Recently, the Federal Reserve raised the discount rate after nearly 14 months from 0.5% to 0.75%. This article explains if more rate hikes in store and what this rate hike means for stock, bond, commodity, and cash investments. Read Federal Reserve Discount Rate and Your Investment Decisions .

Natural gas prices ended lower last week despite slightly supportive weekly inventory data and cold weather forecasts in the US, as a slide in crude and more bad economic news pressured prices.

Ben Bernanke is making sure the Fed’s exit strategy goes as easily as a camel can pass through the eye of a needle. Instead of choosing to just sell assets and unwind the amount of securities it holds, the Fed chairman is seeking to be creative once again—as he was in the buildup of its balance sheet--and increase the amount of interest it pays on excess reserves.

The U.S. Dollar is Finally Getting Invited Back to the Investment Party

The buck is up 6% against the euro in the last three weeks. Notwithstanding problems in Greece and Spain, and the attendant complications for the E.U., this is a pretty good performance.

Illustrating an important lesson. Don't count the dollar out too soon.