Depression Likely, 60 Percent of Americans Say   Author: Trista Winnie   
A new economic depression seems likely to nearly 60 percent of Americans polled by CNN/Opinion research Corp. over the weekend. More than 1,000 Americans were polled for the survey, released yesterday.
Markets Fall as Fears Rise Worldwide   Author: Trenton Flock   
As fears concerning the credit crisis mounted, global markets fell to levels not seen in years on Monday, despite bank bailout plans in the U.S. and Europe. The uncertain economic climate is affecting not only stocks but also commodities, currencies, treasury bills and bonds worldwide.
Three Steps to Determine Whether Assets are Safe   Author: Keith Fitz-Gerald   
The economy has investors worried about their assets and on edge across the country. There are a few steps they can take to determine whether the assets they have in banks are safe.
FDIC Insured Banks: Understanding Them, Using Them   Author: Keith Fitz-Gerald   
The economic rescue plan slated to be voted on by the House today proposes raising FDIC insurance on deposits from $100,000 to $250,000. This may make many account holders feel more secure, but do they really know what the FDIC does?
Three European Banks Bailed Out by Governments   Author: Jennifer Yousfi   
The spate of recent bank failures has not been limited to the U.S. This week, three European banks required government assistance, shattering confidence and sending European markets into sharp declines.
How the Banking Bailout Could Lead to $250 Oil   Author: Keith Fitz-Gerald   
The bailout, or rescue plan, passed by the Senate Wednesday night could lead oil prices to reach $250 per gallon. The dramatic price increase would likely be caused in part by the inflation resulting from hundreds of billions of dollars being pumped into the economy.
Top 5 Investment Considerations for Baby Boomers   Author: Hazel Becker   
The thought of retirement is scary for some, and thus the mantra for many baby boomers is, “I’m never going to retire anyway, so why all the fuss?” But even those who don’t look forward to weeks or months of unstructured time will make some changes as they age, and those changes will likely affect their cash flow. Here are some considerations to make as you plan for your retirement.
Washington Mutual's Failure Largest in U.S. History   Author: Jennifer Yousfi   
Washington Mutual's failure late last Thursday was the largest bank failure in U.S. history.
Top 7 Rules for Investing in Green Funds   Author: Helen Kaiao Chang   
Green investments are booming as oil prices increase and investors look ahead, but the market is young and volatile. Here are seven rules for investing in green funds.
Is It Harvest Time for Tax Losses?   Author: Hazel Becker   
Harvesting tax losses can be tricky, but careful planning may allow you to accomplish your goals without running afoul of the wash sale rules.
Latest Economic Reports a Mixed Bag   Author: Hazel Becker   
The Shifting Landscape of the U.S. Economy   Author: William Patalon III   
With a government bailout plan on the horizon and failing markets dotting the economy, the face of the U.S. economy is changing dramatically.
Russia Facing Economic Isolation   Author: Jason Simpkins   
With economies across the globe slumping, one country's economy is facing a different problem: foreign investors are fleeing from investments in Russia and driving the country toward economic isolation.
Getting the Most from Small Business Websites   Author: Rossi Giard   
Whether starting a website from scratch or revamping one, these pointers will help guide small businesses convey their messages consistent with web surfers’ expectations.
Looming Recessions Sink Euro to One-Year Low Against Dollar   Author: Jennifer Yousfi   
The euro reached a one-year low to the dollar on as economic concerns about European Union member nations continue to mount in the fallout of the subprime crisis.
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge   Author: Melana Yanos   
Precious metals such as gold and silver have taken a significant dive in value as the U.S. dollar has regained strength in the global market. Precious metal investors should take note and may want to adjust their strategies accordingly.
Community Colleges Rising in Popularity   Author: Brad Zimmerman   
Enrollment at community colleges is increasing as families struggle to finance a child through four years at a traditional institution. Enrollment at two-year colleges increased ten percent betwene 2000 and 2006, and some institutions predict another ten percent increase by the end of the year.
Green Mortgages Offer New Growth   Author: Helen Kaiao Chang   
Energy-efficient or "green" mortgages finance energy-efficiency improvements in homes to save money and natural resources pver time. Though the practice has existed for many years, it is now being advanced and promoted by government agencies and private lenders.
The Staycation’s Rise in Popularity   Author: Brad Zimmerman   
Record gas prices have many families adjusting travel plans and extravagant vacations are being replaced by modest "staycations" closer to home.
Microcredit Investments: Doing OK While Doing Good   Author: Hazel Becker   
Socially responsible investors have an increasing variety of microlending investment opportunities. As one might expect, the returns aren’t always high, but microlending platforms can diversify a portfolio and put idle funds to good use.
New Census Data Show Surface Optimism   Author: Trista Winnie   
Recent U.S. census data shows increased wages and larger numbers covered by health insurance, but there are causes for concern beyond these figures.
Green Investing Gold Rush   Author: Helen Kaiao Chang   
Wealthy venture capitalists are pouring trillions of dollars into green companies, while smaller investors are putting money into green mutual funds and ETFs. The "green rush" is on, but the market is already showing signs of high risk and volatility, and many "green" investors may eventually find themselves in the red.
Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms: A Quick Guide   Author: Melana Yanos   
Peer-to-peer lending has originated hundreds of billions of dollars in private loans between millions of borrowers and lenders in only a few years. NuWire has reviewed the top four players in this growing industry based on risk on investment, potential for return, strictness of borrower criteria and the exclusive features of each platform.
Franchises for the Eccentric Entrepreneur    Author: Cali Zimmerman   
These quirky franchises may be unusual, but their growth proves that entrepreneurs who take the road less traveled can find uncommon paths to wealth, namely by providing services and products that others never thought to provide—or simply don’t want to.
Asset Location in an Investment Portfolio   Author: Hazel Becker   
For some investors, the question of asset location crops up each time they rebalance a portfolio or invest newly saved funds. Financial planners disagree about the importance of asset location and many investment advisers do not consider it at all. Here are some ideas to help you think about asset location for yourself.
College Costs 101: Different Ways to Save   Author: Trista Winnie   
Saving for college, rather than depending solely on loans to cover the costs, will ultimately make college cheaper. Here we compare some of the most common methods.
Credit Crunch Redux: More of the Same   Author: Hazel Becker   
The Federal Reserve released its Q2 2008 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices on August 11. The survey asked two sets of questions regarding the outlook for credit standards for the next year and the secuitization and sale of jumbo-loans. Here is a rundown of the responses.
Small Business Owners: Begin Networking Online Today   Author: Rossi Giard   
Social networking websites are becoming increasingly popular and powerful marketing tools, but they require time and effort to maintain. Are they worth it?
Community Service: Hire a Former Felon, Get a Tax Credit   Author: Trista Winnie   
Philadelphia is offering tax credits to encourage businesses to hire ex-convicts to help combat high recidivism and exploding prison populations. Will business owners think that it is worth the risk?
Hybrid Cars: Are They Worth the Investment?   Author: Cali Zimmerman   
More consumers are turning to hybrid cars to lower their gas expenses, but just how cost-efficient are hybrid cars? We review a couple of these gas-sipping cars and see how the numbers add up.
IRS Makes Deducting Small Business Start-Up Costs Easier   Author: Hazel Becker   
New tax rules offer more deductions for entrepreneurs starting a new business. The rules follow a mandate from the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and may apply to start-up expenses dating back to Oct. 22, 2004, regardless of whether the business is a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship.
STEN Corporation Offers Unsecured Subordinated Notes   Author: Trista Winnie   
The lending market has faced some significant changes and banks are screening potential borrowers more strictly. But as prices rise and jobs disappear, many people are in need of loans. This has led to an increase of investors becoming lenders themselves.
Clean Technology "Boom?"   Author: Trevor Winnie   
The clean tech business sectors saw record levels of venture capital investment in the second quarter of this year according to the Money Tree Report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers. 65 deals totaling $883.5 million show a slight increase from first quarter numbers, and a 62 percent leap above 2007’s record-breaking second quarter activity.
Banks Tighten Credit by Curtailing Business Loans   Author: Trista Winnie   
Banks affected by the housing downturn and ailing economy have suffered serious losses along with individual investors, leading many banks to curtail business loans to American companies as a means of stopping loss.
Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)   Author: Cali Zimmerman   
Exchange traded notes (ETNs) were created to combine the most desirable characteristics of bonds with those of exchange traded funds (ETFs), offering access to returns of market benchmarks, easy transferability without investor fees.