It's a simple idea: Levy a tax on stock, bond, and derivatives trades so small that it only impacts speculators and the biggest high-speed traders, and use the proceeds to fight poverty and climate change. In Europe, it's gaining momentum, and the U.S. could be next.
Deep divisions among Senate Democrats over whether cuts to Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to slow the growth of the federal debt pose a big obstacle to a deal for avoiding a potentially economy-crushing "fiscal cliff," even if Republicans agree to raise taxes.
SunPower boasts of being able to manufacture the most efficient large-scale solar modules in the industry, and shipments of its residential and commercial components have been growing rapidly. Trefis predicts they'll keep growing, especially if federal policy shifts further in favor of solar.
DailyFinance writer Jonathan Berr sees much to like in the compromise President Obama reached with congressional Republicans on taxes and unemployment compensation. And while he'd never call it perfect, as he notes, the American voters elect politicians to get stuff done, which this plan does.
The central bank says the disclosures cover more than 21,000 individual transactions done to "restore the flow of credit to American families and businesses, and support economic recovery and job creation in the aftermath of the crisis." It also says no money has been lost so far.
