General Finance News

– The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a notably higher opening on Thursday, with sentiment likely to get a boost from positive domestic economic data released earlier in the day. A Labor Department report showed that weekly jobless claims declined sharply, while the results of a regional survey showed that manufacturing conditions in the New York region improved more than expected. Deal announcements and some positive corporate news may also offer support to the markets, helping them rebound from a 3-session slide.

The Dow Industrials remains poised to break its 21-day moving average to the upside and this could position it for an attempt at its 200-day moving average.

U.S. stocks declined on Wednesday, as investor perception that the eurozone debt crisis has no quick fix heightened risk aversion.

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Millions of Britons are being forced to take out expensive payday loans to make ends meet, according to a study from R3.

The insolvencies experts warned the number of people turning to payday lenders – who charge interest rates of several hundred percent – is unlikely to wane in the current economic climate as increasing numbers of people need extra cash to see them through until payday.

Some 60% of those questioned said they were worried about their levels of debt, while 45% said they struggled to make their money last until their next payday.

Sixty-two percent of people aged between 22 and 24 years old said they often could not make their wages last a month.

R3 said the survey revealed money worries at the highest level it has ever seen and said its figures suggest as many as 3.5 million people will apply for a payday loan over the next six months.

The payday loan sector has expended rapidly since mainstream lenders restricted their loan books in the wake of the financial crisis.

Frances Coulson, R3 President, said: Its worrying to see that the 16-24s are developing bad money management skills so early on. Few

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Sony has cut the price of its by $30 until December 24. At $99, the Sony is now the same price as the top-selling with touch screens, the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch and Amazon Kindle Touch.

The Sony is a recommended model in our , although it ranks a little below its Nook and Kindle competitors in overall performance. However, it weighs a little less than they do and is the only reader on the market that allows you to borrow library e-books entirely wirelessly.

Got an old e-book reader kicking around the house that you no longer use? Until December 31, Sony is offering a further $50 off one of their readers if you trade in an old model of any brand.

For help in choosing a model that’s right for you, see Consumer Reports’ .

If the federal government could nail Al Capone on tax charges, euthanasia device maker Sharlotte Hydorn, 92, didn’t stand a chance.

Hydorn, of El Cajon, Calif., pleaded guilty last week in federal court to a charge of failing to file federal income tax returns since 2007 on $150,000 in earnings from various sources, including the profits from selling kits designed to help people end their lives.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Hydorn has agreed to pay approximately $26,000 in back taxes and to quit selling the devices. She could have faced up to one year in jail and/or a $100,000 fine, but was spared jail time in part because of her age, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson.

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It’s an oldie but goodie; part of a perpetual debate. What is the appropriate “replacement rate” to target when saving for retirement?

Conventional wisdom pegs it at 80%. But Reuters’ Linda Stern wonders if, despite the mountain of reporting about America’s lack of retirement readiness, it might be too much.

“[T]here’s reason to believe that oft-quoted 80% figure is wildly on the high side,” Stern writes. “That, in turn, makes the retirement calculations based upon it also wildly off. And that means

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The three in one credit report for a person is important. It makes no sense to get reports in several parts of the same person. The 3 in 1 credit report gives a clearer picture to both the borrowers and the lenders. The report that will be provided would be based on the overall view of the credit history of the person. The major loan providing institutes ask for all three credit reports but the smaller organization accepts only one or two also. It is always possible that there could be some missing information is a single free credit report. Hence, a merged credit report can be an effective solution of this problem.

There are so many online sites which offer a free merging of those credit reports. You can find them easily through the Google search. Read more…

The city of Dallas, Texas offers several wealthy neighborhoods to the mix of many different and unique neighborhoods that populate the city. The wealthier neighborhoods are so affluent, they are known for becoming home or having a reputation of a past home to some very high profile famous personalities from sports players to even presidents and other politicians of high affluence.

North Oak Cliff is found in the southwest area of the Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood is very established with homes that are compared to mini-mansions, ranchers, and estate homes. Characteristic of the neighborhood are very lush yards with very large and vibrant gardens that typically meander around the home.

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Groupon’s Stock Loses Momentum, Falls Below $20 IPO Price

Less than three weeks after debuting on the public market, reaching share prices above $26, Groupon shares have fallen to between $17-$18. The stock price has fallen more than 33% in the past three days. Investor’s original optimism at the IPO has waned due to fears that the rising number of competitors in the daily deal market, including Amazon , Google , and LivingSocial, will limit the future growth and profit margins of the trend setter. Analysts also cite Groupon’s stock as a strong candidate for short-selling. Will the largest daily deal site’s time at the top come to a close in the wake of competitors?

US Bancorp Skips Federal Scrutiny as a Regional Bank Despite $48 Billion Market Cap

Bank of America , JP Morgan , and other national banks still receive a large amount of public scrutiny for widespread economic issues, forcing negative consequences upon their market values. US Banc Read more…