In accounting, the balance of an account is defined as the sum of all debits and credits to that account. An account balance can be either current, including all such debits and credits or defined for a period ending earlier. For example, the balance due on an invoice reflects the total of all charges accrued and all payments recorded to date. To b...

Take the guaranteed equity bond. The very name offers it’s the perfect investment: it’s a bond, so you think it is safe; it’s guaranteed, so it’s extra safe; but it’s also got equities in it so it’s a little bit racy too. All in all, it appears to offer upside with no downside. But strip the marketing veneer fro...

Trend of risk desire remains intact, although we are seeing a slight pullback today. Yesterday, the S&P closed above 1000 for the first time since the financial crisis began. As expected, the US GDP on Friday and corporate earnings releases had investors rushing into risk correlated assets. US ISM surprised to the upside yesterday, which sent t...

Crude oil was little changed as equities decreased and the dollar strengthened, undermining the need to use commodities as an alternative investment. Oil dropped as much as 2.5 /cent after a disappointing forecast at Cisco Systems Inc. and lower than estimated earnings at Metro PCS Communications Inc. depressed stocks. U.S. crude-oil stockpiles cl...