Topic: MetLife Inc.

Stocks mostly lower; Dow up 16

The Dow rose 16 points to close at 13194 in the day after the stock market's biggest gain of the year.

Employee benefits: Rising costs will eat into your paycheck

Businesses are restoring employee benefits eliminated during the recession. But other employee benefits are going to cost workers extra.

Back to school: Are we leaving gifted students behind?

Gifted students in US public schools can be overlooked and unappreciated. Parents, looking for better options, have begun to find some.

Allstate shares up after smaller-than-expected loss

Allstate reports $620 million loss due to string of natural catastrophes. Allstate manages to raise insurance rates in 18 states.

Mortgage lenders must pay homeowners for improper foreclosures

Mortgage lenders ordered to reimburse customers they foreclosed on improperly. Regulators tell 16 mortgage lenders to hire auditors to find out who could have avoided foreclosure in 2009 and 2010.

Dreams of the middle class deferred by the recession

The recession has stalled the expectation of upward mobility in the American middle class: The unemployed are forced to live frugally, while many others choose financially cautious paths.

Tea Party 101: Who are its followers and what do they want?

Of all the protest signs at all the rallies where people gathered last year to object to Washington's plans to save the US economy and reform healthcare, this hand-lettered one is memorable: "You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out."

That's the "tea party" movement in a nutshell.

The cruise business, post-financial meltdown

Lavish cruise ships continue to be built, despite the fact that US consumer bankruptcies totaled more than 136,000 in May, 9 percent more than a year ago.

'Peanuts' gang, including Charlie Brown and Snoopy, has a new owner

The 'Peanuts' gang, longtime cartoon stars including Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy, has been sold to a new owner for $175 million.

AIG restructuring: Can taxpayers recoup bailout funds?

The bailed-out insurer AIG is restructuring. This gradual make-over holds the best hope for US taxpayers to recover bailout money, say analysts.

'Tea party' movement: Who are they and what do they want?

Tea Party Nation convention starts Thursday. Questions and answers about the tea party movement and how it might affect the 2010 elections.

Tishman deal fails: sign of trouble in commercial real estate

Tishman sends its $5.3 billion investment in 11,000 apartments back to its bankers. The move involves two massive developments in Manhattan: Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.

World's tallest building: Is the Burj Khalifa a herald of economic woe?

The world's tallest buildings usually open when the economy has crashed, just like Monday's opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Top 5 lessons Americans learned from recession

Increased cash cushions and more professional financial advice are among the Top 5 lessons Americans have learned from the recession.

Key health care senators have industry ties

Senator Chris Dodd, among other senators involved in upcoming health care legislation, have family ties or financial investments in the industry they are meant to reform.

Four big banks need more capital to weather recession, US finds

'Stress tests' reveal that banks need to raise more than $65 billion to be able to keep lending if the recession drags on.

More US insurance companies eye federal aid

Some of them, including Lincoln Financial, have bought small banks or thrifts in the hope of qualifying for government help.

How to earn your penny-pincher credentials

Americans are shifting into an era of frugality.

Court clarifies standards for denial of disability benefits

In a ruling Thursday, it guides federal judges to weigh conflicts of interest by insurance companies.

High court: Do health insurance plans have conflict of interest?

MetLife withdrew the long-term disability benefits of an Ohio woman after she got better.

High court: Do health insurance plans have conflict of interest?

MetLife withdrew the long-term disability benefits of an Ohio woman after she got better.