Republican congressional leaders are ruling out tax increases in talks on extending the U.S.'s borrowing
authority, while Democrats want to raise more money
as well as cut spending.
The SEC is studying whether growth
of closely held companies is being hindered by limits on the number of
shareholders they can have, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro said.
More than 28% of U.S. homeowners owed more than their properties were
worth in the first quarter as values fell the most since 2008, Zillow
Inc. said today.
Dining out will cost more this year as U.S. restaurants take advantage
of the nearly two-year long expansion to boost prices on food and
drinks.
The number of claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose
last week, pushed up by auto-plant shutdowns and other unusual events.
Republican lawmakers say they are ready for the backlash against their 2012 budget that slashes spending for Medicare, education, job training and socials services.
Silver futures fell, heading for the biggest three-day drop since 2008,
and gold also retreated amid a report Soros Fund Management LLC sold
precious-metal assets.
With U.S. home prices back down to their 2009 lows, you might be
wondering what all the government programs to stabilize the housing
market have accomplished.
After enduring Europe's credit crisis and Japan's nuclear disaster, investors are unlikely to view the death of Osama bin Laden as anything but
bullish.
by Daniel S. Choquette
This Putnam manager thinks there is little risk of the United States losing its AAA rating
status even with political gridlock over the next several quarters.
by
Ray Fazzi
The U.S. economy grew at a slower pace than forecast in
the first quarter as government spending declined by the most since
1983.
Purchases of new houses in the U.S. rose in March from a record low as the weakest industry in the economy strained to recover.
Silver and gold climbed to records and oil rose for a fourth day, while
the dollar weakened, amid concern inflation will accelerate.
by
Eric Rasmussen
Despite the sharp rebound in the markets, economic growth will continue to be slow and be vulnerable to a double-dip recession, said David Wyss, S&P's chief economist.
A gain in sales of U.S. previously owned homes in March
failed to make up for the ground lost the prior month, a sign that the
housing market is taking time to recover.
Teachers, engineers and other public employees are heading for the exits, fearing how proposed benefit cuts will affect them.
The most affordable real estate in a generation is failing to lure
buyers as Americans sour on the idea of home ownership.
More money than ever is flowing to mutual funds that
buy both stocks and bonds, a sign that individuals are starting to
return to equities during the most volatile bull market since at least...
Standard & Poor's put a "negative" outlook on
the long-term U.S. AAA credit rating, citing a "material risk"
the nation's leaders will fail to deal with budget deficits and
debt.
President Barack Obama's call for raising taxes by focusing on spending
in the tax code was immediately rejected by top Republicans.
