Are you better off?
No doubt, the economy is gloomy. But how are you doing? It’s a question the candidates are asking – and an issue that Americans are dealing with every day.
The statistics are grim: Inflation is at a 17-year high. Unemployment is rising. Foreclosures are spreading.
For many Americans, however, these figures are simply numbers. They are still gainfully employed and paying their mortgages. U.S. Economy is affected. [Read more →]
The recent rally in U.S. Treasurys is a sign that the decline in oil prices is probably for real. Unfortunately, it’s also an indication of more economic weakness ahead.
Bond prices have rallied lately. And that’s both a good thing and bad thing.
The encouraging news is that the recent bump in bond prices and resulting dip in yields is probably a sign that the worst of the oil-fueled (pun intended) inflation fears are over.
The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury is now hovering near 3.8% – down from about 4.15% just a month ago.
What’s the bigger economic concern right now: the credit crunch or inflation?
Higher bond prices and lower yields are usually a sign that pricing pressures are waning since inflation eats into the value of fixed-income investments. [Read more →]
Before Money’s veteran stock picker departs for academe, he shares his insights on investing.
There are certain things that you can know as an investor and other things that you can’t. For example, I wrote in 1987 that stocks – based on the market’s price/earnings ratio and other benchmarks – were 20% over-valued and vulnerable to a steep decline. My July 1987 column was right on target: Three months afterward, stocks were crushed by the 1987 crash. [Read more →]
The greenback recovers after British GDP shows zero growth. Bernanke comments have little impact. The dollar staged a rebound Friday, after a report on the United Kingdom’s economy showed lower-than-expected growth.
Comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that persistent problems in the financial markets threaten the nation’s economy did little to change the dollar’s upward move.
The 15-nation euro traded at $1.48, down from $1.49 late Thursday. The greenback bought ¥110.08, up from ¥108.44. [Read more →]
