ARE YOU looking for solid investments? Money magazine, November, lists these "Ten Stocks for a Dangerous World," explaining, "No investment is risk-free, but these companies have steady earnings and strong balance sheets - and are reasonably priced:
"British American Tobacco PLC ADRs, Citigroup Inc., Dow Chemical Co., Equity Residential Properties Trust Inc., General Electric Co., Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly Clark Corp., Kroger Co., Pfizer Inc. and Radiant Energy Inc."
GOOD ADVICE: "The bear market emphasizes this fundamental: Only long-term money should be in the market. Long-term has many definitions, but I feel safe putting money I won't need for three years into stocks. In 2004 my portfolio will be higher than it is today." (James Cloonan, chairman, American Association of Individual Investors)
LOOKING AHEAD: "Sometimes the market recovery starts early in the recession, sometimes late. On average, in the nine preceding postwar recessions, the S&P 500-stock index hit bottom six months after recession started and five months before it ended." (S&P Outlook)
WALL STREET WATCH: "Investors are anticipating better times and saying they should own stocks because the tide is turning." (Bill Barker, market strategist, RBC Dain Rauscher)
"The major lesson is patience. There is no way to predict how long a bear market will last. The best way to make money is by accumulating high-quality assets over time." (Better Investing)
"We've had quite a rally since the September lows and then comes the Mideast crisis and the Enron thing. That's what causes profit-taking days." (Michelle Clayman, chief investment officer, New Amsterdam Partners)
"We're running into bouts of profit-taking after a two-month rally. Some days, we just give a little back." (David Memmott, block trading head, Morgan Stanley)
