Frank Golhen, via Wikimedia CommonsAmericans still take great pride in being American. This despite economic trouble, and political turmoil. As a matter of fact, the nation’s reaction to strife may be one reason for…
The European Central Bank announced that it would keep its keep rates low, in the face of one of the worst recessions in the region’s history. GDP is falling in most countries. Unemployment in…
Following the lead of the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England kept interest rates low at .5%. It is certainly a sign that the BOE believes that the U.K. is nowhere near an economic…
Courtesy Volkswagen AGSeveral car companies posted strong sales in June, and for the first half, but two manufacturers have turned out to be losers. As the industry recovers sharply, neither has managed to market…
courtesy Dell Inc.The battle between founder Michael Dell and activist investor Carl Icahn for the control of Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) suddenly has moved in Icahn’s favor. For the first time since Michael Dell…
ThinkstockEgypt is not much of an oil-producing nation. However, unrest there has caused oil prices to rise above $100 for the first time in months. Perhaps there is a fear that unrest in Egypt…
ThinkstockThe worst of the recession in Europe may have ended, or at least the economy there is not deteriorating as fast as it has been. Markit issued its latest purchasing managers index (PMI) data…
ThinkstockS&P must believe that a new credit crisis is on the way, or at least there is a reasonably good chance there could be. It hit several of the world’s largest banks with downgrades,…
ThinkstockLarge banks often use greater regulation by the government, particularly the Federal Reserve, as a reason to slow the pace at which they give loans. These banks may be right. When risk factors are…
ThinkstockChina’s purchasing managers index (PMI) held about even last month. It was good news, even if only relatively. A growing number of economists have become convinced that China’s exports would collapse due to weak…
ThinkstockThought it is barely above the poverty line, many Americans believe that they can live on $24,000 a year. The number is implausibly low, but perhaps a sign that many people have set their…
courtesy of ZyngaZynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) has more than $1.2 billion in cash it probably will never use — the fruits of its initial public offering (IPO). Unless the game company plans to make…
courtesy of Kia MediaKia’s run as a hot brand in the U.S. car market could be over. With a sales drop of 4.5% in the first half, the trouble that company has had recently…
courtesy of Nokia Corp.Partners in huge global joint ventures rarely drop out of them if they believe the future is positive. Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) bought Siemens out of a joint venture that builds…
ThinkstockPurchasing managers index (PMI) data for the eurozone continued to be awful in June, although research firm Markit reported that numbers got slightly better. The improvement was no cause for celebration. The region continues…
courtesy Best Buy Co. Inc.Shares in Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) rose 25% in the second quarter. J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s (NYSE: JCP) stock was up 15%, in contrast to a 3% rally…
ThinkstockBy way of contrast, during the depths of the U.S. recession, unemployment peaked at 10.1%. Eurostat announced that May unemployment in the euro area hit 12.1% in May, staggering given the fact that the…
ThinkstockGermany did not join the parade of European Union (EU) nations which showed very, very modest improvements in manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI). France, Spain and Italy continue to post contractions, albeit at a…
ThinkstockMarkit issued manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) numbers for June for France, Italy and Spain. The figures painted a picture of a region still in recession with some modest improvements in pockets. Markit reported…
ThinkstockIt’s official. The manufacturing sector of China has reached a dead halt. June purchasing managers index (PMI) was 50.1%, just a tad above the point of contraction. The number is inaccurate enough the contraction…