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SEC to consider tougher rules for money funds Jun 5, 2013 12:00 AM
The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected on Wednesday to propose stricter regulations for money-market mutual funds, hoping to shore up an industry that posed risks to investors at the height of the 2008 financial crisis. SEC officials have yet to make public any proposed changes to its oversight of the $2.7 trillion industry.
Nikkei weighs on markets ahead of more U.S. figures Jun 5, 2013 12:00 AM
Disappointment at Japan’s latest package of measures designed to boost its economy coupled with concerns over the course of U.S. monetary policy to weigh on markets Wednesday. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index had another day to forget as investors appeared disappointed at the lack of detail in a keynote speech on the economy from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Stocks head lower on Fed stimulus worries Jun 4, 2013 12:00 AM
The Federal Reserve guessing game threw the markets for another loop Tuesday. Comments from a Fed official raised expectations that the Fed could start easing off its support for the economy soon, sending the stock market sharply lower in the late afternoon. The market recovered in the last hour of trading to end with slight losses.
Why bad news makes the stock market happy Jun 3, 2013 12:00 AM
For now, bad news is good for the stock market. Investors judged that the latest weak economic reports will make it more likely that the Federal Reserve will continue to stimulate the economy and support a rally on Wall Street. On Monday, a measure of U.S. manufacturing fell in May to its lowest level since June 2009 as overseas economies slumped and weak business spending reduced new orders to factories.
Rising rates: Reason to worry or sign of strength? Jun 2, 2013 12:00 AM
The trends sound ominous. Mortgages get more expensive and both big companies and the federal government pay more to borrow. The stock market dips on suspicions that the Federal Reserve could start pulling its support for the economy this year. The thing is, these current trends fall under the heading “good news.”
Risk-parity funds, the next ‘better mousetrap’? Jun 2, 2013 12:00 AM
The mutual fund industry is forever trying to build a better mousetrap—with mixed results. The latest contender to be a better mousetrap is known as the risk-parity fund. Just four years after their debut, the new breed of funds has already attracted nearly $30 billion in assets—$16 billion of that in the past year alone, according to Lipper.
Merkel tells Hollande reform the price of deficit waiver Jun 1, 2013 12:00 AM
“We agreed to the commission’s giving France two more years to meet the deficit target of 3 percent coupled with the expectation — and the French president just confirmed that — that reforms are undertaken,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. “The two things go hand in hand.”
Rising rates: Reason to worry or sign of strength? May 31, 2013 12:00 AM
Alan Greenspan raised the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate from 3.25 percent to 5.5 percent in nine months. That sharp hike upended the bond market, cost investors billions and helped push Orange County, Calif. into bankruptcy
Stocks plummet in late trading but end May higher May 31, 2013 12:00 AM
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index rose to 84.5 in May, up from 76.4 in April and the highest since July 2007. Investors are hoping that increasingly confident consumers will step up their spending, which would contribute to U.S. economic growth. The Dow closed down 208.96 points, or 1.4 percent, to 15,115.57.
Stocks rise as lackluster reports ease Fed concern May 30, 2013 12:00 AM
The stock market rose Thursday after a pair of lackluster economic reports raised expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue to boost the economy with its stimulus program. Unemployment claims rose and an initial estimate of first-quarter economic growth was revised slightly lower.
Nasdaq paying $10M to settle Facebook disruption May 29, 2013 12:00 AM
Nasdaq has agreed to pay a $10 million penalty to settle federal civil charges after regulators said its systems and decisions disrupted Facebook's public stock offering last year. The Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday that the penalty is the largest ever imposed against an exchange.
Stocks fall; Dow average pulls back from a record May 29, 2013 12:00 AM
Wall Street's recent passion for high-dividend stocks is fading. The stock market closed lower Wednesday, led by the same industry groups that had the biggest gains early in the year: rich dividend payers like power utilities and makers of consumer staples.
Stocks jump after home prices, confidence surge May 28, 2013 12:00 AM
Stocks surged Tuesday after U.S. home prices rose the most in seven years and consumer confidence reached a five-year high. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed as much as 210 points during morning trading as traders returned from the Memorial Day holiday.
Valeant to buy Bausch + Lomb for $8.7 billion May 27, 2013 12:00 AM
Canadian drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals said Monday that it will pay $8.7 billion to buy Bausch + Lomb, one of the world's best-known makers of contact lenses, in a massive expansion of Valeant's smaller ophthalmology business.
Japan’s Nikkei dives as yen gains strength May 27, 2013 12:00 AM
Japan's stock market dived Monday after the yen reversed some of its recent fall against the U.S. dollar. Stocks elsewhere were mixed as investors tried to sort out conflicting indicators about the health of the global economy.
Protesters target Monsanto in 250 cities May 25, 2013 12:00 AM
Stocks barely budge; market ends week with loss May 24, 2013 12:00 AM
The S&P 500, widely used by mutual funds as a proxy for the stock market, lost 1.1 percent for the week. It's still up 15.7 percent for the year.
Investors shift focus to growth stocks May 24, 2013 12:00 AM
If investors believe that the economy will carry on improving, it makes sense for them to load up on the stocks of companies that will benefit most from accelerating growth. Banks tend to perform better in a strong economy because demand for loans increases as companies borrow more to expand.
Lampert loses $467 million on Sears stake May 24, 2013 12:00 AM
Edward Lampert said in a statement Friday that the company's performance "has not been acceptable." Since the beginning of last year, Sears has sold stores and spun off smaller-format locations as Lampert puts an increased emphasis on the customer rewards program, saying the retailer's future is as a "membership company."
Durable goods orders rise 3.3 percent in April May 24, 2013 12:00 AM
The April increase pushed total orders to $222.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis. That is 6.5 percent above the level of a year ago.Orders for transportation goods gained 8.1 percent, reflecting a 16.1 percent jump in demand for commercial aircraft and a 53.3 percent increase in orders for military aircraft. Orders for motor vehicles increased 1.9 percent.