All Economy
Mortgage rates climb. Really?The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage jumped 12 basis points to 4.06 percent since last week, while the purchase application volume declined 1.0 percent and the refinance application dropped 9.3 percent over the same period.
Existing home sales: Foreigners are buying. What's their impact?Although existing home sales dipped last month, foreign buyers are snapping up US homes. In some markets, they may be putting an end to the downturn in existing home sales.
U.S. stocks mixed on a quiet dayU.S. stocks were mostly unchanged Wednesday, a calm day in the middle of a bumpy week. U.S stock on the Dow fell 45 points to close at 13124.
Will health care reform be successful? Capital Hill barbershops show noPresident Obama has promised that more government will make health care cheaper and more available.聽A comparison of two Capitol Hill barbershops sheds some light on whether the president has it right.
US corporate tax rates must come downCome April 1, America's corporate tax rates will be the highest in the developed world. That's bad policy for the United States.
Allowance tricks to teach your kidsAllowance can be a good tool to teach your kids about money management. Consider requiring them to divide their allowance into spending, saving, investing, and giving categories.聽
Ryan's mystery meat budgetHouse Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a fiscal plan that promises trillions of dollars in tax cuts and a nearly balanced budget within a decade, but never says how he'd get there.聽
Why Democrats are cheering the Paul Ryan Republican budget planAs they did last year, Democrats are attacking the Republican budget plan released by Rep. Paul Ryan as an 'end of Medicare as we know it.' They think it will help them in November.
Gold prices, commodities fall on China weaknessGold prices drop more than $20 an ounce. Copper, oil, and soybean prices also decline as concerns mount about an economic slowdown in China. Gold prices close below $1,650 an ounce.
Paul Ryan's budget and the sticking point between the left and rightIn their calls for tax reform, Republican Paul Ryan and Democrat Kent Conrad have a lot in common. But the question over tax revenues continues to drive the two sides apart.
Obama's misguided views on fair tradeRecent remarks on China and fair trade illustrate some crucial errors in Obama's views.
Stocks down amid falling Chinese demandThe Dow dropped 68 points to close at 13170 Tuesday after two reports suggested an economic slowdown in China.
Time to end Washington's trust fund gimmicksIn theory, it makes sense to establish special accounts where designated revenues are set aside for a specific purpose. But in practice, Washington is grossly abusing the idea.
Housing permits jump, but housing starts plummetSingle family housing permits increased a whopping 4.9 percent from last month to 472,000 single family units, but single family housing starts plunged 9.86 percent to 457,000 units.
Income tax refund: five tips for maximizing it People are always looking for ways to get every dollar back they deserve at tax time. Fortunately, there are some smart moves you can make before April 17 to help maximize your income tax refund. Spending a few minutes now will save you time preparing your taxes and can help you get big savings. Here are five tips to get you started:
Money managers are helping each otherIn an unprecedented show of cooperation between firms, money managers are sharing information with one another to construct the best portfolios for their clients
Wendy's beats Burger King for No. 2 spotWendy's beats Burger King to take the runner-up spot for US hamburger chains after No. 1 McDonald's. While Wendy's beats Burger King in terms of restaurant sales, Burger King remains No. 2 in terms of corporate revenue and number of restaurants.聽聽
The GOP's tax cut trickWhen Republicans have nothing else to attack, they call for a tax cut. And it works.
10 best cities to buy short sale homes Foreclosures are tough: Homeowners lose their houses and ruin their credit, while banks get stuck with vacant, deteriorating real estate for months before selling it at a considerable loss. Increasingly, banks are finding another way: the short sale. Instead of waiting to foreclose, a bank preemptively sells a home at a deep discount and closes out the underwater mortgage, even if the house sells for less than the value of the mortgage. The result: Homeowners shed their mortgage debt, and banks unload properties more quickly and inexpensively. Here are the Top 10 metropolitan areas with the biggest average discounts on these pre-foreclosure homes, according to online foreclosure marketplace RealtyTrac. Can you guess which city is No. 1?
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