What the experts say

IPOs: Less hype, more quality

The market for initial public offerings is finally shaking off the blow it took in late 2008, said Thomas Anderson in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. And for investors, now is a good time to consider buying into new IPOs. That’s because right now “companies must have solid businesses and offer attractively priced stocks to entice investors” to have any chance of having a successful IPO. Individuals have “several ways to play IPOs.” Online brokers typically give select customers the chance to buy shares before they go public. “Stick to companies with at least $50 million in annual sales and whose initial offering is $25 million or more.” If you don’t have the stomach for individual stocks, take a look at First Trust U.S. IPO Index, an exchange-traded fund that holds new and recent offerings.

Mortgage rates: No going back

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If you’re looking to refinance your mortgage at a rate below 5 percent, you’d better get going, said Les Christie in CNNmoney.com. “Your window of opportunity is closing fast. “The average 30-year, fixed-rate recently inched past the 5 percent mark,” according to Freddie Mac, and experts think rates will only go up. “A big reason for the jump is that a government program that has kept rates very low is winding to a close.” The Federal Reserve, which has been keeping rates low by “scooping up” mortgage-backed securities and holding them on its books, will end its buying spree at the end of March. At that point the fate of the market will be in the hands of private investors, “who will almost surely demand higher rates.” The increase won’t happen overnight, says Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for PNC Financial Services. He expects rates to rise gradually, topping out at about 6 percent near the end of the year.

Less is more at the store

Does a trip to the grocery store leave you overwhelmed by the of varieties of shampoos, potato chips, and other products? said Anne Kadet in SmartMoney. You’re about to get some relief. “For the first time in recent memory, retailers are pruning their selection to semi-manageable levels.” Walgreens and Rite-Aid are pulling about 5,000 products off their shelves, and Kroger has cut its cereal selection by 30 percent. Studies have found that too much choice actually hurts sales. Plus, “a carefully trimmed assortment” reduces inventory costs and can actually improve sales.