Features of the week

As promised, today's "Features" post will focus on some of the key social and economic trends of 2007, while also examining the financial trends that may take hold in the year ahead.

What will the markets hold in store for 2008? We'll start down that road today in our "Features of the week".

1. $100 oil. You heard it here first from Jim Rogers.

And here's a 2006 interview with energy investor, Bill Powers that provides background on the sustained rise in crude oil and energy prices.

2. Bullish on bullion. FT weighs in with a full page article about the ongoing bull market in gold prices.

3. Marc Faber still thinks gold is a good place to put your money.

4. Why are Sovereign Wealth Funds so eager to invest in banks?

5. Gillian Tett on why corporate default rates will matter in 2008. A look at the world of leveraged finance and funding for sub-investment grade companies.

6. "Agflation" and soaring agricultural commodity prices were big stories in 2007. Will higher prices for food and grains continue in 2008?

7. Here's one recent trend that was recently reversed: New York eclipses London on value of IPOs. A definite turnaround from the news and sentiment of late 2006 and early 2007.

8. Goodbye dollar, hello inflation. Will the dollar continue to lose favor in 2008? Who will provide the world's reserve currency in age of global inflation?

9. Investment strategy: guidelines from 2007's performance.

10. Financial Times and Saxo Bank provide forecasts for 2008.

11. Stop making resolutions & start thinking. The Financial Philosopher on choosing your path in 2008, and beyond.

Thanks for reading Finance Trends Matter. Please take a moment to bookmark our site and pass our link along to a few friends.

You can also share individual posts with our "email post" icon located next to the "comments" tag in our post footer. Thanks, and enjoy!