U.S. News: 8 Reasons to Get a Side Gig Now

By SIMON CONSTABLE

If you have a full-time job right now, congratulations. The economy is certainly better than it was a few years ago. But now is the time to get a side gig as well.

"The main reason is because there is so little job security today," says Kimberly Palmer, author of "The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life." 

"If you were to suddenly lose your job, then you have something to fall back on," Palmer says.

Even with the economy in better shape than a few years ago, there are still major firings. U.S. companies announced mass layoffs totaling nearly 527,000 last year, according to a report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which tracks the data. Read more here.

TheStreet: Why India's War on Cash Is a Warning to the U.S.

By SIMON CONSTABLE

India's economy crumbled in just weeks, all because of a misguided war on cash. This should be a lesson to anyone pushing for a cashless society.

While Americans were going to the polls on Nov. 8, India's Prime Minister Modi made an announcement that all existing large-denomination bills would need to be deposited in banks in exchange for new bills. The bills in question accounted for almost all the cash in the economy.

The request was startling. The result: India's economy ground to a halt. Read more here.

WSJ: What Is Rate ‘Normalization’ and Why Does It Matter?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Increasingly we are hearing market professionals talk about “normalization.” Usually, they are referring to interest rates on government securities, which have been anything but normal over the past few years.

Read more here.

WSJ: ETFs vs. ETNs-- You Better Know the Difference in Risk

By SIMON CONSTABLE

When it comes to investment products, sometimes a slight difference in a name means a lot of difference in risk.

A case in point: The difference between an exchange-traded fund and an exchange-traded note.
“ETFs and ETNs are as different as a dog and a cat,” says Steve Hanke, professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University. “And if you get a bad ETN, then it could be a dog.” Read more here.

Anthony Haden-Guest at the Overthrow

By SIMON CONSTABLE

We've done black & white movies, now silent movies. The legendary Anthony Haden-Guest goes in the ring.

Forbes Video: Why This Bull Market Goes Out With A Bang!

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Forbes Video: Latin America-- Submerging Market Or Emerging Market?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It wasn't so long ago that Latin America was an engine of economic growth, selling materials and foodstuffs across the oceans, most notably to Asia. Then China's economy slowed down, so the demand for the resources like iron ore and coal shrank. Then the U.S. dollar rallied and capital fled emerging markets for the U.S.

Unfortunately, the prospects for a return to fast growth are dim, at least for the foreseeable future. Dr. Win Thin, global head of emerging markets at Brown Brothers Harriman, explains why in this video.