Some windows on American wealth-making show a bleak scene. Home sales are off 20% and values in major markets are down 6.7% from a year ago, raising the risk that owners will walk away from homes worth less than they owe. And the once-mighty dollar has fallen against 14 of the 16 most-active currencies.

But that brightens the view of U.S. housing from abroad, which could in turn help support the market. Bad news here is a bonanza for foreign investors, who now view American real estate as a veritable buffet of luxury properties they never could have afforded a decade ago.

Europeans are among those discount-shopping, due to the dollar's nearly 10% drop against the euro last year, after prior euro gains.

"If you're buying property with euros you get an immediate 30% discount," said Craig Smith, chief executive of Swiss America, a Phoenix-based brokerage specializing in gold and precious metals. "Bottom line: Europeans can buy a $1 million house for $700,000."

And buying they are. More than $715 billion worth of foreign investment flowed in to the U.S. economy in 2006, the last year for which the Department of Commerce says accurate data is available. About $44

SEATTLE (AP) -- Starbucks Corp. said Monday it is returning its chairman, Howard Schultz, to the chief executive's job to lead a major restructuring initiative, replacing CEO Jim Donald.

The move, coupled with plans to open new U.S. stores at a slower pace, comes as the world's largest chain of coffee houses has seen its stock plummet 50 percent over the last year amid declining traffic in its domestic stores.

Starbucks' announcement after regular markets closed sent the company's shares up $1.67, or 9 percent, in after-hours trading. The shares had gained 27 cents to $18.38 in the regular session.

Starbucks said the leadership shuffle is part of a series of other initiatives include closing U.S. stores that aren't performing well, introducing new products and store designs, and improving training for baristas.

The company said it plans to take some of the capital originally intended for U.S. store growth and use it to accelerate its international expansion.

Schultz said he is returning to the CEO role "for the long term" and that his agenda will also include

Football is a lot like investing, and I'm talking about more than the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Let's start with the importance of a diversified portfolio. Championship teams do not depend on one high-priced player. Instead they rely on the contributions of an entire roster, regardless of how large or small a part each plays.

When my favorite team's quarterback crumpled to the turf in a recent game, I couldn't help but ponder the impact of a potentially significant injury on the team's playoff chances. Just as with injuries in sports, there will be setbacks in investing, too, whether it is a bear market, interest rate volatility or just the inevitable incorrect investment decisions. But just as a well-rounded team, with a balanced attack, mitigates the risk of losing the wrong player to injury, a properly diversified portfolio helps weather the storm without compromising long-term investment objectives.

An age- and risk-appropriate portfolio will keep you on track to reach investment goals in the face of short-term setbacks. Most important is asset allocation, which determines 91 percent of an investor's total return. This is a rather fancy term to describe the process of divvying up your money between different investment classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities and cash investments. An initially aggressive allocation should give way to a more-conservative approach as retirement, college tuition or