Topic: Standard & Poor's
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Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 3 ways they differ on regulation
Wall Street is a big target – blamed for the financial crisis that led to the Great Recession. Mitt Romney says efforts to rein in financiers via more regulation are an attack on “economic freedom.” President Obama says new regulations would make it “more profitable to play by the rules than to game the system.” Here are three specifics on which the two differ.
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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.
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Which countries have a higher credit rating than the US?
When Standard & Poor's downgraded the US from its AAA status to AA+ on Aug. 5, it knocked just one country off a lengthy list. Now, there are 18 nations with AAA credit ratings.
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Five reasons the S&P downgrade isn’t so bad – and one word of caution
Here are five reasons why Standard & Poors downgrade of US debt from AAA to AA+ isn’t as bad as it seems, and a reminder not to take it too lightly.
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World markets respond to US credit downgrade
Today is the first day that most stock exchanges have been open since ratings agency Standard & Poor's announced its US credit downgrade from a AAA rating to AA+. Here’s how world markets have responded so far:
All Content
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Stock markets leap after 'fiscal cliff' compromise, but problems lurk
The House of Representatives passed the budget bill late Tuesday night, a contentious exercise because many Republicans had wanted a deal that did more to cut government spending.
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Stocks fall again with 'fiscal cliff' closing in
Stocks tumbled for a fifth day as a 'fiscal cliff' deal goes unfulfilled in Washington. Despite the fiscal gridlock in Washington, major stock indexes are holding on to gains for the year.
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Egypt finishes constitutional vote, but irregularities delay final results
Egypt's opposition alleges fraud tainted the country's constitutional referendum. Results are delayed while Egypt's judiciary investigates.
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Fitch Ratings to US: Fix 'fiscal cliff' or risk credit downgrade
Fitch Ratings, a leading credit ratings agency, warned Wednesday that the US is likely to lose its top-notch debt rating if lawmakers cannot agree to a solution that prevents the economy from going over the 'fiscal cliff' at the end of 2012. Fitch Ratings called the resolution of the fiscal cliff and an increase in the debt ceiling 'pressing issues.'
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Can Ben Bernanke save the job market if 'fiscal cliff' talks fail?
The Federal Reserve said this week it would maintain ultralow interest rates until the unemployment rate falls to at least 6.5 percent, unless inflation starts looming as a near-term risk.
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Opinion: Is South Africa following the path of 'the strongman'?
South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress, was once a post-apartheid hero. Now it is the latest caricature of African bad governance, and it no longer resonates with the people. At its upcoming meeting, the party must embrace internal debate and reject economic nationalism.
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Stocks hold as budget talks continue
Rising stocks narrowly outnumbered falling ones on the New York Stock Exchange Friday. Investors remain cautious as 'fiscal cliff' budget negotiations continue in Washington.
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Is the California economy finally turning a corner?
In California, the deficit for the current fiscal year is projected to be $1.9 billion, down from $25 billion in recent years. The unemployment rate and some home sales are also improving.
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Home prices on the rise: why that is good for US economy
Nationwide, home prices rose 3.6 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2011, new data show. The jump points to a broad recovery in the long-sluggish housing market.
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Stock market has tumbled since Obama reelection. Are investors angry?
The stock market has gone into a bit of a tailspin since the election. Wall Street's disappointment with the outcome will pass quickly, but concern about the 'fiscal cliff' is mounting.
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Dow loses 313 in post-election sell-off
Stocks plummeted during Wall Street's first day of trading after President Obama's reelection. Stocks also spiraled downward in the days after Obama's first victory.
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Mortgage rates slip back toward record lows
Mortgage rates edge down this week to 3.39 percent for a 30-year loan. As mortgage rates have fallen this year to record lows, home sales and refinancings have picked up
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Softbank to pay $20 billion for Sprint (+video)
Softbank reaches deal to buy 70 percent of Sprint. Softbank deal, the biggest foreign acquisition by a Japanese company, would create world's No. 3 mobile company, tied with AT&T.
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Stocks flatline, pulled by jobless claims, Europe
Stocks fell stagnant Thursday with little significant activity up or down. Stocks rose in the morning after a positive jobless claims report but fell in the afternoon.
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Bond downgrade puts pressure on Spain for bailout request (+video)
Even though Standard & Poor's dropped Spain's bond rating to just above junk status, making a bailout request likely, Germany remains opposed to acceding to a bailout prematurely.
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IMF pushes for more action as Europe's recovery drags
The International Monetary Fund is looking to richer countries for swifter action as Europe's debt crisis continues and developing countries, once the engine of the world's economy, also face uncertainty.
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Weak demand for fertilizer tugs at stocks
A drop in demand from China and India hurt the profits of Mosaic, the US's largest fertilizer company. But utilities and health care stocks helped pull the S&P 500 above the break-even mark.
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Home prices rise – so does faith in housing turnaround
Home prices in top 20 markets rose 1.2 percent in the past year. A growing minority of Americans now believe their homes will be worth more a year from now.
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Dow plummets 100 points in stock sell-off
Stocks dropped after Charles Plosser, president of the Fed's Philadelphia branch, told an audience Tuesday that the Fed's effort to support the economy would likely fall short of its goals.
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Home prices rise in 20 major cities as housing market climbs back
Home prices rose across the United States in July, buoyed by better sales and fewer foreclosures. Though home prices are still well below their 2006 peak, it's a positive sign of further recovery for the housing market.
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International investors hot on ... Zambia?
Investors bombarded Zambia's debut international bond offering, with demand outstripping supply of the debt by 15 times, and leading to an unusually low rate of borrowing for an African sovereign.
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Focus
Housing market turning a corner? Signs of hope for homeowners.Rising home values and declining foreclosure rates indicate a slow but steady recovery for the US housing market. Obstacles remain, however, including negative equity due to 'underwater' mortgages.
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Robert Reich
The Fed can't create jobs all by itselfLow interest rates won’t boost the economy without an expansive fiscal policy that makes up for the timid spending of consumers and businesses, Reich writes.
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Robert Reich
Are US credit ratings in trouble again?Reich writes that Moody's Investors Services may downgrade government bonds if Congress and the White House don’t reach a budget deal before $1.2 trillion in spending cuts and tax increases automatically go into effect.
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Home sales hit 2-year high. Is the housing market back?
Home sales agreements for previously occupied homes jumped 2.4 percent in July, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. The increase is the latest sign that the home sales are finally rebounding five years after the housing bubble burst.
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