Finance Globe

The Federal Trade Commission has recently put out a warning that scammers have been using the wave of recent bank failures as an opportunity to con unsuspecting people out of their private information. Financial institutions are falling in these difficult economic times, and the bank you've done business with all your life may have a new name by Wednesday. Consumers may be confused about who they'll be doing business with next, and these ruthless scammers have...

Taking a few simple steps in getting your home ready for winter can amount to saving big bucks on your heating bill. And this is the perfect time of year to do it, before the weather gets really cold and catches you off guard. Save on heating your home.Adjust your thermostat to no more than 68 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum energy-efficiency. If you've been keeping it set much higher and feel uncomfortable with such a big...

LiensA lien is basically a claim, or a debt, against a piece of property, also sometimes called a "security interest." The claim typically belongs to a business or individual who is owed money related to that property. The lien may be consensual, as in the case of financing a car through a lender. Or, a lien may be involuntary, meaning that the lien was either created by a government entity - think tax lien, or by...

The revised Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) of 2008 was approved by both houses of Congress and President Bush signed the bill into law on October 3, 2008.A summary of the original version of EESA 2008:Provides the Treasury with $700 billion to buy bad mortgage-related investments from banks. This move will gradually make credit more available for businesses and working families, and help unfreeze the economy. Also, it is hoped to stabilize the markets and help...

Stock markets around the world plunged in response to the U.S. House of Representatives' rejection of the $700 billion rescue plan. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 777 points on Monday after it was apparent that the bill would not be passed, for the largest single-day drop in history. The markets have since recovered slightly. Though most Americans don't like the way it happened, many realize that there must be some government intervention to prevent further...

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation last week that is meant to protect consumers from many of the tricky practices commonly used by credit card issuers. The Credit Card Holder's Bill of Rights, HR 5244, was approved by a vote of 312-112.“This legislation will level the playing field by putting an end to unfair and abusive credit card practices that outrage so many American families,” said Michigan Rep. Sandy Levin. “Americans are struggling to make...

The latest version of the $700 billion bailout plan has been rejected by the U.S. House of Representatives, voting against the package 228-205. Earlier this morning before the vote, President Bush expressed confidence that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 would be passed by both houses. Stock markets around the world took a dive in response to the news. The rejected legislation addressed the following:Giving the Treasury $250 billion, initially, to buy bad mortgages from...

Using a rewards card can be a smart way to cover your normal expenses. And if you're going to spend the money anyway, you might as well get something back from it. Depending on the card issuer's rewards program, rewards may be used for anything from cash-back, gift cards, merchandise, travel, or donations to your favorite charity. Rewards cards typically give you one point for every dollar spent, and some cards give you bonus points if...

Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, the nation's last two major investment banks which each own about $1 trillion in assets, were granted approval by the Fed to let them switch to bank holding status. The banks both have previously operated as industrial loan banks, meaning they did not have to adhere to the strict regulation that applies to a commercial bank. The banks' change will be official after the mandatory five-day waiting period.The change means that...

Convenience Checks Anything that has "convenience" in its name should signal that you're going to pay for that convenience.Convenience foods save time and cost more because of it, convenience fees are added to online purchases for concert tickets, and convenience checks are one of the most expensive ways to access your card's credit line.If you have a credit card, chances are that you've already received some of these convenience checks; they're often mailed to you without...