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The art market appears to be on the upswing worldwide with record-breaking prices in the past year. However, the biggest growth surge has come from China, not only because of the increasing number of collectors there but also because of renewed enthusiasm for the country's art.

Owners who are looking to transition their businesses face the question of whether it is better to sell now or wait until later, particularly in light of the current tax situation. In making this consideration, they should consider the pros and cons of various options: status quo, management buyout, ESOP, sale to a financial buyer, or sale to a strategic buyer.

The global financial crisis has debunked several myths about liquidity, including that long-term investors do not need short-term liquidity and that short-term investors are a reliable source of short-term liquidity. Instead, the most important source of liquidity is unleveraged contrarian investors who are willing to take the other side of an overcrowded trade.

The emerging market corporate bond market has become appropriate for a wider range of investors due to its size, liquidity, and dedicated research platforms. This paper highlights 10 key characteristics of this market segment as well as the fundamental risks and market risks for fixed-income investors.

Private investment in cleantech means making choices among the various sectors – such as renewables, smart grid technologies, energy storage, and transportation technologies – and then considering the relative stage of companies within those sub-sectors.

The short-term uncertainty in the financial markets is likely to rise, and investors will likely be looking to raise liquidity, especially given the continued turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa and the trade deficit hiccup in China. That said, we do not expect the engine of global growth to stall anytime soon. We would view weaknesses in the equity markets as buying opportunities.

Fears have risen that the likes of the ECB and the Bank of England might join the queue of central banks in tightening mode, as higher than expected CPI readings help fuel upward moves in inflation expectations. We suspect that these fears are overdone. But, it does mean that inflation will remain center stage for the moment at least.

Corporate profits for firms in the S&P 500 have marched upward for six straight quarters from early 2009. Indeed, with the reports almost all in for the fourth quarter of 2010, corporate profits advanced 38% from the prior year. With this growth in earnings, we believe the value of equities remains attractive at 13.6 times forward estimated earnings.

If inflation is going to rise globally, it will most likely surface first in emerging market countries. But this also reflects why emerging markets are so attractive in the first place – their growth outlook is more robust and output gaps (where they exist) are closing much more rapidly than in the developed world.

Absent further escalation of tensions in the Middle East and a more significant spike in oil prices, the global economic expansion will likely remain intact and the financial markets should regain their footing. An equity market decline, if it were to occur, may ultimately prove to be another buying opportunity for investors.