"One way to protect yourself in a difficult market environment is to buy shares in low-risk, blue chip companies; one outstanding examples is Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)," suggest Kuen Chan & David Sandell.

In The Complete Investor, they explain, "The company is safe, strong, and able to grow even in a weak economy. It also has more than $25 billion in cash and equivalents and almost no debt."

"Microsoft is near ubiquitous in the computer world. Some version of its Windows operating system runs on roughly 90% of all personal computers, while its Office Suite programs have more than 550 million users.

"The completion of our nation's transition from analog to digital TV in June will allow the analog spectrum to become available for different uses," points out David Sandell.

Here, the contributing editor of Leeb's Income Performance Letter explains why AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) are poised to be the biggest beneficiaries among leading telecoms.

"Customers are increasingly seeking lower-cost services and delaying purchases of more costly equipment. But the companies are adapting, particularly through cost-cutting and strengthening their balance sheets by paying down and restructuring debt.

"AT&T and Verizon, the telecom industry leaders, were the big spenders for rights to the powerful analog signals when the FCC auctioned off much of the freed-up spectrum in early 2008.