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FDIC's Bair warns of government "exposure" in mortgages (Reuters)
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:53:37 GMT
Reuters - A key U.S. banking regulator raised concern on Wednesday about the risk of "exposure" the government is taking on in the mortgage market and urged more stringent standards for underwriting mortgages.
Financial crisis panel tells NV leaders to be bold (AP)
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:11:07 GMT

Members of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, from left, John Thompson and Phil Angelides listen to testimony from banking executives, analysts and public officials Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, in Las Vegas as part of its national effort to examine causes for the financial meltdown that led to the Great Recession. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)AP - From mortgage problems to education and budget issues, Nevada leaders on Wednesday delivered a sobering assessment of the state's future as a result of the Great Recession during seven hours of testimony before a federal panel investigating the country's financial meltdown.


Consumers cut back on credit card use once again (AP)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:49:27 GMT
AP - Consumer borrowing fell again in July as households cut back on their credit card use for a 23rd consecutive month, adding more drag on an economy struggling to mount a sustained rebound.
Bankers urge government to pull plug on Fannie, Freddie (Reuters)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:35:59 GMT
Reuters - The federal government should take mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac off life support sooner rather than later, the Mortgage Bankers Association urged on Wednesday.
Freddie Mac to issue new 5-year note due 2015 (AP)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:41:01 GMT
AP - Government sponsored mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday it plans to issue new five-year notes due on Sept. 10, 2015.
Oppenheimer downgrades H&R Block to 'Perform' (AP)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:47:21 GMT
AP - Tax preparation company H&R Block has struggled for the last two tax seasons and faces uncertainty over the mortgages it still holds from its former lending operations, an Oppenheimer analyst said Wednesday.
What Great Chess Players Can Teach Investors (The Motley Fool)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:49:15 GMT
The Motley Fool - The constant iterative calculation of risk and reward required in every chess move translates well to the investing world. I thought it might be instructive to look at three chess world champions and see how their style matches up to various investment styles. Do you see your own style in any of these Grandmasters?
Summary Box: Mortgage lending falls 1.5 pct (AP)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:45:35 GMT
AP - MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS SLIP: Applications for home loans dipped last week as mortgage rates ticked up slightly from the lowest level in decades, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Mortgage lending down 1.5 pct as rates inch up (AP)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:24:00 GMT
AP - Applications for home loans dipped last week as mortgage rates ticked up slightly from the lowest level in decades.
Home buying up in week, but down 40 percent in year (Reuters)
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:18:02 GMT

London shares ended in positive territory Thursday on US jobs and home sales data after falling in early deals.(AFP/File/Carl de Souza)Reuters - Americans applied to buy homes at the highest pace last week since May, but more than 8 of every 10 loan requests was for a refinancing, Mortgage Bankers Association data show on Wednesday.


Bullish or Bearish? The World's Greatest Investors Debate. (The Motley Fool)
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:47:20 GMT
The Motley Fool - The bears and bulls were battling as ferociously as ever over the past month. Let's dive right into the debate, through the words of some of the world's greatest investors.
Small investors quitting Wall Street: SEC boss (AFP)
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:06:32 GMT

The head of the US stock market watchdog said on Tuesday that individual investors have been turning away from equities since a May crash that exposed weaknesses in Wall Street's trading structure.(AFP/File/Stan Honda)AFP - The head of the US stock market watchdog said on Tuesday that individual investors have been turning away from equities since a May crash that exposed weaknesses in Wall Street's trading structure.


AIG seeks Sept 21 approval for AIA IPO: sources (Reuters)
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:32:36 GMT
Reuters - American International Group Inc plans to seek Hong Kong listing committee approval on September 21, to list its Asian life insurance unit, aiming to raise about $15 billion, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal said on Tuesday.
Petrobras sells 64 bln dlrs of stock to fund oil exploration (AFP)
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:57:08 GMT

An oil platform off the coast of Brazil. Brazil's Petrobras unveiled one of the world's biggest share offerings Friday, a sale of up to 64 billion dollars in new stock to finance oil exploration aimed at turning Brazil into a leading oil exporter of the 21st century.(AFP/File/Antonio Scorza)AFP - Brazil's Petrobras unveiled one of the world's biggest share offerings Friday, a sale of up to 64 billion dollars in new stock to finance oil exploration aimed at turning Brazil into a leading oil exporter of the 21st century.


MGIC added $1.2B in mortgage coverage in August (AP)
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:50:41 GMT
AP - Private mortgage insurer Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp. said Friday it added $1.2 billion in new primary insurance coverage in August and the number of delinquent loans it insures declined.
Sirius XM Has a Stern Decision to Make (The Motley Fool)
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:43:02 GMT
The Motley Fool - Satellite-radio star Howard Stern is negotiating in public again.
5 Tax Moves to Make Now (U.S. News & World Report)
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:16:40 GMT
U.S. News & World Report - It may seem a bit strange to be talking about income taxes in September. There are, however, good reasons to think about taxes well before April 15. For starters, there are some big changes in the tax code that go into effect in 2011. Depending on your income tax bracket and investments, some simple planning now could save you a bundle later.
Summary Box: Mortgage rates hit low of 4.32 pct. (AP)
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:22:50 GMT
AP - RECORD LOWS: Mortgage rates fell to the lowest levels in decades for the tenth time in 11 weeks, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate for a 30-year fixed loan was 4.32 percent. The 15-year fixed loan hit 3.83 percent.
How to Get a Government-Backed, Zero-Down-Payment Mortgage (U.S. News & World Report)
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:13:50 GMT
U.S. News & World Report - More than four years after real estate values peaked, the historic plunge in home prices remains fresh in the minds of mortgage lenders. After taking painful losses on delinquent home loans, banks have imposed tougher standards--such as increased credit scores and higher down payment requirements--on applicants of all stripes. And as investors fled for the hills, the exotic mortgage products that helped fuel the real estate boom have largely disappeared from the private market. But that doesn't mean all buyers need a big pile of cash to snag a home loan. ...
5 Reasons You Should Buy Your Latte (U.S. News & World Report)
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:51:22 GMT
U.S. News & World Report - The Latte Factor, a term coined (and trademarked) by personal finance guru David Bach, is one of the most talked about concepts in the world of personal finance. But it might be based on faulty math.