Money: March 2008

Monday, March 31, 2008

Income rises, spending weak

Personal income rose and a key measure of inflation held steady in February, but consumer spending remained weak, according to a government report released Friday.

Bank of America unveils payout for Countrywide execs

The two top executives at Countrywide Financial Corp. -- the nation's largest mortgage lender -- are slated to receive a combined $19 million in payouts as part of the company's pending takeover by Bank of America, according to regulatory filing this week.

How to crack the credit crunch

Financial reformers have a chance to give stressed-out markets a desperately needed reality check.

Where not to look for market clues

Two common indicators -- mutual funds' cash positions and net inflows -- won't tell you much. Most funds remain fully invested, and studying inflows is like using a rearview mirror to see what's ahead.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

How to thrive in a weak economy

Financial experts offer 5 rules for protecting yourself and your moneywhen times are tough. A strategy now could keep fear in check later.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Lawmakers, White House push for home help plan

Read full story for latest details.

Uneasily, investors look at next week

As the market nears the end of an awful quarter, continued economic stress and problems for banks will weigh on investors' minds. J.C. Penney says consumers are cutting their spending. Lehman Bros. gets an upgrade but may have been the victim of a $250 million fraud.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Paulson to propose financial market overhaul

The Federal Reserve would have the power to regulate virtually the entire banking and securities industry under proposals to be unveiled Monday by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, according to a summary of the proposals provided to CNN late Friday.

Time to hunt for a vacation home

At the risk of tipping my hand (real estate agents, stop reading now), I'm thinking of buying a second home. Like most of you, I own my primary residence, have no intention of moving soon and am locked into a fixed mortgage at a decent rate.

Starbucks to fight tip-sharing ruling

Read full story for latest details.

New cars too tough for crash rescuers

The stronger metals and sturdier construction of today's autos make it harder than ever to cut accident victims out of crumpled vehicles -- but the new technology saves lives, too.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Doctors leery of cholesterol drug after study

Read full story for latest details.

Marlboro-makers split across the Atlantic

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EBay and 9 other stocks for today

The online auction giant appears on an MSN Money list of stocks poised for gains. Here are StockScouter's top investment ideas.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Aloha Air calls it quits after bankruptcy

Read full story for latest details.

It's time to rein in the Fed

In yet another example of the central bank's failed bailout-after-bailout strategy, it's now on the hook for Bear Stearns' losses. We need to clarify the Fed governors' mandate -- or even send them packing.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

A survival guide for the unemployed

Just lost your job? These 13 tips will help you find ways to cope, from keeping up your spirits to prioritizing your spending.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

10 resumes a day, no takers

A week ago, Joshua Hager was despondent. Laid off by a mortgage company, he has looked for jobs ranging from bank teller to risk analyst. He was sending out as many as 10 resumes a day but was getting barely a nibble from employers or recruiters.

Stay calm during the market storm

The collapse of Bear Stearns should not surprise anyone. When things go sour for an investment bank, the damage will be ugly, as we've now seen. I'm adjusting my portfolio to reduce my risks.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Making the most of your paycheck

Actor Ryan Watkinson has a rare combination that very few 23-year olds possess: a role in a Broadway show - Xanadu - and an aunt who's a Certified Financial Planner.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Fed plans BofA-Countrywide hearings

Americans will get a chance to speak their minds on the proposed merger between Bank of America and Countrywide Financial Corp., the Federal Reserve said Thursday.

Key economic report shows weakness

Economic growth was nearly flat in the last three months of 2007, according to a government report released Thursday.

Insurance worries for condo owners

Your answers to six crucial questions can help guide you to the coverage you need -- and help you steer clear of buying coverage that your condo association already has.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

A Segway for golf nuts

I'll let you in on a troubling secret: Ever since I married into a golf family, I've struggled to hide my lack of enthusiasm for the game (it's impossible to hide my lack of talent). It's not the sport itself; it's the time it takes to play 18 holes. Granted, I'm a speed junkie, but after the first nine, I'm done. On a patient day. The poky carts only add to my pain.

Hot stocks under $10

Cheap stocks are often shunned, but they offer investors the chance for outsize returns if the companies can overcome the obstacles responsible for their single-digit share prices.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Dow off 120 as oil jumps, techs fall

Weakness in Oracle and Google hits tech stocks. Crude oil briefly tops $108 a barrel after a terror attack on an Iraqi oil pipeline. Financial stocks fall on fears Lehman Bros. could be in trouble. Clear Channel gets a win in its bid to force banks to fund its buyout.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Bear Stearns' Cayne sells over $60M in stock

Just a day after JPMorgan Chase quintupled its bid for Bear Stearns, James Cayne, the chairman of the troubled investment bank, dumped his entire stake in the firm, selling more than $60 million worth of company stock he owned.

Oil back above $107 on Iraq bombing

Read full story for latest details.

Welcome to subprime's ghost town

The subprime mortgage meltdown has shaken the entire U.S. economy. But nowhere might the impact be as stark as Irvine, California, a planned community nestled between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Starbucks again sued over tips

Read full story for latest details.

Why tech stocks have a glorious future

As a financial writer, I spend a lot of time looking at numbers. Right now, the numbers say that the world has a huge and unremitting hunger for technology, communication, Internet access, and information.

Bizarro World for homebuilders

Honestly, Wall Street sometimes seems like Bizarro World in the old Superman comics.

Bleak retirements for 150 million?

A majority of Americans aren't saving nearly enough for retirement -- or aren't saving anything at all. And the expenses they'll face in their later years are sobering.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Who's hiring new college grads now

Planning to graduate in the spring? Tossing and turning in your dorm room at night wondering if you'll be able to get a decent job? Don't worry - or at least, don't worry too much. A couple of new surveys gauging employers' entry-level hiring plans show that jobs for new grads are plentiful.

Google's search slip is showing

New numbers point to more slowing in Google's search ad traffic - and analysts are adjusting their numbers down.

Wall Street deflates on banks, tech

An up and down day on Wall Street ended decidedly down Thursday, as investors demonstrated concern about shaky news from the financial and tech sectors.

Slow down a little, save a lot of gas

With gas prices rising, gas-saving advice abounds: Drive more gently, don't carry extra stuff in your trunk, combine your shopping trips.

Amateurs score big with games, gold

The top players in our second Strategy Lab Open competition are easily besting the market and the Strategy Lab pros. Here's how 4 are getting it done.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Cisco signals trouble ahead

Cisco Systems, one of the country's biggest technology companies, appears to be bracing for a downturn.

Housing: Where the candidates stand

The housing crisis took center stage in the presidential race this week. For good reason: Recent data show that nearly a million American households are at risk of foreclosure, 71% more than a year ago. Nearly 6% of all borrowers are past due on their mortgages.

Riding the new tech takeover wave

It's not just Yahoo. With stocks down and many IPOs struggling, cash-rich giants such as eBay and Microsoft are looking to scoop up competitors and upstarts. Here's a look at the targets.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Thursday, March 27, 2008

How to pay zero taxes

You've tried staring your computer down, but it's not blinking. No matter how many times you go over the figures, you get the same answer. That number on your screen - what you're paying the IRS this year - is more than your dad earned in his five best years. You can't help thinking, Why am I such a chump when other people must be getting off scot-free?

Gas prices creep higher

Gas prices continued to inch higher Thursday, according to a widely followed survey from motorist group AAA.

Crummy economy, great car deals

The economy stinks, the housing market is in the dumps, and auto sales are way down. Looks like a great time to go car shopping.

The next bailout: Homeowners

The federal government is keeping Bear Stearns out of bankruptcy. Are you next?

New Century faulted for improper accounting

Read full story for latest details.

The best and worst states for taxes

Where you live can make a big difference in how much you pay in taxes. So can whether you smoke and how you get to work in the morning.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Hot tips: Avoid the IRS hot seat

More Americans than ever before are being audited, as the Internal Revenue Service is working hard to collect every single greenback it can. The total number of individual returns audited last year increased 7% from 2006, shooting to 1.38 million from 1.29 million.

Happy Birthday, HBS!

Does Harvard Business School have a future? Its storied past will get extra attention when the school turns 100 years old on April 8. But in a fast-changing global economy, the world's iconic business school faces new threats of the type that confront all established institutions.

Dow off 110 as crude jumps, housing weakens

A crummy report on new-home sales is just one of many reasons for the selling. Citigroup tumbles on worries its losses will be larger than expected. The Clear Channel buyout may fall apart. Energy shares rise as oil jumps over $105 a barrel. Oracle results disappoint.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Has the Fed redeemed itself?

The central bank's cunning after-hours plan to sell Bear Stearns to JPMorgan may have prevented the collapse of the financial system and total economic ruin.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Clock ticking on hot furniture deals

You might not be in the market for a house. But this is a good time to be shopping for what goes inside, with furniture at bargain prices - although only for the next few months.

Are investment newsletters worth $300?

Question: Recently I've been reviewing a few financial newsletters that provide market advice. I don't trust most of them but have been intrigued by some. Would I just be wasting my money ($200 or $300 a piece) or could I actually see some better than average returns? How does the current downturn in the economy affect the advice offered by these newsletters?

8 reasons investors fail (and how to prevail)

Investing is less about brainpower than intestinal fortitude. Avoiding these mistakes will help you stay the course in lean times -- which is how you win big in the long term.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Diesel: The truck stops here

The kid who delivers your pizza may be charging you an extra buck for gas, but for the guy that trucked the tomatoes, hauled the dough or milked the cows, passing along the fuel increase isn't as easy as pie.

Dallas-Fort Worth tops population growth

More people moved to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, than to any other metropolitan area in the United States last year.

Iraq bombing extends oil buying spree

Read full story for latest details.

Are you a compulsive shopper?

It's no joke. It's a mental health problem. Here are a few questions to help you determine if you have compulsive buying disorder.

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

New unemployment claims fall

New filings for unemployment claims fell last week, according to a report released Thursday by the Labor Department.

Wall Street poised for gains

U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open at the start of trading Thursday after reports showing initial jobless claims fell more than expected and a revised GDP was unchanged.

Meet Google's Willy Wonka

Good thing Google has an on-site dentist. One of the sweetest perks - literally - enjoyed by employees at the company's Mountain View, Calif. headquarters is the unlimited supply of bite-sized chocolates found in its well-stocked cafeteria.

Pay more to sell a home faster

As houses become harder to sell, some agents are charging more than the standard 6% to deliver better results. Should you consider a higher commission?

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[Source: MSN Money Latest Articles]

Builder: Housing woes continue to worsen

Home builder Lennar reported its fourth straight quarterly loss Thursday and warned that conditions in the battered housing market continue to worsen due to a glut of homes on the market and ongoing problems in the mortgage market.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Friday, March 28, 2008

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

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