Have jobs become a leading indicator?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Employment, it turns out, may not be such a laggard after all. The job market, often described as reacting in slow-motion to shifts in the pace of economic growth, may actually be a pretty solid indicator of the United States' prospects. Monday, August 02, 2010

Fannie Mae portfolio grows, delinquencies decline

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae (FNMA.OB) expanded its mortgage portfolio in June, while the rate of late payments on loans it guarantees fell in May to the lowest level this year, the largest U.S. home loan purchaser said on Friday. Monday, August 02, 2010

Citigroup to pay $75 million to settle SEC charges

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc (C.N) will pay $75 million to settle charges that it failed to disclose subprime exposure to investors in 2007, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Thursday. Monday, August 02, 2010

Foreclosures up in 75 percent of top U.S. metro areas

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Foreclosures rose in 3 of every four large U.S. metro areas in this year's first half, likely ruling out sustained home price gains until 2013, real estate data company RealtyTrac said on Thursday. Monday, August 02, 2010

AT&T and Verizon plan mobile payment system: report

(Reuters) - AT&T Inc and Verizon Wireless are planning a partnership to displace credit and debit cards by letting consumers pay with the contactless wave of a smartphone, Bloomberg News reported, citing three people with direct knowledge of the plan. Monday, August 02, 2010

Portland rental market thriving as home prices continue to decline

Given the current state of Portland's housing market, it may pay to rent over the next few years. Financial analysts recently completed calculations of the price ratios for renting versus buying in 54 of the country's metropolitan areas. Monday, July 26, 2010

GM to buy AmeriCredit for $3.5 billion

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.UL) plans to buy auto finance company AmeriCredit Corp (ACF.N) for $3.5 billion in a cash deal financed by government bailout money and aimed at removing a major investor concern before a planned IPO. Monday, July 26, 2010

Bailout watchdogs slam Obama housing programs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Obama administration housing rescue programs have been ineffective at preventing a rise in home foreclosures even as the government's support for the mortgage market grew by nearly $700 billion in the past year, U.S. bailout watchdogs said on Wednesday. Monday, July 26, 2010

Ad bounce gives relief to U.S. newspapers, for now

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Advertising sales at newspapers finally rebounded in the second quarter, with banks, luxury retailers and automakers once more spending on print campaigns. Monday, July 26, 2010

Pelosi: Tax cuts for affluent should go

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday affirmed her support for letting lower tax rates for wealthier Americans expire at year-end, despite opposition by several Senate Democrats who say the economy is too fragile for higher taxes. Monday, July 26, 2010

Oregon Foreclosure Rate Surges to Third Highest Nationwide

In 2008, at the onset of the nationwide economic recession, Oregon's foreclosure rate remained relatively low and stable, prompting some local real estate professionals to speculate that the region was in some way immune to the bursting of the sizable housing bubble. Monday, July 19, 2010

Home-buying applications sink to 13-year low

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Demand for loans to purchase U.S. homes sunk to a 13-year low last week, and refinancing demand also slid despite near record-low mortgage rates, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday. Monday, July 19, 2010