China Quake Death Toll Could Hit 50,000; Initial Jobless Claims Edge Higher; CBS to Acquire CNet; GM Strikes Deal with Union; Fed Chair Urges Banks to Raise Capital; Industrial Output Sinks Led by Auto Industry; Profit Falls, Stocks Rise for Penney’s; Multi-Billion Housing Rescue Package Close to Resolution.

How does the prospect of $4 a gallon gasoline sound to you? Undoubtedly, it doesn’t sound all that great. But what if I said that gasoline prices were headed for the $4 a gallon level, but once they got there, they’d head no higher?

How does the prospect of $4 a gallon gasoline sound to you? Undoubtedly, it doesn’t sound all that great. But what if I said that gasoline prices were headed for the $4 a gallon level, but once they got there, they’d head no higher?

For years, certain advisors have touted the “buy-and-hold” strategy as the pathway to optimal investment returns. While it’s true that short-term gyrations can lead to temporary investment setbacks, any resulting losses can be overcome, since stocks always rise over the long haul.