Street Signs: In the edition of Pros Say concerning a "Recession-Depression Hybrid" what does George Ball say we must do?

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Question: In the edition of Pros Say concerning a 'Recession-Depression Hybrid' what does George Ball say we must do?"

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Just how bad were holiday retail sales this year?

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Question: Just how bad were holiday retail sales this year?

Answer: Worst since 1970, at least

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In his Guest Blog post "My Top 10 Investment Themes for '09", why does Tony Crescenzi praise the art market?

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Question: In his Guest Blog post "My Top 10 Investment Themes for '09", why does Tony Crescenzi praise the art market?

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Photovoltaic Solar Power: Sun, Stone and Stimulus

I just finished reading a good article over in the MarketBeat section of the Wall Street Journal. If you have the time it is worth reading.

A number of strategists have put forth the theory that the beginning of a new presidential administration will spark a bit of a market rally, in part because it has happened in the past, and in part because of expectations for a stimulus package focused on infrastructure.

First Solar, a maker of solar panels and builder of solar power plants, is trading around $136, up 59% from its low in November, cutting its losses for the year to less than 50%. First Solar, a stock-market star in late 2007 and early 2008, is set to have another run in early 2009 because of gathering momentum, technicians say.

“The initial target would be the December 18 high around $149, about 13% from here,” said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer’s Investment Research. “If it clears that first level, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if it goes up to the $180 level, its Nov. 14 high.”

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Market rally predictor Jack Hough jokes that he should have written what kind of book?

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Question: Market rally predictor Jack Hough jokes that he should have written what kind of book?

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Cosmopolite Journal: Sneak Peek at Energy 2009

Forbes has a good article looking ahead at energy in 2009.

A year ago the worry was that oil demand would outstrip supply. Today, the Saudis alone have more than 3.5 million bpd of spare production capacity.

Tailwinds will soon give alternative energy a boost in the form of the energy policies and subsidies from the incoming Barack Obamaadministration

Obama's energy plan calls for the "responsible domestic production of oil and natural gas." Translation: He'll focus on maximizing existing energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf, revise the Bush administration's 2007-12 drilling plan and reinstate the executive order banning offshore drilling.

Get some nice stock ideas while you are there.

Go read it

In Bob Pisani's blog post from yesterday afternoon, what did he call the "real X-factor for stocks"?

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Question: In Bob Pisani's blog post from yesterday afternoon, what did he call the "real X-factor for stocks"?

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According to our guide to international market holidays, whose markets were closed on Dec. 25?

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According to our guide to international market holidays, whose markets were closed on Dec. 25?

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On Dec. 29, Marc "Dr. Doom" Faber recommended which trio of "hard assets" to investors?

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Question: On Dec. 29, Marc "Dr. Doom" Faber recommended which trio of "hard assets" to investors?

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In her introduction to "On the Money Thrival Guide for 2009", Carmen Wong Ulrich uses what euphemism for complications?

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Question: In her introduction to "On the Money Thrival Guide for 2009", Carmen Wong Ulrich uses what euphemism for complications?
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Who officially "arrived at the decision" to cancel Kuwait's $17 billion deal with Dow Chemical?

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Question: Who officially "arrived at the decision" to cancel Kuwait's $17 billion deal with Dow Chemical?

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According to the "Timeless and Time-Tested Warren Buffett Watch Predictions" what lesson do we "learn from history"?

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Question: According to the "Timeless and Time-Tested Warren Buffett Watch Predictions" what lesson do we "learn from history"?
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According to Jon Najarian's Dec. 26 Stock Blog post, where did YRC Worldwide shares end in Wednesday trading?

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Question: According to Jon Najarian's Dec. 26 Stock Blog post, where did YRC Worldwide shares end in Wednesday trading?

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: In our blog post called "How to Tell the Madoffs From the Buffetts", which horrific Shakespeare work does a reader reference?

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Question: In our blog post called "How to Tell the Madoffs From the Buffetts", which horrific Shakespeare work does a reader reference?

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The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life

In the Two-Way Street blog post entitled, Banks, Beat Reporters and Not Being Cozy, which news service is mentioned?

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Question: In the Two-Way Street blog post entitled, Banks, Beat Reporters and Not Being Cozy, which news service is mentioned?

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In our slideshow, The $54,000 Bottle of Whiskey, what other types of spirits did Christie's put up for auction?

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In our slideshow, The $54,000 Bottle of Whiskey, what other types of spirits did Christie's put up for auction?
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Merry Christmas

I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.

Thanks for coming to the blog.

Bob

Why does Darren Rovell say the NY Yankees are able to sign top players "like Mark, C.C., And A.J."?

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According to a Dec. 23 Stock Blog post by Jon Najarian, options traders saw more upside in which medical tech firm's shares?

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Question: According to a Dec. 23 Stock Blog post by Jon Najarian, options traders saw more upside in which medical tech firm's shares?

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In the article entitled "Calif. Construction Firm Defies Odds..." what major project(s) does William Dorey allude to?

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Question: In the article entitled 'Calif. Construction Firm Defies Odds...' what major project(s) does William Dorey allude to?

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In our Green Gift Guide slideshow, what brand of beer bottle is shown (as a recycled tumbler)?

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Question: In our Green Gift Guide slideshow, what brand of beer bottle is shown (as a recycled tumbler)?

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In her article, How to Tell If Your Financial Advisor Is a Scam Artist, Carmen Wong Ulrich refers to what type of fund?

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Question: In her article, How to Tell If Your Financial Advisor Is a Scam Artist, Carmen Wong Ulrich refers to what type of fund?

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In Rebecca Jarvis' Dec. 18 report, "Four Charged with Insider Trading", where did the "husband" work?

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Question: Web video hunt: In Rebecca Jarvis' Dec. 18 report, 'Four Charged with Insider Trading', where did the 'husband' work?

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On Friday, options expert Rebecca Darst said which bank's downside had "far outpaced the decline" in the financials?

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Question: On Friday, options expert Rebecca Darst said which bank's downside had 'far outpaced the decline' in the financials?

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In the Fast Money blog post, "Fed Trying To Smoke You Out?", what investment does Pete Najarian suggest?

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Question: In the Fast Money blog post, "Fed Trying To Smoke You Out?", what investment does Pete Najarian suggest?


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In Phil LeBeau's blog post "Chrysler On Life Support..." what multitude of animals does he mention?

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Question: In Phil LeBeau's blog post "Chrysler On Life Support..." what multitude of animals does he mention?

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On Dec. 18, Juerg Zingg offered CNBC his commodity picks for "brave" investors. His refinery stocks included:

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Question: On Dec. 18, Juerg Zingg offered CNBC his commodity picks for "brave" investors. His refinery stocks included:

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EF Hutton: In our Rogues Gallery slideshow, what color suit is Hunt brother Nelson wearing?

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Question: In our Rogues Gallery slideshow, what color suit is Hunt brother Nelson wearing?

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EF Hutton: In the CNBC Web video, "Kitty Caskets," what species of deceased pet does casket maker Jeanne Hoegh mention?

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Question: In the CNBC Web video, "Kitty Caskets," what species of deceased pet does casket maker Jeanne Hoegh mention?

According to Bob Pisani's blog, "Goldman Sachs: A Sigh Of Relief On Street" what company did Credit Suisse criticize?

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Question: According to Bob Pisani's blog, 'Goldman Sachs: A Sigh Of Relief On Street' what company did Credit Suisse criticize?"

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In Carmen Wong Ulrich's article on what the rate cut means for consumers, what piece of advice does she give?

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Question: In Carmen Wong Ulrich's article on what the rate cut means for consumers, what piece of advice does she give?

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According to the article, "Faith, Doubt, and Warren Buffett," how much did Berkshire Hathaway's Q3 net earnings fall?

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Question: According to the article, "Faith, Doubt, and Warren Buffett," how much did Berkshire Hathaway's Q3 net earnings fall?

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EF Hutton: CNBC.com video quiz: On Dec. 15, Jim Glickenhaus' energy picks included:

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Question: CNBC.com video quiz: On Dec. 15, Jim Glickenhaus' energy picks included:

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What verb phrase does Carmen Wong Ulrich use in her Monday article on Ponzi scheme protection?

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Question: What verb phrase does Carmen Wong Ulrich use in her Monday article on Ponzi scheme protection?"

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In our Top Destinations 2009 slideshow, which once-divided city is shown in picture Number 10?

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In our Top Destinations 2009 slideshow, which once-divided city is shown in picture Number 10?"

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In the Two-Way Street blog post, "Trump Magic: Why I Like The Donald", why does the author like the Donald?

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Question: In the Two-Way Street blog post, "Trump Magic: Why I Like The Donald", why does the author like the Donald?

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Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming

Well worth reading and an excellent gift.

Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming

This book boils it all down for you into easily understood, sometimes amusing explanations, and illustrations. This is your roadmap into understanding global warming and will turn you into authority on the subject.

The book covers the work of IPCC Working Groups One, Two, and Three. While the reports of these three groups are available online, each is well over 700 pages plus appendices. Mann and Kump have boiled down the essence into five parts, with mostly two-page articles full of colorful graphics, for a total of just over 200 pages of engaging science (A'ndrea Elyse Messer)

According to Darren Rovell's blog on the Kobe Zoom Cut Shoe, how big a business is "fashion basketball"?

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Question: According to Darren Rovell's blog on the Kobe Zoom Cut Shoe, how big a business is 'fashion basketball'?

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According to the article "YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money," what is Web producer Michael Buckley earning from ads?

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In Tuesday's Lightning Round OT segment, Jim Cramer said he likes which stock(s) for "short-term trade only" now?

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Question: In Tuesday's Lightning Round OT segment, Jim Cramer said he likes which stock(s) for 'short-term trade only' now?

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As of Wednesday night, what was Berkshire Hathaway's stake in Burlington Northern Santa Fe?

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Question: As of Wednesday night, what was Berkshire Hathaway's stake in Burlington Northern Santa Fe?

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On Wednesday, Michael Yoshikami told CNBC he was "keeping his eye on" which tech stock?

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Question: On Wednesday, Michael Yoshikami told CNBC he was "keeping his eye on" which tech stock?

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Does memory screening help spot dementia, or harm?

Previously I wrote about how A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease. The test called the Mini-Cog (MC) can be administered to a family member or friend and could accurately identify individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and undiagnosed dementia. MCI is recognized as a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death(recently surpassing diabetes). One in eight persons age 65 and over suffers from Alzheimer's. One out of every two adults over the age of 85 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5 million Americans now suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Ten Million Baby Boomers are likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s during their lifetime.

Read the complete article

Also see:

Obama laying the groundwork for U.S. health reform

A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's disease

Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away

High cholesterol levels in your 40s raises Alzheimer's risk

In Today's Top Videos for Tuesday, Andrew Ross Sorkin referred to what as a "conspiracy theory"?

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Question: In Today's Top Videos for Tuesday, Andrew Ross Sorkin referred to what as a "conspiracy theory"?

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As of Tuesday, which financial stock(s) did Jeffery Harte give a "buy" rating?

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Question: As of Tuesday, which financial stock(s) did Jeffery Harte give a "buy" rating?

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Which auto supplier's April options did Jon Najarian write about on Monday?

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Question: Which auto supplier's April options did Jon Najarian write about on Monday?

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In his blog post, Mustard Seeds of Hope, which mega-investor did Larry Kudlow quote?

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According to Mark Tinker of Axa Framlington Gemini, what do Walmart and McDonalds have in common?

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According to Mark Tinker of Axa Framlington Gemini, what do Walmart and McDonalds have in common?
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Great Companies Come at Fair Prices

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's and Dementia

These guidelines were developed for physicians and teachers. However, if you look through the list you will see that these guidelines are useful for caregivers. This is especially true for caregivers that are new and overwhelmed by the diagnosis.

If you know a caregiver you should consider forwarding this list of guidelines. I find that I need to refer to my own lists often. As a caregiver we tend to focus on the right now and today. However, unless all contingencies are considered enormous problems could present themselves down the road.

People with mild to moderate dementia (and Alzheimer's) are usually cared for by the family personal care physician and the patient's family. The personal care physician is often very busy and is not a specialist in the area. The family is often ill equipped to take on this task due to lack of formal training, education, and experience. Family caregivers and the primary caregiver usually take a learn as you go approach. A team of physicians, teachers, and researchers have created a set of guidelines for personal care physicians on how to manage dementia once a diagnosis is made. This article should be read by physicians but I found it very helpful as a caregiver. From the caregiver perspective it will help you understand the services you need and help you interact with your family physician to assure that appropriate actions are being taken and treatments rendered.

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Obama laying the groundwork for U.S. health reform

I'm really looking forward to U.S. Health reform. One of my "pet peeves" is the deal that Congress cut with the pharmaceutical companies on Medicare. Unlike the Veterans Administration and Medicaid, Medicare is not allowed to negotiate the price it pays for prescription drugs--by law (The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003).

Here is a good example of what I mean. Each month we purchase Aricept for my mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. The price we are charged by our Medicare HMO- Humana - is $166.29. At the beginning of the year, before we hit the Medicare "dough nut" hole, we pay the $25.00 co-pay and Humana covers the additional $144.29 via our Medicare insurance. Once we hit the doughnut hole, $2510 annually, we are on the hook for the entire $166.29 payment.

Here is the problem. If I walked into a drug store with prescription in hand how much do you think I would pay for Aricept? $166.29. So Medicare, the largest single purchaser of Aricept in the world, is paying full retail. The same price I pay as an individual.

Now if I go in the same store as an individual consumer and buy a three pack of Klenex, as opposed to a single box, I receive a 20 percent discount. When you buy in bulk or the larger sized product in this country you pay less. Unless you are Medicare.

Each month we purchase both Aricept and Namenda for a combined price of $243.88. Once we get into the "doughnut hole" we pay that full amount monthly. My mother also takes two blood pressure medications, a thyroid medication, and a cholestrol medication so we hit the "doughtnut hole" early in the year.

Few people understand the "Medicare doughnut hole" or the Medicare practice of paying full retail for prescription drugs. If you are not yet falling into the "doughnut hole" its unlikely that you care. You should care, regardless of age, because if you pay taxes you are paying for these drugs and you are paying an unfair price.

This practice of non-negotiation has to stop. We send our politicians to Washington and we trust them. Instead of representing us in the fashion we expect they put their own self interests before ours. They take special interest money and "perks" from special interest groups; and then, spend 100s of times those amounts in special favors. This by the way is a conflict of interest. Not that anyone seems to care.

I am hoping that President-elect Obama will stop the Medicare rip-off. I think that is the kind of change we could believe in.

Read More: Obama laying the groundwork for U.S. health reform

Who warned CNBC Thursday about the "centipede market"?

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Question: Who warned CNBC Thursday about the 'centipede market'?"

Answer: EF Hutton: Who warned CNBC Thursday about the "centipede market"?

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In his CNBC interview Wednesday, who did Carl Icahn say he'd like for Yahoo's next CEO?

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Question: In his CNBC interview Wednesday, who did Carl Icahn say he'd like for Yahoo's next CEO?

Answer: none of the above

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EF Hutton: By Black Friday's close of trading last week, where did financial stocks end?

EF Hutton: By Black Friday's close of trading last week, where did financial stocks end?

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Question: By Black Friday's close of trading last week, where did financial stocks end?

Answer: up 31%

What is the "focus" of Cramer's Playing Defense Rules: Part 5?

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Question: What is the "focus" of Cramer's Playing Defense Rules: Part 5?

Answer: holding on to what you have

Cramer's 'Playing Defense' Rules: Part 5

Forget about making money. Sometimes holding on to what you have is much more important.

That was the focus for Monday’s show. Cramer offered up 25 rules that will keep you from losing your hard-earned cash when the market’s at its worst.

Remember: Plan for the downside, and let the upside will take care of itself. The best way to do that is by following these important tips.

21. Spread out your retirement investing. Cramer’s talking about your 401(k) and IRA here. Make sure your contributions happen at least every month rather than dumping one lump sum into your account. That way you can take advantage of any dip – 10% or more, he said – in the market by boosting that month’s contribution.

22. Buy one diversified mutual fund. OK, you can own more than one, but make sure it’s not a small-cap growth fund. And if you want to own multiple funds, make sure you haven’t bought the same kind of fund three times over. Often times funds have different names, but their holdings are very similar. Watch for this.

23. Know when to cut the cord. Don’t wait for a stock to get back to even during a tough market. It probably won’t happen. Take the loss and move on.

24. Buy stocks with good buybacks. A company with a good stock-repurchasing plan will keep their share prices steady during tough times. So look for firms with large amounts of cash to make that happen.

25. Don’t stop looking. Stay current on your portfolio no matter how much it hurts to look. If you don’t, it could end up hurting a lot more.


Click here for Cramer's 'Playing Defense' Rules: Part 1

Click here for Cramer's 'Playing Defense' Rules: Part 2

Click here for Cramer's 'Playing Defense' Rules: Part 3

Click here for Cramer's 'Playing Defense' Rules: Part 4

Questions for Cramer? madmoney@cnbc.com

Questions, comments, suggestions for the Mad Money website? madcap@cnbc.com

© 2008 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved
URL: http://www.cnbc.com/id/27933087/

Bakugan Battle Pack is #1 Hot Christmas Toy

Bakugan Battle Pack is #1 in Amazon Games and Toys

What Hasbro goodie is seen in our Hot Holiday Toys slideshow?

EF Hutton: What Hasbro goodie is seen in our Hot Holiday Toys slideshow?

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Question: What Hasbro goodie is seen in our Hot Holiday Toys slideshow?

Answer: U-Dance

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: Obama Presidency Could Bring Cheaper Medicines, Universal Coverage

One of the things that bothered me most during the Bush administration was the treatment of Medicare in the new Medicare program. I was shocked when I learned the legislation that passed would not allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Both the Veterans Administration and Medicaid are negotiating prescription drug prices and buying drugs at lower prices than Medicare. This is clearly a "sham" and one of the best examples of how politicians get in the pocket of special interest groups. Not allowing the largest purchaser of prescription drugs to negotiate is nonsensical.

Read More about this issue and Alzheimer's at the Alzheimer's Reading Room

CNBC Guest Blogger Tony Crescenzi knows the bond market inside and out. Who is his employer?

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CNBC Guest Blogger Tony Crescenzi knows the bond market inside and out. Who is his employer?

Answer: Miller Tabak + Co

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