Observation Deck

Money market funds (MMFs) have been around for over 35 years and are a very popular, relatively low-risk place for investors to park their cash during uncertain times.

The credibility of the London Interbank Offered Rate, otherwise known as LIBOR, as key benchmark rate for the financial system has been under scrutiny of late and may have gone unnoticed if it wasn't for the Federal Reserve.

Since taking the helm at the Fed in January 2006, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been under fire.

"I was gambling in Havana, I took a little risk Send lawyers, guns and money Dad, get me out of this..." Warren Zevon, <i>Lawyers, Guns, and Money</i>

Stagflation: [stag-fley-shuhn n.] sluggish economic growth coupled with a high rate of inflation and unemployment.

In recent months, many financial institutions have been forced to write down their subprime and other investments as the valuations for these securities have steadily declined.