Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
2011 Market Forecast (and a Review of 2010’s 4Q)
By Ben WarwickInvestment returns were solidly positive in the fourth quarter, thanks to increased consumer spending, a better-than-expected Christmas season for retailers, and improved earnings.
January 04, 2011
GOP Challenges, Chides President on SpendingMajority Leader Eric Cantor explains agenda in Capitol Hill press conference.
January 04, 2011
Fed's December Minutes: Economy Needs Bond-Buying ProgramFederal Reserve officials stuck with the pace of their $600 billion Treasury bond-buying program, known as QE2, last month because the economy wasn't improving fast enough to make a noticeable dent in unemployment.
January 04, 2011
Factory Orders Rise 0.7% in November, Commerce Dept. FindsBusinesses ordered more factory goods in November, responding to stronger consumer demand for household appliances, computers, and furniture.
January 04, 2011
Bank Failures in 2010 Worst Since S&L CrisisThis year was the worst year for bank failures, according to the FDIC, since 1992, when the savings and loan crisis was visiting disaster upon the U.S. economy.
January 04, 2011
Unconventional Substitutes for Fixed-Income AllocationsPaltry yields may call for tactics that look beyond plain vanilla. Here’s how.
January 03, 2011
Active Investing to Go Global in 1011: Searching for Alpha for January 2011Forget stock picking. Finding alpha in 2011 will be much more about gaming the growth of the world’s economies
January 03, 2011
ISM Shows December Growth Fastest Since May; Construction Spending RisesManufacturers produced more goods and booked more orders last month, leading to the fastest growth in factory activity since May, and construction spending also rose.