Searching For Income When Rates Are So Low

I think emerging-markets bonds might be a better way to go, for the "conservative investor" willing to assume some risk, than emerging-markets stocks. The bonds often have attractive yields, are far less volatile than the stocks, and the total return is often nearly as good as stocks. Unlike a couple of decades ago, when the emerging markets were debt disasters waiting to happen, many emerging markets today have manageable levels of debt. I wouldn't buy individual foreign bonds or single-country funds, but there are many mutual funds, CEFs, and ETFs that provide a diversified basket of emerging-markets bonds. Of course, the "very conservative investor" who isn't willing to stomach any risk to principal at all wouldn't be interested. By the way, bear in mind that investments in any foreign security will involve currency risk, unless dollar-denominated.