• Easy Sign In
    RPX

Tuesday, Jun 25th

Last update:12:54:10 PM GMT

Kyiv 09:54* NY 02:54* Tokyo 15:54  Johannesburg 08:54  London 07:54* Moscow 11:54* Frankfurt / Warsaw 08:54* Shanghai 14:54  Delhi 12:24 
e-mail

Укрепление рубля - это то, что необходимо России?

  • Defeat Has Labor Leaders Thinking Inward

  • Japan Stocks Choppy on Growth Data

    Japan Stocks Choppy on Growth Data

  • Japan Growth Figures Disappoint

  • Are You Spending More and Enjoying It Less?

    Are You Spending More and Enjoying It Less?

  • Gold and Silver Fever Returns

  • Jos. A. Bank to Acquire Eddie Bauer for $825 Million

  • Will Oxy Strand a Top Trader?

  • Buffett's Berkshire Joins Cable Frenzy

  • Farmers Switching to Soybeans

  • Mester Named New Cleveland Fed President

  • U.S. Jobless Claims Rose 8,000 Last Week

  • Growth Shows Signs of Slowdown

  • Import Prices Inched Up in January

  • Yellen's Husband Resigns Role

    Yellen's Husband Resigns Role

  • Industrial Output Slid in Cold January

  • Gas-Station Owner Cashes 'Lottery Ticket'

    Gas-Station Owner Cashes 'Lottery Ticket'

  • Aluminum Lines Still Trouble LME

  • Standard Hotel to Fetch a Postcrisis Record

    Standard Hotel to Fetch a Postcrisis Record

  • High-Speed Traders Turn to Laser Beams

    High-Speed Traders Turn to Laser Beams

  • Barclays Advisers' New Pay Metric: Behavior

    Barclays Advisers' New Pay Metric: Behavior

  • Fed Chief's Spouse Advises Center Funded by UBS

  • For Venezuela, Bonds Create a Bind

  • USDA Projects U.S. Net Farm Income to Decline 27% in 2014

  • Some Hot Housing Markets Cool

  • Fed's Yellen Sets Course for Steady Bond-Buy Cuts

  • German Growth Forecast Raised

  • Bank of England Sees Growth Spurt Ahead, but Hazards Too

  • Senate Votes to Suspend Debt Limit

  • Iran Steadies as Tensions Ease

  • Falling Property Values Hint at Trouble on the Farm

Defeat Has Labor Leaders Thinking Inward

Labor leaders are gathering in Houston this week to plot out their strategy for the year, but much of their focus will be almost 700 miles away, in Chattanooga, Tenn., where workers on Friday rejected the United Auto Workers attempt to organize under the union's label at a Volkswagen plant.

Union leaders over the weekend voiced outrage about an anti-union campaign led by Republican Sen. Bob Corker, other Tennessee Republicans, and conservative lobbyists, blaming them for the defeat. But labor officials will also be...

Japan Stocks Choppy on Growth Data

Asian markets rose on Monday, with Hong Kong shares leading the way and Japanese stocks rebounding from early weakness after growth data disappointed.

Hong Kong's Hong Kong $122.30 -0.30 -0.24% Feb. 17, 2014 4:01 pm Volume : 990,273 P/E Ratio 8.18 Market Cap $234.39 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee $4,473,550 in Your Value Your Change Short position Index gained 1.1% to 22535.94 and the Shanghai Composite rose by 0.9% to 2135.41 after made a larger-than-expected jump in January, with financial institutions issuing 1.32 trillion yuan ($217.6 billion) worth of new loans last month. Although Chinese banks typically make more loans at the beginning of the year, analysts viewed the jump as a sign of strength in the economy.

Related Article

The Nikkei Stock Average ended up 0.6% at 14393.11 after flipping between positive and negative territory early in the session, following the release of data that showed that grew less than expected in the final three months of 2013. Gross domestic product expanded at an annualized rate of 1% in the final quarter of last year, lower than the 2.8% increase expected by economists.

The market picked up as the yen lost some of its earlier strength against the dollar. The greenback was at ¥101.72 late in Asia, compared with the day's low of ¥101.37, though slightly lower than ¥101.80 from late Friday in New York. In addition, the Nikkei was recovering from a 1.5% drop on Friday.

More broadly, the region was positive at the start of the week, taking its lead from Wall Street's gains on Friday, as global markets continued to recover from a selloff in January and early this month.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.5% to 5382.90, South Korea's Kospi gained 0.3% to 1946.36 and Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.9% late in Asia.

In Sydney, the earnings season rolled on. Shares of Australia: Sydney $5.19 +0.09 +1.76% Feb. 17, 2014 5:04 pm Volume : 7.49M P/E Ratio 26.74 Market Cap $10.90 Billion Dividend Yield 3.08% Rev. per Employee $467,323 12/05/13 in Your Value Your Change Short position rose 1.8% even though the rail-freight operator reported that its profit fell 39% in the first-half of the fiscal year. The market focused on an increase in the company's interim dividend, as well as higher volumes on its rail network despite slowing mining investment in Australia.

, Australia: Sydney $74.35 -1.64 -2.16% Feb. 17, 2014 5:03 pm Volume : 10.29M P/E Ratio 15.10 Market Cap $122.49 Billion Dividend Yield 4.92% Rev. per Employee $956,481 02/11/14 01/29/14 in Your Value Your Change Short position Australia's largest bank by market value, fell 2.2% after the company's stock started to trade ex-dividend.

In Japan, shares in Rakuten, the country's largest online retailer, fell 9.5% after the firm said it is paying $900 million to , a Cyprus-based maker of messaging and calling applications. Viber will bring 300 million of its users to Rakuten's global network of 200 million, the Japanese company's chief executive said Friday.

Write to Daniel Inman at

Бi3.ON in english

>Defeat Has Labor Leaders Thinking Inward

Labor leaders are gathering in Houston this week to plot out their strategy for the year, but much of their focus will be almost 700 miles away, in Chattanooga, Tenn., where workers on Friday rejected the United Auto Workers attempt to organize under the union's label at a Volkswagen plant.

Union leaders over the weekend voiced outrage about an anti-union campaign led by Republican Sen. Bob Corker, other Tennessee Republicans, and conservative lobbyists, blaming them for the defeat. But labor officials will also be...

Japan Stocks Choppy on Growth Data

Asian markets rose on Monday, with Hong Kong shares leading the way and Japanese stocks rebounding from early weakness after growth data disappointed.

Hong Kong's Hong Kong $122.30 -0.30 -0.24% Feb. 17, 2014 4:01 pm Volume : 990,273 P/E Ratio 8.18 Market Cap $234.39 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee $4,473,550 in Your Value Your Change Short position Index gained 1.1% to 22535.94 and the Shanghai Composite rose by 0.9% to 2135.41 after made a larger-than-expected jump in January, with financial institutions issuing 1.32 trillion yuan ($217.6 billion) worth of new loans last month. Although Chinese banks typically make more loans at the beginning of the year, analysts viewed the jump as a sign of strength in the economy.

Related Article

The Nikkei Stock Average ended up 0.6% at 14393.11 after flipping between positive and negative territory early in the session, following the release of data that showed that grew less than expected in the final three months of 2013. Gross domestic product expanded at an annualized rate of 1% in the final quarter of last year, lower than the 2.8% increase expected by economists.

The market picked up as the yen lost some of its earlier strength against the dollar. The greenback was at ¥101.72 late in Asia, compared with the day's low of ¥101.37, though slightly lower than ¥101.80 from late Friday in New York. In addition, the Nikkei was recovering from a 1.5% drop on Friday.

More broadly, the region was positive at the start of the week, taking its lead from Wall Street's gains on Friday, as global markets continued to recover from a selloff in January and early this month.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.5% to 5382.90, South Korea's Kospi gained 0.3% to 1946.36 and Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.9% late in Asia.

In Sydney, the earnings season rolled on. Shares of Australia: Sydney $5.19 +0.09 +1.76% Feb. 17, 2014 5:04 pm Volume : 7.49M P/E Ratio 26.74 Market Cap $10.90 Billion Dividend Yield 3.08% Rev. per Employee $467,323 12/05/13 in Your Value Your Change Short position rose 1.8% even though the rail-freight operator reported that its profit fell 39% in the first-half of the fiscal year. The market focused on an increase in the company's interim dividend, as well as higher volumes on its rail network despite slowing mining investment in Australia.

, Australia: Sydney $74.35 -1.64 -2.16% Feb. 17, 2014 5:03 pm Volume : 10.29M P/E Ratio 15.10 Market Cap $122.49 Billion Dividend Yield 4.92% Rev. per Employee $956,481 02/11/14 01/29/14 in Your Value Your Change Short position Australia's largest bank by market value, fell 2.2% after the company's stock started to trade ex-dividend.

In Japan, shares in Rakuten, the country's largest online retailer, fell 9.5% after the firm said it is paying $900 million to , a Cyprus-based maker of messaging and calling applications. Viber will bring 300 million of its users to Rakuten's global network of 200 million, the Japanese company's chief executive said Friday.

Write to Daniel Inman at

Japan Growth Figures Disappoint

TOKYO—Disappointing growth numbers from Japan show that a weaker yen has failed so far to rev up the nation's export engine, putting a greater onus this year on the nation's consumers.

Japan's growth rate of an annualized 1% in the October-to-December quarter marks the latest cautionary sign among the world's major economies. A further chill could come for Japan in April, when the nation's sales tax rises to 8% from 5%.

Not...

Are You Spending More and Enjoying It Less?

When a taco shop opened across the street from Stefanie O'Connell's New York City apartment, she figured it would be harmless to go there a few times a week and grab a quick dinner.

But before she knew it, the actress and freelance writer was dropping $10 to $15 a week on tacos—that comes to more than $500 a year, or just about enough to pay for a round-trip ticket for her dream trip to Amsterdam.

"Dining out has always been a budget buster of mine," she admits.

Ms. O'Connell decided to rein in her taco habit and save for her trip by wrapping a picture of Amsterdam around her cash and credit cards.

So far, it's working. She hasn't had a taco in a month.

Few of us will have our dreams thwarted by the cost of a couple of tacos, but there's one thing most financial advisers agree on: Americans spend way too much.

You may overspend because you're bored, you have no budget or you want to keep up with your neighbors.

Or you might be letting your emotions dictate your financial decisions.

Whatever the reason, you may be setting yourself up for a financial disaster.

But fear not: There are a few ways you can rein in your spending before it's too late.

Tracking your cash flow and tapping into your feelings are two things financial advisers say you can do to curb your urge to spend.

"The spending choices you make now will greatly impact your quality of life later on," says Patrick McDowell, a Miramar Beach, Fla., financial adviser.

Dongyun Lee

Get a Plan

Financial planner Jorie Johnson once met with clients who had more than $50,000 in credit-card debt. The Manasquan, N.J., planner asked the couple where the boat or pool or RV was that they purchased to incur such a debt.

"They couldn't even remember one thing they bought," Ms. Johnson says.

Ms. Johnson found out later that all of their debt was from many purchases of under $100 which compounded over time when they paid their credit-card bills late. The wife also had a "penchant for Target and Old Navy," Ms. Johnson says.

To help her clients get back on track, Ms. Johnson recommended the wife shop only with a list and pay with cash. She also told her to get a part-time job.

"If you aren't earning money or sleeping, you're most likely spending," Ms. Johnson says.

Jeff Duncan says folks usually overspend because they have no budget.

"Money comes in and money goes out each month without any grasp of what their actual monthly overhead expenses are and what their actual monthly household income is," says the Little Falls, N.J., financial adviser.

In turn, Mr. Duncan says to create a budget. He also says to set up monthly automatic deductions from your checking account into an emergency savings fund or investment vehicle such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account. That way, the money is siphoned off before you have a chance to spend it.

Karol Ward, a New York psychotherapist, says to track everything you spend for a month using a small notebook or an app such as Wally or Mint. Doing that will help you see areas where you may be overspending, she says.

Understand Your Emotions

Ms. Ward recently worked with a client who overspent at restaurants because he was always picking up the check for everyone at the table.

The client felt insecure about his success and compensated by showing others that he was successful enough to buy dinner. But at the end of the month, he always struggled to pay his credit-card bill.

"Overspending on others actually made him feel less successful because he never had enough money for himself," Ms. Ward says.

This client's need to keep up the appearance of success kept him in a perpetual state of anxiety and fueled his feelings of inadequacy, she says.

To make more-conscious spending decisions, says Chicago financial psychologist Marty Martin, ask yourself "What need am I trying to fulfill?" or "How will I react when the credit-card bill comes in the mail?"

"The key is to be mindful about spending rather than engaging in the automatic behavior which is the goal of the marketers and merchandisers," he says.

Seeking the counsel of a coach or minister to help you uncover your feelings about money can also help, Ms. Ward says.

Lauren Lindsay, a Covington, La., financial planner, recommends waiting 24 hours before making a purchase. And don't take your frustrations out by shopping online, either. "Take a walk or bath," she says.

Know Your Hot Buttons

In addition, Ms. Lindsay says it's important to know your spending "hot buttons."

For example, Ms. Lindsay says she can spend $100 in Barnes & Noble in about 20 minutes.

Why? She loves to read, and she was very poor when she was young. Other kids owned books, but she had to borrow library books. Returning them always reminded her of her poverty. To this day, books are some of her most treasured possessions.

In turn, she's set a monthly budget for books so she doesn't overspend. She recommends you do the same for your hot buttons.

"Figure out what gives you joy so you can have it in moderation," she says.

Constance Stone, a Chagrin Falls, Ohio, financial planner, says to keep a daily gratitude journal to focus on all the "positives" in your life. This may help you lessen the feelings of "not having enough," she says. It could also prompt you to place more value on nonmaterial aspects of life, such as family and friends.

Prioritizing and setting a time table for buying big-ticket items can also help keep spending in check, says Ms. Stone.

San Diego financial planner Peg Eddy says to visualize a big goal, such as retirement—or a dream trip to Amsterdam—that you wish to save for, and recall a picture of it every time you're tempted to spend money on something that doesn't align with your goal.

"Sometimes it can help you understand that cutting back here and there can help underwrite some big goal," she says.

But if you're stuck in a cycle of overspending you may need to take more extreme action, like Ms. Johnson's clients with way too much debt and too little to show for it. Her advice: "Cut up your credit cards."

Write to