Recovery fears slam Street
Dow industrials plunge more than 200 points, with McDonald's the sole advancer, as latest data on U.S. and Chinese economies are weighed alongside Spain's downgrade and festering Mideast worries.
• Market Pulse: Key equity benchmarks taken out — S&P under 1,300, Dow industrials below 12,000
• Dollar gains as Spain downgrade pressures euro | Treasurys gain on safety flight before auction
Dow industrials plunge more than 200 points, with McDonald's the sole advancer, as latest data on U.S. and Chinese economies are weighed alongside Spain's downgrade and festering Mideast worries.
• Market Pulse: Key equity benchmarks taken out — S&P under 1,300, Dow industrials below 12,000
• Dollar gains as Spain downgrade pressures euro | Treasurys gain on safety flight before auction
Europe
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MarketWatch Topics:
Sovereign Debt
Reuters
Spain's debt again in doubt
Spain returns to the spotlight as Moody’s cuts the government-bond rating one notch to Aa2.
• Bank of England holds rates steady
• Europe stocks fight on two fronts
Santander CEO sidelined in Spain
Three-month banking ban relates to Santander chief Alfredo Saenz's tenure at Banesto.
• Day of reckoning for cajas
Reuters
Spain returns to the spotlight as Moody’s cuts the government-bond rating one notch to Aa2.
• Bank of England holds rates steady
• Europe stocks fight on two fronts
Three-month banking ban relates to Santander chief Alfredo Saenz's tenure at Banesto.
• Day of reckoning for cajas
U.S. economy
|
A trade deficit — in
China?
U.S. trade gap widens
Trade deficit widens by an unexpectedly large 15.1%, with imported oil featuring prominently.
• Trade-gap widening is no big deal (First Take)
• First-time jobless-benefits claims climb
• Foreclosure filings at three-year low
• Foreclosures are slowing, not ceasing
• U.S. mortgage rates hold steady; 30's at 4.88%
Some parts of economy beat the Great Recession
Consumers are borrowing and spending more , but optimism is tempered by a continuing slump in key industries. And wages are stagnating.
FOOD AND DRINK
Wearing of the green
Starbucks inks deal to emblazon its famed mermaid on Green Mountain's single-serve cups.
• Hulbert Interactive: Starbucks | Green Mountain
• Tale of two white meats | Heinz girds
U.S. trade gap widens
Trade deficit widens by an unexpectedly large 15.1%, with imported oil featuring prominently.
• Trade-gap widening is no big deal (First Take)
• First-time jobless-benefits claims climb
• Foreclosure filings at three-year low
• Foreclosures are slowing, not ceasing
• U.S. mortgage rates hold steady; 30's at 4.88%
Some parts of economy beat the Great Recession
Consumers are borrowing and spending more , but optimism is tempered by a continuing slump in key industries. And wages are stagnating.
Wearing of the green
Starbucks inks deal to emblazon its famed mermaid on Green Mountain's single-serve cups.
• Hulbert Interactive: Starbucks | Green Mountain
• Tale of two white meats | Heinz girds
COMMODITIES |
Topic: Middle East
Oil slips below $103 as Libya fighting rages on
Crude-oil futures decline, as investors are still monitoring the ongoing fighting in Libya.
• $100 oil: Here to stay or soon to go?
Libyan rebels call for no-fly zone: Funeral for rebels turns into an antigovernment demonstration in Benghazi.
Oil slips below $103 as Libya fighting rages on
Crude-oil futures decline, as investors are still monitoring the ongoing fighting in Libya.
• $100 oil: Here to stay or soon to go?
Libyan rebels call for no-fly zone: Funeral for rebels turns into an antigovernment demonstration in Benghazi.
Latest News
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Bank of Spain: €15.15B subject to possible changes
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Bank of Spain: 2 foreign bank units need capital
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Bank of Spain: 2 Spanish banks must raise capital
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Bank of Spain: 8 savings banks must raise capital
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Bank of Spain: Total capital to be raised €15.15B
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S&P suspends Libya's rating until sanctions lifted
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Bank of Spain: 12 banks must increase capital
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BREAKING
S&P cuts Libya's rating to junk status of 'BB'
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Small caps rule: Investors who have ridden stocks' rally from their March 2009 low would be even better off if they had bought small caps, Mark Hulbert says.
Lessons from bull market
The gloom of March 2009 is no longer with investors, writes David Callaway, but lessons should be noted to prevent history from repeating.
• How to make money in the bull market now
• Stacking up the rally against history: Hulbert
• Baby-boomer market: Brimelow
• Two years in, rally is alive: Kilgore
• Birthday is no reason to invest: Jaffe
• The 2008 crash isn’t even over: Farrell
• Bull-market winners and losers (slide show)
The gloom of March 2009 is no longer with investors, writes David Callaway, but lessons should be noted to prevent history from repeating.
• How to make money in the bull market now
• Stacking up the rally against history: Hulbert
• Baby-boomer market: Brimelow
• Two years in, rally is alive: Kilgore
• Birthday is no reason to invest: Jaffe
• The 2008 crash isn’t even over: Farrell
• Bull-market winners and losers (slide show)
Inside MarketWatch »
FINANCIALS
Financials drop sharply
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund down 1.5% at Thursday's open as recovery worries intensify.
• The new normal at Bank of America (WSJ.com)
• B. of A. seeking to skirt new rules (Minyanville)
EXCHANGES
Japan exchanges talk merger
The Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Securities Exchange will begin talks on a merger, as the trend of exchange consolidation continues.
• LSE to target Nasdaq for takeover: report
RETAIL
Gap tweaks its strategy
Struggling to revitalize sales at namesake unit, company plans new marketing to lure shoppers.
Conservatives take aim at ‘Net neutrality’
Group backed by billionaire Koch brothers wages a war against the Obama administration’s "Net neutrality" regulatory initiative. And they're meeting with some success.
• AOL lays off 20% of workforce to cut costs
• Tablet boom faces ‘bubble’ risk: J.P. Morgan
In Personal Finance »
Inflation risk in retirement
Despite years of witnessing firsthand the insidious effects of inflation, many Americans are not taking into account its effects on retirement plans.
MORTGAGES
HUD's reverse-mortgage rules spark lawsuit from spouses
Facing foreclosure, the surviving spouses of three reverse-mortgage borrowers sue the government.
• New rules for first-time buyers (SmartMoney)
Video »
Mossberg reviews the iPad 2
You already know the highlights of the new Apple iPad: thinner, lighter, faster. But how is it to use? Walt Mossberg shares the results of his tests.
Galleon trial begins
Insider-trading trial of Raj Rajaratnam is under way. Ashby Jones talks about what to expect.
• What kind of juror does Rajaratnam want? (blog)
• Who is Galleon's Rajaratnam?
• Why the Galleon case is important (First Take)
Hacking Nook to make a tablet
Brett Arends shows how he transformed his Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader into a functioning tablet device with an Android OS.
The case of the missing Banksy
Detroit gallerists say they rescued the work, likely by famed graffiti artist Banksy, from a disused industrial site. Others say street art should stay put.
Allocate more to blue chips
It's time to load up on big U.S. stocks, say top wealth managers in Barron's exclusive survey.
• Ultrashort bond funds flagged for risk
• Bargains can be found in any climate
Rex (back) on Techs:
Tweets as telegrams
Rex Crum recasts Twitter as the 21st-century telegraph, with Charlie Sheen leading the way
with the dots, dashes and goddesses.
• The tweet life of Charlie Sheen
MarketWatch Radio »
Four career-building steps
for the underemployed
Can you go from being one of the millions of underemployed to a full-time worker in four steps? Justin Schakelman of Careerminds has some tips.
Cash for college
Jennifer Kushinka provides some advice on applying for higher-education financial aid.
Taxes »
Tax refunds, incorrect 1099s, other tax tips
The IRS is sitting on more than $1 billion in unclaimed refunds for 2007 alone. Here's how to get your refund — plus other tax tips.
The IRS is sitting on more than $1 billion in unclaimed refunds for 2007 alone. Here's how to get your refund — plus other tax tips.
Health Care »
Internet drug scams can make you sick
You may not be able to tell counterfeit medications from the real thing, but your body can. So beware what you buy online.
• Bogus websites selling counterfeit drugs are on the rise
You may not be able to tell counterfeit medications from the real thing, but your body can. So beware what you buy online.
• Bogus websites selling counterfeit drugs are on the rise
Reuters
Baseball’s value pack
MarketWatch research finds the two Florida teams and the Texas Rangers have been baseball’s most efficient spenders over the past three seasons.
• Fresh thinking equals success for Rays
• Taking baseball's Rays worst to first
• MarketWatch sport section | SportWatch
• Follow MWSportsWatch on Twitter
• Full MarketWatch sports coverage
At left: The San Francisco Giants take part in a spring training camp in Scottsdale.
MarketWatch research finds the two Florida teams and the Texas Rangers have been baseball’s most efficient spenders over the past three seasons.
• Fresh thinking equals success for Rays
• Taking baseball's Rays worst to first
• MarketWatch sport section | SportWatch
• Follow MWSportsWatch on Twitter
• Full MarketWatch sports coverage
At left: The San Francisco Giants take part in a spring training camp in Scottsdale.
MarketWatch Blogs »
Environmentalists spar on nuclear power
The Sierra Club and the Breakthrough Institute debate approaches to nuclear power at the ECO:nomics conference.
• Barbour deflects candidacy talk, opines on energy policy
• Myhrvold’s patent firm sees revenue up | Subsidies for ideas
• Whole Foods isn't ‘Whole Paycheck’ | Eating on $200/month?
• Another clean-tech IPO imminent, Khosla says
• Ford cautions electric car future uncertain | Driving ahead
The Sierra Club and the Breakthrough Institute debate approaches to nuclear power at the ECO:nomics conference.
• Barbour deflects candidacy talk, opines on energy policy
• Myhrvold’s patent firm sees revenue up | Subsidies for ideas
• Whole Foods isn't ‘Whole Paycheck’ | Eating on $200/month?
• Another clean-tech IPO imminent, Khosla says
• Ford cautions electric car future uncertain | Driving ahead
Dead Money »
Reclaim your lost billions
States hold a lot of misplaced assets, some of which may be yours.
• Who's who of dead money: Jobs, Jolie, Jagger
• Slideshow: Famous stars with misplaced cash
• How to claim cash waiting for you | California's $6 billion man
• Changing rules force business compliance
• CEOs, your 'dead' bailout is waiting for you (First Take)
• Read the full special report on MarketWatch
States hold a lot of misplaced assets, some of which may be yours.
• Who's who of dead money: Jobs, Jolie, Jagger
• Slideshow: Famous stars with misplaced cash
• How to claim cash waiting for you | California's $6 billion man
• Changing rules force business compliance
• CEOs, your 'dead' bailout is waiting for you (First Take)
• Read the full special report on MarketWatch
Retirement »
How to deal with inflation in retirement
It can eat away at your spending power after you retire, but not many folks plan for the effects of inflation.
• The 10 worst states for retirees | • Four moves to make now
It can eat away at your spending power after you retire, but not many folks plan for the effects of inflation.
• The 10 worst states for retirees | • Four moves to make now
Personal Finance »
Eight tips for finding cheap airfares
Airlines are adding new fees on just about everything. Here's how you can get the best of them and fly for less.
• Your miles can buy you some bizarre gifts from airlines
Airlines are adding new fees on just about everything. Here's how you can get the best of them and fly for less.
• Your miles can buy you some bizarre gifts from airlines
Spending strategies in retirement
Saving for retirement is tough, but planning how to dole out your money once you stop working can be a bigger challenge.
• The best places to stash your cash now
• Looking for jobs? These industries are hiring
• Tax deductions that you may have forgotten about
• Tax tips for the unemployed
|
Is online tax filing safe?
Saving for retirement is tough, but planning how to dole out your money once you stop working can be a bigger challenge.
• The best places to stash your cash now
• Looking for jobs? These industries are hiring
• Tax deductions that you may have forgotten about
• Tax tips for the unemployed
|
Is online tax filing safe?
Home buyers to pay more for FHA loans
Changes to government-insured mortgage program could limit borrowers' access to loans and drive up fees.
• Home inspectors always find a problem | Charlie Sheen's house
• Mortgage life insurance snafu hits home | Mortgages under 5%
Changes to government-insured mortgage program could limit borrowers' access to loans and drive up fees.
• Home inspectors always find a problem | Charlie Sheen's house
• Mortgage life insurance snafu hits home | Mortgages under 5%
Kitchen designs that make home cooking fun
The elements of universal design don't have to be a turn off for younger buyers, allowing us to build houses that will age with us.
• Dream kitchen on a budget
|
Home fix-up that pays
• Homes that help you take aging in stride
• Don't expect a housing recovery in 2011, veteran writer says
• Charlie Sheen buys a house
|
Say good-bye to McMansions
The elements of universal design don't have to be a turn off for younger buyers, allowing us to build houses that will age with us.
• Dream kitchen on a budget
|
Home fix-up that pays
• Homes that help you take aging in stride
• Don't expect a housing recovery in 2011, veteran writer says
• Charlie Sheen buys a house
|
Say good-bye to McMansions
Jobs »
Moving for a job is risky no matter the lure
Unemployment rates vary widely across states but that doesn't mean packing up and heading for greener job pastures makes sense.
• Looking for a job? These industries are hiring now
• Be flexible, get flexibility
|
Get a health-care job
Unemployment rates vary widely across states but that doesn't mean packing up and heading for greener job pastures makes sense.
• Looking for a job? These industries are hiring now
• Be flexible, get flexibility
|
Get a health-care job
Trouble ahead?
As the two-year anniversary of the bull market approaches, the road ahead is increasingly uncertain. Let our experts help you protect your investments in a market that can turn on a dime.
• Hulbert: Large-cap value sector a good bet
• Kramer: Ireland picks if you're feeling lucky
• Kahn: Stocks that could lead a market swoon
• Kee: Year's best trade already happened?
• McMillan: Focus on first day of the month
• Gilani: Four most dangerous words in investing
As the two-year anniversary of the bull market approaches, the road ahead is increasingly uncertain. Let our experts help you protect your investments in a market that can turn on a dime.
• Hulbert: Large-cap value sector a good bet
• Kramer: Ireland picks if you're feeling lucky
• Kahn: Stocks that could lead a market swoon
• Kee: Year's best trade already happened?
• McMillan: Focus on first day of the month
• Gilani: Four most dangerous words in investing
Therese Poletti
Tech Tales