Wild Markets: What You Should Be Watching Now
Big financial companies appear to be falling like dominoes as the credit crisis intensifies. Individual investors worried by all the turmoil may wonder what they should be watching as Wall Street quakes. BusinessWeek offers five signals in the equity and credit markets that investors should keep an eye on to gauge whether the clanging chimes of doom are tolling louder for individual financial firms.
Markets: What You Should Be Watching Now - BusinessWeek
Money Market Fund Says Customers Could Lose Money
Primary Fund, one of the first and largest money-market funds, puts seven-day freeze on redemptions after Lehman bankruptcy sends net asset value below $1 a share. The announcement by the Primary Fund marks only the second time in history that a money market fund has "broken the buck" - reporting a per-share value below a dollar.
Money Market Fund Falls Below Sacred $1 Mark
Also: Cloud Over Money Market Funds Frays Investors Trust More
Money Market Accounts Are Safe Alternative to Shaky Funds
With fragile money market funds "breaking the buck," money market accounts are a safe, FDIC-backed option.
Investing basics, Ch. 1: Money market accounts
Also: Search MMA Accounts
Federal Bank Insurance Fund Dwindling
Banks are not the only ones struggling in the growing financial crisis. The fund established to insure their deposits is also feeling the pinch, and the taxpayer may be the lender of last resort.
Federal bank insurance fund slips below target level - USATODAY.com
Low Rates for Loans, Credit Is Out There
Interest rates on everything from home mortgages to credit cards have been falling in recent weeks. And despite the Federal Reserve's decision Tuesday to leave short-term rates unchanged, they could decline even more in the weeks to come. Does that mean it's a good time to get a loan? Not necessarily. Unless you have gold-plated credit, you might not qualify for the lowest rates. In fact, if you have tarnished credit, you might not be able to get a loan at all. Here's why.
Low rates on credit, loans are out there - USATODAY.com
Wall Street Crashes the 2008 Election
Wall Street just jumped into the race for the White House in a big way. The ongoing crisis in credit markets -- and taxpayer assistance for a growing list of troubled companies -- is taking center stage for both Presidential campaigns. Both Obama and McCain are shunning the hands-off regulatory approach of the Bush Administration in favor of stricter oversight.
Wall Street Crashes the 2008 Election - BusinessWeek
Also: Big To-Do List for Next President
Beware Election Scams
Scammers are capitalizing on all the interest in the campaigns. Here's what to watch out for.
Election Scams Go High-Tech - SmartMoney.com
Which Warehouse Club Is Best?
As retailers of all stripes struggle to survive in a tough economy, one group is doing just fine: warehouse clubs. They've been growing for years, but with a new crop of customers looking for bargains, the Big Three -- Costoc, BJ's and Sam's Club are in a sweet spot. SmartMoney set out for an unscientific survey of a Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club in northern New Jersey. Our goal was to find the cost of a basket of 10 comparable grocery items purchased at each of the three stores, while checking out the selection and service along the way. See which clubs offer the best prices, service and selection.
Which Warehouse Club Is the Best? - SmartMoney.com
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