China stock market

With the markets off their recent highs and volatility picking up, investors have to ask: Is this just a brief dip in the uptrend, or a more ominous change of trend? Many analysts are emphasizing the bullish case, based on the gathering global economic recovery. But some of the key indicators suggest a different story.

The U.S. stock markets had a dismal decade while many emerging economies delivered blockbuster growth. That's prompting investors in the developed world to grapple with how to take advantage of the explosive growth abroad -- without getting burned.