Jun 22 International microlender brings small business lending to U.S. merchants By Sam Weber NewsHour Weekend’s Stacey Tisdale spoke with Gina Harman of the Accion U.S. Network, and with some of the microlender’s clients, to learn more about borrowing and lending in the non-bank world. Continue reading
Jun 20 Why no one should use brokerage accounts By Laurence Kotlikoff Every day brings new reports of financial fraud -- BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan -- all of which is testimony to the large number of swindlers still at large “managing” our money, says Larry Kotlikoff. But he's here today… Continue reading
Jun 19 How innovation in oil and gas production is giving the U.S. a competitive edge By Robert Bryce U.S. oil and natural gas output is soaring. But less than a decade ago, no one saw it coming. Even industry executives were signalling that production had peaked. But innovations that have made drilling technology "smaller, faster, lighter, denser, cheaper"… Continue reading
Jun 18 Watch Lawmakers skeptical that GM can remodel its leadership By PBS News Hour General Motors CEO Mary Barra returned to address Congress about an internal company report on the ignition switch defect that has been linked to at least 13 deaths. Barra announced a new campaign to reward employees who report safety concerns,… Continue watching
Jun 18 Bitcoin processor signs deal to sponsor NCAA bowl game By Diane Jeanty In an effort to bring the digital currency bitcoin more mainstream, BitPay, an Atlanta based bitcoin payment processor, signed a deal with ESPN Events to sponsor the former NCAA Beef O’Brady’s Bowl hosted in St. Petersburg, Florida. Continue reading
Jun 18 Fed reduces stimulus despite slower growth projections By Simone Pathe The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to again reduce its stimulus program by $10 billion to $35 billion in July. Since the financial crisis in 2008, the Federal Reserve has been buying mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasuries… Continue reading
Jun 18 How America can overcome the challenges of an aging population By Milton Ezrati America has always projected virtues of youth, overwhelming the world with its brute force. But demographic challenges, namely an aging workforce and low birth rates, mean the American economy has some adjusting to do. That's a good thing, says economist… Continue reading
Jun 16 Watch Budding recreational pot industry sparks innovation and investment By PBS News Hour Recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado and Washington state, and though it’s still illegal under federal law, more states are considering the move, setting the stage for a potential gold rush that could conceivably rival the repeal of prohibition. Economics… Continue watching
Jun 16 What’re they smoking in the next high-finance industry? By Simone Pathe Attending a conference for cannabis entrepreneurs and potential investors, Paul Solman heard the latest product pitches and saw the newest paraphernalia. But what about the people behind this growth industry -- what's their relationship to the substance? For some, it's… Continue reading
Jun 16 What Social Security’s Survivors Planner won’t tell you about taking widows benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff Thanks to one of Social Security's nasty "gotchas," the survivor benefits that a widow(er) collects depend on when the late spouse took retirement benefits. Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff shows how the collection strategy of one deceased husband makes all… Continue reading