This year through March 21, stocks were up 9% in France, 15% in Germany, and 18% in Hong Kong. In the U.S. stocks were down 3%. A little international diversification might be a good idea, especially with U.S. stocks currently on the expensive side. Yet many American investors have 100% of their portfolios in U.S.-based companies. If you want a few international stocks in your portfolio, here are five that I think are worthy of consideration. Hannover Rueck In Germany, I like Hannover Rueck SE (HVRRY) a reinsurance company (an insurer to insurers) based in Hannover. It gets about 18%…

When C-level types lay down five, six, even seven figures to scoop up shares, we listen (especially when we’re looking at high-yield dividend stocks!). After all, there is only one reason why executives buy their own stock. They believe the price is going up. Insider buying is a great cue. But it is important for us to understand what “signal” buys look like. Many executives have automatic buying programs, so like clockwork, we’ll see them snap up a few thousand shares at, say, the start of every quarter. So what we really care about are sudden acquisitions across one or…

Losing a spouse is deeply challenging, especially for those not used to managing finances. We discuss with H. Jude Boudreaux, senior financial planner at The Planning Center based in New Orleans, the initial steps that can help ease the fear and confusion during this difficult time. Larry Light: From your experience, what are the biggest financial challenges that new widows encounter after losing a spouse? H. Jude Boudreaux: The emotional toll of losing a spouse is overwhelming, and that alone makes handling financial tasks incredibly difficult. Many widows have never managed household finances before, and suddenly they’re responsible for everything—from…

Investors are grappling with unprecedented uncertainty due to inflation fears, slowing growth, and global trade tensions. Similar anxiety is spreading through the diamond industry for a different reason: the rise of lab-grown diamonds. This disruptive technology has generated panic for some but opportunities for others. Lab-grown diamonds have quickly gained mainstream acceptance, mainly due to changing perceptions. Chemically identical to mined diamonds, they sell for just 10% of the price. Regardless of one’s opinion on authenticity, lab-grown diamonds are transforming the industry, and anybody considering buying or selling a diamond should pay attention. Evolution In Lab Diamond Pricing Ten years…

The market pullback we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks really hasn’t come as a surprise to me. The economy is sending what you could—at best—call mixed signals right now. And stocks, as they do in uncertain times, are reacting. I expect more volatility ahead, so today we’re going to talk about ways to protect ourselves while maintaining the 8%+ dividend streams we’re drawing from our favorite closed-end funds (CEFs). (Read: We’re not going to cash here.) Instead we’re going to focus on a strategy that’s been around as long as investing itself—diversification—by putting a bit more weight on…

The next interest rate cut will most likely come in June according to fixed income markets. The Federal Open Market Committee has held interest rates steady at meetings in January and March. The pause in interest rate cuts has primarily been due to waiting for further progress on disinflation at a time when the job market appears robust. However, economic uncertainty has risen, clouding the outlook for monetary policy. Two Cuts Expected By Policymakers In 2025 The FOMC sees elevated uncertainty in the economic outlook. Policymaker forecasts imply an average of two cuts in 2025, as updated on March 19.…

Volkswagen’s profit-making prospects are on the mend and there’s a grudging positivity among investors who have lived through a few false dawns over the years. Moody’s Ratings has been doing its more conservative sums since VW announced its results for 2024 earlier in March and it’s a mixed verdict. Moody’s downgraded a long-term issue, affirmed a short-term one and changed the outlook to stable from negative. VW expects its operating profit margin to increase to between 5.5% and 6.5% in 2025 compared with 5.9% in 2024. Sales will rise by up to 5%. In 2024, VW sales revenue rose 0.7%…

On March 19, 2025, the Federal Reserve opted to keep its target for the Federal Funds rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.50%. The FOMC Statement began… Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. The unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid. Inflation remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both…

When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stepped up to the podium during the FOMC’s March meeting, he delivered a line that captured the moment: “I don’t know anyone who is confident of their forecast.” It’s a rare admission from the Fed chief, and it perfectly reflects the seismic shift rocking the financial world. Just two months into President Donald Trump’s second term, investor focus has swung dramatically from the Fed’s playbook to the whirlwind of government policy coming out of Washington. For years, the Fed was the North Star for markets—every rate tweak or hint of tightening sent Wall Street…

Week in Review Asian equities were mixed for the week as the US recession fears gripped the region. India and Korea outperformed with gains, while Hong Kong and Indonesia underperformed. The Central Committee and State Council released an “Action Plan for Boosting Consumption” on Monday, which includes support for both real estate and stocks. Industrial production and retail sales data for the first two months of the year, released this week, indicated stronger-than-expected year-over-year growth, likely delaying rate cuts from China’s central bank. Tencent, Meituan, and PDD all reported earnings this week. Tencent and Meituan beat expectations, while PDD missed…