2009

Remember the giddy year of 1999, when many of us were convinced we were entering the new millennium and everyone was panicking about the Y2K bug? During the subsequent decade, the stock market made us rich as kings, then poor as church mice. We've taken a look back to see how the years have...

Bears who warn the U.S. stock market has gone too far too fast -- the broad Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 18 percent year to date -- may not get much vindication anytime soon. Investors should see stocks continue to rally as long as corporate profits keep recovering, says market expert...

On Monday, Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in economics, along with fellow American Oliver Williamson. In addition to being a surprise winner, Ostrom's research had a surprising inspiration: her mother's tomatoes and carrots. "My mother had a victory garden during the...

As consumers' retail spending declines, eBay's (EBAY) prospects brighten. At least that's one possible story to be told by eBay's second quarter 2009 results, beating analyst expectations at 25 cents a share -- $327.3 million -- or 37 cents a share excluding one-time charges. Analysts thought the...

While investors and analysts have been highly critical of Starbucks (SBUX) over the past 24 months, sending the stock tumbling to a several-year low, the past few months have been quietly blissful. The stock is up more than 87 percent, to $14.69 at today's close, since November 21, when SBUX hit...

...and it won't even take another world war. According to a survey of leading economists conducted by the National Association for Business Economics, the recession will end in the third quarter of 2009; that is, by the end of September. A minority, 19%, believe it won't end until December, and...

In years past, power lunches and quick meals on the go were standard fare, with brown bag lunches relegated to second-class citizen status. A cold meat sandwich could hardly compare to a delicious burger and fries. That began to change in 2008, and 2009 is set to be the comeback year for brown-bag...

Gone are the days when coupon clipping meant you had to cozy up to a kitchen table for an hour of hunting and cutting in order to save money. Thanks to emerging technology and new trends form retailers; 2009 is poised to be the year that ushers in major coupon savings for any purchase. Getting...

An analyst for the home building industry says that 2009 is not a good year to buy for those who may be at risk of finding themselves unemployed. Read more about this report at Marketwatch.com."Buyers who lose their jobs or who stay in their homes for less than seven years stand to incur...

If you're anything like me, you have some trepidation that the New Year will swoop in and you'll miss some big financial deadline that will end up costing you a bundle. Thankfully there's Kiplinger's Save the Date guide to financial dates in 2009.Some items won't apply to your situation, but what's...