Global equities markets hurt by US recession fears (AFP)

AFP - European stock markets closed generally lower Thursday, after a mixed performance in Asia, with investors anxious about the financial health of US bond insurers as well as the broader US economy.

FBI director: mortgage fraud substantial (AP)

AP - FBI Director Robert Mueller said Thursday that the agency is committed to investigating and prosecuting companies involved in mortgage fraud and other violations in connection with home loans made to risky borrowers.

Home Depot to cut 500 jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - Home Depot Inc , the world's top
home improvement retailer, said on Thursday it will cut 500
jobs at its Atlanta store support center, or about 10 percent
of the headquarters staff.

FTSE 100 sharply lower ahead of US open (FT.com)

FT.com - London equities fell on Thursday, on renewed worries about potential write-downs in the financial sector.

Market turmoil felt in central Europe (AP)

AP - It took years for Andrzej Solyga to muster the courage to invest in mutual funds.

German economy blows hot and cold, data shows (AFP)

AFP - Europe's biggest economy had both good news and bad news on Thursday, inflation and the jobless rate have fallen, but retail sales slumped too as consumers fret about their future.

Overview: Fed move sparks rally on Wall St (FT.com)

FT.com - Further aggressive moves by the Federal Reserve to bolster the US economy drove Wall Street stocks higher and the dollar lower on Wednesday.

Fired worker sues KB Home, Countrywide (AP)

AP - A former employee of Countrywide KB Home Loans has filed a lawsuit claiming he was wrongly fired after he reported fraudulent lending practices to superiors and refused to approve mortgages for unqualified applicants.

10 Tips: How to score big at yard sales

With a little bit of advance planning, you can greatly improve your experience at garage sales and save serious cash on all sorts of purchases, both big and small.

Merrill CEO upbeat as bond insurer worries linger (Reuters)

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc Chief
Executive John Thain on Wednesday expressed confidence in the
company's core set of businesses, but analysts continue to
worry that more large write-downs are looming.

Economy nearly stalled in 4th quarter (AP)

AP - The economy nearly stalled in the fourth quarter with a growth rate of just 0.6 percent, capping its worst year since 2002.

Global stocks firmer on US rate cut hopes (AFP)

AFP - European stock markets closed higher Tuesday, helped by a positive performance in Asia as investors pinned their hopes on another substantial US interest rate cut, dealers said.

Economy - Tuesday (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - The central bank auctioned funds to commercial banks at a 3.123% interest rate, the lowest of the 4 TAF auctions that started in Dec. That's not surprising given big Fed rate cuts. Demand was light ahead of the Fed's Wed. policy decision. Chairman Ben Bernanke has said the Fed will hold the auctions as long as needed. Analysts say the auctions have eased bank liquidity fears and high money rates by getting cash to the banks that need them.

Oil prices hold near 91 dollars (AFP)

AFP - World oil prices fell in New York and rose in London Tuesday as traders eyed volatile global stock markets and awaited US energy stockpiles data, a US interest rate call and an OPEC production meeting later in the week.

FBI probes 14 companies over home loans (AP)

AP - The FBI on Tuesday said it is investigating 14 companies for possible accounting fraud, insider trading or other violations in connection with home loans made to risky borrowers.

Durable goods orders jump, house prices slump (Reuters)

Reuters - Stronger-than-expected orders for
U.S.-made durable goods in December suggested the economy
retained some life and might not need a heavy dose of
interest-rate cuts, even though house prices fell a record
amount in November.

Wall St gets boost from durable orders data (FT.com)

FT.com - US stocks had a lacklustre start on Tuesday as some better-than-expected durable goods orders were offset by a record fall in US house prices and a sharp decline in consumer confidence.

Woolworths reshuffles management (Reuters)

Reuters - British sweets-to-DVDs retailer
Woolworths Plc said it had replaced management at its
EUK wholesale unit, as an analyst said he expects the company
to announce the renegotiation of its bulging debt shortly.

European leaders to discuss world economy (FT.com)

FT.com - French President Nicolas Sarkozy will use a "credit crunch" meeting in London on Tuesday to call for order to be imposed on a financial system that "sometimes seems out of control".

Toronto stocks rebound to higher close (Reuters)

Reuters - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index
overcame early losses to end higher on Monday, boosted by
resource shares and expectations of another U.S. interest rate
cut later in the week.

Embattled Palm Will Close All But One Retail Store (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Caught in a fierce competitive market populated by BlackBerries, iPhones and other innovative devices, Palm announced this weekend that it will close most of its retail stores.

Oil slides towards $89 as falling stock markets weigh (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil fell more than a dollar towards $89
a barrel on Monday as falling global stock markets amid renewed
worries about the health of the global economy spurred profit
taking.

U.S. sales slowdown hits McDonald's (AP)

AP - McDonald's Corp. served notice Monday that sales at U.S. restaurants open at least a year were flat last month as consumers tightened their wallets, heightening concerns on Wall Street even as it reported fourth-quarter profits of $1.27 billion. Its stock fell sharply.

Embattled Palm will Close All But One Retail Store (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Caught in a fierce competitive market populated by BlackBerries, iPhones and other innovative devices, Palm announced this weekend that it will close most of its retail stores.

Wall Street's tumultuous week ends down (AP)

AP - Wall Street ended a tumultuous week with a sharp decline Friday, backtracking following two days of stunning gains as investors turned cautious and cashed in some of their winnings. The Dow Jones industrial average still managed to record its first weekly advance of 2008, even as it fell more than 170 points on the day.

Americans slow to spend down IRA balances

Americans who have money stored in Individual Retirement Accounts tend to hang on to it for use in the later years of their retirement, according to a study being released Monday.

How much will I get from the stimulus plan?

Now that the dust has settled on the government's plan to spend $100 billion on tax rebates, readers have ?one question in mind: how much do I get??? The Answer Desk, by msnbc.com’s John W. Schoen.

NY subpoenas Merck and Schering-Plough over Vytorin (Reuters)

Reuters - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
has subpoenaed Merck & Co and Schering-Plough Corp
for documents and information to see whether the
companies hid the results of a study on their cholesterol drug
Vytorin.

US economy will keep growing, says Treasury Secretary Paulson (AFP)

AFP - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Sunday he believes the US economy will continue to grow but emphasized the need to quickly implement an emergency stimulus package now in Congress.

UK company pension schemes in Â?15bn reversal (FT.com)

FT.com - Falling stock markets and interest rates have wiped �15bn off the value of UK company pension schemes so far this year, calling into question their investment strategies and reviving concerns about underfunding.

BMW eyes U.S. sales of 400,000 cars/year: report (Reuters)

Reuters - German premium car maker BMW
aims to increase its sales in the United States to
400,000 units per year in the medium term from 336,000, the
German Auto Motor und Sport magazine reported.

Wall St. sags after 2-day rally (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks dropped on Friday as investors
tempered their optimism that the economy could avoid recession,
and locked in profits on banking and pharmaceutical shares
after two days of sharp gains.

Mortgage analysis firm to cooperate in NY probe (Reuters)

Reuters - Mortgage loan analysis company
Clayton Holdings Inc , in an agreement with New York's
attorney general, said on Saturday it would detail how Wall
Street firms disregarded its warnings about the quality of home
loans later sold to investors.

Goldman, Credit Suisse to cut about 2,000 jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - Goldman Sachs Group and Credit
Suisse Group on Friday said they will cut about 2,000
job worldwide as a credit crisis puts a damper on fixed-income
trading and corporate dealmaking.

FDA to review Vytorin cholesterol drug study (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. regulators said on Friday they
would review a study showing a Merck and Schering-Plough
cholesterol drug worked no better than a generic in preventing
the build-up of arterial plaque.

NY expands Countrywide suit with more defendants (Reuters)

Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City and state on Friday
expanded a shareholder class-action law suit filed against top
U.S. mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp , naming
additional company officers and directors, 26 underwriters and
two accounting firms as defendants.

Fed rate cut, jobs data may lift stocks (Reuters)

Reuters - Wall Street may put the brakes on a
steep decline next week, when a rate cut is anticipated from
the Fed, and Friday's monthly jobs data may trigger a comeback
for stocks after their January funk.

The start of the great unwinding (FT.com)

FT.com - This is hyperfinance. In the space of five frenetic days, stock markets have plunged and recovered; the US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates to 3.5 per cent; so-called "monoline" insurers, revealed as a small but vital valve in the financial machinery, have wobbled; and one J�r�me Kerviel has lost EU5bn for a venerable French bank.

Rate Cut Puts Whiff Of Refi In The Air (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - Even before Tuesday's 0.75% slash in the federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve, mortgage rates had been sliding. Last week's cut pulled down home loan rates more.

Global markets rally to end rough week (AP)

AP - European and Asian markets rallied Friday near the end of a tumultuous trading week as investors took heart from Wall's Street's gains overnight and positive U.S. labor market data.

Home Depot to slow store growth this year-analyst (Reuters)

Reuters - Home improvement retailer Home Depot
Inc , pressured by continued weakness in the U.S. housing
market, is expected to ramp down new-store openings this year
and boost spending to maintain existing outlets, an analyst
said on Friday.

As economy tumbles, retirees scramble to cope

Rising food and fuel prices, falling interest rates and screeching declines in global stock markets have retirees paring spending to levels some haven't seen in decades.

Economy - Thursday (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - The 30-year fixed rate averaged 5.48% for the week ended Jan. 24, down from 5.69% last week, as the Federal Reserve slashed key lending rates and the housing market weakened further, Freddie Mac said. It was the lowest rate since March 2004. The 15-year fixed rate dived 26 ticks to 4.95%. The 1-year Treasury-tied adjustable rate plunged 27 ticks to 4.99%.

Stimulus plan called not much help to consumers (Reuters)

Reuters - Retail stocks fell on Thursday as
analysts said a proposed $150 billion U.S. economic stimulus
package aimed at averting a recession will provide little
relief for struggling retailers and cash-strapped consumers.

As economy tumbles, retirees dodge fallout

Rising food and fuel prices, falling interest rates and screeching declines in global stock markets have retirees paring spending to levels some haven't seen in decades.

Ford quarterly loss narrows; forecasts 2008 loss (Reuters)

Reuters - Ford Motor Co posted a sharply
narrower fourth-quarter loss on Thursday after cutting costs
but forecast a net loss for the full year 2008 amid fears of a
weakening U.S. economy.

Deal completed for tax rebates in June (AP)

AP - Democratic and Republican congressional leaders completed a deal Thursday with the White House on an economic stimulus package that would give most tax filers refunds of $600 to $1,200, and more if they have children.

FTSE jumps as financials rally (FT.com)

FT.com - The FTSE 100 on Thursday shrugged off news of a EU5bn fraud at Soci�t� G�n�rale to move sharply higher.

Action In The North Atlantic (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - Foreign Threats: While we fret over our 401(k)s and whose fault it is that we bought houses we couldn't afford, the once-hibernating Russian bear is awake and up to some mischief.

10 Tips: What to do with tax rebate?

Under President Bush’s stimulus plan, checks would be sent out in the amount of $800 for many single workers and $1,600 for many married couples. How should you spend it?

Fund managers: Keep cool in volatile market

Stock markets are likely to remain volatile for some time dogged by persistent worries about a U.S. recession and the credit crunch, fund managers said on Wednesday, with Fidelity advising investors to keep their cool.

World Economic Forum opens in Davos (AP)

AP - The outlook for the global economy this year is decidedly dour, but leading economists at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland had mixed views Wednesday about the possibility of a global recession.

European stocks down sharply as Fed 'feel-good' rally falters (AFP)

AFP - European stock markets fell deeper into negative territory Wednesday after the European Central Bank indicated it would not follow the US Federal Reserve and slash interest rates in the near term.

SunTrust profit sinks 98 pct (Reuters)

Reuters - SunTrust Banks Inc , a large
U.S. southeast regional bank, on Wednesday said fourth-quarter
earnings tumbled a larger-than-expected 98 percent, hurt by a
tripling of credit losses and a bailout of money market mutual
funds.

US moves to avert economic meltdown (AP)

AP - Jolted by global recession fears, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates Tuesday, and President Bush and leaders of Congress joined in a rare show of cooperation in promising urgent action to pump up the economy with upwards of $150 billion in tax cuts and government spending.

Stocks dive, then rebound after Fed cut (AP)

AP - The opening bell hadn't even sounded on Wall Street when the Federal Reserve announced an emergency interest-rate cut. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 465 points ? including 300 in the first minute ? then rebounded to finish down a more bearable 128.

What the Fed's big rate cut means to you

If you’ve been investing for a while, you’ve lived through the '87 crash and the tech-stock collapse , but that doesn’t make this year’s plunge easy to stomach. So, what’s it mean to you ?

Paulson: Economy resilient but Fed move helpful (Reuters)

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
said on Tuesday he was confident the U.S. and global economies
were resilient but welcomed an emergency rate cut by the
Federal Reserve as a helpful move.

US conferring with foreign regulators on stock turmoil: Paulson (AFP)

AFP - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Tuesday he had been in contact with his foreign counterparts on measures to restore calm to roiling global stock markets.

Protecting investments from steep stock slides

There are ways to minimize losses in a stock market downturn, and you can even profit from one. But each technique, from stop-loss orders to short sales to “put” options, has drawbacks.

Steps for improving personal finances (AP)

AP - Gary Foreman, a former financial planner who edits "The Dollar Stretcher" newsletter, says that consumers have a number of options to help them weather a troubled economic climate.

In uncertain times, invest in the long-term

While Wall Street debates whether the U.S. is headed for recession, investors don't have to wait for an answer — they can take steps to limit their risks.

Why is the Fed so worried about inflation?

If the U.S. economy is slowing down, why is the Federal Reserve? still worried about inflation??? The Answer Desk, by msnbc.com’s John W. Schoen.

BHP Billiton reportedly taps more banks for Rio bid (Reuters)

Reuters - BHP Billiton has brought in more
banks to help it find the $70 billion it needs to fund its
planned takeover of Rio Tinto , Britain's Sunday Times
newspaper reported.

World stocks routed on fears for economy (Reuters)

Reuters - World stocks nosedived and demand for
safe-haven bonds and currencies soared on Monday as fears
gripped investors that a deteriorating U.S. economy would drag
others down with it.

Wall Street braces for more volatility (AP)

AP - With Wall Street falling precipitously almost by the day, investors are asking what it will take to revive it. Market experts are increasingly coming to the same answer: Time.

IBM stock looks cheap: Barron's (Reuters)

Reuters - The stock of International Business
Machines , which continues to make sales gains in
emerging markets and among smaller U.S. companies, looks cheap,
Barron's said on Sunday.

Leaders head for Davos as chilly winds whip world economy (AFP)

AFP - The icy Swiss mountains are to host the world's business and political elite this week for their annual gathering in Davos, where the cooling temperature of the world economy is set to focus minds.

Robust miners are unable to shore up weakened Footsie (FT.com)

FT.com - The FTSE 100 closed at a five-month low on Friday despite talk of consolidation among the mega-cap miners.

Rio Tinto CEO leaves door open to higher bid from BHP (Reuters)

Reuters - Rio Tinto Chief Executive Tom
Albanese on Sunday left the door open to a sweetened takeover
offer from BHP Billiton, but said Rio would be happy to grow on
its own if BHP walked away.

Wall St. drops as Bush rescue plan disappoints (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks tumbled for a fourth day on
Friday to close out the worst week for the S&P 500 in five
years on worry that a White House effort to boost the economy
may not prevent a recession.

Report: Sears to reorganize into units (AP)

AP - Sears Holdings Corp. plans to reorganize into several companies in another bid to pull the ailing 121-year-old retailer out the doldrums, according to a report published Saturday.

Britain backs bond plan to aid N.Rock rescue: source (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain will back a plan to
convert its lending to Northern Rock into bonds, a
source familiar with the matter said, potentially tying itself
to the bank for years but avoiding full-scale nationalization.