Topic: Fixed Income Securities
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Seven retirement questions you need to answer
Retirement planning isn't easy. Nearly half of Americans don't feel financially prepared to live to age 75, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. But the process is a lot less burdensome if you break the task down into simpler parts. Here are seven questions to ask as you plan for your long-term financial security in retirement.
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A hard landing for China? Six top economists weigh in.
China's economy grew 8.9 percent last quarter, the slowest pace in 2.5 years, and on Monday Premier Wen Jiabao cut the nation's growth target for 2012 to 7.5 percent, an eight-year low. Worries of a Chinese hard landing, defined as a sharp and sudden deceleration in growth, have gained momentum. However, China has been proactive in its efforts to prevent a hard landing. It has fine-tuned its policies to curb inflation, boost domestic consumption, and prevent a housing bubble. The Chinese government intervened heavily from 1989 to 1991 to cool its economy, causing real growth in gross domestic product to plunge to 4.1 percent in 1989, from 11.3 percent the previous year. It stepped in again in 1993. And some argue that this time around it's no different, and that the government knows exactly what it is doing. So we asked six top China analysts whether they saw a hard or soft landing scenario and what we should keep an eye on.
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Greek bailout: 5 key conditions set by EU
European Union leaders agreed to a €130 billion ($172 billion) bailout deal for Greece early this morning after a long night of negotiations. Here are five key elements of the bailout deal.
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What can be done to create jobs? Six leading ideas.
The job market has shown some very welcome signs of improvement lately, but it still has a long way to go before approaching something Americans would call normal. Here’s a look at some of the proposed solutions out there.
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A brief history of the Greek debt crisis
The Greek debt crisis has unfolded over several years and through a litany of bailouts, parliamentary votes, and credit downgrades. Here is a brief overview of how we got to where we stand today.
All Content
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US Treasury bond yields hit record low as eurozone worries mount
A decline in global stock prices Wednesday shows that many investors are taking sanctuary in US Treasury bonds, anticipating major convulsions in the eurozone – and perhaps its breakup.
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Strengthen the euro and reform the European Commission
At a time of European debt crisis, when some see a common currency as a straightjacket, Europe must follow through and strengthen the euro. Europe must also move on political reform. One place to start: Elect the president of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.
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Despite oil prices, falling euro, Dow closes up slightly
Oil prices fell, the euro sank to a 22-month low, and the yield on the U.S. government's 10-year Treasury note fell near a historic low. But the Dow Jones industrial average edged up 125 points to close at 12580 as investors continue to hope for a Chinese growth spurt.
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Mortgage rates fall to new records
Mortgage rates for 30-year loan now stand at 3.78 percent. Fixed mortgage rates for 15-year loans are unchanged at 3.04 percent, a record low.
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Stocks rally to erase steep losses
Stocks closed mixed Wednesday after a late rally erased steep losses. The Dow lost seven points to close at 12496
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Gold prices to climb if Greece gets fixed
Gold prices fall when dollar strengthens, as it has during latest Greek crisis. Gold prices will recover when Greece's path is clear, says a gold expert.
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G8 summit: Euro crisis and possible 'Grexit' overshadow agenda
The G8 leaders hosted by Obama at Camp David have several global issues on their minds: Syria, nuclear proliferation, famine. But the eurozone debt crisis is once again the dominant concern.
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Fixed mortgages: new lows for 15-, 30-year loans
Fixed mortgages for 30-year loan dips to 3.79 percent; 15-year loan averages. 3.04 percent. But record low rates on fixed mortgages have not ignited home sales.
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How Greek economic woes could help US consumers
Fears that Greece may default on its debt are spurring interest in US Treasury bonds, driving down interest rates on mortgages and auto loans – but not (alas) for credit card debt.
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The Reformed Broker
Will stocks crash like it's 1987? Not this year.
The potential for a summer stock market crash (like the one that happened in 1987) is low, because the market environment now is very different from the market then.
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Seven retirement questions you need to answer
Retirement planning isn't easy. Nearly half of Americans don't feel financially prepared to live to age 75, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. But the process is a lot less burdensome if you break the task down into simpler parts. Here are seven questions to ask as you plan for your long-term financial security in retirement.
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Stocks slide as doubts about Europe simmer
Stocks pitched down Wednesday in the US as borrowing rates climbed for Spain and Italy, a sign that investors are losing confidence in those countries' finances. The Dow lost 97 points to close at 12835 – its sixth consecutive day of losses.
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Greek political disarray, worries about Spain push euro to three-month low
Greece has still not formed a government, imperiling its bailout and increasing the chances of it being forced out of the eurozone.
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Stocks tumble on Europe turmoil
Political uncertainty in debt-hobbled Europe spread to financial markets Tuesday and pushed stocks lower in Europe and the United States. The Dow lost 76 points close at 12932 after falling as much as 200 points earlier in the day.
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Mortgage rates hit new lows
Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed loan falls to record 3.84 percent. Mortgage rates for 15-year fixed loan now stands at a new record low: 3.07 percent.
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US stocks fall on disappointing jobs report
US stocks opened lower Friday after the government reported that hiring slowed in April.
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Apple earnings will report this evening; stocks rise
Apple earnings for the first quarter will be reported after the close of the stock market Tuesday. In anticipation of he Apple earnings report, Apple stock has fallen sharply.
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Paper Economy
Commercial paper market rate at 15.23 percent
The commercial paper market generally appears to be trending lower, contracting at a rate of 15.23% on a year-over-year basis to $932.60 billion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.
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US stocks sink on Spain's bad debts
All three major US stock indexes sank Wednesday after a dismal report about bad loans on the books of Spanish banks. The Dow fell 82 points to close at 13032.
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Stocks surge on strong US profits; Spain
The Dow jumped 194 points to close at 13115, its biggest gain in a month after promising signals about the profitability of US companies and a strong debt auction by Spain.
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Euro debt crisis: Is Spain the new Greece?
Spain has become the focal point for Europe's debt crisis. But Spain isn't Greece. It's better – and worse.
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Mortgage rates fall: 15-year loan hits record low
Mortgage rates for a fixed 30-year loan drop to 3.88, just shy of record. Fifteen-year fixed mortgage rates fall to record low 3.11 percent.
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The Reformed Broker
Legendary bond manager: Get out of bonds
Bond manager Dan Fuss sees dark times ahead for the bond market and advises investors to switch over to stocks.
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Stocks' worst day in 2012: Dow loses 213
The Dow slipped 213 to 12715, its biggest drop of the year and third triple digit loss in four days.
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Tax VOX
Should states pay bonds to knock down buildings?
Two Ohio Members of Congress have introduced a bill to allow states to issue tax-exempt bonds to demolish buildings, which is a bad solution to a serious problem of urban development.
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