Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
CFPB Rolls Out Financial Aid Shopping Sheet as Student Debt Tops $1 Trillion
By Melanie WaddellAs outstanding student loan debt has surpassed the debt consumers hold in credit cards and car loans, the CFPB has just completed a form colleges can use to break down costs and payment options.
July 24, 2012
U.S. home prices have bottomed out (Fox News)The Zillow Home Value Index climbed 0.2% on a year-to-year basis to $149,300 for the first time since 2007.
July 24, 2012
Paulson, Rubin Say Congress Will Blink on Fiscal CliffIn something of a blast from the past, two former Treasury secretaries from different parties agree the U.S. probably will avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.
July 24, 2012
Moody’s Cuts Outlook on Germany, Luxembourg, NetherlandsGermany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg saw their outlooks downgraded to negative by Moodys Investors Service late Monday as debt woes in the eurozone continued to worsen.
July 23, 2012
European Crisis Biggest Factor When Advising Clients: SurveysAdvisors polled in recent studies by kasina and OppenheimerFunds agreed that the debt crisis in Europe is having the biggest impact on the advice they give to clients.
July 23, 2012
Patton’s Fund Picks, Pt. 2: Foreign Stock FundsIn the second of a series of blogs, advisor Mike Patton shares his top picks in foreign stock funds, in both developed and emerging markets, with a reminder on the role of currency.
July 23, 2012
Biggest Group of Losers in Dividend Tax Hike? The Middle Class: ReportA plan to raise the dividend tax rate will have negative consequences for the middle class, according to a new study from Ernst & Young.
July 23, 2012
Congress Prods N.Y. Fed for More LIBOR InfoThe House Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee told the New York Fed on Monday that it wants more information about the the handling of banks alleged manipulation and suppression of LIBOR.