Latest financial news - CNNMoney.com

From CNN and Money magazine, CNNMoney.com combines business news and in-depth market analysis with practical advice and answers to personal finance questions.

How much life insurance do I need?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:07:25 EDT

Q: I'm 37, married, and have four kids ages 2 to 13. I'm in the market for term life insurance. What features should I look for? -- N.N., Lutherville, Md.


What's so scary about Elizabeth Warren?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:09:04 EDT

Elizabeth Warren doesn't look or sound scary. She's a 61-year-old Harvard Law School professor from Oklahoma who has written personal finance books, some with her daughter.


Ballmer: Microsoft feels tablet 'urgency'

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:32:19 EDT

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Thursday that the software giant is urgently working with its partners to unveil a host of tablet computers running Windows 7, to compete with Apple's fast-selling iPad.


Apple may soon be worth more than Exxon

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:54:47 EDT

Better watch your back Exxon Mobil.


Public data snatched from 170 million Facebook profiles

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:29:50 EDT

Public but personal details from more than 170 million Facebook profiles were harvested from the site and made available in a downloadable torrent file this week.


Reform brings a renewed focus on short-term results

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:28:43 EDT

While much has been made out of the sheer heft of the 2,300-page behemoth known as the Dodd-Frank Act, it's a mere 26 pages that address the corporate governance and compensation issues that will have a profound effect on public companies and their investors.


Summertime tax savings

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:49:50 EDT

April may be eight months away, but it is never too early to start thinking about saving on your taxes. Take advantage of these summer savings before it is too late.


New Wall Street rules pit SEC vs. the media

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:07:50 EDT

One of Wall Street reform's littlest known provisions is getting big attention for giving a government agency a possible loophole for avoiding journalists' requests for information.


Citi to pay $73 million for misleading investors

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:57:24 EDT

Citigroup said Thursday it would pay $73 million to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that the bank, as well as two of its executives, misled investors about the company's exposure to the subprime mortgage market.


Dollar sinks on recovery doubts

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:38:32 EDT

The dollar continued to slide this week, hovering near monthly lows versus major currencies as worries about an economic slowdown weighed on investors.


Microsoft's chance to show it still leads

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:01:09 EDT

It's a pretty good time to be Microsoft -- but the company still has a lot to prove.


Jobless claims slide in latest week

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:18:27 EDT

The number of Americans filing for initial unemployment insurance fell last week, the government said Thursday.


Exxon Mobil profit nearly doubles

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:29:23 EDT

Exxon Mobil Corp. reported quarterly earnings Thursday that easily beat analysts' expectations on higher crude prices.


Toyota recalls 400,000 cars over steering issues

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:49:21 EDT

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it was recalling more than 400,000 older-model vehicles sold in the United States, citing potential steering-related problems in both.


Hugo Chavez hurts toothpaste, makeup sales

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:25:57 EDT

The world's largest toothpaste maker reported disappointing sales Thursday, and who's to blame? None other than the country of Venezuela, the company said.


30-year bond yield at 1-month high

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:38:29 EDT

Longer-dated Treasury prices turned lower Thursday, with the 30-year yield spiking to a one-month high, as investors took in a better-than-expected report on jobless claims and prepared an auction of government debt later in the day.


Is Kindle 3 a game-ender for e-reader wars?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:06:25 EDT

Amazon unveiled its long-awaited Kindle 3 on Thursday, slashing the price to $139 and setting the tech world abuzz about what the move means for the ongoing e-reader wars.


Stocks edge lower

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:57:57 EDT

Stocks slid Thursday, although they finished off their session lows, as investors weighed cautious comments from a regional Federal Reserve president about the health of the economy and a mix of quarterly profit reports.


Senator demands probe of BP tax break

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:45:54 EDT

Two days after BP said it will write off the cost of the oil spill cleanup against its income taxes, a U.S. senator is calling for a Congressional probe into the company's tax plans.


Google blocked in China again

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:27:21 EDT

Google users in China are once again being blocked from accessing the search engine, the company said Thursday.