Forbes: What The Great Economist Galbraith Can Teach Us About Etiquette

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Despite the reputation of some economists, it is still possible to learn things from them and not just about economics.

A case in point is a recently published book of letters from legendary economist J.K. Galbraith, who clearly had a lot to say. The book, The Selected Letters of John Kenneth Galbraith, edited by Richard Holt, runs just over 700 pages. Still, it's worth flicking through for some nuggets of wisdom.

Read more here.

Barron's: Iron-Ore Prices Will Fall Further

By SIMON CONSTABLE

iron-ore prices look set to tumble. as with many commodities, the issue comes down to China, where the economy is likely to slow down, thus reducing demand for a key component in the manufacture of steel. At the same time, ore inventories are climbing. Read more here.

U.S. News: Subprime Loans Are Haunting Investors and Auto Stocks

By Simon Constable

Just when you thought the economy is safe again, the ghost of subprime loans is back. This time it's haunting the auto industry and doesn't bode well for automotive stocks. In fact, the problem is beginning to hurt car companies in myriad ways, including fewer sales.

Subprime refers to riskier loans made to borrowers with a less-than-pristine credit history. The loans, you may recall, had a hand in the global financial crisis. In the years leading up to 2008, banks made many subprime loans to home buyers. The result was the banking industry's overexposure to risky loans and the painful paying of the piper that followed. When the housing market bubble popped and borrowers defaulted, banks – and ultimately taxpayers – were on the hook for the money, and the world economy became mired in a credit crisis. Read more here.

U.S. News: What Britain's Election Means for Investors

By Simon Constable

A surprising result in last week's U.K. election, which left no party with a majority in Parliament, holds possibilities for savvy investors willing to navigate a tumultuous market.

The election "takes an uncertain situation and throws it up in the air," says Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank in Chicago. Read more here.

Britain's Houses of Parliament

Photo by Mark Stuckey on Unsplash

U.S. News: Why You Should Buy Converts Now

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The time is ripe for investing in convertible bonds.

You may not have heard of them before, but these hybrid securities can help protect your wealth if interest rates rise or stock prices fall. Convertible bonds are fixed-income securities that can be converted into the stock of the company that issued the bond.

"They can make a lot of sense for investors who want to see some stock market upside but also want to receive a regular interest coupon payment," says Brad McMillan, chief investment officer for Commonwealth Financial Network. Read more here.

U.S. News: The Case for Treasury Bonds

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It's easy to dismiss owning U.S. Treasury bonds as a waste of time, but they play an important role in a portfolio.

Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds have been falling for decades. In July 1981, Treasury yields were more than 15 percent but have since dropped, paying just 2.3 percent recently. The falling yields led many to falsely predict the end of the bond market rally. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions, so falling yields mean higher bond prices. Read more here.

WSJ: How to Invest When Some Asset Classes Look Expensive

By SIMON CONSTABLE
By some time-tested metrics based on corporate earnings, the U.S. stock market is overvalued. The S&P 500 index, Nasdaq and the Dow Jones Industrial Average all set fresh highs on Friday.
Read more here.