Robert Shiller, an economics professor at Yale University and co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index, talks about the U.S. housing market and economy, and his prescription for government action to boost growth and employment. Read t

The political wrangling over US debt and lack of progress in finding a way out may hammer stocks in the coming week. Earnings for most companies could fade over debt ceiling issues if house and senate do not react soon. Despite all the negotiations b

Investors are using options to brace for big swings next week as Wall Street enters the peak of the most volatile month for stocks historically. Options on the CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX), Wall Street’s so-called fear gauge, were one of the to

The stock market has been churning steadily higher after major indexes hit 12-year lows in March last year. Growing expectations for a recovery have been driving the climb. The increases in the past two months have been more subdued. Charlie Smith, c

This graph shows existing home sales, on a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) basis since 1993. Sales in March 2010 (5.35 million SAAR) were 6.8% higher than last month, and were 16.1% higher than March 2009 (4.61 million SAAR). Sales surged last

“What are you fucking playing at?” Those were reportedly the opening words from Rupert Murdoch’s son James Murdoch to The Independent editor in chief Simon Kelner. The young chairman and CEO of News Corporation Europe and Asia storm