If you are drawn to the stock market as many people are today, you are probably in a dilemma of looking at stocks vs mutual funds. Investing in either financial instrument can be profitable, but they are appropriate for different people. There are three primary things that you should consider when trying to choose between the two.

Commodity mutual funds are similar to index funds for stocks. They allow investors to diversify their holdings with simultaneous investment in a variety of commodities. This generally renders them immune to spectacular losses while still offering the benefits associated with investment in these goods.

US President Barack Obama has unveiled his 2012 budget, describing the proposal as a "down payment" on future cuts to the US budget deficit.

The AUD USD was down sharply, testing levels not seen since September 2009. The Monthly Australian Dollar chart is beginning to look bearish. Today’s confirmation of the secondary lower top at .9405 indicates that shorts are gaining control of the market. Based on the monthly range of .6008 to .9405, the next possible downside target is .7706.