Retail, Fast Food Stocks Stung by Obama's Minimum Wage Push
President Obama's State of the Union proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour has the retail industry on edge and fast food stocks struggling.
state of the union
Obama's SOTU Economic Pitch: This Time, It's Personal
In Tuesday's State of the Union address, President Obama turned that old feminist rallying cry that "the personal is political" on its ear with a long list of proposals that argued that the personal is economic -- and the economic is political.
Fact-Checking Obama's State of the Union Speech
President Barack Obama did some cherry-picking Tuesday night in defense of his record on jobs and the economy. Here's a look at some of the claims in his State of the Union speech, a glance at the Republican counterargument and how they fit with the facts.
State Of the Union: Obama Unveils Ambitious Jobs Agenda
In President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday, he mentioned the word "jobs" 46 times, more often than he did in any of his prior presidential addresses, signifying what will be the focus of his second term.
State of the Union: How Obama Will Use His Bully Pulpit
President Obama has a lot to cover in tonight's State of the Union, from guns to global warming to trade to jobs. But it'll be the economy that gets the most attention, and that's a battleground where he's been on a roll lately.
U.S. Economy Stronger Since Obama's First State of the Union
As President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, he presides over an economy much healthier than the one he inherited four years ago. Yet growth remains slow and unemployment high.
Obama to Order National Defense Against Cyber Attacks Beefed Up
Cyber attacks have hit a host of major U.S. companies and government agencies in recent months, an issue President Obama may address in his State of the Union Tuesday -- and then in an executive order aimed at improving our defenses against them on Wednesday.
Obama Expected to Call for Major EU Trade Talks in State of the Union
President Obama is expected to call for comprehensive trade and investment talks with the EU in his State of the Union speech tonight. An agreement that phases out tariffs, harmonizes product standards and reduces barriers to trade would have huge implications, far beyond economics.
State of the Ecomony: 3 Things Obama Will Focus On
In tonight's State of the Union, President Obama faces a tough crowd: Millions of Americans unsure about whether he should keep his job. He'll be aiming to win hearts and minds, and at least part of that will be an appeal to our wallets. With that in mind, here are three key points that he is likely to hammer home tonight:
$25B Nationwide Mortgage Deal Goes to States
The nation's five largest mortgage lenders have agreed to overhaul their industry after deceptive foreclosure practices drove homeowners out of their homes, government officials said Monday. A draft settlement between the banks and U.S. states has been sent to state officials for review.
Spin, Not Substance, Is Just What Investors Need Now
With the economic recovery gaining steam, President Obama's State of the Union address -- and the GOP response -- should be seen as a shift to a less activist approach. Feel-good rhetoric may be wiser than heavy-handed policies that could easily backfire.
State of the Union: Obama Eager to Fix Health Reform Law
In his State of the Union address, President Obama didn't shy away from tackling the ongoing questions about the health care reform law head on. And though he opened with a joke, he made it clear that while he's serious about repairing any flaws in the law, repeal is not an option.
What Obama Really Needs: Robust Income Growth
As much as the market and Corporate America may like what they heard in the president's speech Tuesday night, history shows Obama's reelection in 2012 remains pinned to boosting Americans' income growth to at least 3%. Problem is, right now it's running at just 1.4%.
The Economic State of the Union: Already Creating Jobs
The economy and job creation will be the focus of Obama's speech -- as they should be. But behind the pessimistic hand-wringing and political posturing is a surprising rebound, and jobs are steadily being added.
Wall Street Will Be Listening Closely to Obama
Traders will be reading between the State of the Union's lines to see what Obama's new approach means for business and the market. And given stocks' steady rise for the past eight weeks, profit-taking and choppy action should be no surprise. [Video]
Absence of Smart Grid in Budget Talks Isn't Smart
When announcing his $3.8 trillion budget, Obama didn't mention the "smart grid," long key to his infrastructure spending plans. That's a shame, as improving our utility grid could create jobs as well as make us greener, more efficient and more competitive.
Lockheed Profits Fly Past Estimates
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin posted higher fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, boosted by sales of its fighter jets and satellite systems. The earnings per share results, however, were boosted by a share buyback.
Obama's High-Speed Rail: An Economic Magic Bullet?
On Thursday, President Obama announce that his administration is releasing $8 billion in funding for 13 high-speed rail lines spread across 31 states, and both the short-term and long-term economic benefits for the nation could be substantial.
The State of the Union
Will Depend on Jobs
During his address Wednesday night, look for President Obama to focus on solutions for problem No. 1: The lack of jobs. Employment growth will determine not just the economy's fate, but also that of the Democratic majorities in Congress -- and possibly of Obama's presidency.
