Initial unemployment claims dropped a surprising amount. The four week moving average dropped 10,000 to 606,000. While only one week's number, let's still take an encouraging moment and hope that we might be entering a better phase of the economy.   Read More

It is now four weeks since the S&P 500 hit its recent closing high of 946.21 on June 12.  The benchmark index is down 6.7% since then and some components have been hit harder than others bringing dividend yields back up again.  Here is a screen for companies that have been beaten up but might have good value in the longer term.   Read More

Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of H&R Block and Electronic Arts popped while Starbucks and CBS dropped.   Read More

The media conglomerates are trading down today, off more than the Dow. One factor pulling them down is the Supreme Court's decision not to consider their appeal to challenge Cablevision Systems new DVR service.    Read More

Several readers commented on the Kodak contest to identify "Rose Boy", the young man trying to hand a rose to actress Megan Fox.   Read More

Yes, it's totally gruesome to think about how Michael Jackson's estate and others will benefit from the King of Pop's death, but it's inevitable.   Read More

The news about the advertising industry seems to get worse every day....But one of the nation's biggest advertisers, General Motors, has some good news for the national ad market, which should end up helping local ad spending as well.    Read More

By this time of year the TV networks are usually wrapping up their upfront ad sales period in which they sell about 80 percent of their primetime ad inventory. But not this year. The nets acknowledged to the LA Times that the actual selling hasn't begun.    Read More

Just because you "win" a $3 million mansion in a raffle, doesn't mean you can afford to keep the house. You may just be signing up to be part of the latest trend — foreclosure. And just because you win doesn’t mean you’ll actually get the house. Here's what you need to know about your new manse.   Read More

It sounds too good to be true: For just $10, you can become the owner of $3 million mansion. What's the catch? Click here to find out!   Read More