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Announcements |
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| ROHERA Business Network International
Thursday, April 26, 2007Romanian Heritage Assn. - ROHERA Business Network is made up of businesspeople and professionals of Romanian background or anyone who supports Romanian economic activity. There is no charge to register your Contact Info online to stay informed about business get-togethers, to post your specialty on this website, and promote Romanian economic activity. Join ROHERA for $50 a family or $25 a person & you can post your enhanced business entry (logo and full-profile). 2007 is the year of Romania's integration into the EU & the World - let's join hands and move forward together - Hai sa dam mana cu mana!
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Market Commentary |
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Growth won't dig US out of this hole
Wild optimism about economic growth is at the heart of the Obama administration's plans to shrink the federal budget deficit. And that's not the only problem.
How to pick 2020's hot stocks now
There's a lot of talk about China and India, and for good reason. But Jubak's Global Three-Part Asset Allocator suggests another country's long-term prospects are even brighter.
Can China save the global economy?
Optimists are counting on the growing Chinese consumer class to spend the world back to prosperity. But a new study suggests that won't be so easy.
What if consumer demand is dead?
It's not a popular idea right now as pundits predict a full economic recovery. But history and current trends suggest a different possibility that investors should prepare for.
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Finance Tips |
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Mortgage hardship applicants in limbo
Chase denied an untold number of loan modifications for a reason that is now prohibited: It determined that homeowners' financial troubles were temporary.
10 tax goofs many of us keep making
Year after year, the IRS sees Americans committing the same sorts of mistakes on their returns. Many of these errors are easy to avoid; some are more complicated.
Coming soon: Clearer credit card bills
Sometime after Feb. 22, when 2009's credit card reform law begins to take effect, you'll see changes on your monthly statements. The new format might tell painful truths, but it'll be good for you.
Will your Toyota's insurance go up?
Lawsuits against Toyota are beginning to mount after millions of vehicles are recalled. But calculating coverage rates goes beyond what you see in the news.
A newborn means new insurance, baby
Your family's addition needs to be covered -- and not just with a blanket. Take a close look at your insurance, and be sure to add the baby to your health plan.
Time to cash in your savings bonds?
Savers are hanging on to about $16.7 billion in bonds that are no longer earning interest. It's equivalent to stuffing money under the mattress.
Buying a home? Make lenders love you
With post-crisis credit still tight, you'll need to work harder to demonstrate you can handle a mortgage. Jump through these 5 hoops to prove you're worthy.
Get ready to pay more taxes
With funding cuts to national defense and major entitlements politically unpalatable, the middle class inevitably will be asked to do more to help close the budget gap.
The mortgage double standard?
If corporate America can walk away from mortgages, why is it wrong for you?
5 reasons to get new auto insurance
As your life changes, your coverage might need to change with it. Is it time for you to do some comparison shopping?
Would Obama's retirement fixes work?
Expert opinions differ, of course, but some ideas appear feasible. Pretty much everyone agrees something must be done.
New tax breaks for (almost) everyone
If you bought a house, a car or even a water heater, had a kid in college or were getting unemployment checks, you could save a bundle on your 2009 bill.
'Distracted driving' gets more attention
As evidence piles up that using a cell phone while driving carries significant -- and often fatal -- risks, aggressive efforts are under way to end talking and texting behind the wheel.
Struggling towns printing their own cash
In an echo of the Great Depression, local currencies with their own special flavors are popping up all over in attempts to give commerce and communities a lift.
Lenders play 'guess your income'
New federal rules are driving lenders to estimate your income based on credit reports. But the tools they're using aren't precise, and mistakes might be hard to correct.
Debit cards get more rewarding
As more consumers switch from credit to debit, debit card issuers and retailers are offering new and better incentives for card users.
Obama proposes aid for middle class
The White House recommends a mix of tax cuts and spending increases aimed at helping families care for relatives, afford college and save for retirement.
10 ways to raise college money now
The recession and rising tuition are crimping family finances, but new tax breaks, jobs, bigger loans and federal grants can help defray or delay higher-education costs.
Can 'opt out' IRAs help the middle class?
The White House is advocating automatic accounts for the millions of workers without access to employer-provided retirement plans.
How Facebook can hurt your finances
Social-networking sites might be fun and beneficial -- until your employer catches you bad-mouthing the boss or debt collectors use the sites to track you down.
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Economy News |
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Fannie, Freddie Remain State Wards
With no blueprints for the future and no clear exit strategy for the government, Fannie and Freddie are focusing for now on the U.S. loan-modification program.
Menendez Prodded Fed to Aid Lender
Sen. Robert Menendez wrote to the Fed last July asking it to approve a bank takeover that would have kept two of his campaign contributors from losing their investments in the ailing bank.
L.A. Scrambles to Patch Budget Hole
City officials are considering cutting 1,000 jobs and rolling back services as they struggle to plug a $200 million deficit by July
U.K. Trade Deficit Widens
The U.K. trade deficit widened in December as a solid rise in exports was outstripped by a stronger increase in imports.
Spain Announces 2010 Debt Plan
The Spanish Treasury plans to issue $104.9 billion in net debt in 2010, down 34% from a year earlier, as the government withdraws crisis borrowing and attempts to reassure markets its debt plan is under control.
Greece's Fiscal Woes Bring Bailout Questions
If the sovereign-debt worries that are infecting the euro-zone's weakest members intensify, and Greece has trouble refinancing its heavy borrowings, policy makers will have several options to help Greece out of its jam.
Fed's Bullard Talks of Mortgage-Asset Sales
The president of the St. Louis Fed said the central bank should begin gradually selling its mortgage-securities holdings later this year despite concerns from some investors the move would raise mortgage rates
Canada Fears Housing Bubble
As the U.S. struggles to get out of its housing slump, its neighbor to the north faces a different challenge: Canada's housing recovery has been so rapid that some here are worrying about a bubble.
Fed to Outline 'Exit Strategy'
The Fed's Bernanke will begin this week to lay out a credit-tightening blueprint to be used when the central bank decides the economy has recovered sufficiently.
Japan's Current Account Surplus Grew
Supported partly by stronger demand in Asia for electronics and auto parts, Japan's economic recovery likely picked up steam late last year. Exports, particularly to emerging markets, will remain key in the current quarter.
Geithner: U.S. Bond Rating Is Safe
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the U.S. wasn't in danger of losing its triple-A bond rating, in the wake of a warning from Moody's Investors Services about U.S. treasury-bond rating.
European Default-Risk Index at Fresh High
The cost of insuring against the risk of default by Greece, Portugal and Spain grew ahead of a key meeting of European heads of state later this week.
Kazakh Central Bank Warns on Loans
Kazakhstan's central bank said that bad loans remain the main systemic risk for domestic banks as liquidity and currency risks gradually decline.
Taiwan Posts Best Export Growth in More Than 33 Years
Taiwan posted its biggest monthly growth in exports in more than 33 years, powered by a recovery in demand from all its major export markets, especially China.
Signs of Hope as Jobless Rate Dips
The unemployment rate dropped sharply last month, but employers continued cutting jobs in January as businesses remained insecure about the economic outlook.
China's Export Focus Breeds Backlash
China's export-friendly policies are stoking discontent in developing countries and placing a burden on China's economy.
U.S., Canada Set Deal on 'Buy American'
The U.S. and Canada, reached a preliminary deal to settle a dispute over "Buy American" provisions in the U.S. stimulus package.
Consumers Keep Brakes on Borrowing
Americans, shy about flashing credit cards in the new age of thrift, reduced borrowing for the 11th month in a row.
Europe Reels Amid Investor Fears
Financial markets gyrated downward again Friday as investors turned skittish on banks that may have exposure to the sovereign debt of troubled European economies.
Obama: Jobs Number 'Cause for Hope'
Obama pointed to "encouraging" signs in the U.S. labor market, but said the government should do more to support hiring, pitching two new proposals to help small businesses bring on new workers.
Fears Rise of Euro Government Default
While Greece and Portugal have felt investors' fire, now larger economies like Spain are starting to come under pressure amid worries about their weakened public finances.
Retailers Continued Comeback Into January
Apparel retailers followed up a strong holiday showing with a good January by turning what is usually a month for clearance sales into an opportunity to move spring merchandise at full prices.
Top 2009 Forecasters Saw Bad Times
The two Morgan Stanley economists who beat 50 other forecasters in guessing how bad 2009 would be did it by predicting soaring unemployment and a U.S. economy that would start sputtering back to life by the end of the year.
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