Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
Signs Point Away From Treasuries, but Not Because of Downgrade
By Rob SteinYes, there could be more downside in the market , but a decline in confidence is very different from a decline in financial worthiness.
August 17, 2011
Inflation Isn’t Stopping Dollar SellingTodays surprisingly robust inflation data initially propped up stocks, but Eurozone concerns pressured equities lower.
August 17, 2011
Merkel-Sarkozy Meeting Disappoints Europe MarketsA much-touted meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy over strategies to cope with the euro zones debt woes disappointed investors Tuesday, and stocks echoed their disappointment in Wednesday morning trading, moving lower.
August 17, 2011
Swiss Franc Continues RiseThe Swiss franc continued its rise into the stratosphere on Wednesday, spurred on by a failure by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to directly intervene in the currency's valuation. Instead SNB boosted liquidity and said it would take additional steps.
August 16, 2011
Volatility Spikes on Europe WoesThe markets opened lower, but bounced after good industrial production numbers at mid-morning.
August 16, 2011
States Get $185 Million to Build Insurance ExchangesHHS awarded $185 million to 13 states and the District of Columbia to help them build Affordable Insurance Exchangesone stop marketplaces that let consumers pick a private health plan that mirrors choices offered to Congress.
August 16, 2011
If Volatile Markets Persist, Pension Funds May Flee to BondsIf markets continue to be volatile post S&P's downgrade of U.S. debt to Double-A+, pension funds will attempt to minimize their losses and buy bonds, says Brett Goldstein, president of The Pension Department.
August 16, 2011
Roubini: Karl Marx Got Capitalism's Death Wish Partly RightNouriel Roubini, the economist known as Dr. Doom, invoked the specter of Karl Marx while taking on presidential candidate Rick Perry over threats by the 'Texan thug' against Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.