Joseph Lazzaro

Intel's (INTC) stock has broken out of a four-month range-trading pattern to trade at/near $23.50. Is there more upside ahead with Intel?

Nov 22, 2011

The shares of Apple (AAPL), maker of the iPhone 4s, have pulled back to about $370. Does the pull-back represent a buying opportunity?

Nov 21, 2011

It has been said that the U.S. lost its innocence on November 22, 1963. Forty eight years have passed since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on that horrific day in Dallas. And in some sense, the nation has never fully recovered.

Nov 21, 2011

With less than four days until the deadline for a debt-reduction deal, the political climate late Sunday night on the super committee and on Capitol Hill is not encouraging -- gridlock permeates the air as Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on the key issue in the talks: tax increases.

Nov 20, 2011

U.S. overspending on the military has diverted resources from civilian / social investments, weakening the economy, and, by extension weakening the nation. If it doesn’t substantially cut defense spending, the U.S.’s empire will likely share the fate of two other empires that overspent on the military -- the British Empire and the Soviet Union.

Nov 20, 2011

Prudent interventions by major central banks averted a global financial calamity during the financial crisis’ acute stage three years ago. Another intervention to address Europe may be needed, and should be implemented, if central bank officials deem it necessary.

Nov 17, 2011

Initial jobless claims fell 5,000 to 388,000 for the week ended Nov. 12, a seven-month low, the U.S. Labor Department announced. If the downtrend continues, it would be, arguably, the best news the U.S. economy has registered this year.

Nov 17, 2011

So far, the dispensers of global financial justice -- the bond vigilantes -- have given the U.S. a pass on the budget deficit issue. But that can’t last forever, which is why it behooves Democrats and Republicans to reach agreement on a budget deficit reduction package now, starting with a super committee agreement.

Nov 17, 2011

Several factors are at work in oil's latest push back above the psychologically-significant $100 per barrel level -- a price that U.S. motorists wince at.

Nov 16, 2011

The Secret Service said Wednesday that a bullet had been found that struck a White House window from a shot authorities believe was fired five days ago, and they continue to seek a man wanted in connection with the incident. The bullet was stopped by ballistic glass.

Nov 16, 2011

With a banking sector that seemingly cycles from reticence to lend, lending at prohibitive interest rates, and outright banker-to-banker mistrust (the latest round of which is being driven by renewed concern about Italy's debt), is today's U.S. banking sector where Framer/Founding Father Alexander Hamilton wanted it to be?

Nov 16, 2011

Occupy Wall Street activists vowed to take back Zuccotti Park Tuesday afternoon, hours after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered police to clear the park.

Nov 15, 2011

Is now a good time to consider the shares of American International Group (AIG)? And what, if anything, does AIG's stock price say about the U.S. economy?

Nov 14, 2011

At a summit expected to produce at least the new outline of free trade agreements with key Asian markets, Middle East geopolitics took center-stage, at least initially, as the United States and Russia reaffirmed their intention to work and shape a common response regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Nov 13, 2011

Can anyone bring any sense of fiscal stability and normalcy to the Italian government? Perhaps Mario Monti, center, can -- and all in the European Union, and those who believe in the euro, not just the citizens of Italy, will no doubt be rooting for him.

Nov 12, 2011

Oil -- the lifeblood of the global economy and a critical factor in the growth of U.S. gross domestic product -- is set Friday to close its longest stretch of weekly gains in more than two years, a counterintuitive trend that belies certain economic fundamentals.

Nov 11, 2011

When major economic and social problems arise, it’s almost always preferable for the stakeholders to reform the existing economic system.

Nov 09, 2011

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) registered another difficult day Tuesday, plunging 389 points to 11,781 on institutional investor concern that Italy will not be able to service its debt, and that one, and possibly more countries may leave the Eurozone. What's the prudent stance for the typical investor?

Nov 09, 2011

A new study predicts that global oil demand is likely to peak by 2020, with internal combustion engine efficiency and the increased use of alternate fuels contributing to the peak.

Nov 09, 2011

Perhaps the most invidious, appalling action during the financial crisis was the decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to take over New York-based American International Group (AIG) in Sept. 2008. And it was the most necessary.

Nov 08, 2011

Rush Limbaugh said Friday global warming is a hoax -- an attempt by ideological liberals to codify liberalism as science.

Nov 07, 2011

Is sentiment in Washington shifting from one of modest deficit reduction to large deficit reduction, including a revenue increase? It may very well be, if the views of two key lawmakers are any indication.

Nov 07, 2011

It's axiomatic that voting is very important in these United States. So why, then, does the nation allow just one day for this critical act? The solution? It's time for an Election Week.

Nov 05, 2011

The U.S. economy added a modest 80,000 jobs in October -- below what economists expected -- but job gains for the prior two months were revised higher: September to 158,000 from the initially-released 103,000; and August to 104,000 from 57,000. And the latter suggests a job market that continues to heal.

Nov 04, 2011

The low-down on the U.S. economy in October? A modest job gain, as 80,000 new jobs were created. However, job gain totals for September and August were revised substantially higher: September to a gain of 158,000 from the initially-estimated 103,000-job gain, and August, up to 104,000 from 57,000.

Nov 04, 2011

The Iraq/Afghanistan Wars have been costly, but the United States' longer trend of spending too much on defense and not enough on public goods over two decades could end up costing the economy and the nation far more.

Nov 03, 2011

Just when you think the United States economy is about to tip back into a recession -- the dreaded double-dip -- up pops the unexpected -- modestly encouraging economic news, in the form of worker productivity and unit labor costs.

Nov 03, 2011

The leaders of the world's major economies will meet in Cannes, France starting Thursday to discuss matters critical to commerce, international trade, and the global economy. That means the discussion will be dominated by Greece.

Nov 02, 2011

The U.S. job market continues to register incremental progress, as the private sector added 110,000 jobs in October, ADP said, with job gains concentrated in the services sector and in small/medium companies.

Nov 02, 2011