Cisco Systems

Talk about volatility: Since Oct. 1, there has been only one trading day where the market hasn't swung by at least 1% between its low and high points. This sort of market leads many investors to make big mistakes, but we have some time-tested tactics that will help you avoid the pitfalls.

Step aside, old-fangled computers: Mobile computing has taken over. And although this shift has been coming for a while, it's not too late for investors to buy into the trend.

It's going to be an interesting week on Wall Street, especially with new tablets and old banks in play. Let's go over some of the items you'll want to watch -- assuming you can tear yourself away from the new "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," which will start printing money for Activision Blizzard at midnight Tuesday.

Tablets, a new digital tollbooth, a traveling e-tailer, a smartphone tie-up, and a would-be titan toppler... Sounds like the plot for a Hollywood action movie -- or, at the very least, the stuff that will dominate high-tech headlines in the coming days. Here's what to watch as the week unfolds.

Real estate bulls are relishing this week's fresh housing data: The Case-Shiller Index showed a 3.6% sequential uptick during the second quarter. Good news, to be sure, but home prices still fell during the first half of the year, and the trends in real estate don't look good for homeowners.

What's the secret to good worker attendance, retention, productivity, and the ability to attract top-notch recruits? Employee benefits. Which companies thrive and grow their businesses faster than their peers? Same answer: Those that offer better benefits to their workers.

Stocks are up in afternoon trading Thursday following positive news on jobs and a surprisingly good profit report from Cisco. Shares of technology and financial companies are leading the market higher.