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Dow 14,000 Is Back ... But Does That Really Mean Anything?

On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 14,075, its highest close in the past five years, and within 90 points of its all-time high: 14,164, reached on Oct. 9, 2007. But what does that really mean for you, or the economy as a whole?

Dow Posts Largest Percentage Drop Since July

Chevron shares dropped 4.2 percent to $112.45 after it said third-quarter profits would be "substantially lower" than the previous quarter, while Alcoa fell 4.6 percent to $8.71 after it posted a quarterly loss. The company cut its outlook for global aluminum demand, citing a slowdown in China.

The Global 500: No Borders, No Boundaries

Despite financial turmoil in Europe and disasters in Japan, the world's largest corporations had record profits and revenue in 2011. Where on Earth will the growth come from next?

Vote for America's Biggest 'Corporate Fool'

As April 1 approaches, Green America wants you to help it choose the "Biggest Corporate Fool" of 2012: the worst offender in the realm of business shenanigans. You've probably heard of most of the nominees -- but the behavior they're being called out for may be news to you.

5 Offbeat Ideas for Saving on Gas From Our Readers

Gas prices are going up again, and it feels a lot like Groundhog Day: Same old problem, and media outlets are dispensing the same old advice. Not us! Here are the most interesting and innovative ideas our readers offered for reducing your pain at the pump.

3 Reasons Why You're Not Buying an Electric Car

The electric car has arrived, but odds are that there isn't one in your driveway. Several factors have gotten in the way of the eco-friendly automotive revolution, but at least now we can ask conspiracy theorists -- who argue that oil companies and the government are blocking plug-in cars from the road -- to leave the room and take their tinfoil hats with them. The electric car is here; drivers simply don't want them yet.

How to Heat Your Home for Free (or Profit) This Winter

Like they say: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. With the price of home heating oil on the rise, and likely to go on rising due to global politics, now might be a good time to place a bet on oil to hedge against the costs of keeping the homestead warm.

10 U.S. Companies That Will Be Most Profitable in 2012

Each January, 24/7 Wall St. makes its predictions about which publicly traded U.S. companies it feels will have the highest profits in the year ahead. Read on, and find out which of the Fortune 500 will rake in the biggest fortunes.

How to Make Up for Social Security's Meager Raise

For the first time since 2009, Social Security recipients will get a COLA increase in their checks in 2012. But that 3.6% bump probably isn't going to cover the real rise in your expenses. So where should you invest to find that extra income?

What Gadhafi's Death Means for Gas Prices

Oil prices fell in the wake of last week's death of Col. Moammar Gadhafi. But it was a small dip, and it didn't last for long. Still, while the Libyan dictator's death may not lead to lower gas prices for U.S. drivers in the short term, down the road improved world crude supplies should stabilize prices. That in turn would lead to fewer surprises at the gas pump.

A Simple Strategy to Boost Your Returns

Options: It's a word that makes you shiver with fear or salivate at opportunity. In fact, there's one options strategy that's almost certain to add some extra money to your portfolio over time, without adding lots of risk. It's the technique known as writing covered calls, and it's perfect for times like this.

How to Buy a Dollar for 85 Cents

Thanks to pricing discrepancies on Wall Street, you can actually buy a dollar's worth of stocks for $0.85 -- or perhaps even less than that. All you need to do is warm up to the sorely neglected realm of closed-end funds.