All Economy
- Success is a double-edged sword, even for hedge fund mogulsRay Dalio, the manager of the world's biggest hedge fund firm, has achieved hedge-fund-mogul status. His success comes with certain trappings and pitfalls, Brown writes.
- Romney, Obama, and 'redistribution': How much do US taxes reallocate wealth?The federal tax system is 'progressive' – meaning wealthier people pay taxes at a higher rate than others. It is, in effect, a wealth redistribution mechanism. But it's not new to Obama, or even more pronounced under him.
- Stock markets, US futures steady on hopes Spain asks for aidAs global economy worsens, investors expect Spain to negotiate a bailout, easing fears about a eurozone breakup. Major Asian, European market indexes showed little change, while S&P futures were up modestly.
- Bank of America slashes 16,000 jobs. Early.Bank of America will cut 16,000 jobs by Christmas, speeding up a previously announced plan to eliminate 30,000 Bank of America jobs overall, according to a report.
- Apple's iPhone 5 sales surge circles the globeiPhone 5 buyers lined up outside of stores from Hong Kong to London to New York. The iPhone 5 goes on sale in 9 countries Friday, and 22 more next week.
- The insurance agent work-around: Buy insurance direct from the company.With a bit of research, you can save money on insurance by avoiding buying from agents, Hamm writes.
- Gleeful Parisians wait to buy iPhone 5. Then protesters appear.Disgruntled former employees of now-closed Apple distributors crash iPhone party atmosphere as buyers line up to buy the Apple iPhone 5 in Paris.Â
- Apple iPhone 5 draws big crowds in AsiaApple iPhone 5 gives the consumer giant a huge boost as holiday season approaches. Carriers in Asia report record demand on first day iPhone 5 goes on sale.
- Median income fell last year: Which states were hit hardest?The Census Bureau has provided state- and city-level numbers on income and poverty in the US for 2011. Ohio, Florida, and Texas were among the states where residents lost ground in income.
- Don't count Romney outReich offers four reasons why Mitt Romney could still win the election.
- Weak global markets drag stocks downThree stocks fell for every two that rose on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday after manufacturing and business activity in both China and Europe slowed.
- How many will pay health-care tax penalty? CBO estimate rises 50 percent.Citing a gloomier economic outlook, and to a lesser extent the Supreme Court ruling on Medicaid expansion, the CBO now estimates 6 million people will pay the health-care tax penalty by 2016.
- Wal-Mart to stop selling Kindles as Amazon threat growsWal-Mart decision to drop Kindle tablets and e-readers follows Target's move in May. Wal-Mart and other bricks-and-mortar stores see Amazon's digital sales as a growing threat.
- How savvy are you about real estate? Take our quiz.
You hire a real estate agent to help you buy or sell your home, your largest financial asset, but how do you know if he’s doing his job well? Even more worrisome, how do you know his financial incentives are aligned with your interests? As we show in our new book Inside the Sell, the best way to navigate the potential minefield of residential real estate is to find a great agent, but consumers are often asking the wrong questions. Take our quiz to test your real estate savvy:
- International investors hot on ... Zambia?Investors bombarded Zambia's debut international bond offering, with demand outstripping supply of the debt by 15 times, and leading to an unusually low rate of borrowing for an African sovereign.
- Tim Pawlenty ditches Romney campaign for Wall StreetTim Pawlenty has resigned as a national co-chairman of Republican Mitt Romney's presidential campaign to take a job as a Wall Street lobbyist. An early presidential candidate, Tim Pawlenty will not run for governor or Senate in Minnesota in 2014.
- Discounts for hybrids down in SeptemberNew data from CarWoo, a site that lets buyers anonymously get quotes on new cars, shows that discounts on several hybrid car models are among the lowest across all deals offered during September.
- The 47 percent: a case studyGleckman profiles a single mom who likely owes no income tax thanks largely to the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.
- Can Mexico reclaim title as region's largest economy from Brazil?Mexico was once Latin America’s darling, but in the past decade Brazil has far surpassed it as commodities drove economic growth. President-elect Peña Nieto is eager to reposition Mexico.
- Mortgage rates fall to record low 3.49 percentMortgage rates for 15-year agreements fell to a new record low this week, and the average 30-year rate touched its record low. Mortgage rates matched their lowest level since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.