Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
Britain May Revive Perpetual Gilts
By Marlene Y. SatterEverything old is new againBritain is considering bringing back perpetual gilts, long-term bonds that were first debuted after the South Seas Bubble crisis of 1720. With 100-year maturities and todays extra-low interest rates, the idea is attractive to many.
March 13, 2012
German Concern over ECB Funding GrowsGermany is getting worriedmore worried than usualabout the level of debt in the eurozone. The European Central Banks Target2 system indicates that money owed to the Bundesbank now totals 489 billion euros ($656 billion
March 13, 2012
U.S. Joins in WTO Dispute with ChinaChina, which has about 33% of the worlds resources of rare earths, produces at least 90% of the supply available for manufacturing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin was cited as saying that Chinas policy regarding rare earths complies with WTO rules.
March 13, 2012
How Investors Should Play a War With IranJust as Pentagon planners are sorting out military contingencies in the event of a conflict with Iran, so too are investment planners assessing the investment risks and opportunities of war in the Persian Gulf.
March 13, 2012
JOBS Bill Under Fire by SEC, NASAA, Consumer AdvocatesA bill that started out as seven separate pieces of legislation intended to benefit business startups and stimulate job creation is coming in for criticism as it heads to the Senate, as opponents say that it does away with consumer protection.
March 13, 2012
Top 10 Best U.S. Cities for BusinessDespite increased competition from around the globe, America is still on top, according to a research report commissioned by Citigroup, which shows that 10 of the top 30 cities worldwide are in the United States.
March 13, 2012
The IRA Charitable Donation: It’s Just a Tax Deduction in 2012The tax code provision that allowed IRA owners to contribute up to $100,000 directly from their IRA to the qualified charity of their choicewithout recognizing the donation as incomeexpired at the end of 2011, and Congress has given no indication if it will be renewed.
March 12, 2012
Doomsayer Hussman Says Market Crash Coming—According to HistoryThe Ph.D. portfolio manager adds corporate insider selling as another ominous sign on top of his list of historic indicators of a crash, noting that the ratio of corporate stock sales to stock buys has been running 8 to 1, four times the normal pace.