The world’s stock, bond, currency and commodity markets are enormous markets where individuals, corporations and governments invest money and raise capital in the hope of generating strong economic returns. The daily value traded from the world’s organized exchanges is in the two to three trillion-dollar range. The fortunes of countries, companies and individuals ride up and down with the daily and hourly gyrations of the markets.

Stock, bond, currency and commodity markets are considered to be some of the leading indicators of economic change. Thousands of participants bet on the future direction of these markets every day and collectively this market intelligence can give us a better overall understanding as to where the economy and the fortunes of a specific company are heading than the wisdom of a single person. The U.S. stock and bond markets are the primary mechanism that American corporations utilize to fund their ongoing operations. Because of the importance of capital markets as a leading economic indicator, in corporate funding and individual retirement planning, they are widely watched but are often poorly understood.

But why is the stock market of such importance? There are all-day-business channels devoted to covering every twist, turn and gyration of the markets. Businesses make important decisions about future resource allocation based upon the perceived direction of markets. When the market appears to be shooting up (a bull market) we feel good about our future and when the market drops (bear market) we become concerned about our prospects. Report on Money is dedicated to helping you sort out what matters from what doesn't.

Figure 1: The daily struggle between the bull and the bear

More than 57% of Americans have at least a portion of their savings in the stock and bond markets. Many of us own stock in the company that employs us. How do we build the necessary knowledge to partake intelligently in conversation about the market? Who do we turn to in the wake of corporate and accounting scandals to get fair, objective and unbiased advice and insight? How do we plan for our futures as individuals and businesses when the world seems to be changing so rapidly?

Report on Money, with a strong focus on educating both individuals and corporations, is the primary source for understanding markets. The goal of Report on Money is to help individuals and corporations make reasoned investment decisions. Decisions based on knowledge and understanding rather than on “hot tips”. Decisions based on academic research and practical experience rather than on conjecture. Report on Money publishes a range of investment newsletters and research designed to help educate the individual or the corporation how markets move and what you need to know in order to profit.

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