Some economists are drawing the battle lines between the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes and future U.S. economic growth. The U.S. created 253,000 new jobs in April, surpassing the 180,000 forecast by economists polled by the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 3.4% from 3.5%, the government said…
In early April, Atlanta-based real-estate agent Zak Elfenbein listed two newly renovated homes, nestled in a quiet suburb in Douglasville, Ga. He wasn’t sure what to expect. The homes were 25 miles west of Atlanta, and were being sold by home flippers. Mortgage rates were above 6%, and home prices…
I just moved to the U.S. to join my family, and I have about $20,000 in my bank account, and I’m not sure how to invest it. I have no need for the money at the moment, but I’ve applied for a master’s program and want to fill out a…
The face-off Higher interest rates have made it more expensive to carry a balance on your credit card or take out a car loan, but on the flip side, there’s an opportunity to earn more interest on cash savings. You can do this by opening a high-yield savings account or…
Dear Quentin, My wife and I are fighting over money — actually, a wedding, to be exact. She wants us and our daughter to fly across the country to attend her cousin’s destination wedding. I can take time off work, but I do not want to spend $5,000 on this…
The pandemic home-buying frenzy came to a screeching halt when the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates last June. Rates have since doubled, remaining firmly above 6%. After home sales plunged, the housing sector has recovered somewhat, but it is now facing a shortage of homes for sale, leading the…
Got a question about the mechanics of investing, how it fits into your overall financial plan and what strategies can help you make the most out of your money? You can write me at [email protected]. I think I have an uncommon problem. I’m a 65-year-old recently retired education administrator. I think…
Once you earn money, it’s normal to want to spend it. There’s nothing wrong with that, unless it sits in a tax-advantaged account. Most employees who participate in a 401(k) or another defined contribution plan want to build a nest egg. They allocate a portion of every paycheck to it…
Regional bank stocks on Friday recovered all or most of their bruising losses from the previous session, as analysts from Hovde Group and JPMorgan Chase & Co. provided support for the sector that’s been quickly losing ground in recent weeks. PacWest Bancorp PACW led the snap-back in regional banks with…
In a new set of photos of basketball star LeBron James in Los Angeles, he’s seen wearing red and black Nike sneakers. While it may appear like a regular pair of shoes, the process of obtaining them isn’t as straightforward as buying them with cash or a credit card at…