FEDERAL RESERVE

If, as one analyst expects, Apple sales of its new iPhone 5 -- estimated to cost about $600 each -- reaches 8 million, it could boost the GDP of the U.S. by half a percentage point.

Foreclosed properties in the U.S. cause only a modest decline on the home prices of nearby properties, and the effects go away a year after the distressed property is resold, according to a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Asian stock markets declined Tuesday as investors opted for caution ahead of key events including German court ruling on ESM constitutionality and the U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting later this week.

The U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Tuesday as investor sentiment turned positive amid hopes that the Federal Reserve would announce monetary easing measures this week to revive the economic growth momentum.

The twin towers of New York's World Trade Center destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001 were designed by Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki. Just before he started work on it, he designed Robertson Hall, home of the Woodrow Wilson School, on the Princeton University campus. which has an uncanny resemblance to its former associates.

Asian stock markets ended with gains last week after the European Central Bank (ECB) announced plan to reduce borrowing costs of struggling euro zone countries’ and news that Chinese regulators had approved another batch of infrastructure projects, which should stabilize and restore growth in the world's second largest economy. Market participants’ are likely to focus on Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) interest rate decision on September 13th.

Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman and a great proponent of new bank regulations, was a key enabler in the rise and eventual collapse of Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored enterprise focused on mortgage financing, according to a new book.

It's been three years since the Great Recession technically ended, and still, unemployed Americans are struggling to find work.

The 2012 campaign has focused on a myriad of social and ideological issues, with some smatterings of tax policy and truckloads of mudslinging. A new book argues voters should look past the obfuscation and consider what is best for their wallet. Its authors claim history has proven one thing: when it comes to economic success, the left has had the upper hand.

Asian shares rose and the euro steadied Friday after the European Central Bank outlined its bond-buying scheme to help calm the euro zone's debt crisis, while firm U.S. data fed speculation of a strong jobs report later in the day.

Gold futures blew past the $1700-per-ounce mark early Thursday morning ahead of a widely-anticipated appearance by European Central Bank president Mario Draghi where the central bank head was expected to announce further monetary accommodation in the eurozone.

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week to its lowest level in a month, an upbeat signal for a labor market that has struggled to create enough jobs.

The stakes are high. Friday's August jobs report will be the last major data point for the Federal Reserve to consider ahead of the Sept. 12-13 FOMC meeting.

Manufacturing downturns spared no one in August, surveys of purchasing executives showed, in the latest sign of weakness in the global economy. While the batch of gloomy data has boosted hopes for further central bank actions, some economists remain skeptical that there would be any significant effects.

Asian shares and the euro eased Wednesday, with investors waiting for a European Central Bank meeting on Thursday and U.S. payrolls on Friday for signs of more action to counter European debt woes and support growth.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Tuesday as market sentiment was underpinned by expectations that policymakers around the world will announce stimulus measures to rejuvenate the economic growth momentum.

Gold edged higher on Tuesday to the highest level in more than five months as lacklustre manufacturing data from around the globe fanned speculation of imminent easing measures from central banks.

Gold hovered near a five-month peak on Monday, supported by hopes for more stimulus measures after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a grave assessment of the economy last week.

Crude oil prices declined in Asia Monday as sentiment was dampened after reports indicated a sharp slowdown in the Chinese manufacturing activity in August.

Most of the Asian markets rose Monday as investors remained hopeful that the world's central banks would announce stimulus measures soon to help boost the global economic growth.

Asian markets fell in the week as investor confidence was dragged down by the increasing concerns about the global growth slowdown amid the weak economic reports from Japan and South Korea.