The Fiserv Case-Shiller Index, which measures price changes in single-family homes in over 375 U.S. metropolitan markets, estimates that home prices have already leveled out in one out of four metro U.S. areas, despite price declines of 1.5% in the third quarter of 2010.

FORBES: Price Stability In 75% of U.S. Metro Areas By Year-End, Double-Dip Looms

Although the consumer-price index has long been growing in low single digits, many say that it does not accurately reflect the increasing burden.

ECONOMIST: Inflation in China: An old worry nags again | The

Gazprom shares--or at least 49% of them--are about to become free-floating, at which point they will suddenly jumped from nil in the benchmark Morgan Stanley Emerging Market Index to 10% of the weighting--the largest single component, likely to edge out even powerhouse Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung .

FORBES: Beyond Gazprom

If choosing a single BDC makes you nervous, you can buy E-TRACS WELLS FARGO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY INDEX ETN (BDCS, 26) .

FORBES: Private Equity For Coupon Clippers

The chart of the iShares MSCI All Peru Index Fund ( EPU) is a good example of how hazardous it can be to invest in single-country funds without using appropriate risk controls.

FORBES: 4 Worst Country ETFs