Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
IMF, Japan Deny Italy Talks on Aid
By thinkadvisorWith yields on Italian bonds skyrocketing, a report in the Monday daily La Stampa that the International Monetary Fund would provide a loan package to Italy of up to 600 billion euros ($798 billion) at an interest rate of between 4-5% was denied by the IMF.
November 25, 2011
Will Black Friday Save Economy?As consumers abandoned Thanksgiving dinners to head out in search of holiday bargains at stores that opened earlier this year than ever for Black Friday sales, one thing was fairly sure: they were shoppers with budgets in mind rather than those looking for luxury gifts.
November 25, 2011
France Nominates Treasury Official for ECB BoardFrance has nominated its second-highest Treasury official, Benoit Coeure, to a seat on the European Central Banks six-member executive board. If Coeure is appointed, he would once again give France a voice in the ECBs policies and decisions.
November 25, 2011
German Business Confidence RisesDespite disastrous bond sale, survey of business leaders depicts a strong economy.
November 25, 2011
Italy's ‘Awful’ Debt Sale Doesn't Ease CrisisItaly managed to sell 10 billion euros ($13.2 billion) worth of sovereign bonds on Friday in an "awful" auction, but thats about the only good thing that can be said about the event, according to experts.
November 23, 2011
Merrill Boosting Edge FSA ForceBofA-Merrill added 27 Merrill Edge financial solutions advisors in Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; and Nashville and other nearby cities to its mass-affluent platform in late October. The bank says it is on track to nearly double the number of FSAs in branches and call centers to more than 1,000 by the...
November 23, 2011
Research Roundtable: Gundlach, Rodriguez, OthersOur expert panel John Buckingham, Kenneth L. Fisher, Jeffrey Gundlach, Robert Rodriguez sees turbulence and opportunity in the year ahead, as history makes clear that presidential election years are usually favorable for the securities markets.
November 23, 2011
This Christmas Say No, for Now, to ShoppingNEWS SOURCES ARE ALREADY REPORTING sightings of the Grinch poised to steal Christmas. Subpar sales are signaling a frigid holiday season ahead, and retailers are aggressively courting consumers through deep discounts. But Americans should avoid this snare.