Reuters) - World stocks held near the previous day's two-year high on Friday while oil hit fresh two-year peaks after strong U.S. data this week encouraged investors to maintain their risk positions into 2011.

Thursday's U.S. data showing that demand for a range of long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods surged in November and consumer spending rose for a fifth straight month reinforced expectations for strong economic growth in the fourth quarter.

"We've had a good run, helped by quantitative easing and better economic data," said Bernard McAlinden, investment strategist at NCB Stockbrokers in Dublin. "We've broken out of ranges, and it can go higher in 2011."

The MSCI world equity index edged higher to just below Thursday's peak, which was its highest since September 2008, set just before the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

The index is up 9.6 percent this year.

Fund tracker EPFR said investor focus shifted from bonds to equities in the final weeks of 2010, with equity funds globally taking in a net $4.5 billion for the week ending December 22. Bond funds saw redemptions totaling $2.3 billion.

The Thomson Reuters global stock index dipped slightly, but the FTSEurofirst 300 index rose about 0.1 percent.

Ratings agency Fitch downgraded Portugal on Thursday, citing burgeoning debt levels and a tough financing environment, a move analysts said was largely expected by investors.

The downgrade puts Fitch's rating for Portugal on a par with Moody's A1 rating, but still two notches above that of Standard and Poor's A-minus.

Trading was very light, with markets closed in Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Hungary, and Iceland. U.S. markets were also closed to observe the Christmas holiday.

Emerging market stocks fell slightly.

U.S. crude oil rose more than 1 percent to $91.41 a barrel as unusually cold weather fueled demand and depleted supplies.

Snow and more frigid temperatures were predicted in parts of Europe over the weekend, threatening to prolong chaos at airlines and rail networks and further boost fuel demand.

The bund future fell 32 ticks.

The U.S. dollar fell less than 0.1 percent against a basket of major currencies, while the euro was mostly unchanged at $1.3114.

Stock Market:Looking Forward to Next Week!

If you're a bull, you have to love this market. Stocks are up pretty nicely with just nine trading days left in the year.

The next week is a short week because of the Christmas holiday. The week after will be a full week of trading, but volume will be low because Wall Street players will head to the vocation.

There are some economic reports to monitor. All of them come on Wednesday or Thursday. And key reports are due on the economy, home sales and consumer confidence.

There aren't many earnings reports, Including Adobe, Darden Restaurants, Nike and Bed, Bath & Beyond report results.

There are downsides to consider, starting with the national unemployment rate at 9.8%. 

The price of oil is just below $90 a barrel. The average price of gasoline is near $3 a gallon; a big move above that level will have psychological effects that could hurt the travel, airline and, of course, auto industries.

Interest rates bottomed in October but are higher, and the housing business is dicey. Foreclosures are expected to accelerate next year.

And there is Europe and its debt problems. 

Stock Market:Looking Forward to Next Week!

Next week, there are important economic reports and events coming up, including a Federal Reserve meeting and an important tax vote, plus earnings reports from the likes of BBY, HOV, FDX, GIS, ORCL and RIMM .

And this will be the last full week of trading before we get into the holiday season.

The results between now and New Year's may hint at what may happen in 2011.

The economic events start in a big way on Tuesday.

The big kahuna will be the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates and monetary policy, due at 2:15 p.m. ET. The Fed has been highly criticized by China, Germany and other exporting countries because they fear the central bank's plan to buy in $600 billion in bonds by June will push the dollar lower, hurt their markets and cause inflation.

What the Fed will probably say is that it will complete the plan. It won't change interest rates. It will suggest that the economic recovery is proceeding, but joblessness remains a national crisis.

Due Next Week:

Retail sales for November, due Tuesday from the Commerce Department.

Producer Price Index for November, due Tuesday from the Labor Department.

Consumer Price Index for November, due Wednesday from the Labor Department.

Industrial production for November, due Wednesday from the Commerce Department.

Empire Manufacturing Survey and Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's manufacturing index. Both for December. The first is due Wednesday from the New York Federal Reserve Bank; the latter comes Thursday.

Initial jobless claims, due Thursday from the Labor Department.

Housing starts, due Thursday from the Commerce Department. 

15 Charts You Must See Before Buying A House

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