Hosni Mubarak

Days after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, some investing experts pronounced the country's woes a buying opportunity. A cash stampede into U.S.-based Japan exchange-traded funds followed. But these investments carry greater risks than the average Joe probably realizes.

Investors sure have plenty of worries these days. But here's a key point to keep in mind: While higher energy prices will restrain overall global growth, they could hurt emerging markets far worse than the U.S. -- and that difference could help boost demand for domestic stocks.

In the long run, the changes being demanded in the Mideast may prove to be a cornerstone of further global economic growth and political stability. More immediately, though, the uprisings are likely to create exactly the type of uncertainty that investors dread.

Hosni Mubarak resigned as Egyptian president today and handed control to the military, driven from the top after 30 years of rule.

While much of the attention has focused on Mubarak's dictatorship, most Americans don't realize that -- before the recent political turmoil -- he'd actually been winning international kudos for his handling of the economy.

With protesters swarming the streets of Egypt, its stock market has taken a hit. But discount the doomsday scenarios. The sell-off could provide a good entry point for investors with the stomach to endure until things turn around, which seems more likely than most now expect.

With an oversupply of oil on the market and OPEC afraid that higher prices will impair the U.S. recovery and sap demand, the fundamentals point to an oil price drop in the near term. Yes, markets move on emotion, and fears about unrest in Egypt have reversed that downward price trend, but the drop is probably coming.