As if mutual funds’ plummeting returns last year weren’t bad enough, paying large fees to watch your money disappear just made it worse.

Top-tier money managers took a beating in the bear market, and many investors ran away from their funds. Those who fled are missing out on a rebound they could have anticipated.

Last time, there was trouble in the distance, though it was difficult to know just how far away. This time, what’s dead ahead is hazy, but the case for precious metals is clear.

A late-day sell-off sends major indexes into the red. General Motors, which could enter bankruptcy as early as May 31, drags down the Dow. The dollar’s doldrums deepen.

The volatility of natural gas may make your pulse race, but now’s the time for investors to jump in, before demand heats up with the season. Be on the lookout, though, for a price drop, which could be chilling.

Continuing jobless claims rise to 6.7 million. The UK’s national debt is downgraded. Manufacturing in the Philadelphia region remains weak. Investors gobble up shares of OpenTable after the online restaurant reservation system launches its IPO.

Jobless claims have peaked, says a member of the bureau charged with declaring when US recessions begin and end. And in every recession since 1974, the peak in jobless claims has come within weeks of the bottom.

The Fed lowers its forecast for growth and foresees a slow recovery for jobs. Crude rises above $62 as inventories decline. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says the banking sector is improving.

Products at Wal-Mart and Target may come from overseas, but the US is still the world’s No. 1 manufacturer. For many American companies, there’s still no place like home.

The tech bellwether sees continued weakness in corporate IT spending and a soft market for PCs. Housing starts hit a record low. The Senate overwhelmingly passes a credit card reform bill. Home Depot posts a profit and reaffirms its full-year sales forecast.