High Frequency Trading: Overview of Recent Developments

"High-frequency trading (HFT) generally refers to trading in financial instruments, such as securities and derivatives, transacted through supercomputers executing trades within microseconds or milliseconds (or, in the technical jargon, with extremely low latency). There is no universal or legal definition of HFT, however. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which oversees securities markets, nor the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates most derivatives trading, have specifically defined the term. By most accounts, high frequency trading has grown substantially over the past 10 years: estimates hold that it accounts for roughly 55% of trading volume in U.S. equity markets and about 40% in European equity markets. Likewise, HFT has grown in futures markets—to roughly 80% of foreign exchange futures volume and two-thirds of both interest rate futures and Treasury 10-year futures volumes..."
Stock markets

Investor.gov

Looking for investor information, take a look at the Investor.gov site from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Administration. Find information on basic investing, markets, research, employment, retirement,  and life trends. 
Investor.gov

The President’s Plan to Make America a Magnet for Jobs by Investing in Manufacturing

A fact sheet on President Obama's plan for investing in manufacturing.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/fact-sheet-president-s-plan-make-america-magnet-jobs-investing-manufacturing

What Is Systemic Risk? Does It Apply to Recent JP Morgan Losses?

"JP Morgan recently disclosed that it suffered significant losses in a unit that traded complex
financial instruments. Congress will be examining the JP Morgan trades and oversight by JP
Morgan’s regulators. Two of the questions that policymakers might ask are could the JP Morgan
losses or similar trades trigger another financial crisis and how would the Volcker Rule in the
Dodd-Frank Act have applied to the JP Morgan trades? This report explains general systemic risk
analysis. It evaluates recent JP Morgan trades in light of our understanding of sources of systemic
risk. If the sizes of the losses remain small, it appears extremely unlikely that JP Morgan’s
reported losses in its asset liabilities management unit could trigger a financial crisis or systemic
event..."

Investor.gov

Learn how to invest your hard earned money at this new web site from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investing in Gold? What’s the Rush

"You see the ads on TV and online, and you hear them on the radio: they tout gold as a solid investment. It's true that people sometimes use gold to diversify their investment portfolio: it can help hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. But how much gold to buy, in what form, at what price, and from whom, are important questions to answer before you make that investment.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, says if you are interested in buying gold, do some digging before investing. Some gold promoters don't deliver what they promise, and may push people into an investment that isn't right for them."

Investing In Bullion and Bullion Coins

"If you're thinking about investing in bullion or bullion coins, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, says your best bet is to research your options and get smart. Being uninformed can have serious consequences..."

Investor.gov
Find investment information from the newly launched Investor.gov site from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Report Finds Investments in Innovation are Paying Off
"Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a new report, “The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy through Innovation,” which finds that the Recovery Act’s investments in science, technology and innovation are creating new jobs and strengthening advances in science that will create cost cuts for consumers.

Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement:

“This report reiterates that investments in innovation have a direct and positive impact on our economy. Innovation—especially new energy technology—is the path to solving climate change, meeting our growing needs for energy, reinvigorating our economy, and ensuring our competitiveness over the long-term by creating good jobs in America. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which passed the House of Representatives in May, authorizes important investments in science, innovation, and education. These investments will support employers today while encouraging the growth of the new industries of tomorrow, and the jobs that come with them. Thanks to investments like those in COMPETES and the Recovery Act, the US is better positioned to maintain its scientific and economic global leadership.”.."

Comparing Global Influence: China’s and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World
"This report compares the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) and U.S.
projections of global influence, with an emphasis on non-coercive means or “soft
power,” and suggests ways to think about U.S. foreign policy options in light of
China’s emergence. Part One discusses U.S. foreign policy interests, China’s rising
influence, and its implications for the United States. Part Two compares the global
public images of the two countries and describes PRC and U.S. uses of soft power
tools, such as public diplomacy, state diplomacy, and foreign assistance. It also
examines other forms of soft power such as military diplomacy, global trade and
investment, and sovereign wealth funds. In Part Three, the report analyzes PRC and
U.S. diplomatic and economic activities in five developing regions — Southeast
Asia, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America."