"The Lost Decade": Where do you fit in?

Since 2008, the stock market has been volatile to say the least. Many investors have found investing in conventional stocks riskier than ever, stating that they've lost money in mutual funds and 401 (k) plans, among other usually safe bids that the stock market offers. Many of those close to retirement have suffered the greatest losses and on average will take seven years to return to their former financial position, some say. Those in the industry observing this trend are labeling this group as "The Lost Decade", due to the little return over investment their stocks have seen since 2008 and will continue to see in the coming years.

The good news is there are other convenient options for those that would like to invest in less conventional stocks-- blog post coming up next.

Microsoft Opens First Spanish-Language Center in Mexico

Via Mexico Today: Microsoft Corporation has opened its first technology center in Latin America that will provide technological resources to businesses in Mexico. The technology center is located in Mexico City and will provide training for an astonishing 2,300 software developers. Microsoft hopes to invest $690 million in Mexico in the upcoming year...in keeping with its investment plans, Microsoft has inaugurated its Spanish-language center this week.

Harley-Davidson Reveals New Generation of Dealerships in Mexico

A new dealership of the emblematic brand of motorcycles, Harley Davidson, will be opened this 2011 in Mexico. The 15th dealership in Mexico, will represent a new generation of dealerships. The inauguration ceremony was headed by Fausto Lopez, Harley-Davidson’s CEO in Mexico, who said: “At Harley-Davidson we are reaffirming our commitment to take customers closer to their dreams and create experiences of a lifetime… for a lifetime."

Greek Crisis Affects Mexican Peso Today

The 120-day correlation coefficient between Mexican bonds and Treasuries dropped to a nine-month low of 0.29 from a high of 0.57 last week.

Mexico’s bonds, the emerging-market securities most correlated with U.S. Treasuries, are no longer moving in lockstep with debt from its northern neighbor as Europe’s debt crisis curbs demand for all but the safest assets.

“We expect the European authorities to finally react,” said Alonso Madero, who helps manage about $5.5 billion at Corp. Actinver SAB, in a telephone interview from Mexico City. “We would expect confidence to return to the markets little by little and see the same correlation return.”

Euro Debt Crisis: Possible Bail-out from BRIC Nations?

Since the greek debt crisis began, economists and economic analysts alike have been thinking of new solutions to the economic debt crisis in Europe. One of the possible solutions being debated is whether it would make sense for the developing BRIC countries to step in and alleviate the crisis. Why? Well, the booming Bric nations alone have more than $4,000bn in reserves between them -- meaning they have the resources to fund a great deal of deficit.

As the Wall Street Journal reports today, national governments are suffering from skewed incentives, so that actions benefiting individual countries in the short term may hurt Europe as a whole in the future.

Apparently there are more negatives than positives to a BRIC nation bail-out: right now, Europe runs an account surplus. "By definition, this means that far from being starved of capital, European savings exceed European investment, and it exports the excess to the rest of the world. Any big increase in the amount of official foreign capital directed at purchasing the bonds of struggling European governments would inevitably cut the European trade surplus" -- one of Europe's major strengths at the moment.

If foreign central banks sold large amounts of dollars to buy euros, this would strengthen the euro against the dollar, making European manufacturers less competitive in the global trade market and their exports would drop, leading to multiple negative consequences such as higher unemployment in the region.

Click here to read more on the pros and cons of this new solution to the European debt crisis being debated.