Hidden Trap in Obama's Proposed Student Loan Debt 'Remedy'
As controversy grows around President Obama's latest student loan relief proposal, one fact is becoming clear: Most former students won't get much relief from it.
debt crisis
Bank Shutdown Hammers Cyprus' Businesses
Banks across Cyprus remain locked Tuesday after financial authorities extended the country's bank closure, fearing worried depositors will rush to drain their accounts.
Tax on Cyprus Depositors 'Inevitable,' Euro Chief Says
Any bailout of Cyprus will have to involve some kind of levy on depositors, a eurozone finance chief says.
Young Adults are Too Broke to Get Loans
Young adults are in less debt than they were a decade ago, but it's not because people under 35 have suddenly become fiscally responsible. It's more likely that their shaky economic status keeps them from qualifying for loans.
Voila! Bankrupt Cities Are Solvent Again! (Or Not)
Last month, Harrisburg, Pa., tried to throw in the financial towel and declare Chapter 9, but a judge threw out the bankruptcy petition. That doesn't mean the city is magically healthy again, though, and it's not the only municipality in similar straits. Here's why it matters to the rest of the country.
How U.S. Debt Stacks Up Against Other Nations
It's true that the U.S. has racked up the largest debt of any developed country. But when you consider the debt in relation to the country's gross domestic product, it's only No. 7 on the list, according to Fortune. Here's what you need to know to make sense of all the numbers.
How to Survive the Stock Market's Wild Ride
It you're feeling sick to your stomach, you're not alone. The stock-market roller coaster of the last couple of weeks -- culminating with Thursday's 500-point plunge on the Dow -- has been enough to make even the most stoic investors sweat. But here's how you can turn uncertainty into opportunity.
Debt-Ceiling Law: States Brace for Another Hit
The debt-ceiling discussions may be over, but the fallout for states is just starting. Many states, still struggling to recover to pre-recession levels, have depended on federal money to make up their shortfalls. As the flow of money slows, which states will take the biggest hits?
Wall Street May Be a Casualty of Debt-Ceiling War
Debt and government spending are firmly at the top of the new Congress's agenda. And just the threat that the U.S. wouldn't pay its bills has traders worried and wondering if the U.S. could end up on the same chaotic economic path taken by Greece or Spain.
Bank of England Keeps Rates Unchanged
The Bank of England said Thursday that it decided to keep its emergency stimulus program unchanged and the central bank's key lending rate at its record low of 0.5%.
What the Stocks vs. Dollar Seesaw Is Saying Now
For a host of reasons, when the dollar spikes, stocks drop, and when the dollar falls, stocks soar. Right now, with dollar sentiment reaching maximum bearishness, contrarians are preparing for the next shift. If the dollar rises again, stocks could reverse.
Could Europe's Debt Crisis Cross the Atlantic?
Investors are increasingly concerned that Europe's banking and debt crisis could spell trouble for the U.S. economy. Major reform in the eurozone may be the only way to forestall the gathering storm.
U.S. Shouldn't Let Europe's Debt Crisis Go to Waste
The bond vigilantes have made their presence known in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, forcing up their borrowing costs and making slash budgets. The U.S. needs to act now to ensure it's not next.
Beyond Germany's New Ban Is a
Bigger Problem
Investors would be wise to look past the short-selling ban to the growing regulatory fervor that's catching on in Europe. None of this can be good for the financial sector.