Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
European Economy to Contract, Not Expand: EC
By Marlene Y. SatterAltering its forecast on the state of the European economy in 2012, the European Commission said that the euro area would shrink instead of expanding, largely because of Spain and Italy. The two countries are expected to be in for some difficult times as they cope with various economic woes.
February 23, 2012
Dallas Fed's Fisher Says No QE3 NeededDallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said Thursday the U.S. economy is getting better and repeated his view that further quantitative easing, also known as QE3, was not needed from the central bank.
February 23, 2012
Dividends and the End of the Retirement Crisis; Easing Economic Pressure: March Investment Advisor—SlideshowEveryone is talking about dividends these days, but Fred Taylor at Northstar Investment Advisors has been using them as a retirement income solution for the past 17 years. Clearly, this is a strategy with some staying power.
February 22, 2012
Greece to Force Cuts on BondholdersThe bill, called Collective Action Clauses, will impose the debt swap of existing bonds for new, lower-value debt with lower coupon rates on Greece's creditors.
February 22, 2012
White House’s Corporate Tax Reform Derided by Republicans, BusinessesThe Obama administration has unveiled a framework for corporate tax reform that lowers rates while eliminating loopholes, but the proposal has already met with sharp criticism from Republicans and corporations for proposing a rate higher than the developed-country average.
February 22, 2012
Eurozone Data Drive Markets DownFor the second day in a row European stock prices retreated as economic data showed unexpected weakness for February, with services and manufacturing output falling.
February 22, 2012
Larger Bank of England Stimulus Was OverriddenTwo of the nine members of the Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee were outvoted at the committees last meeting when they sought to boost its stimulus to 75 billion pounds ($118 billion). The majority was concerned that such a move would cause alarm over the state of the economy...
February 22, 2012
Muni Funds Record Fifth Straight Month of InflowsAs investors continue their desperate search for yield, municipal bond funds hit their fifth consecutive month of inflows, racking up more than $100 million in January, according to Boston-based Cerulli Associates.