MarketNews

The Financial Landscape: Are the Unemployed Against Their Benefits?

The New York Times has found some unemployed people to argue against an extension of jobless benefits: "In a recent survey of the unemployed by Rutgers University, more than one in four respondents was opposed to renewing the current extended unemployment benefits.

Google's Future: Can Larry Page Make It a Winner Again?

Google has been dead money for the last year -- up just 3% vs. 12.6% for the S&P 500. The Internet giant's biggest problem is its inability to diversify its revenue sources. Author Peter Cohan pulls out his Innovation Quotient to suggest how new CEO Larry Page might correct that.

How Age Influences Your Investing Decisions

With age comes wisdom, right? In most cases, it's hard to argue against that point. But new research shows that when it comes to investing, younger investors are likely to make smarter choices compared to their older counterparts.

A Real Estate Tale of Two Cities

When it comes to real estate, the U.S. is hardly a homogeneous market. For instance, New York fell much less than Los Angeles did, and now both are rebounding. But the cities' different local economics may yet put them on divergent paths again -- or not.

What the Stock Market's 'Breakout' Is Missing: Volume

Since the S&P finally rose past the key 1,130 level on Monday, stocks have languished rather than rapidly advance. That's because volume is anemic. And without volume, the market is said to lack the conviction needed to actually create a definitive trend.

Why Futures and Options Expirations Won't Boost Wall Street

Index futures, index options, equity options and security futures are all set to expire Friday in a phenomenon known as the "quadruple witching" hour. It usually signals a time of higher trading volumes and surprises on Wall Street, but this time, investor uncertainty is likely to keep trades low.

Why Housing's Bottom Is Still a Few Years Away

As the number of foreclosures continues to rise and more homeowners find themselves underwater, it's hard to argue that housing values have ended their fall. But when will the market finally bottom out? It could take several more years.

Could Terrorists Create a Market Crash?

September marks the anniversary of two events that rocked the markets: the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008. Today, many people worry about the possibility of a terrorist attack on the financial system. International economist Rex Ghosh, who has written a novel about just that, discusses the threat.

Why the Financial Crisis Spells the End of Western Power

In a new article, political scientist Ian Bremmer and economist Nouriel Roubini assert that the free-market system of capitalism has been so damaged by the recent financial crisis that the West's era of political and economic dominance may be gone for good.

Should the Fed Buy Stocks to Stabilize the Markets?

As Ben Bernanke prepares for the Fed's annual summer retreat, he faces a weakening economy -- and a growing chorus calling for action to boost asset prices. One thing is for sure: The world's most powerful central banker has no easy options.

What's Needed Now to Stimulate the Economy

Shoveling trillions of dollars into banks hasn't boosted either spending or lending. What if the federal government stopped trying to revive the economy by encouraging borrowing -- and instead dropped money straight into your bank account?

Reading the VIX: What the 'Fear Index' Is Saying Now

After spiking in May on dismay over Eurozone debt anxiety, the VIX has been trending generally downward, with any jumps being only short-lived. Another spike just occurred. The thing to watch now is if the VIX follows this recent pattern -- or not.

Underwater Homeowners:
This Could Get Ugly

Negative equity is linked to higher foreclosures. About a quarter of households with mortgages already owe more than their homes are worth. If prices slip further, up to half of all homeowners may end up underwater -- a scary prospect for Americans' financial health.

Six Reasons to Expect Slow Economic Growth

Investors often seek insight from the latest news, the most recent weekly and monthly data updates. But the underlying status of the economy is better reflected in long-term trends, and many of those show serious headwinds to future U.S. growth.

These Numbers Paint
a Bleak Picture for Housing

It's getting harder to avoid the evidence pointing to more trouble ahead for housing. Essentially, there's a massive mismatch between rising supplies of homes for sale and dwindling demand from buyers. Not even high-end markets are immune.

Is the Market Due for a 'Right Shoulder' Rally?

With all the grim economic news out of Europe and China and the disappointing U.S. jobs report, a stock market rally may seem counterintuitive. But several technical signals suggest that the market is ready for a modest rally in the next few weeks.