At this point in the recovery, the US is more likely to fall back than move forward.

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And it's much tougher to move back up the list than to fall down.

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Fung said that although gold might attract some investors if equity prices started to fall, investors might be more likely to move back into bonds to protect their capital.

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Jeanswear producer Levi Strauss, which raised prices earlier this year to cover higher cotton costs, said earlier this week it ended up slashing prices at retail this fall in order to move merchandise as families bought fewer pairs of back-to-school jeans rather than spend more.

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Successful people have fall back positions and alternative strategies ready, so when misfortune strikes they can move immediately to a new game plan for success.

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