News

2008

September

18

• How safe is your money fund?. The strains on the Reserve Primary Money Market Fund have prompted investors to ask whether their own money-market funds could be at risk. Money-market funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance…

16

• What market tumult means for us. The stunning events rattling the financial markets are raising a lot of questions about the average person's finances. We talked to several experts to find some answers. Q: What if I have a life insurance…

• Financial crises have slowed but not halted U.S. economy. Even as the meltdown of the housing and mortgage markets has deflated home values, touched off a rush of foreclosures, triggered a federal bailout of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and resulted…

• Qué hacer después de un huracán. Todos sabemos que un huracán arrasa. Pero también es cierto que, después de su paso, es mucho lo que podemos hacer para recuperarnos de los daños, reorganizar la casa y la oficina, reclamar el resarcimiento…

15

• What changes in financial world mean to customers. One clear implication of the tumult in the financial world is that some of the biggest brains in the business, from the Federal Reserve to Wall Street, have no idea what will happen next or…

• Prepaid debit cards marketed to students. Many colleges have tightened rules on credit-card marketing on campus in order to discourage students from racking up huge amounts of debt. Now another kind of card is being pushed on campus - with its…

• The effects of credit crisis at home. The turmoil sweeping through the financial markets has left many people worried about their own stocks, bank accounts, and retirement funds. The tottering of investment bank Lehman Brothers, the weakening cash position of AIG, and…

• Fed moves to deal with financial crisis. The Federal Reserve announced late Sunday several steps to cope with the worst credit crisis in decades, including broadening the types of assets that investment banks can put up to get emergency loans from the…

• Deja de vivir de cheque en cheque. Aún faltan algunos días para que se acabe el mes y tu presupuesto está a punto de terminarse. ¿Cuántos podrían identificarse con esta situación? Según la última encuesta de Americanos Poll® para Accion USA, casi…

• Mantén el mejor historial de crédito. Una vez que hayas establecido tu historial crediticio, deberías seguir estos consejos básicos para mantener y desarrollar el mejor historial que puedas. Paciencia y moderación 1. Sé paciente; no aceptes todas las ofertas que te…

14

• FHA loans enjoy a boom. It was the mortgage of last resort when home sales were booming. Buyers balked at the paperwork. Sellers hated the home-repair rules. What a difference a housing bust makes. "Now, it's almost automatic that it's…

• Phone giant buries consumer rights in 'guidebook'. AT&T has sent customers an 8,000-word service agreement that, among other things, says people will be given 30-day notice of price increases only when "commercially reasonable" and that you can't sue the company. Oh, and…

• Your bank in your pocket. Property manager Joshua Rosenthal was in a car headed toward Miami Beach when he realized he needed to transfer a tenant's rent money to his company's account. No problem. The driver didn't even have to…

• "Papelitos" que valen una fortuna. Nunca se me olvida la ocasión en que, en un programa de la tele, vi el caso de una señora extremadamente ahorrativa que compartió con el público cómo fue que logró comprar todas las mercaderías…

• Rescate de hipotecarias ayudará sólo a algunos. Pocos fuera de Washington y Wall Street podrán entender qué hacen las gigantes hipotecarias Fannie Mae y Freddie Mac, pero el rescate de ambas emprendido por el gobierno probablemente se sentirá en las ciudades y…

13

• These home equity loans come with big risks. When an investor offers you $50,000 or $100,000 in exchange for 30 percent to 50 percent of your home's future appreciation, is it a good deal? That's what some investment firms are promoting as an…

11

• Rise of the business credit card. The credit card offers are in the mail. Just as the slowing economy has made access to cash a higher priority for a lot of small businesses, banks have become more reluctant to extend traditional…

• Housing, credit cards on Congress' plate. Although lawmakers have a lot to do, including passing 13 appropriations bills, congressional leaders are knocking down expectations of accomplishing much beyond a simple continuing resolution that would keep the government in operation until January.…

• New car accident database lacking. Long-awaited information on serious vehicle accidents was released to the public Wednesday by the federal government, but crucial data on tires and child-safety seats was withheld. In July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…

• Mortgage rates plunge for those who qualify. The government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has sent mortgage rates tumbling, prompting homeowners and would-be buyers to flood loan offices with phone calls. But there's a catch: Although the lower interest rates…