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Investors are staying away from the shares of big drug companies since they are worried about patent expirations and the lack of new drugs in development. However, the pessimism seems overdone and some companies can even see its shares rise 30%.

A list of the 30 most respected chief executive officers is presented. These CEOs took advantage of the economic downturn to strengthen their companies.

Treasury securities are now in a bear market and these securities are unappealing because they have very low yields and the government is issuing huge amounts of debt to fund record budget deficits. Municipal bond (munis) markets have yields of 4.5 percent while top grade 30-year munis carried double the yields of their Treasury counterparts.

The annual list of the 30 Most Respected CEOs from around the world includes Jeff Bezos, Chase Carey, Jamie Dimon, Jose Sergio Gabrielli, and Howard Levine. These CEOs are doing an outstanding job of keeping their companies out of trouble and positioning these companies to thrive when conditions improve. A profile of the thirty CEOs is presented.

Private-equity firms are experiencing a crisis as buyout deal volumes and profits decline. The combined effects of the credit crunch, debt burdens, and weak stock markets have hurt once-promising private-equity transactions.

The 30 best chief executive officers worldwide serving at least for three years are listed. The list was compiled through interviews with investors and analysts, analysis of financial and stock market performance, and leadership and industry stature.

Seven companies whose shares have been hardest hit by the financial turmoil could shine once the economy stabilizes and the credit markets return to normal. The group includes Bon-Ton Stores, Idearc, Libbey, McClatchy, Carmike Cinemas, Felcor Lodging Trust, and Gray Television.

10 big cap stocks that either have strong earnings, great brands, and cheap stock prices are discussed. These companies are; Altria, Boeing, CBS, Chubb, Conoco, Cummins, Disney, Freeport-McMoRan, General Electric and Motorola.

A market crash of the magnitude experienced on 19 Oct 1987 is less likely today, but the possibility still remains. Geopolitical shocks, such as a US attack on Iran, might prompt such a crash.

The success of initial public offerings of Blackstone Group with relation to its buyout strategies is presented.

A list of top 30 chief executives who have high reputation in financial community across the globe is presented. The role of chief executives in improving company's share prices is also presented.

The popularity and contribution of historian Niall Ferguson through his works and predictions on financial markets is discussed.

The CEO debate that identified 30 top corporate leaders from around the world is presented. They are selected by viewing profit growth during a CEO's tenure and stock-price gains, leadership strength and industry stature and whether CEO's made a difference to their organization and would be missed by investors if they departed.

A cover story about spinoffs that offer one of the most reliable routes to profit in the stock market when most of the professional investors lament about proliferation of hedge funds is narrated. A spinoff occurs when a corporation issues stock in a subsidiary to its shareholders to create a new public company and they are found to generate far better returns than the overall stock market.

Big US corporations have more than $2 trillion in their cash reserve due to the combination of strong earnings and restrained capital spending, and hence they are facing increasing pressure to buy back stock, raise dividends or expand their businesses. A list of 30 cash-rich companies and 15 takeover targets is presented.

U.S. investors are starting to show an interest in asset-rich Nestle, due to the strength of its global food business, an increasingly shareholder-oriented management and the huge combined value of its stakes in Alcon and LEOreal. NestleEs U.S.-listed shares rose 9% in the period up to September 2005, but are likely to have a significant upside, as the Swiss giant is a bargain compared to other major food companies.

Thirty top-flight corporate leaders who have had a keen and beneficial influence on their organizations and who are respected on Wall Street are identified from around the world, 22 from the US and 8 from abroad. The criterion for their selection is the earnings growth during the CEO's tenure and the performance of the CEO's stock over a similar span. The findings indicate that the American CEOs dominate the list as the culture of generating shareholder value is more deeply rooted in the US.

Online poker has become one of the biggest, hottest, most lucrative games in the global gambling business. Active players total about 1.8 million and the industry revenues is expected to exceed $2 billion in 2005. Some of the leading poker websites like the PartyPoker, PokerStars, Prima Poker and others are discussed along with their estimated daily number of players and continuous Ring games.

Kmart Holding shares rose sharply, since emerging from bankruptcy in May 2003, giving the discounter a market value of $8 billion. Kmart is shedding real estate, investing little in it's 1,500 stores, letting its sales shrink and keeping prices high, relative to rivals Walmart and Target, in an apparent attempt to capitalize on the part of its customer base.

General Mills, Minneapolis-based food producer, trades at a lower price earnings ratio than other major food stocks with stocks hovering around 46 since late 1999 due to problems related to its 2001 merger with Pillsbury, and a government inquiry into its accounting practices. However, its supporters feel that the company's key businesses remain healthy and its stock, capitalized at $17 billion, is undervalued and that its shares could rise to 55 in a year.

Berkshire Hathaway, whose class-A shares trade at a stratospheric $72,000, troubles some analysts and investors because of uncertainty about who will replace Buffett, the company's CEO for 38 years, in the event of his demise or retirement.

The two-year bear market has created fewer stock bargains than expected; only 15 S&P 500 stocks have P-E ratios below 10. According to several experts, candidates for price recoveries include: Sun Microsystems; Merck; Fannie Mae; The Gap; and BellSouth.

The tech stock price slide since mid-2000 has eroded capitalization in many familiar industry leaders by 50% or more. A thorough analysis on whether valuations are low enough, and earnings are stable enough to lure back investors, is provided.

The stocks of industrial companies are good values, according to several analysts. Their values are expected to increase in 2001 if the Federal Reserve Board decides to lower interest rates in early 2001 in response to a slowing of the economy. Several stocks are recommended, including DuPont and Caterpillar.

Analysis is provided between the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite Index. Technology sector stocks have sky-rocketed, far-surpassing the projected earnings of the industrial sector. During the initial months of 2000, the Dow Jones fell 11%, whereas the Nasdaq showed an 8% rise.

Mary Meeker has a well-earned reputation for picking Internet stocks. She describes the risks associated with the stocks and how she evaluates them, as well as the future of the sector.

Automobile insurance rates in the US fell 0.3% in 1998, the first nationwide decline since 1973, due to demographics, stricter driving laws, safer cars, and tighter competition. The largest US auto insurer, State Farm, reduced rates by an average of 6% in 1998, and the 5th largest, Progressive, lowered rates by an average of 5.3%. Direct sellers of insurance, such as Progressive and Geico, are helping to fuel the decline by cutting into the market share of such traditional insurers as State Farm and Allstate.

Investors are realizing that cyclical industrial companies may be wise investments during the economic hard times of the 1998 bear market. These companies are holding their own against previous favorites like Gillette and Disney.

Political and economic developments helped equities in the US reach a value of $10 trillion in 1997, ten times the value of equities in 1982. The stock market has continually hit new highs in 1997 because of a good economy. The popularity of mutual funds contributes to the high valuation as well.

Investor Fayez Sarofim has built his personal fortune to an estimated $1.2 billion, largely through an investment strategy that is bullish on America's biggest brand-name companies. He is annually among the world's top money managers. His investment philosophy is described.

The drop in the stock market in Mar 1997 was a predictable correction. Internet-related and some other high-tech stocks were overvalued. Fads in investing, the importance of taking a long-term view, specific industries and specific companies are discussed.

The Dow reached a new high of 7000 just four months after cracking the 6000 barrier for the first time. While most analysts are expecting the stock exchange to continue growing, the pace of growth will likely slow, perhaps significantly, in the latter half of 1997.

Harvard Management Co. is responsible for the strong returns of 26% in 1996 earned by the Harvard endowment fund. The high bonuses of fund managers, such as Jonathon Jacobson, who earned $6.1 million in 1995, has sparked controversy. Harvard Management president Jack Meyer claims high bonus pay inspires his managers to do their best.

Wein, who correctly predicted that the the Dow Jones would peak and then fall precipitously in mid-year 1996, believes that the Dow will fall to 4800 before it bottoms out. Contrary to many analysts, Wein believes the economy will continue to get stronger that that interest rates will rise.

Putnam's King and Kreisel talk about their investment approaches and the large-cap stocks they currently favor. The two manage the seventh-largest fund in the US, with assets of $18 billion. The fund has outperformed 80% of its competitors since King and Kreisel took it over in 1993.

Gold demand outstrips annual mining production. Gold prices, now around $405/ounce, should continue to rise in 1996, probably to $500 or higher. If German and Japanese central bankers ease interest rates, the resulting inflation should also boost gold. Several gold mining stocks are analyzed.

Agreement between the two political parties on the need for a balanced federal budget has spurred the Dow to approach the 5000 point mark. A balanced budget probably indicates a reduction in interest rates. Several market strategists offer their predictions regarding the Dow's future.

Dun & Bradstreet became complacent during the 1980s, but CEO Robert Weissman has recently initiated a more risk-taking management philosophy. The stock currently trades at $56 and its price-earnings ratio is 14. Some analysts believe the stock could increase in value.

Wharton School of Business economics professor Sandy Grossman has his own investment firm that manages $350 million in clients' assets. Grossman uses a mathematical model of the yield relationships among the government bonds of six countries to plan his investments in global bond and currency markets.

Irving Kahn is a disciple of Benjamin Graham and his peers say that Graham would give him an 'A' for his managerial skills. Statistics for 17 stocks including IBM and DeBeers, are presented with comments on each by the Kahns. Irving Kahn's investment philosophy and examples of his strategies are discussed.

Reverse mortgage loans were advertised as a way for elderly people to live off the equity in their homes. Several elderly people in California believe that their loan provider charged them high interest rates and did not disclose all terms of their contract. The program is evaluated.

Croesus Capital Management founders Richard Van Horne and Guy Elliott search the world for extraordinary investment opportunities. Their investment strategies are discussed, and several of their favorite stocks are named.

Mutual funds have invested about three times as much money in Latin American bonds in 1993 as they did in 1992. Although Latin American bonds earn yields between 8.50% and 14%, they can be very risky. An analysis of the trend and its risks are provided.

Investment in Canadian stocks and other securities could provide good returns to investors since the economy has demonstrated signs of improvement. Companies expect higher earnings after restructuring efforts. The performances of many stocks are analyzed.

Green Street Advisors' Craig Leupold and Mike Kirby discuss the performance of real estate investment trusts (REITs) and their favorite REIT sectors. Leupold says the mall sector may be underappreciated while Kirby suggests that investors focus on REITs with higher quality portfolios.