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10:42am: A surprising jump in durable orders is a good sign for the economy. But how much longer can demand hold up in the wake of a possible global consumer slowdown? (more)
Jul 24: After months of rising oil prices, crude has finally started to fall from record levels. Is it possible that oil below $100 and gas under $4 a gallon are in sight? (more)
Jul 23: Yes, the economy is in rough shape. But consumers still are spending and that's helped lift profits at companies like Pepsi, Mickey D's and Hershey. (more)
Jul 22: Bad news from AmEx and Wachovia should serve as a reminder that it's still a troubling time for many financial stocks. (more)
Jul 21: Even though Yahoo has settled with activist shareholder Carl Icahn, Microsoft is still circling. And Jerry Yang's job may not be safe. (more)
Jul 18: ...drugs? Biotechs, pharma companies and medical equipment firms have outperformed the broader market during the past few weeks. Here's why they may stay healthy. (more)
Jul 17: Wall Street's been in a better mood the past few days but there is still skepticism about whether the worst is really over just yet. (more)
Jul 16: Investors who bet that stocks will fall are getting blamed by some for the current market mess. But it would be a huge mistake to crack down on the shorts. (more)
Jul 15: In sobering testimony to the Senate Banking Committee, Fed chair Ben Bernanke says the credit crunch and inflation are both key concerns. (more)
Jul 14: The central bank has been justifiably on inflation watch lately. But fears about a Fannie and Freddie meltdown may force the Fed to hold back on rate hikes. (more)
Jul 11: Yes, there is a lot of fear about what's next for the government-sponsored mortgage giants. But Fannie and Freddie are unlikely to go away. This too will pass. (more)
Jul 10: For the second time in the past few months, the Oracle of Omaha's Berkshire Hathaway is helping to finance a big deal. That's an encouraging sign. (more)
Jul 9: The health of the economy and markets will depend largely on what happens to oil prices. That means the situation in Middle East may trump everything else. (more)
Jul 8: How fragile is this market? A report about a potential accounting change jolted stocks even though oil was lower and the dollar was higher. (more)
Jul 7: Alcoa and GE will kick off second-quarter earnings season this week. And overall growth will probably look a lot like the first quarter. That's not good. (more)
Jul 3: A jobs report that failed to live up to the most gloomy forecasts and signs that Europe may hold off on more rate hikes could help the greenback. (more)
Jul 2: The market's showing some tentative signs of recovery despite more gloomy economic and corporate news. Is that a good sign? (more)
Jul 1: The European Central Bank is expected to boost a key rate Thursday in order to fight inflation. The move may cause a weaker dollar and force the Fed's hand. (more)
Jun 30: It was an abysmal first half of the year for the economy and markets. But experts say the worst thing to do now is act like Chicken Little. (more)
Jun 25: not what it does. With the market expecting the central bank to keep rates at 2%, investors will focus closely on the wording of the Fed's statement. (more)
Jun 24: The struggling automaker's stock came close to hitting a 33-year low this week. Plus: What companies could replace it. (more)
Jun 23: Shares of food, grain and fertilizer firms are on fire this year thanks to strong demand and surging commodity prices. But are the stocks still worth buying? (more)
Jun 20: With oil prices rising and the dollar weakening, gold has climbed back above $900. But there's not much more headroom. (more)
Jun 19: There are rumors that the troubled investment bank is for sale. But even if someone is brave enough to buy Lehman, it would probably be at a discount. (more)
Jun 18: A tepid outlook from the package delivery company is not a good sign, showing that high oil prices are starting to really squeeze corporate profits. (more)
Jun 17: Only a few weeks ago, the 10-Year Treasury yielded 4%. Now yields are up to nearly 4.25%. How much higher will yields climb? (more)
Jun 16: FCC chair Kevin Martin is supporting the satellite radio merger. Final approval of the deal has been long overdue for both customers and investors. (more)
Jun 13: Experts expect a wave of deals in the second half of the year, news that could lift the markets. (more)
Jun 12: More and more banks are slashing their dividends or announcing new subprime bombshells. But some banks are holding up just fine. (more)
Jun 11: The CEO of Russian oil firm Gazprom, the world's largest energy company, is predicting a huge jump in the price of oil. Could he possibly be right? (more)
Jun 10: The Federal Reserve has been talking tough about inflation and the weak dollar. But some want action sooner rather than later. (more)
Jun 9: After a freaky Friday for the markets, investors shouldn't succumb to the urge to panic. In fact, this is a good buying opportunity for smart investors. (more)
Jun 6: A big spike in unemployment is the latest sign that businesses are starting to feel the pinch from the weak economy. But some see hope on the horizon. (more)
Jun 5: Private-equity firms bought Alltel for about $27.5 billion last year and now they've sold for just a tiny premium. Will other deals disappoint too? (more)
Jun 4: There is a tug of war on Wall Street. Bulls are cheering the decline in oil prices. But bears are more loudly showing concern about the woeful state of the financial sector. (more)
Jun 3: Bernanke strongly suggested that the central bank is going to keep rates steady for the foreseeable future (more)
Jun 2: It looks increasingly likely the Fed is through cutting rates - and that argues for a strengthening greenback and an end to surging oil prices. (more)
May 30: Even without the added drama of a possible Anheuser-Busch takeover, shares of brewers, distiller and vintners are good bets. (more)
May 29: The yield on the benchmark 10-year note is at its highest level since January, and experts believe long-term rates will climb even more. (more)
May 28: Yes, the economy is in rough shape. But comparisons to the Great Depression are misguided. (more)
May 27: Buffett says we're there. Greenspan says we're likely so. It may not be official, but the question is: How long will the funk last? (more)
May 23: Many CNNMoney.com readers say they'd tolerate higher fares if it meant better service. Are you listening airline execs? (more)
May 22: Yes, it stinks that airlines now charge you for things that used to be free. But with jet fuel costs skyrocketing, rational pricing is the only way airlines can stay alive. (more)
May 21: Consumers may be ticked off about the rise in oil prices. But the pain at the pump is a little less severe for those who've invested in surging energy stocks. (more)
May 20: Consumers may be pulling back as oil and food prices surge. But retailers with a focus on value, corporate customers and overseas markets are holding up well. (more)
May 19: Microsoft is talking with Yahoo again. But so what? A merger will happen eventually and the longer this soap opera goes on, the stronger Google will get. (more)
May 16: The housing market is still a mess but funds that invest in real estate stocks are on fire this year. Here's why the comeback may be for real. (more)
May 15: Yields on the benchmark 10-Year Treasury are approaching 4%. Here's why they'll hit that level soon and keep climbing. (more)
May 14: Historically, the Fed has been quiet leading up to an election. But some traders think the Fed could raise rates as soon as October. (more)
May 13: HP's deal for EDS is a sign that companies sitting on a lot of cash are ready to put some of their money to work...and that's a good omen for the markets. (more)
May 12: A small bank in Arkansas was recently shut down for "unsafe and unsound practices." More banks are probably going to meet the same fate. (more)
May 9: The unwillingness of Europe's central banks to cut rates will eventually lead to a continental slowdown, a stronger dollar and lower oil prices. (more)
May 6: Big losses at Fannie Mae, UBS and D.R. Horton show that the banking and housing sectors are still hurting. But don't ignore strength in other sectors. (more)
May 5: Microsoft offered $47.5 billion for Yahoo before walking away. Yahoo is now worth $33.5 billion. If Yahoo's turnaround fails, it may crawl back to Microsoft. (more)
May 2: The economy is still weak but the latest job numbers prove once again that the worst may be over. (more)
May 1: Spending rose more than expected in March. Much of that is due to rising food and gas prices but the consumer is still hanging in there despite recession fears. (more)
Apr 30: It's hard to get excited about 0.6% growth but at least GDP didn't fall in the first quarter. But can the economy avoid a drop in the second quarter? (more)
Apr 29: It's fashionable to characterize Big Oil as greedy gougers that should have their profits taxed more heavily. Here's why that's foolish thinking. (more)
Apr 28: The Oracle's investment in Wrigley and Kirk Kerkorian's increased stake in Ford are healthy signs of a market recovery. (more)
Apr 25: The credit crunch may be behind us and earnings have been better than expected. That could lead to happier times if the Fed starts focusing on inflation. (more)
Apr 24: Activist shareholders Nelson Peltz and Carl Icahn are raising a ruckus. Are their rumblings good for shareholders? (more)
Apr 23: Consumers and investors are worried about rising crude prices as oil costs start to eat into personal income and corporate profits. (more)
Apr 22: Microsoft and Yahoo. EA and Take-Two. The return of hostile takeover bids is a good sign since it shows that strong companies are willing to put cash to work. (more)
Apr 21: Consumers may be skittish in this weak economy but they haven't completely closed their wallets. Here's which companies will benefit. (more)
Apr 18: The weak greenback has hurt investors and consumers. But some see hope that the dollar will bounce back...which could mean relief on the inflation front. (more)
Apr 17: Some companies are meeting estimates and some are missing forecasts. Some are warning about the future but Big Blue 'feels good.' What's an investor to do? (more)
Apr 16: Housing headaches get all the headlines, but many CNNMoney.com readers say they are more concerned about rising food and gas prices than the credit crunch. (more)
Apr 15: Rising oil and food prices fuel a much bigger jump than expected in producer prices. That's hurting the economy, and has to have the Fed worried. (more)
Apr 14: With banks imploding and consumers pulling back on spending, one safe haven for the market could be in the stodgy industrials sector. (more)
Apr 11: Strong global sales can't keep GE from feeling the impact of the U.S. economic woes...and the poor results extend beyond just problems in the credit markets. (more)
Apr 10: There's much ado about Yahoo with AOL, Microsoft and News Corp. all circling the search engine. But Google is sitting pretty and its stock is cheap. (more)
Apr 9: JPMorgan Chase reportedly made an offer for Washington Mutual that WaMu rejected. So who will the big bank target next? (more)
Apr 8: AMD's job cuts are the latest sign that the weak economy is wreaking havoc on the technology sector. But there are signs of hope for longer-term investors. (more)
Apr 7: The latest round of earnings reports kicks off today. Alcoa's profits, like those of many other companies, will be bad. But hopes for a profit recovery are building. (more)
Apr 4: After a much weaker jobs report, will the Fed be forced to do another big rate cut later this month against its better judgment? Hopefully not. (more)
Apr 3: Disgruntled Bear Stearns investors have had to accept a $10 takeover offer. But one fund manager saw early warning signs and sold at $120. (more)
Apr 2: The Federal Reserve chairman could inspire more confidence if he just admitted the economy is in recession and that he has a plan to get us out of it. (more)
Apr 1: On the first day of the second quarter, investors are shrugging off bad news from the financial sector and are accentuating the positive. Is the worst really over? (more)
Mar 31: The Treasury Secretary's proposal to give the Federal Reserve more power to regulate Wall Street isn't perfect. But it's a step in the right direction. (more)
Mar 28: More and more investors are investing overseas as a way to diversify as well as escape the recession fears that have plagued Wall Street. (more)
Mar 27: Homebuilders like Lennar keep reporting losses and warn that it won't get better soon. So why are the stocks among this year's biggest winners? (more)
Mar 26: More woes about banks and the economy will probably overshadow good news from Motorola and Ford. But investors seem to be taking the bad news in stride. (more)
Mar 25: More banks may want help from the Federal Reserve to buy out struggling financials at fire-sale prices. The Fed should show some restraint. (more)
Mar 24: Ideally, the government shouldn't have to monitor the actions of big banks. But the Bear Stearns mess proves Wall Street needs to be saved from itself. (more)
Mar 21: Falling long-term Treasury yields could eventually help consumers - but also may be a sign of continued concern about the economy. (more)
Mar 20: Shares of strong companies in beaten down sectors that have gained ground in spite of recession fears might be worth a look. (more)
Mar 19: Yes, the central bank delivered another big rate cut. But it may also be getting ready to stop cutting rates so it can fight inflation and the weak dollar. (more)
Mar 18: The market is showing tentative signs of recovery. Here's why investors should be encouraged....even though they also need to be prepared for more volatility. (more)
Mar 17: Bear Stearns is saved by JPMorgan Chase and the Fed keeps cutting rates to help other banks. But consumers get hurt as savings rates plunge. (more)
Mar 14: Even though many of the economic headlines are scary, this is precisely the time for smart investors to put money to work. (more)
Mar 13: Ugly retail sales and a somber forecast from CFOs point to recession, but rising oil and gold prices and a weak dollar show inflation. What's Ben Bernanke to do? (more)
Mar 12: Wall Street's big move Tuesday does not mean that the worst is over for bank stocks. There are some values in the market but investors need to be careful. (more)
Mar 11: As bad as the housing and credit markets are, many CNNMoney.com readers seem to be a lot more worried about inflation than an economic slowdown. (more)
Mar 10: Yes, the economy is in rough shape. But if the Fed keeps cutting rates, it risks further weakening the anemic dollar...and spurring more inflation. (more)
Feb 22: Market volatility in the final hour is a sign that nobody really knows where Wall Street is headed for the next few months. (more)
Feb 21: If you look past the big energy giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, there are still many good bargains in the energy sector. (more)
Feb 20: High inflation may keep the Fed from lowering interest rates much further...and that could lead the economy to weaken even more next year. (more)
Feb 19: There is a rally on Wall Street Tuesday despite weak guidance from Wal-Mart, another bank writedown and surging oil prices. Are investors no longer afraid? (more)
Feb 18: The satellite radio companies announced merger plans a year ago but regulators are taking their time. It's time for them to say yes. (more)
Feb 15: Everybody is talking about a U.S. recession...but there are still plenty of good investment opportunities if you look at the rest of the globe. (more)
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