The current financial crisis is reflected in this update of the 2007 edition of a financial reference compiled by two leading financial analysts/authors. Downes and Goodman present 30 investment strategies from annuities to zero-coupon securities detailing the basics about buying and selling, objectives, and risk, tax, and economic considerations for each; a table summarizes key criteria applied to these strategies. The next sections offer tips on understanding quarterly and annual reports, and financial news. The main body of the handbook lists resources for investing and financial planning, major financial institutions, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, and publicly traded companies. Also included are historical data, further reading, and information on currency-issuing countries. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)