ECONOMY & MARKETS

IBTimes Logo

Asian Shares Edge up, Weighed by Oil Price Concerns

Asian shares rose Friday as solid U.S. data improved sentiment, but the upside may be capped by concerns that rising oil prices could deal a further blow to the fragile euro zone economy and moves to take profits after recent gains.

U.S. Blocks Yakuza Godfather from its Markets

IBTimes Logo
The United States on Thursday moved to block seven international organized crime leaders from the country's financial markets, including a Japanese yakuza godfather and key members of a gang operating in four continents.
More news
BSE Sensex

BSE Sensex Falls for Second Day

The BSE Sensex fell for a second consecutive day on Thursday as investors took profits on expiry of monthly derivatives amid concerns about high oil prices.
File photo shows the headquarters of mortgage lender Freddie Mac in McLean

U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise to 3.95%

U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates rose to 3.95 percent in the week ending Feb. 23 from a record low of 3.87 in the previous week, Freddie Mac said.
German Chancellor Merkel attends news conference after talks with Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski at Chancellery in Berlin

As Euro Economy Stagnates, German Business Confidence Up

A closely-watched indicator of German business confidence jumped in February, the fourth month in a row the index has risen, suggesting that country's economy is continuing to grow at a moderate pace even as the wider Eurozone area experiences near-recessionary stagnation.
Jobless Claims

Jobless Claims Hold at 4-Year Low of 351,000

Claims for jobless benefits held at 351,000 after falling for three straight weeks and the four-week moving average continued to decline. Economists expect the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner if jobless claims stay near 350,000 per week or fall substantially.
German Economy Minister Roesler and Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a session of the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin

More Signs of Germany Avoiding Recession

The business sentiment survey in Germany Thursday strengthened expectations that Europe's largest economy is on its way to avoid a contraction in the first quarter this year, easing concerns over country slipping back into recession.
Stock brokers

Sensex Drops; Bharti, Kingfisher Down; SBI up

The BSE Sensex was headed for a second day of decline on Thursday as investors booked profits from recent rallies as concerns mounted over the state of the global economy, including rising oil prices.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook Shares Available for Buy and Sell Before IPO

Facebook, which has filed the prospectus for its initial public offering seeking to raise $5 billion in initial funding, is yet to set its price range for the IPO but buying and selling of its stocks are already happening.
DeMarco delivers testimony on robo-signing and foreclosures at a hearing of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Financial Service Committee, in Washington

FHFA Attempts to Find Middle Ground for Fannie, Freddie

The Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA), overseer of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, detailed a plan on Tuesday for the companies' uncertain futures, grappling with the challenges of political hostility, reluctant private investors and a fragile housing market.
stock market

Weak Eurozone Data, Greece Downgrade Hit Stocks: Daily Markets Wrap

It didn't take long for the initial relief following Tuesday's long-awaited Greek bailout deal to die down. Global stocks ended Wednesday lower as investors took a cautious stance on the Eurozone economic outlook following disappointing business activity data and Fitch's announcement to cut Greece's credit rating further into junk status.
A real estate for sale sign is displayed outside a home in Chandler Heights, Arizona

Home Resales at 1-1/2 Year High as Supply Falls

U.S. home resales rose to a 1-1/2 year high in January, pushing the supply of properties on the market to the lowest level in almost seven years in a hopeful sign for the housing sector.
Signage for a T-Mobile store is pictured in downtown Los Angeles, California

T-Mobile Asks FCC to Block Verizon's Airwaves Bid

T-Mobile USA Inc. asked regulators in a filing on Tuesday to block Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZW)'s bid to buy airwaves from cable companies, arguing that the move would pose a clear threat to competition.
IBTimes Logo

Brad Pitt to Build Croatian Beach Resort: Report

Actor Brad Pitt may soon have a new role: real estate developer. Croatian paper Jutarnji List reported that Pitt has partnered with businessman Danko Koncar and actor Rade Serbedzija to build a luxury waterfront resort in the Brijuni Islands in the Adriatic Sea.
Woman walks past stock quotation board outside brokerage in Tokyo

Is Deflation a Real Threat?

When it comes to the debate on whether the United States is experiencing inflation, it is typically not a yes or no interchange. If you have read the first two parts (Part 1, Part 2) of my series on inflation, you are well aware that I am on the side that inflation is already upon us. My counterparts, typically, will not only disagree, but will also bring up the issue of deflation.

Pages

IBT Spotlight

We Help Businesses Find B2B Service Providers They Can Trust.