This spring has been filled with disappointing economic news, but one bright spot has been the possible bottoming out of the housing market. The conventional wisdom is that a stable housing market is important not only because …
Economy
Moody’s Downgrades — Should We Care?
You’d be forgiven for asking who cares about Moody’s downgrading yesterday of 15 of the world’s biggest banks, including giants like Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase …
Beware the Bond Bubble
Few investors in these troubled times would dream of expecting double digit returns.
Does Ben Bernanke Have Any Ammo Left?
The Federal Reserve can’t seem to get any love these days. Within hours of the bank’s announcement that it would lower its growth and employment forecasts and continue its “Operation Twist” bond-buying program through the end …
“Not Unless the Earth Gets Struck by the Moon” and Other Highlights from Jamie Dimon’s House Hearing
Jamie Dimon returned to Capitol Hill yesterday for round two of his congressional testimony concerning JPMorgan’s springtime trading fiasco.
Our Net Worth Is Down 39%. How Worried Should We Be?
It’s unlikely that most families will be able to make up for lost time after a 21-year period in which growth in their net worth has averaged out to less than nothing. However, some analysts are clinging to misconceptions that …
The Euro Crisis: Why Greece’s Election Doesn’t Matter
Despite all the attention focused on Greece’s latest election, the results won’t alter the course of Europe’s widening debt crisis
Money Talking: What Matters More to Voters, Gas Prices or Jobs?
A lot of people say gas prices will affect the election. But, in fact, the unemployment rate is a lot more important as a political predictor. New York Times columnist Joe Nocera and I examine the connection between economics and elections — as well as how lousy we all are at predicting risk, and the top financial news of the week — on …
Why Undocumented Workers Are Good for the Economy
Tough immigration laws in Arizona and Alabama are costing the states billions of dollars. Business and agricultural leaders have had enough.
How Dangerous Is America’s Debt?
The deficit needs to be trimmed, but not at the risk of austerity policies that could cause another recession — and the real long-term problem is entitlements
You Say Tomato, I Say Bailout: How Spain Agreed to Be Rescued
Knowing how bailouts doomed the governments of other countries, Spain insists it has accepted a massive “loan” to recapitalize its banks. Others, however, are calling it as they see it.
As Economic Concerns Mount, President Obama Says, ‘The Private Sector Is Doing Fine’
President Obama attempted Friday to improve his chops as an international leader working hard to protect American workers and save Europe from its own political dysfunction. But his morning appearance in the White House briefing room is likely to be remembered, instead, for a single sound bite he surely wishes he could take back: “The …
