For the week ending Friday, July 18, 2008, the U.S. markets saw extreme volatility yet settled higher on better-than-expected earnings results, a pullback in crude oil, and an indication that the Fed will hold interest rates steady.  Nonetheless, the Dow had its best week since April 18 and its best 3-day percent gain since March 2003 even after closing below 11,000 for the first time since July 2006.     Read More

First, the good. Home sales are on the rise in Stockton, California. Coldwell Banker Grupe-TrendGraphix reports that in June, 493 homes sold in Stockton (mostly foreclosures), compared to 141 a year ago. And for San Joaquin County, sales hit a six-year high, 921, up 200 percent from a year ago.    Read More

Worried about your bank failing? Here's how to make sure you are protected.   Read More

Many of you wrote asking where you could find the names of the 90 potentially problematic banks the FDIC keeps on a list. The FDIC doesn't provide the names of the banks, only the total number of institutions it's keeping an eye on. Believe me, if I knew the names, I'd print them all. But that's the reporter in me.    Read More

First we were told that IndyMac was not on the FDIC's list of problem banks. That raised eyebrows. How could it not be on that list? Then we were told it was on the list after all. What?    Read More

Financial stocks continue to deteriorate this week with lingering concerns over Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae and continued weakness in regional banks following the collapse of IndyMac Bancorp.    Read More

You thought IndyMac was it? Nope. Here's your how-to for getting through.   Read More

Banks are oversold and cheap by historical standards, and while a few that report decent numbers will definitely bounce, it is unlikely to eliminate worries over more capital raising. There's additional worries, as now many are concerned with deterioration in other parts of the banks' portfolios...   Read More

I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it struck me as funny when S&P issued a report today maintaining its "Hold" on IndyMac. Hold on what?   Read More

But the housing sector needs a merger before that happens, Cramer says.   Read More