Mortgage rates rise toward 5 per cent - December 9, 2010 16:02

National average mortgage rates are on the rise in the United States as jobless claims are improving and the economy appears to be improving. The national average 30-year fixed rate Thursday (December 9) morning is 4.91 per cent according to Bankrate.com, compared with an average mortgage rate of 4.66 per cent on Thursday last week.

Euro plunges on Ireland debt worries - November 26, 2010 10:44

The US dollar is up sharply in early Wednesday (November 24th) morning currency trade following a strong unemployment report. The latest weekly report from the Labor Department for the week ending November 20th showed a seasonally adjusted total of 407,000 unemployment claims.

Commodities prices held in check by stronger dollar - November 19, 2010 15:28

Oil prices have seen restricted upward mobility and gold prices have fallen in lieu of a stronger dollar the last two weeks. The greenback has climbed higher against most major currencies and on the whole after the initial reaction to the Fed’s $600 billion Treasury bond purchase.

Dollar stronger as speculators consider global economy - November 10, 2010 16:09

Currency speculators are struggling to make sense of everything happening around them in the global economy. At the moment (November 10), the dollar is in a stronger position following the Central Bank sell off of some 10-year debt at a lower than expected yield.

Euro nears $1.34 following Fed meeting announcements - September 22, 2010 15:33

Central Bank leaders elected to leave interest rates alone following their monetary policy meeting on Tuesday (September 21). The move extended weakness in the dollar and helped push the euro and pound higher.

Mortgage rates well below 4.5 per cent - September 3, 2010 23:07

The Federal Reserve’s continued support of low to no interest rates is a contributor to mortgage rates that remain near historic lows. Bankrate.com lists Friday’s (September 3) national average mortgage rate at 4.34 per cent.

Interest rates remain low as economic concerns persist - August 27, 2010 14:15

National average mortgage rates remain historically low and there appears to be no end in sight to the Fed’s low to no interest rate policy. A less than stellar Commerce Department report on the second quarter gross domestic product Friday (August 27) morning is the latest contributor to the sense of pessimism hanging over the […]

Gold sets new record high over $1,260 - June 18, 2010 18:40

As soon as investors think it is safe to invest in growth opportunities and more risky plays, economic concerns pop up somewhere in the world. The US is still trying to figure out if it is truly in economic recovery mode with job worries remaining and Europe is burdened with debt-ridden economies.

Euro stabilized as worst credit fears subside - June 17, 2010 12:51

The Euro appears to be relatively stable this week, with a current rate of $1.2304. It actually reached a Wednesday morning (June 16) high of $1.2355 before receding a bit in the mid morning trade.