If you ask a seasoned mutual fund investor what the three biggest keys to successful investing are, he or she is bound to say discipline, discipline and discipline. What does that mean, exactly? It means avoiding the temptation to react with the news. A common behaviour by many new investors is that when they hear on the news that a particular stock or mutual fund is poised to explode, they run to their computers or cell phones and switch over every penny in investments that they have to this new hot stock. While this practice can work some of the time, if it worked all of the time without

For many investors, the choice of possible investments can be overwhelming. There are stocks, bonds, commodities, securities and lots of other choices. One of the most popular choices is mutual funds. These diverse and complex investments have become one of the most popular ways to invest and Americans have been taking part in mutual fund investing for many, many years. The first ever mutual fund, known as the Massachusetts Investors Trust was born in 1924, but the idea of a group of investors pooling their money together for one big investment goes back even farther. Evidence of this

US House approved a war funding bill with a timeline to withdraw the troops from Iraqand less funds for the war. Only $50 billion instead of $200 billion which Bush wanted. The bill states that the primary use of the money is US forces redeployment. The vote was close 218 to 203. 15 democrats voted against it but 4 republicans for it. You might say it's a 50/50 vote and Bush can has the power to veto the bill.Bush vetoed a similar measure in May. But the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate say if the president vetoes this bill, the administration will have to divert money from elsewhere

President Bush asked Congress for $46 billion more on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and said he wants the money approved by Christmans. Democrats said Bush should not expect this the request to be stamped."The colossal cost of this war grows every day in lives lost, dollars spent, and to our reputation around the world," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "The American people long ago rejected the president's planned 10-year occupation of Iraq and want the administration to provide a concrete plan to bring our troops home."Monday's proposal brings to $196.4 billion the total

Robert Gates the US defence secretary has asked congress to approve $189bn more in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said the money is needed to, among other things, to "consolidate our bases in Iraq". More money is also needed to improve US facilities in the region and for more training and equipment for the US military and to train and equip Iraqi security forces. The Bush administration had already asked congress to approve $147bn. Gates said it was now seeking another $42bn more. The latest request will go to hardware - $11bn for new mine resistant personnel carriers