Protecting Your Portfolio - Special Report - Investments Stock Market Wall Street

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Credit Crunch. Recession. Bear Market.
There's a triple threat out there for investors. Here's a guide to managing your money.

FEATURED:

Playing It Safe In A Down Market

For starters, you’ll want to be sure your portfolio includes some exposure to defensive stocks, or those that provide stable earnings (and often a dividend) regardless of economic conditions.

Smart Moves In Challenging Times

While the pickings may seem slim, investment strategists say there are some opportunities within certain sectors, and if you are considering making broader bets, using options strategies can provide a good way to maximize gains while limiting losses.

Limiting Your Exposure To Volatility
If you are one of the many investors having trouble stomaching the big and wild swings, now may be a good time to scale back on your level of risk.

Safety Net Is Strong And Wide

How safe are your savings and investments and what happens if any of your financial institutions goes belly up? Here’s a who’s–who, what’s-what guide on who stands behind your money.

Wake Up Call For Your 401(k)

If you haven't been paying attention to your company retirement savings plan, it probaby needs rebalancing and there's no better time than now. Just don't do anything drastic because of recent events.

Master The Basics Of Investing

Everyone's financial situation is different, but there are some basic things all investors should keep in mind: diversification, asset allocation and dollar-cost averaging.

SPECIAL REPORTS:

Struggle at AIG
The Federal Reserve comes to the rescue again with a $85-billion loan package to help shore up the giant insurer's finances in the the face of a possible chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
Wall Street In Crisis
Wall Street was badly shaken Sunday by the failure of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch and big asset sales by AIG.

Fannie & Freddie Takeover

The US Government seizes control of the two mortgage finance companies, launching what could be its biggest federal bailout ever, as the credit crunch claims two more corporate victims.

Collapse of Bear Stearns
JPMorgan Chase said it would buy stricken rival Bear Stearns for just $2 a share in an all-stock deal that values the U.S. investment bank at about $236 million.

SLIDESHOWS:

Credit Crunch Timeline
Hasty takeovers, government bailouts, bankruptcy filings, CEO ousters and lots of interest rate cuts. Click ahead for the big events of the big bust.
Largest US Bankruptcies
Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy protection filing is the largest in history, dwarfing all others. Take a look at the ten biggest corporate filings in US bankruptcy court.
Failed Banks This Year
This year alone, eleven banks have gone under. Take a look at the failures of 2008 as measured by total assets and the cost to the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund.