Why is it so hard to report valid statistics on jobs?
"I don't think there's been a time in modern history for the U.S. that we've had this big of a discrepancy
in the employment statistics. - Ethan Harris, chief U.S. economist at Lehman Bros.
Fed is signaling that rates will rise
Dropping its now-famous "considerable period" phrase, according to minutes, you know what
will come next.
Political risk cost the global economy
Worries about terrorism and other political risks cost the global economy more than 800 billion
dollars by cutting corporate spending, investments and growth in 2003.
Interest rates remain but no new jobs
With inflation low and considerable slack remaining in the economy, interest rates will remain
extremely low - NO INFLATION! Where do they buy food?
The US budget deficit explodes to nearly half a trillion dollars
Laws enacted since August had boosted spending by 681 billion dollars. The deficit would bulge
from 375 billion dollars last fiscal year to an unprecedented 477 billion dollars in 2004.
Microsoft has record sales, profits down
It's real clear Linux is the most significant competitor to the Windows platform, Microsoft claims
their salespeople are "better equipped to talk about the benefits of our platform vs. Linux." Selling snow to the Eskimos?
Davos elite see dollar's weakness as danger
Leading economists voiced concern over the fall of the US dollar and its impact on growth
in Europe as money issues come to the fore on the second day of the World Economic Forum.
IMF says global economy set to beat forecasts
In its latest official forecast in September, the IMF predicted world economic growth of 4.1 percent
for 2004, following an expected 3.2-percent expansion in 2003.
More investors plant cash in hedge funds
The hedge fund industry continues to cash in on the positive buzz it generated by posting
positive returns in the three-year stock swoon.
Biotech and Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley, long focused on chips, software and other traditional tech,
is rebuilding steam in a new direction - biomedicine.
Federal agency insurer runs record deficit
The federal agency that insures more than 31,000 private pension plans suffered a record $11.2 billion
shortfall last year as big corporate bankruptcies drained the fund.
Bank giant swallows another big fish
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. ready to buy Bank One Corp. Banking acquisitions
may not stop there, so where is the competition?
Ponzi mutual funds scams still bilk many
NASAA says investors aren't informed about steep surrender fees, and that brokers try to get investors
to switch annuities.
Bank of England in court over BCCI scandal
Lawyers for BCCI liquidators Deloitte and Touche are suing the British central bank for at least
850 million pounds for not doing their duty.
U.S. Treasury notes at three-month lows
Inflation-wary bond investors sent prices sharply higher and yields to their biggest one-day drop in more than two years.
IRS will track Free File taxpayers
Industry leader Intuit says it simply won't comply with an IRS directive to identify by electronic
code free e-filers who use its TurboTax software.
The Bank of England holds interest rates unchanged
Unchanged at 3.75 percent, as many predict a fresh quarter-point rise as soon as February to contain galloping
consumer credit.
IMF warns about the US deficits
The trend (of deficits) is likely to continue to put pressure on the US dollar, because the
current account deficit increasingly reflects low saving rather than high investment.
Orders to U.S. Factories Fall 1.4 Percent
Demand in all categories of durable goods was down 2.5 percent, with a loss of 2.8 million jobs
over the past three years.
Economists optimism in high gear
The economy is expected to grow in 2004 at the fastest pace in five years, euphoria and excess
back. Could it be the last hurrah?
Metals mining shares edge higher
The gold market may see a little short-term weakness, but the longer-term outlook for gold continues
to look very favorable.
China started to slash import tariff rate
Average import tariff rate down to 10.4 percent from currently 11 percent. So why doesn't the U.S.
have their own tariffs to protect us?
