The Impending Bank Rescue and the Bogey of Nationalization

The economy is still floundering and there are no signs of it bottoming out even in the near future.  The economic engine continues to be sluggish for many reasons.   One reason has been the lack of easy credit, the grease that lets the moving parts move when stopped, and move better and faster when tripping.  [...]

Is the New Free File Fillable Forms Program from IRS any Good when Compared to Online Tax Filing Programs?

I have been using tax preparation software packages for over a decade now to prepare and file my taxes. The benefits included ease in preparing the return, eliminating calculation errors, having any change cascade automatically through the entire return, error-free filing with the electronic filing option, and faster refunds.

I think I used Tax Cut [...]

Troubled Assets Relief Program Tranche 2 and Personal Finance

By a vote of 52 to 42, the Senate agreed to give the Obama administration Tranche 2 of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) worth $350 billion. The vote was rather close and crucial. There was widespread popular opposition to giving Treasury any more money after it was widely perceived to have bungled the first [...]

Will the Treasury Get TARP Act 2 Right This Time?

Following a request by President-elect Obama, President Bush asked Congress last week to release the second tranche of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). Obama wanted to have the money handy in case of an emergency or further weakening of the financial system and the economy as he assumes office on the 20th. Fed Chairman [...]

Is it a Good Time to Buy a House?

The housing industry is going through a crisis. A huge number of individuals holding mortgages are finding themselves unable to pay their upwardly adjusting mortgage payments as I discussed in my earlier post on the credit squeeze, foreclosures and recession. The housing construction has gone into a meltdown with new housing starts at their historic [...]

More on this topic (What's this?)
CHART OF THE DAY: ARE HOME PRICES FALLING AGAIN?
Even the Dead Cats Aren't Bouncing
US Home Prices Rangebound
Read more on U.S. Housing Market at Wikinvest

Is Penn West Energy Trust Still a Good Dividend Stock?

Since I wrote last about the Penn West Energy Trust (PWE) almost 2 months ago here and here, the price of oil has gone down even further.  After dipping to a low of about $33 per barrel, it is now at about $40 per barrel.  Canroys’ stock prices have taken more beating, and PWE is [...]