Updated Aug. 9, 8pm EDT
In 2008, as Lehman Brothers collapsed, stocks melted down, Wall Street buckled and finance and trade froze from Tokyo to Chicago, governments and central banks across the world stepped in to save the day. Yes, the Great Recession was terrible, the worst economic downturn since the 1930s, but it could have …
I’ve argued that U.S. borrowing rates will continue sitting pretty, despite the cascade of debt downgrades this country appears to have in store. That’s because when it comes to investments considered to be “safe havens,” there are few other places global investors can go. But here’s another reason looming downgrades aren’t likely to …
The full impact of ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgrade of U.S. debt remains unclear. But one outcome credit analysts say is almost certain is higher consumer interest rates.
Average investors probably don’t like to hear it, but when it comes to reacting to major economic news like Standard & Poor’s U.S. debt downgrade on Aug. 5 — or even its downgrade of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Monday — …
Eddie Bauer is currently hosting a sale on all men’s and women’s jeans: Buy one pair, and a second pair of equal or lesser value comes at half price.
More bad news is on the way, but there are smart moves investors can make now.
A lot of folks nearing retirement still have a traditional pension. But a new study suggests they don't know how to figure it into their plans. Here's a start.
Having Standard & Poor’s downgrade the creditworthiness of the U.S., and warn the country about further downgrades, is a little like having the Catholic Church lecture Scout leaders on the proper behavior toward boys. The moral authority seems to be wanting. S&P, you may recall, is one of the ratings agencies (the others being Moody’s …
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that a TSA worker was caught after stealing valuables from passenger luggage. Among the pilfered items was a prepaid debit card with $1,000 loaded on it. While having a debit card stolen is …
Standard & Poor’s decision to strip the U.S. of its triple-A credit rating, whether we agree with it or not, signals a turning point for the entire global economy. Because of the unique role the U.S. plays in the world economy, a downgrade of the U.S. isn’t anything like a downgrade of Greece or Spain. For the past century, and …
Standard & Poor’s was heavily criticized for its decision on Friday to downgrade for the first time in its history the credit rating of the debt of the United States. Politicians, and in particular Republicans, came under fire for having let the debt ceiling standoff go on for so long. And it was unlikely that the downgrade would do …
Ignore all the grumbling you will hear in the next few days about Standard & Poor’s. Yes, the ratings agency miscalled tens of billions of dollars of mortgage bonds leading up to the financial crisis. Yes, it’s an organization fraught with conflicts of interest, where debt issuers game the system to get the highest ratings. And yes, even …
