Stocks

You%u2019ve heard it so often you can probably repeat it in your sleep: Equities are the best protection against inflation. But academic research establishes clearly that it just isn't so: Stocks aren't a good hedge against inflation at all, particularly high inflation.

Is the U.S. tax code designed to be confusing? At more than 70,000 pages, its complexity is hard to overstate. But forget its size: Even in its most basic terms, the IRS seems determined to muddy the waters. To help you out, we've unpacked a few of the most weaselly weasel words.

When it comes to Social Security's woes, the potential cures discussed the most are unpleasant: Raise the retirement age, reduce payments, or raise the tax rate. Fortunately, those aren't the only options.

For the first time in several decades, the 30-year annualized returns of Treasury bonds surpassed the dividend adjusted gains of the S&P 500 in 2011. Take a picture if you want -- because this won't last.

Who says volatility is all bad? The fearfully stumbling stock market means that some excellent stocks are trading at or near fire sale prices. For investors with the patience to wait for the right moment, here are eight companies to keep an eye on -- or to snap up right now.

The U.S. stock market's recent gyrations have many investors ready to look overseas for better returns. But it's a complicated world out there, which is why many less-experienced investors are still sitting on the global sidelines. Here's what you need to know make investing in emerging markets a little less scary.

Rafi Mohammed, author of The Art of Pricing, says Coca-Cola is selling itself short. Some of its beverages, such as Coke Zero, could be priced higher, potentially raising the company's margin and profit. But in the Cola Wars, could higher prices cause a customer retreat?

Folks have been writing off Sirius XM Radio for years. Competitor Pandora is flashier, and has been growing faster than its peers. But it's also been losing money, while the far-less-expensive Sirius is making a profit. Here's why investors should swap Pandora shares for Sirius.

If you haven't had enough of roller coasters after the ups and downs of the stock market this month, you might consider adding an amusement-park operator to your portfolio. Between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, which stock has the potential to deliver the smoothest ride for investors?

With all the ups and downs in the stock market in the last week, it's not surprising that some investors have panicked. But we've also found examples of investors who have kept calm. Here are some of their secrets.