Stocks in the United States fell sharply Tuesday, following a
broad sell-off in Europe and Asia that was fueled by concerns
over the pace of growth in the global economy.

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Interest rates are at historic lows but cyclical trends suggest they will soon rise. Home buyers may never see such a chance again, writes Marc Roth

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Los Angeles will benefit from its coastal location and recover from the recession more quickly than the state, forecasters said, as international trade and consumer spending in other parts of the country rebound.

“With its natural, deep-water harbor, large-scale logistics industry and export-oriented manufacturing, L.A. is well positioned to benefit from an export-driven expansion,” economist Julia Thornton Snider wrote.

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The FairTax ensures that everyone earning above the poverty level would pay federal taxes. Loopholes would not exist and Social Security and Medicare funding would be ensured.

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Where is the Stock Market Going Now?
After extreme volatility in the stock market, traders and investors are trying to decide which way the market will head. Kevin Cook, market analyst at Peak6 Investments; and John Lekas, chief executive at portfolio manager at Leader Capital shared their views. They had vastly different views, and Lekas even sees the Dow going to 4200-5000 by mid-2011.

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Expert: There Is a China Bubble, But It’s Not About to Burst

Monday, 17 May 2010 08:11 AM

Contributed By: Dan Weil

A financial bubble may well be brewing in China, but that doesn’t mean it’s about to burst, says Bill Bishop, an investor and former executive in China.

In the wake of a prediction by investor Marc Faber [...]

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What’s the best way to prevent banks from taking reckless risks with customers’ money?
Do away with savings and checking accounts, says Boston University economist Laurence Kotlikoff.

In his new book, “Jimmy Stewart Is Dead: Ending the World’s Ongoing Financial Plague With Limited Purpose Banking,” Kotlikoff says checking accounts should be replaced with all-cash mutual funds.

And [...]

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Everyone knows tax increases are coming.

But a Wall Street Journal editorial explains that these hikes will be bigger than expected, with taxes on dividends nearly tripling.

Last week, the Senate Budget Committee passed a fiscal 2011 budget that includes a 164 percent increase in the top dividend tax rate to 39.6 percent from 15 percent now.

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