These days everyone from mutual fund managers to pitchmen on late-night infomercials are touting the notion that gold is a great investment. That's not unusual for an asset whose price has jumped by about 25% since the beginning of the year. In fact, on a nominal--aka, pre-inflation adjusted--basis the yellow metal is, at around $1,100 an ounce, trading at its highest price ever.

The greatest hits of the audio segments of the modern computer and consumer electronics industries--the iPods, MP3s, bookshelf stereos and the rest--have brought unrequited pleasure to millions of people all around the world. If you're one of them, this story isn't for you.

Buyers love to shop when the choosing is good. And for gadget shopping this holiday season--with more smart phones, videogame consoles, e-readers and notebooks--the choosing is very, very good.

In 2007, Anand Sanwal was managing a $50 million innovation fund for American Express. His job: to identify and incubate new business ideas--and that meant doing gobs of market research, much of it on small, closely held companies. One problem: Public information on private companies was scarce, and the data that did exist wasn't in much of a structured, useful format.

Can't make it to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Galapagos Islands or China's Great Wall? While these remain among the world's most spectacular man-made and natural destinations, there are other sites luring to curious travelers. Among them, 13 added this year to UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The 67 heads of state, criminals, financiers and philanthropists who really run the world."I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies." --Napoleon Bonaparte

"I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies." --Napoleon Bonaparte

Big cities aren't the only places people drive high-end vehicles. It's long been conventional wisdom that big cities — centers of population, wealth and commerce — are where the most luxury cars are sold. It turns out, however, that you're more than likely to see a Lamborghini on the streets in Missouri, where Chevrolet is the biggest-selling brand in general, or a Ferrari in Washington state.

Dear Katie Cotton, Thank you for keeping those of us who cover Apple in the dark about your company's future product plans. Sure, you and the other flacks at Apple get dinged for secretiveness. But have you ever lied to us about a wonderful idea Apple never produces? No.

When it comes to pollution, these cars prove it's not just about fuel economy. Just because a car has low fuel efficiency doesn't mean it's the worst polluter on the road. The Chevrolet Suburban and Dodge Challenger are some of the biggest gas-gulpers available, but they don't cause quite the environmental harm other cars do.

Real-world advice for each stage in an entrepreneur's development.

Aggressive strategies--some wise, some worrisome--for dealing with stubbornly flat demand.

Big companies can put small fry on the map. They can also take them for a ride. Protect yourself.

The novel viral iPhone attack is a mere 'rickroll.' But researchers warn that more serious exploits could follow.

Some companies never need public capital. Some flip it on and off. Our 25th annual survey of America’s largest private companies reflects the same turbulence that is rocking the publicly traded firms that make all the headlines.

Cuts of 20% and higher make these mansions within reach of more buyers. Greenwich, Conn., is known for sprawling abodes like the 10,670 square-foot manse at 43 Sterling Road. It boasts six bedrooms atop 6.5 acres of rolling greenery, complete with a pool, spa, tennis court, basketball court and shooting range.

Lounging by the beach isn't all it's cracked up to be — especially for entrepreneurs. You cannot imagine how many times I've heard business builders lament: "By the time I'm able to smell the roses, I'll be too old to walk through the garden!"

Despite the slow economy and even slower auto sales, a wide range of new cars is waiting on the other side of 2009. With the worst year for car sales in four decades drawing to a close, it's only natural to wonder whether the newest models can determine just how robust--or dismal--2010 will be for the industry.

Product placement is old hat. Try weaving Windows 7 into the plot of ''Family Guy'' or Bud Light into an SNL sketch. This week Microsoft pulled the plug on plans to sponsor a half-hour variety show produced by Seth MacFarlane, creator of the Fox comedy Family Guy.

To rank the brands, market research company Millward Brown used the BrandZ database of its parent company, WPP, which owns several marketing, advertising and public relations firms, among others. Some brands on the list are clients of WPP's advertising agencies, but the database is the world's largest repository of brand equity data, says WPP, which includes interviews with more than 1 million consumers globally

Dr. Bob Deutsch, a 60-year-old cognitive anthropologist, first experienced the Maserati Quattroporte when he and a friend cruised the Cannes coastline on their way to lunch, 40 years ago. Today, he still can't walk past a Maserati showroom without going inside to reminisce--and consider buying one.

A former consultant to the FBI believes you can overcome any problem with any supervisor by asking the right questions.

You don't get to the top without looking up to someone. People who run companies don't start out as pillars of business, character and morality. Some of them don't even end up that way. But they all have to learn somewhere about right and wrong and integrity and passion and persistence.Many of them look up to a particular role model who more than anyone else shaped who they became. Or more than one role model.

Behind the numbers of this year's best small companies.

President Barack Obama and his team top the third-annual list of the most influential people in the boardroom and corporate governance community.

Forget golf. These billionaires have journeyed to space, crossed oceans in balloons and raced on the NASCAR circuit.

Experts rank management consultants and economists among the most respected gurus.

Doing business usually means frequent travel, and every executive has had her share of travel mishaps and crises. Here, the best of the worst. Maureen Poschman, principal of Promo Communications in Aspen, Colo., was desperate to get home to her husband and 2-year-old twin daughters on Valentine's Day last year. What was supposed to be a quick two-day business trip to New York had devolved into a working mother's travel nightmare.

As Amazon drops its Kindle price again, this holiday season could be digital readers' break-out moment. Enjoy what "early adopter" status you still have while you can, Kindle owners. After this holiday season, owning an e-reader may no longer seem quite so unusual.

There's a cars website that caters to you, no matter how far from mainstream your tastes may run. Want to see photos of Jay Leno's 1966 Ford Galaxie? Or find out when the latest edition of Gran Turismo will hit stores? You probably won't find both in a print edition of Automotive News or Motor Trend. But you will find these and other highly niche pieces of information on the blog DUB Daily, which has covered the custom car scene since 2000.

Here's where to make the most without leaving a desk. People in senior management are making less now than a year ago — unsurprising, given the state of the economy. The average base pay for their jobs this year is $97,500, which is 1.2% — roughly $1,200 — less than in 2008. These numbers were just released by Compdata, a research firm in Olathe, Kan. Compdata surveyed nearly 5,000 companies for its Compensation Survey 2009.

Education level, tech smarts and wealth are just a few traits your ride can convey. Porsches smack of success. Hondas preach practicality. And, according to a recent report, Chevys proudly proclaim of their owners, "I don't use the Internet."

Strategizing and keeping your reactions in check is the easiest route to winning workplace disagreements.

Want to become a tech titan or hedge fund tycoon? Up your chances by dropping out of college or going to Harvard and working at Goldman Sachs.

Phones are getting speedier, thanks to more powerful processors. But which phones are actually fastest?

Words of wisdom from executives at Digg, Ning and other social media companies.

America's super rich are getting poorer. For only the fifth time since 1982, the collective net worth of The Forbes 400, our annual tally of the nation's richest people, has declined, falling $300 billion in the past 12 months from $1.57 trillion to $1.27 trillion.

"It's not you, it's me." Every spurned lover has heard some version of that line and wanted to scream. Not only were they getting the shaft, they were getting it in the most irritating, unsatisfying, slippery way a hack comedy writer could conceive--and all because the person didn't have the courage to come out with it, unvarnished and sincere.

More people than ever are searching for jobs internationally in the hope of gaining knowledge and experience from around the globe.

Problems like population growth, climate change and nutritionally-compromised food have inspired sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs to improve traditional farming methods. It's an uphill battle but Janine Yorio of NewSeed Advisors sees sustainability as the best way to meet the world's growing food and energy needs.

David Whelan, Tatiana Serafin and Cristina von Zeppelin, Forbes

Naveen Jindal has taken what was once a lemon and turned it into India's hottest play in steel and power.

Despite losses for nearly half of Thailand's wealthiest, the group's total net worth remains unchanged.

The stock market is a foggy window on the economy. Follow the pink ties and restaurant garbage piles.

There's something very desirable about the corner office ... and the paycheck that comes with it.

The bad economy hasn't stopped automakers from slating some especially innovative cars for the showroom.

Figure out what you love and how your skills can translate, and start networking.

Got an extra million lying around? Here are the hottest ways to spend it.

Businesses are much more optimistic about hiring in some nations than in others.

An emergency guide for retirees, ex-pats and backpackers.

The art of doing the worst job on the planet.

Asia's smaller companies look to recapture past growth.

Using telepresence and Web conferencing to reach and teach entrepreneurs all over the world.

"It's not just finance and construction here in the U.S." says Jeff Joerres, chairman and CEO of Manpower. "The rest of the world is feeling a bit shakier."That's the case even in China, where hiring had been rampant because of the changing nature of the economy and the growing middle class.

"It's not just finance and construction here in the U.S." says Jeff Joerres, chairman and CEO of Manpower. "The rest of the world is feeling a bit shakier."

As airlines continue to charge customers more while offering fewer services, at least the world's busiest airports are showing signs of improved performance. That's according to data published by FlightStats, an Oregon-based company that tracks historical and real-time flight information for airports and airlines around the world.

That's what some experts argue.

The executive life can drain your energy and inflate your waistline. Fight back.

Hiring across the globe has dropped significantly.

David Whelan, Tatiana Serafin and Cristina von Zeppelin, Forbes

If you're looking for an image that captures the conflict between fervent Islam and basic human decency, look no further than the Malaysian city of Shah Alam, about 15 miles west of Kuala Lumpur.

You've Never Heard Of Best friends Adrian Salamunovic and Nazim Ahmed weren't looking for the next million-dollar idea. They were just two guys hanging out on a Friday night, enjoying a good bottle of wine, when the light bulb went on.

Feel like driving Audi's posh new crossover, the $38,000 Q5? The signature Audi LED taillights and leather-cloaked interior, paired with a fast engine and car-like handling, do much to separate it from the pack of premium small SUVs.

These gaffes can cause women to lose their reputations, promotions and, sometimes, their jobs.

Amidst the worst employment market in a generation, does it make sense to hire an outfit that promises to help you find a job?

For most of those which were great once are small today; And those that used to be small were great in my own time. Knowing, therefore, that human prosperity never abides in the same place, I shall pay attention to both alike.