Money management firm Franklin Resources (BEN), which I first wrote about on July 20, 2009 at a price of $73.88, has survived the financial crisis and recession in good shape.

One of the best-run asset managers, Franklin's double-digit asset growth should continue in FY2010, aided by an improved asset mix, better fund performance across asset classes, and increased flows from money market funds. BEN's relatively strong balance sheet, declining debt liabilities, and prudent cost cuts rounds out the positive story.

News is out about the new broadband ISP foray by Google (GOOG). So far, Google, for purposes of public relations, has labeled their new direction a "scientific test." Media analysts the world over are speculating about what exactly Google might be up to. Some people claim that telecommunications providers might be or should be worried about what Google could be positioning for. I think that attitude is a bit shortsighted.

Let me remind our readers, when speculating about Google, it is best to adjust our projections to a decades-ahead frame of mind. What exactly could Google accomplish with broadband capability up to 100 times faster than any Internet data feed currently available to consumers? Please consider the following possibilities:

With reduced national income due to unemployment, reduced spending power due to tightened credit, reduced wealth due to falling home and stock market values and reduced confidence due to all of the above, we are seeing consumers take on new attitudes toward spending.

This "New Frugal" will not be a fad that passes quickly. U.S. consumers will continue to keep their purse strings tightened.

Coca-Cola's (KO) stock has pulled-back about $4 after testing $60 in December, but investors who can tolerate moderate risk should view the pull-back as a Buy opportunity, and I'm obviously reiterating my buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on February 20, 2009, at a price of $42.68. If you bought Cola-Cola in February 2009, you're up about 28%.

Coca-Cola's noncarbonated division should register solid revenue gains in 2010; meanwhile, the carbonated division should post low-single-digit gains.

"There is a new game changer in the works: the Windows 7 release," says Toby Smith, who believes we could be in the early stages of a tech recovery.

In his ChangeWave Investing, he adds, "Dell (DELL) will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Windows 7 upgrade cycle." "In a recent speech, Dell CEO Michael Dell joined the chorus of top tech leaders when he said, 'I think there is a very powerful refresh cycle that is coming.'