Industry trends have to be monitored and projections about future trends have to be made because they will influence the profitability of an industry. Some major industry characteristics are:

• Pricing and cost structures (evolution over time)
• Domestic and international competition
• Technological change (pace and adaptability)
• Asset values
• Upcoming financing needs
• Potential liabilities
• Political and regulatory environment
• Government support
• Current state of regulation/deregulation.

Non-U.S. stocks have all the emotional content of U.S. stocks. Herd psychosis, powerlessness, issues with brokers and mutual funds, overconfidence, and all the rest are common in foreign investing. Foreign stocks also have additional traps we rarely encounter with local companies.Foreign stocks are bought and sold in foreign currencies. Foreign companies make profits and losses in foreign currencies. Because you spend U.S. dollars, foreign stock prices must be translated into U.S. dollars before you can determine if you have any gains or losses. This adds volatility to foreign stock prices. If the Euro sinks by 15 percent and your German auto stock declines in Euros by 15 percent, you lose 30 percent in dollars. If the Euro rises by 15 percent and the auto stock rises by 15 percent, you gain 30 percent in dollars. A similar U.S. auto stock would only swing up and down  15 percent.

Forbearance

If you’re unable to make your scheduled payments but in¬tend to repay your loan, you may request a forbearance to:

• Stop making your loan payments for a short period of time.
• Extend your repayment schedule.
• Make lower payments on your loan for a period of time.

Note: During forbearance, interest charges continue to accrue. The capitalized interest charges add unpaid interest to your principal bal¬ance, increasing both the total amount to be repaid and the monthly payment amount. You have the option to make interest payments to keep your principal balance from increasing due to capitalization.

GradPLUSLoans – Your first payment is due within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. You may receive an in-school deferment on your Grad PLUS loan while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school. For Grad PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, the post-enrollment deferment permits you to defer your loan for the six-month period immediately following the date on which you ceased to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.

Before the grace period expires on your Stafford loan or before the first payment is due on your Grad PLUS loan, you’ll receive a repayment schedule* which includes:
- Available repayment options.
- Outstanding loan balance.
- Interest

• You’re serving in a medical or dental internship or participating in a residency program.
• You receive a national service Education Award under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.
• You’re eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program and your cancellation amount will satisfy the anticipated outstanding Stafford loan balance at the time of the expected cancellation.
• You qualify for an economic hardship deferment.