Money: May 2008

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Why Macs still aren't right for most businesses

Is it time to consider moving your small business to Macs?

Money market funds decline

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Fourth FDIC-insured bank closes

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Drilling our way out of rising oil prices

The U.S. has huge amounts of untapped oil, but pesky politicians and environmentalists won't let us get it.

The end of tax-free e-commerce

One of the great things about shopping on sites like Amazon has been not having to pay a dime in taxes (or shipping, if you've spent enough). Since the dawn of Web commerce, the rule was that as long as a retailer didn't have a physical presence in the shopper's state, the company didn't collect a sales tax.

Portfolio insurance? Sounds a bit fishy

Question: Is portfolio insurance legitimate? At a seminar I attended, an adviser said it would cost me 0.5% of what I invest with him. Supposedly it will lock in my gains and I can't lose money no matter what the market does. - Paula Krensavage, Weirton, W.Va.

Housing rescue on the rise; so are foreclosures

Hope Now helped 183,000 at-risk borrowers stay in their homes during the month of April, according to numbers released by the coalition on Friday.

Investing during a rough economy

Question: With the economy being as bad as it is and no sign of getting any better, I feel people are reluctant to invest or even unable to save. Do you agree? With keeping that in mind, what do you think people look for in a financial adviser?

June could be crazy month for stocks

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Never pay retail again

Times are tough. The economy is weakening, consumer confidence is at a low and Americans are struggling just to buy basics like gas and groceries. So when it comes to getting goods that fall beyond the bare necessities, shoppers are getting smarter.

Apple TV and the death of the cable set-top box

The announcement this week that Sony plans to work with other television makers to eliminate the need for set-top cable boxes could not have gained more affection at Fortune magazine's Hollywood digital test lab - also known as my living room.

Commodity costs inflate Kodak prices

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Oil trading probe may uncover manipulation

Amid soaring oil prices that some say are caused by nothing more than rampant speculation, the government Thursday announced a wide ranging probe into oil price manipulation and said it would get more information on the effect investors are having on the market.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Government investigates oil markets

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Get your hands off my gas...cap

As gas begins to look more like liquid gold, more motorists are keeping it under lock and key, fueling sales for locking gas caps, according to retailers and manufacturers.

Stocks rally as oil slumps

Stocks gained Thursday as investors cheered sliding oil prices, a rallying dollar and a report that showed first-quarter GDP growth was better than initially reported.

Scrimping on your salary? Beware an audit

Dear FSB: My wife and I are owners of a small, incorporated business. We are the sole officers of the corporation. Will we come out ahead financially by removing ourselves from the corporate payroll (i.e., avoiding the corporate payroll taxes) and paying ourselves strictly by way of dividends?

J. Crew profit up 24%, but outlook weak

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An IT shop battles the slump

IT support is a cutthroat industry, so computer services company ConnectNC relies on superior customer service to beat back larger competitors.

Oil prices take a slide

Oil prices fell over $4 Thursday, a day of wild price swings on the back of plummeting crude supplies, signs of a strong economy, and news the government is six months into an oil trading investigation.

Mortgage rates rise, topping 6%

Rates on 30-year mortgages were pushed up this week above 6 percent amid growing concerns about inflation, mortgage backer Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Never pay retail again

Ford Fiesta to be built in Mexico - source

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Small-cap gems

It would be easy to dismiss small-cap stocks: Even after a spring rally, the Russell 2000 is off 13% for the past 12 months, more than double the decline in the big-cap Standard & Poor's 500 index.

Cost-cutting pays off for Dell

A slowdown in consumer spending and an ongoing slump in corporate demand didn't hold Dell back in its just-completed first quarter.

Ernst & Young ex-partner charged with fraud

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Most CEO salaries were stunted in 2007

The average rate of pay for top executives came down last year though CEOs at larger companies received substantial raises, according to a study released Thursday.

Done deal: Bear belongs to JPMorgan

JPMorgan Chase completed its historic bid for Bear Stearns Thursday, effectively closing one of the more dismal chapters in the annals of Wall Street.

GM buys out 1/4 of wage earners

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Dunkin' Donuts pulls Rachael Ray ad

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FCC considers free wireless Internet

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Supreme Court: Law prohibits retaliation

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American Air rejects union contract

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Coast Guard halts review of faulty boats

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JetBlue delays Airbus order

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Fall of a New York real estate dynasty

It always seemed as if Harry Macklowe, the most famous of New York City's swashbuckling developers, was fated to lose it all one day. In good times, he borrowed heavily to expand his real estate empire. In bad times, Macklowe avoided catastrophe by sweet-talking his bankers - or battling them in court.

Thrifts set aside $7.6B for troubled loans

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Oil settles below $129

Oil prices fell sharply Tuesday, after hitting a series of record highs in previous sessions, as the dollar strengthened and traders pulled back amid concerns of softening demand.

President: Stimulus starts to kick in

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Realtors settle case with U.S.

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ExxonMobil braces for Rockefeller showdown

It's hard to imagine why ExxonMobil shareholders are so unhappy. After all, the world's largest publicly-owned energy company rode the surge in oil prices to a record $40 billion in earnings last year, making it by far the most profitable Fortune 500 company. Shares are up 10% in the last year, while the S&P500 has fallen by just as much.

Stocks jump as oil slides

Stocks rallied Tuesday, as falling oil prices and a stronger dollar gave investors the incentive to scoop up stocks after a long holiday weekend.

Getting squeezed by credit card companies

When 53-year-old Don Cressman was struggling financially, he charged a bit more than usual on his card, but carefully watched his balance to make sure he didn't go over his limit. When he opened his credit card statement, he was shocked to find a $29 over-the-limit fee added to his bill.