How Do I Buy Facebook Shares?
If you can figure this out, let me know. It’s not even sure that it is a
good investment. A great many things can occur when Facebook’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) becomes available. Read more
Identity Theft Protection Tips: Finding Fraud
Your credit report isn’t the only place you should look for signs of fraud. It’s a great place to start when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft. But there are other reports that track-and-tell about your personal info, too. Here are some other potential hiding spots that could indicate trouble:
Market Commentary: Stocks Down Thanks to Lousy Jobs Reports
Stocks fell this week, driven lower in part by two subpar jobs reports. While economists expected 170,000 jobs for April, ADP reported that only 119,000 jobs were added. The bad news only got worse when the Labor Department, using a different methodology, announced an increase of only 115,000 jobs, substantially below expectations, and the lowest monthly increase since October. The unemployment rate decreased to 8.1%, a three-year low, due to a reduction in the labor force. Gold declined by 1.23%. and ended the week at $1,642 per ounce.
Market Commentary: Earnings Momentum Propels Stocks Higher
The week’s market commentary starts out with a sharp drop on Monday, with European markets dropping more than 2% and a lesser decline in the U.S. The negative reaction was caused by a rejection of European Union-imposed austerity measures by the Dutch government, combined with the Socialist Party winning the first round of the French presidential election.
Stocks and Job Claims: Higher than High and Lower than Low
U.S. stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 index, powered to a four-year high on Monday, before retreating later in the week. Apple, the largest member of the capitalization-weighted index, plans to initiate a $2.65 annual share dividend, as well as repurchase its shares.
