Bernanke: Default on debt would increase federal deficit

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned U.S. lawmakers Thursday that they would deliver a “self-inflicted” wound to the nation’s economy by holding up efforts to raise the government’s borrowing limit.

Republicans have held up increasing the borrowing limit because of concerns of growing spending that has widened the federal deficits.

Bernanke told a Senate panel that a default on the debt would lead to even greater federal deficits. Interest rates would rise, and the government would be forced to pay higher rates on its debt. At the same time, higher rates would slow the economy and an already-weak job market. T

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Jul 11, 2011


Posted by Elizabeth Hernandez | No Comments »
Tags: Federal, Federal Deficit

The End of a Relationship

It has been said that if breakups never existed the music industry would go bankrupt! Unfortunately, they are a fact of life. Most people endure at least one in their lifetime; some lurch from one to the next, but no matter how often you experience a breakup it is still a very painful experience. Dealing with financial matters at such an emotional time can be very stressful, and it is better to reach an agreement with your partner while you are still a happy couple on how your property will be divided in the event you part.

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Jul 10, 2011


Posted by Elizabeth Hernandez | No Comments »
Tags: End, End Relationship

Medicare recipients could be affected in debt deal

WASHINGTON — A debt-busting deal on the scale that President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner had talked about would have all but guaranteed that people on Medicare would feel at least some of the pain.

But on Saturday evening, Boehner said he wouldn’t seek the $4 trillion deficit reduction deal, but would seek $2 trillion in reductions.

The exact effects of that shift by Boehner weren’t immediately clear.

Low-income people on Medicaid wouldn’t have escaped totally under a major deal, either. If a de

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Jul 07, 2011


Posted by Elizabeth Hernandez | No Comments »
Tags: Deal

Wall Street Shows Some Weakness

For a long time, the financial world has seemed like the unstoppable behemoth of the American economy. The Wall Street Journal notes, however, that the sector is hardly immune to market forces, as evidenced by a growing wave of layoffs sweeping across some of the biggest financial firms.

Just since last Tuesday, layoff announcements between 100 and 600 people have come from Credit Suisse and Barclays. Other banks are expected to announce cuts in coming weeks.

“Banks are chopping a lot of wood, both deadwood and live wood,” Michael Karp, managing partner at consulting firm Options Group, told the Journal.

The layoffs are hardly on a whim, but follow steadily dropping revenue from a range of investments as well as services. Read more…

Jul 05, 2011


Posted by Elizabeth Hernandez | No Comments »
Tags: Street, Wall Street

Rising river complicates Exxon oil spill cleanup

LAUREL, Mont. (AP) — The initial cleanup along the oil-fouled Yellowstone River could be tested Tuesday as rising waters make it harder for Exxon Mobil Corp. to get to areas damaged by the crude spilled from a company pipeline.

The National Weather Service predicts the Yellowstone River, swelling with mountain snowmelt amid hot summer temperatures, will peak at Billings on Tuesday afternoon — a day after Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. President Gary Pruessing promised to do “whatever is necessary” to mop up oil spilled from the duct at the river bottom. Tha

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Jul 05, 2011


Posted by Elizabeth Hernandez | No Comments »
Tags: Cleanup, Spill Cleanup

Strategies for Financial Literacy

International experts on financial literacy were beamed in from across the globe for the Retirement Commission’s recent summit on Financial Literacy. We know that financial illiteracy is a big problem in New Zealand, but we are by no means the only country in the world struggling to educate people on how to use their money more effectively.

The major difference, however, between New Zealand and the rest of the world is that we lack the commitment and resources from our Government to tackle this problem in a way that will really make a difference. <

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Jul 02, 2011


Posted by Elizabeth Hernandez | No Comments »
Tags: Financial Literacy, Literacy