The Cash Advantage (Even When Rates Are Low)

By J. ALEX TARQUINIO
Published: March 16, 2008

ALTHOUGH short-term interest rates have been dropping, many advisers still recommend that investors hold plenty of cash — and that they keep it in safe and simple accounts. “The biggest mistake people make is reaching for yield and putting their capital at risk,” said David Darst, the chief [...]

CNNMoney.com - Interest Rates Tumble

CNNMoney.com
The bond yield tumble, and the economy
Monday March 24, 7:15 am ET
By Paul R. La Monica, CNNMoney.com editor at large
Bond yields have plunged in the past few weeks. And even if you are not an active investor, you should care about what’s been going on in the bond markets lately. Here’s why.
The yield on the [...]

Economic Update - March 9,2008

Housing Foreclosures hit an all time high of 0.83% of all mortgages nationwide.

Over 5.8% of homeowners were behind in their mortgage payments, the largest number in more than two decades.

House prices lost a staggering 8.9% in 2007 - and they’re still dropping.

The supply of unsold houses rose to 4 million, or to over a [...]

By STEPHEN S. ROACH - from Hong Kong

March 5, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
Double Bubble Trouble
By
STEPHEN S. ROACH
Hong Kong
AMID increasingly turbulent credit markets and ever-weaker reports on the economy, the Federal Reserve has been unusually swift and determined in its lowering of the overnight lending rate. The White House and Congress have moved quickly as well, approving rebates for families and tax breaks for businesses. [...]

Housing In Deepest Decline Since The Great Depression

Rapid Deterioration

Housing in deepest decline since the Great Depression, economist says

By Steve Kerch, MarketWatch
Last update: 4:48 p.m. EST March 4, 2008

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Housing is in its “deepest, most rapid downswing since the Great Depression,” the chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday, and the downward momentum on housing prices appears [...]

Foreclosures Hit All-Time High

Foreclosures hit all-time high
Over 900,000 borrowers are losing their homes, up 71% from a year ago, and a record number of home owners are behind on payments.

By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: March 6, 2008: 2:25 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — More home owners than ever are losing the battle to make their [...]

U.S. Stocks Drop to 18-Month Low After Foreclosures Hit Record

By Michael Patterson
March 6 (Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks fell to an 18-month low, led by banks, after home foreclosures climbed to a record and loan defaults by Thornburg Mortgage Inc. and a Carlyle Group bond fund spurred concern that credit losses are deepening.
Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. led [...]

Treasuries Rise on Speculation Credit-Market Losses to Deepen

March 6 (Bloomberg) — Treasuries rose and three-month bill rates fell to the lowest level since 2004 on concern that the Federal Reserve may be unable to prevent credit-market losses from deepening.
Investors sought the safety of government debt as Citigroup Inc. planned to pare its U.S. residential unit’s mortgage and home-equity holdings by about $45 [...]