1.  A City businessman who swindled investors out of millions of pounds was jailed for four years.

2.  A fall in the value of shares damages investor confidence.

3.  A few weeks ago, many stock Market analysts cautioned investors against extravagant expectations for the new year.

4.  A mutual fund is a portfolio of stocks or bonds that is jointly owned by a large number of investors.

5.  A pyramid scheme creates the illusion of financial success by paying off early investors with funds provided by later investors.

6.  A weakening of the yen against the dollar diminishes returns to investors who change their proceeds into stronger currencies.

7.  A year ago, these same pundits were saying that private investors and the internet were made for each other.

8.  Acres of empty office space should attract investors.

9.  Airline stocks also have been weak in recent days because of investor worries the East Coast blizzard will trim earnings.