Slide Show
U.S.'s AAA stripped
S&P; yanks coveted rating for first time
Standard & Poor's downgrades U.S. debt to AA+ from AAA and, while removing world's No. 1 economy from "CreditWatch," says the outlook is negative. It cites unpredictability and insufficient deficit cutting.
• White House bid to rebuff downgrade falls short | Full text of S&P; statement on U.S. downgrade
• U.S. poised to join China, Spain in double-A club | MarketWatch’s top 10 stories of the week
S&P; yanks coveted rating for first time
Standard & Poor's downgrades U.S. debt to AA+ from AAA and, while removing world's No. 1 economy from "CreditWatch," says the outlook is negative. It cites unpredictability and insufficient deficit cutting.
• White House bid to rebuff downgrade falls short | Full text of S&P; statement on U.S. downgrade
• U.S. poised to join China, Spain in double-A club | MarketWatch’s top 10 stories of the week
U.S. ECONOMY
Gauging fallout from S&P; downgrade: The U.S. government's AAA sovereign credit rating is stripped by S&P; in an unprecedented action that could send shock waves through the global financial system.
This week's data in charts
It's all about jobs, wages and inflation.
Jobs recovery still weak
Today’s jobs data show improvement, but not at a sufficient pace to bring down unemployment, writes economist Heather Boushey, in Outside the Box.
• 5 ugly truths about the economy: Reeves
• Fed could trip up bond bulls
U.S. adds 117,000 jobs
Stronger-than-forecast July gain put unemployment at 9.1%. May, June payroll figures also lifted.
• Goolsbee urges caution on jobs data
• U.S. must create more jobs, Obama says
• Job market’s weakness subsiding: analysts
• Jobless rate tiptoes down to 9.1%
• Jobless aid cut as high unemployment reigns
• Citi to hire 500 military veterans (FINS)
• Thousands of finance jobs lost in July (FINS)
Gauging fallout from S&P; downgrade: The U.S. government's AAA sovereign credit rating is stripped by S&P; in an unprecedented action that could send shock waves through the global financial system.
This week's data in charts
It's all about jobs, wages and inflation.
Jobs recovery still weak
Today’s jobs data show improvement, but not at a sufficient pace to bring down unemployment, writes economist Heather Boushey, in Outside the Box.
• 5 ugly truths about the economy: Reeves
• Fed could trip up bond bulls
U.S. adds 117,000 jobs
Stronger-than-forecast July gain put unemployment at 9.1%. May, June payroll figures also lifted.
• Goolsbee urges caution on jobs data
• U.S. must create more jobs, Obama says
• Job market’s weakness subsiding: analysts
• Jobless rate tiptoes down to 9.1%
• Jobless aid cut as high unemployment reigns
• Citi to hire 500 military veterans (FINS)
• Thousands of finance jobs lost in July (FINS)
MARKETS |
How much volatility can market take?
Dow wilts in August heat
Blue chips end higher after vacillating in 416-point range. S&P; 500's week is worst since 2008.
• Thursday's slide triggers 460 short-sale curbs
• VIX 'fear index' doubled in the past month (blog)
• ‘Optimism index’ comes up empty (First Take)
WEEKEND INVESTOR
How to brace your portfolio for another recession
The types of stocks you own, your opinion of emerging markets, cash and U.S. government bonds all need to be reassessed in order for your investments to thrive in a challenging environment.
• Five moves one recession believer is making
• Tips for picking best investment manager
TODAY'S INVESTING IDEAS
What to do with your 401(k)
Despite two days of extreme volatility, financial planner Dee Lee says this is no time for rash moves.
• Three consumer staples up for the week
• Cody Willard welcomes market panic
• Janet Brown's advice: Buy U.S. growth funds
• Thursday didn't look like a market bottom
• Technical analysts say sell now
• How far can stocks fall? (SmartMoney)
• Ten reasons to panic (24/7 Wall St.)
• A big red flag on emerging markets
• Popular new ETFs signal dollar doubts
Dow wilts in August heat
Blue chips end higher after vacillating in 416-point range. S&P; 500's week is worst since 2008.
• Thursday's slide triggers 460 short-sale curbs
• VIX 'fear index' doubled in the past month (blog)
• ‘Optimism index’ comes up empty (First Take)
WEEKEND INVESTOR
How to brace your portfolio for another recession
The types of stocks you own, your opinion of emerging markets, cash and U.S. government bonds all need to be reassessed in order for your investments to thrive in a challenging environment.
• Five moves one recession believer is making
• Tips for picking best investment manager
What to do with your 401(k)
Despite two days of extreme volatility, financial planner Dee Lee says this is no time for rash moves.
• Three consumer staples up for the week
• Cody Willard welcomes market panic
• Janet Brown's advice: Buy U.S. growth funds
• Thursday didn't look like a market bottom
• Technical analysts say sell now
• How far can stocks fall? (SmartMoney)
• Ten reasons to panic (24/7 Wall St.)
• A big red flag on emerging markets
• Popular new ETFs signal dollar doubts
Latest News
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/news/latest
U.S. derides S&P downgrade as 'flawed': report
BREAKING
Fed, FDIC won't change Treasurys treatment
BREAKING
S&P puts blame on U.S.'s 'predictability'
U.S. credit now rated AA+, down from AAA: S&P
U.S. no longer on 'creditwatch negative': S&P
S&P strips U.S. of triple-A credit rating
Heartland Bank assumes Bank of Shorewood assets
Bank closed is Bank of Shorewood
FDIC closes Illinois bank
Source says 'math mistake' in S&P warning: WSJ
U.S. official says S&P was 'off by trillions': CNN
White House challenged S&P data: reports
CNN: S&P reconsidering U.S. downgrade
S&P told U.S. today it planned downgrade: reports
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Silver lining for consumers on oil drop
5:33 p.m. Aug. 5, 2011
Washington Post's education problem
4:47 p.m. Aug. 5, 2011
Dow's worst week since March '09; S&P's worst since Nov. '08
4:24 p.m. Aug. 5, 2011
IBM vs. Home Depot in the battle of the Dow
3:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 2011
Commentary »
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AUGUST TRADING STRATEGIES
MarketWatch's commentators and strategists show you how to navigate August's dog-day doldrums.
• 5 low-risk funds with good, steady yields
• Use the VIX to spike returns during August
• Pay heed to sentiment, Michael Kahn says
• Switch from bond to money funds: Donoghue
• Catch LinkedIn, silver before they break out
• 3 steady, 1 spicy bear-beating dividend stocks
• 3 good places to cast about for gains
• No time for buy and hold
MarketWatch's commentators and strategists show you how to navigate August's dog-day doldrums.
• 5 low-risk funds with good, steady yields
• Use the VIX to spike returns during August
• Pay heed to sentiment, Michael Kahn says
• Switch from bond to money funds: Donoghue
• Catch LinkedIn, silver before they break out
• 3 steady, 1 spicy bear-beating dividend stocks
• 3 good places to cast about for gains
• No time for buy and hold
Inside MarketWatch »
Reuters
ECB’s lesson
in how not to intervene
Bank’s bid to tame anxiety over bond yields appears to have backfired — and spurred leadership concerns.
• EU's Rehn: Turmoil requires global solution
CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES
Dollar falls on Italy talk
Dollar remains in red against euro on reports that ECB will buy Italian bonds in exchange for reforms.
• Italy vows faster fiscal consolidation (WSJ.com)
• Oil snaps five-day losing streak
• Gold settles lower after volatile day
• Central banks hint: It’s not too late to buy gold
FINANCIALS
B. of A. stock falls as
Fannie, Freddie claims grow
Shares drop 7% after Bank of America discloses growing claims related to soured mortgages.
• RBS shares tumble after first-half net loss
• Lloyds sticks to financial targets
• AIG, Citigroup lead financials south
STOCKS AND SECTORS
Buffett still making money
Berkshire Hathaway reports second-quarter profit rises 74% to $3.42 billion on improved derivatives.
• P&G; up after earnings | Record P&G; ad spend
• Jobs report cheers retail stocks
• Priceline gains, but tech stocks tread water
• Viacom credits films, networks as for profit rise
CARS
Good deals on cars
It may not be the heyday of automotive incentives, but summertime's brought bargains (SmartMoney).
• GM flexes global muscle as profit rises 92%
• GM results may hasten Treasury’s exit
• Had enough of Detroit, Uncle Sam? (SmartMoney)
• Car makers among those wooing Hispanics
IPO REPORT
Market turmoil hits IPOs
WageWorks delays IPO while InvenSense, Trustwave and Carbonite are on deck.
• Ally Financial delays IPO
• U.S. investors aren't keen on the week's IPOs
• Stormy markets depressing IPO calendar
• Chile's Agrosuper seeks IPO authorization
• Hotel firm seeks $400 million Hong Kong IPO
Personal Finance »
The 5 cheapest U.S. summer vacations
TripAdvisor list ranks U.S. summer vacation destinations, from the cheapest to priciest. Check out this MarketWatch slide show.
REAL ESTATE
The case for hiring a buyer broker
It takes a different mindset and a different set of abilities to represent the buyer’s side of a sale.
• Go beyond referrals to find a real-estate agent
• A city’s ‘walkability’ can boost home values
• Slide show: 10 best places to live in the U.S.
EDUCATION
Which degrees provide the best return on your tuition dollar?
Value of a college degree is increasing, find Georgetown University and Lumina Foundation.
CONSUMER TRENDS
Charge it on your smartphone
Smartphones are used across the globe payment devices, but the U.S. has been slow to adopt.
• Your smartphone may soon be your wallet
Video »
New app capturing the moments
A three-person start-up is hoping to carve a niche with a program called GLMPS, which captures not only a still image but the several seconds of video that precede the picture's taking.
Fund managers in a bind
Redemptions push managers to pivot from making money to suddenly raising cash, says Chuck Jaffe.
Google-Microsoft tweet spat
Verbal battle enters its second day, with hostile blogs and tweets flying between the rivals over a Novell patent sale. Nick Wingfield has the story.
LinkedIn posts strong results
LinkedIn notches a fivefold gain in profit in its first quarterly report since going public in May.
• Valuation concerns nip at LinkedIn’s heels
• LinkedIn net profit soars on sales boost
• Google+ as hammer in the job-seeker toolbox
Goolsbee urges caution
Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee says he welcomes a lower unemployment rate but warns against reading much into a single month's data.
Double-dip talk
Did stock rout make people on U.S. streets feel a new recession was closing in?
Robots against baldness
Private company Restoration Robotics has created a high-tech method for transplanting hair follicles.
• Fighting wrinkles before you have them
Get your 401(k) on track
If you've taken a break on contributing to your retirement account, how can you get back on track?
• How to protect your 401(k) if you leave your job
• Need to tap your 401(k) early? (SmartMoney)
That is some hailstone!
South Dakota's Les Scott keeps prized possession — a record-breaking hailstone — in the freezer.
MarketWatch Radio »
Is the trend really your friend?
Dow Theory, the oldest market-timing system, is still in use. Does it work? And is the trend really your friend? Mark Hulbert has some answers.
How do credit ratings rate?
A CFA Institute survey finds a sharp decline in confidence in the credit-rating agencies.
Do Facebook ads work?
A couple of ratings services are turning their attention to Facebook's 750 million users to help advertisers decide if efforts are really paying off.
• Facebook weighing another news feed
• Get help organizing your Facebook friends
Affinia Chicago
Luxury hotels in Chicago, N.Y. and Washington are now offering guests the opportunity to sleep under the stars — and this isn't campsite stuff.
• Hotels stocking high-end soaps, shampoos
• Hotel penthouse a bargain at $35 million
• Apps that can ease your travel planning
Geithner stays
— and the market tanks
More than just bad U.S. economic news and a European debt crisis; investors are showing a lack of faith in policy makers' capacities.
More than just bad U.S. economic news and a European debt crisis; investors are showing a lack of faith in policy makers' capacities.
Retirement »
The retirement-savings crisis is overblown
You've been hearing for years that Americans don't have enough saved for retirement. That's not entirely true.
• Get your 401(k) back on track
|
Protect your 401(k)
• Social Security tools help you maximize benefits
• Retirement plans? Your spouse may disagree
• 10 fees that can wreck your retirement
You've been hearing for years that Americans don't have enough saved for retirement. That's not entirely true.
• Get your 401(k) back on track
|
Protect your 401(k)
• Social Security tools help you maximize benefits
• Retirement plans? Your spouse may disagree
• 10 fees that can wreck your retirement
2012 Acura TL
Acura's TL is built to appeal to couples looking for a more-upscale set of wheels, says Ron Amadon.
• 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025?
• Ford plans 15-20 new plants in Asian expansion
Acura's TL is built to appeal to couples looking for a more-upscale set of wheels, says Ron Amadon.
• 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025?
• Ford plans 15-20 new plants in Asian expansion
Rebuilding Japan »
Lisa Twaronite/MarketWatch
Volunteers support Japan cleanup
Four months after the devastating quake and tsunami, individuals and small firms still face the daunting task of cleaning up, and Japanese and global companies back volunteers to fill the gaps.
• Scenes from Japan’s disaster recovery: Focus on Ishinomaki
Four months after the devastating quake and tsunami, individuals and small firms still face the daunting task of cleaning up, and Japanese and global companies back volunteers to fill the gaps.
• Scenes from Japan’s disaster recovery: Focus on Ishinomaki
Grguy2011/Wikimedia
The 10 best places to live in the U.S.
One trait shared by each of these 10 cities: their local economy and job market are relatively strong. At left, Grand Rapids, Mich.
One trait shared by each of these 10 cities: their local economy and job market are relatively strong. At left, Grand Rapids, Mich.
How to get your home on a TV makeover show
Vern Yip, interior designer and star of several TV home shows, tells Amy Hoak how to make your house a star. | More TV makeover tips
• How to grill like a Top Chef
|
Say goodbye to McMansion
• Kitchen designs that make home cooking fun
• Dream kitchen on a budget
|
Home fix-up that pays
• Homes that help you take aging in stride
Vern Yip, interior designer and star of several TV home shows, tells Amy Hoak how to make your house a star. | More TV makeover tips
• How to grill like a Top Chef
|
Say goodbye to McMansion
• Kitchen designs that make home cooking fun
• Dream kitchen on a budget
|
Home fix-up that pays
• Homes that help you take aging in stride
For Europe’s start-ups,
Silicon Valley still calls
There’s a deeply ingrained view that Europe is a place where technology entrepreneurs are born, but where they do not stay or secure funding.
• In Europe, how to start a tech start-up (blog)
• Vint Cerf: 'Very concerned' about hacking
Left: Frenchman Loic Le Meur, the founder of Seesmic and organizer of LeWeb, now lives in San Francisco.
Silicon Valley still calls
There’s a deeply ingrained view that Europe is a place where technology entrepreneurs are born, but where they do not stay or secure funding.
• In Europe, how to start a tech start-up (blog)
• Vint Cerf: 'Very concerned' about hacking
Left: Frenchman Loic Le Meur, the founder of Seesmic and organizer of LeWeb, now lives in San Francisco.
Food and Wine — and China »
California's grape expectations
A coalition of 22 boutique wineries is trying new approaches, including a wine bar in Hong Kong, to gain share in a Chinese market traditionally dominated by high-end French vintages.
• Canadian wineries feeling loonie's heat (Globe & Mail)
• Swiss chocolate makers target China, home of the salty snack
• Wine Watch by Matt Andrejczak | MarketWatch Topics: Wines
A coalition of 22 boutique wineries is trying new approaches, including a wine bar in Hong Kong, to gain share in a Chinese market traditionally dominated by high-end French vintages.
• Canadian wineries feeling loonie's heat (Globe & Mail)
• Swiss chocolate makers target China, home of the salty snack
• Wine Watch by Matt Andrejczak | MarketWatch Topics: Wines
Personal Finance »
How to thwart rogue TSA thieves
A handful of TSA screeners have been caught pilfering from travelers' luggage. Here's what you need to know to protect your belongings.
A handful of TSA screeners have been caught pilfering from travelers' luggage. Here's what you need to know to protect your belongings.
Keep kids safe during hot summer months
Cars can quickly become ovens in the summer heat, and it's easier than you think to forget your child. Heed these tips to stay safe.
• Tips to avoid check fraud | No free iPod for students this year
• Citi's credit-card breach won't be the last
• Why you shouldn't retire
|
Four Medicare myths
• Best places to stash cash
|
Credit cards safer than debit
Cars can quickly become ovens in the summer heat, and it's easier than you think to forget your child. Heed these tips to stay safe.
• Tips to avoid check fraud | No free iPod for students this year
• Citi's credit-card breach won't be the last
• Why you shouldn't retire
|
Four Medicare myths
• Best places to stash cash
|
Credit cards safer than debit
Jobs »
Dads, don't sacrifice family for work
Fathers may take advantage of workplace flexibility policies, but they tend to keep quiet about it. Some say they should speak up.
• Your well-paid, middle-class job is in danger
• Top 10 cities in the U.S. to find a job: Monster
• More pay tied to performance | Burned out at work? Tips to cope
• Freelancers face unique challenges | Class of '11: Take a job
Fathers may take advantage of workplace flexibility policies, but they tend to keep quiet about it. Some say they should speak up.
• Your well-paid, middle-class job is in danger
• Top 10 cities in the U.S. to find a job: Monster
• More pay tied to performance | Burned out at work? Tips to cope
• Freelancers face unique challenges | Class of '11: Take a job
Drilling away at dental costs
Whether you have a skimpy dental-insurance plan or are uninsured, there are a growing number of options to save costs on dental care.
Whether you have a skimpy dental-insurance plan or are uninsured, there are a growing number of options to save costs on dental care.
Taxes »
Is your child a tax cheat?
You may not realize you must report your child's foreign accounts.
• Gas prices prompt IRS to hike mileage rates
• Some tax scofflaws work at the IRS
• Avoid a nasty tax surprise on 401(k) loans | What to do if you owe
• Get a tax break on your next vacation | 2011 Tax Guide
• 7 ways to persuade IRS you're right | Tax changes to watch for
You may not realize you must report your child's foreign accounts.
• Gas prices prompt IRS to hike mileage rates
• Some tax scofflaws work at the IRS
• Avoid a nasty tax surprise on 401(k) loans | What to do if you owe
• Get a tax break on your next vacation | 2011 Tax Guide
• 7 ways to persuade IRS you're right | Tax changes to watch for
John Prestbo
Indexed Investor