Most Wall Street experts are far better equipped to analyze a corporate risk over a political threat. But today, it's political unrest in the Middle East and beyond that's driving world markets. So we asked Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy The Eurasia Group, to break down the major developments and what investors should expect.
Two years after the markets hit bottom on March 9, 2009, stock prices have rebounded significantly. But will the bull market keep rolling, or is a bear around the corner? Truth is, there's just as much uncertainty now as there was then.
Sky-high oil and gas prices risk tipping the U.S. economy back into recession. But Washington isn't powerless when it comes to oil prices: Here are five things that the federal and state governments can do that would quickly reduce pain at the pump.
Skyrocketing prices don't have to bring only pain. Investors can also find some relief with investments that can benefit from oil's recent -- and likely future -- increases. Here are some ETFs and mutual funds worth considering, based on performance, risk and cost.
Increasing violence in Libya caused oil prices to rise and stocks to fall 80 points to close at 12,090 on Monday. It didn't help that a Wells Fargo analyst also downgraded the semiconductor industry, sending shares of Intel down by 1.6%.
Recent market sell-offs may have been more about paranoia than about real risk. JPMorgan calculations indicate that the potential impact of rising oil prices on the economy may be less than most investors think. But the fear factor itself also can't be overlooked.
Markets in Asia reacted to a surge in the price of oil, which crossed the $106 per barrel today. In Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index dipped 0.4% and in Japan the Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1.8%. Meanwhile, China's Shanghai Composite Index surged 1.8%.
A gallon of regular gas climbed to $3.503 on Sunday -- nearly 38 cents higher than a month ago and up 15 cents in a week, renewing talk of a double-dip recession.
Last week, oil's ascent trumped a raft of healthy U.S. economic reports. With a relatively light slate of economic data scheduled this week, oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East could play an even larger role in the trading sessions ahead. [Video]
And that means it may be time for owners of gas-thirsty SUVs and cars to start considering the switch so many Americans are loath to make: to a far more fuel-efficient vehicle. Looking out over the next several years, it's hard to see oil -- and gasoline -- falling back to earlier lows.
During a volatile week, stocks bounced between Mideast turmoil and generally strong economic reports. Even with the jobless rate's surprising drop, equities ended on a down note. Still, stocks eked out a tiny overall gain on the week. [Video]
As the crisis in Libya continues to shake world oil markets, many voices are calling for President Obama to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. With gasoline prices up 33 cents a gallon in the last month, that's a tempting idea. It's also the wrong one.
If you look past the calamitous Libyan mess, there's plenty of cause for optimism at home. And investors with a longer-term view of the markets should consider the ongoing uncertainty stemming from the Middle East as a potential entry point for buying stocks.
One would think that with the Mideast crisis, oil prices skyrocketing and U.S. manufacturing rebounding smartly, the buck would be flying high. But no. Why that's so may lie in international perceptions about where interest rates are heading.
Can you profit from the turmoil in the Middle East? Oil is now flirting around $100 a barrel and gold is continuing its upward trend. For investors, this could present an opportunity in oil and gold stocks. Here is the bull and bear take on three stocks that could rise on Mideast unrest.