As oil traders depart for the long weekend most of their attention will be focused on weather forecasts in the Gulf of Mexico rather than the backyard barbecue. Tropical Storm Gustav will be moving inexorably over the next three days, gathering strength with hurricane force as it bears down on refineries, drilling platforms and pipelines [...]

There was a time when the working man and woman in this country could look forward to living out their last decade or two in dignity and comparative security—no longer. An increasing number of elderly Americans are facing a future of destitution and poverty that would make Steinbeck’s “Oakies” shudder in their graves. Of more [...]

When markets behave in this fashion—trend less, low volume, meandering—it is hard to come up with something intelligent to write. Sure there was a bit of excitement here and there like the move in energy on Thursday (up 4.9%). And yes, other commodities followed suit but much of that was given back on Friday. So, [...]

In my last column “Debt—Part two,” I mentioned if debtors must use a charge card at all let it be a debit card. Since then however, I delved deeper into the matter thanks to one reader’s comments and discovered that in certain circumstances a debit card can cost you even more than your credit card.

Market volatility continued this week as the averages moved up and down in trend- less, light summer volume. Yet all three averages managed to finish on the plus side for the week as the continued fall in oil prices supported the market. This was even more impressive given the continuing stream of bad economic news [...]

When looking at recent developments in the world’s stock markets, I always ask myself this question: is today’s news reflected in the price of securities? If not I maintain my positions or even add to them, if so, then I look for the exit. Consider this summer’s decline in oil and other commodities. That’s great [...]

“I’ve got a stock brokerage account,” asked one of my southern state clients last week, “and I’m wondering what happens to my money if they go bust?” It is a type of phone call I have been fielding quite often these days as the financial crisis continues to build. The near collapse of Bear Sterns, [...]

Market volatility continued this week as the averages moved up and down in trend- less, light summer volume. Yet all three averages managed to finish on the plus side for the week as the continued fall in oil prices supported the market. This was even more impressive given the continuing stream of bad economic news [...]

Consumer debt has topped $2.52 trillion and moving rapidly higher in this country. As it climbs, more and more of us are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. This summer’s gas and food prices were bad enough but now the winter looms and with it the sticker shock of gas and fuel prices [...]

We opened the week at about the same level we closed on Friday give or take a point or two. That’s not to say it was a boring week, quite the contrary. The volatility was enormous. The markets moved up and down on light volume with the Dow gaining hundreds of points only to give [...]