NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- With much of Europe stuck in recession, investors have reason to be wary about international funds. More bad news from the eurozone could send markets reeling. But at a time when the outlook for the U.S. economy is uncertain, it is important to be globally diversified.

To limit the risk of foreign investments, consider low-volatility ETFs that have proven relatively resilient during downturns. Top choices include iShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Index , iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index , and PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio .

A particularly steady performer is iShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility. The ETF demonstrated its value in the second quarter of this year when concerns about the European crisis sank foreign stocks. During the period, the MSCI EAFE index -- a popular foreign benchmark -- dropped 7.1%, but the Minimum Volatility fund only declined 1.0%, according to Morningstar. ...

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(Story updated to add Cramer's Lightning Round picks, his comments on the health of the banking sector, and his concluding remarks.) ...

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The key is to investing in corporate bonds in 2012 is to identify companies that have used the low interest rate environment to their advantage, says Scott Kimball, portfolio manager for the Marshall Corporate Income fund , who is particularly bullish on issues from Transocean , Humana and Gilead Sciences.

The $97 million fund, which launched in December 2008, has returned 7% over the past year, outpacing 86% of its rivals in Morningstar's intermediate-term bond fund category.

As for healthcare insurance provider Humana, Kimball is confident that concerns over a negative Supreme Court ruling on President Barack Obama's healthcare legislation won't undermine the company's credit. In Kimball's view, the issues facing the Court are not unique to Humana and the key is to identify industry competitors that will best weather the risk. ...

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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- With the European debt crisis falling back into focus, investor fears that were put on the backburner during October have witnessed a comeback. Investing in this type of choppy market environment will require patience and flexibility.

For conservative investors, it may be tempting to flee from risky assets and ride out the market storms in shelter. While long-term U.S. treasuries and cash may provide some welcomed comfort during periods of market duress, such a strategy will keep an investor from potential gains in the event of a turnaround. Rather than let market headwinds deter investors from taking on equity exposure, dividend-paying stocks will likely be better way to navigate the market's volatility.

There are number of ETFs that investors can turn to when taking on exposure to income-bearing companies. In the past, I have pointed to such funds as the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund, SPDR S&P Dividend ETF and the iShares High Dividend Equity Fund. ...

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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- With the European debt crisis falling back into focus, investor fears that were put on the backburner during October have witnessed a comeback. Investing in this type of choppy market environment will require patience and flexibility.

For conservative investors, it may be tempting to flee from risky assets and ride out the market storms in shelter. While long-term U.S. treasuries and cash may provide some welcomed comfort during periods of market duress, such a strategy will keep an investor from potential gains in the event of a turnaround. Rather than let market headwinds deter investors from taking on equity exposure, dividend-paying stocks will likely be better way to navigate the market's volatility.

There are number of ETFs that investors can turn to when taking on exposure to income-bearing companies. In the past, I have pointed to such funds as the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund, SPDR S&P Dividend ETF and the iShares High Dividend Equity Fund. ...

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NEW YORK (TheStreet Ratings) -- With the rate on 30-year mortgages down near 4.4% and 10-year Treasury note yields at eight-month lows on slowing economic growth in the United States, income-seeking investors may have sardonically lamented the debt ceiling increase and the rise in interest rates that never happened.

With interest rates scraping rock bottom, some 'buy'-rated exchange-traded funds offer compelling dividend income yields.

At a current dividend yield of 5.18% over the trailing 12 months, SPDR S&P International Telecommunications Sector ETF compares favorably to 12-month bank certificates of deposit offering yields of less than one half of one percent. ...

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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- "The best defense in this market is to be patient," Jm Cramer told the viewers of his "Mad Money" TV show viewers Monday after another down day for stocks. ...

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NEW YORK - - Norman Boersma, portfolio manager for the Templeton Growth Fund, says Europe may be suffering economic problems, but he is still finding promising stocks including Telefonica and Siemens.