Feb 03, 2012 08:53AM

States seek currencies made of silver and gold

A growing number of states are seeking shiny new currencies made of silver and gold.

Feb 03, 2012 09:56AM

The best cities for job hunting

FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: I just got a pink slip from the bank where I've worked as a marketing director for the past 12 years, and which is now undergoing a total restructuring, so I'm pondering what my next move should be. Opportunities are limited in the smallish East Coast city where I live (the bank I'll soon be leaving is the single biggest employer in town) and, having moved here solely to take the position I'm now losing, I'm not particularly attached to this area. Our kids are away at college now, our mortgage is paid off, and my wife, who is a pediatrician, really could work anywhere. So we're open to the idea of moving -- but where would I have the best chance of finding a new job? I'm also wondering, do many employers still pay moving expenses for new management hires, or is that a thing of the past? ? Footloose

Feb 03, 2012 03:27AM

Home repairs: Which jobs come first?

Lean times call for budgetary triage. But while you should clearly opt for orthodontics before Disneyland, the choice is tougher when it comes to home maintenance.

Feb 03, 2012 02:36PM

Beat stress for less

This year the end of the holidays probably didn't bring the usual stress relief; there are still worries about unemployment, a flailing housing market, and a volatile stock market, all of which may be taking a toll on your health.

Feb 03, 2012 03:21AM

Finally, a foreclosure settlement (Maybe)

States have until late Monday to agree to the latest draft deal aimed at relieving homeowners struggling with mortgages bigger than their home's value.

Feb 03, 2012 07:19PM

When A Housemate Is A Dependent (And A Tax Break)

Could Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) snag a tax break for supporting her slacker boyfriend who?s moved in with her on NBC?s 30 Rock? Maybe. If your boyfriend, grandma or unemployed brother is crashing on your pull-out couch, you might be able to claim them as a dependent on your federal income tax return. Yes, it?s not just children, or even relatives, that can count as dependents, but unrelated friends whom you support and who live with you. The idea is these folks aren?t filing tax returns and taking a personal exemption for themselves. So you add them to your return as a dependent, taking a dependent exemption, and share the wealth.

Feb 03, 2012 03:50PM

NY Times Is Wrong About Maximizing College Aid Chances

Today's article on the New York Times website, "Expert Advice on the Best Ways to Secure Financial Aid,"  is a glaring example of more bad college advice. To say that parents should, "Embrace the fact that there is no 'secret,' no magic way to increase your aid chances," is misleading at best.

Feb 03, 2012 03:01PM

Daily Wrap: 2/3/2012

A big rally is underway after a surprisingly good jobs report. According to the government unemployment fell to 8.3% last month, the lowest in 3 years. That news sent the Dow to it's highest level since 2008. At around 1 this afternoon the Dow was up almost 1.2%, the Nasdaq was up 1.6% and the S&P 500 is up nearly 1.4%.

Feb 03, 2012 02:54PM

Weekly Market Wrap: 2/3/2012

This fifth trading week of 2012 comes to a close with investors sending stocks higher on strong employment data.

Feb 03, 2012 02:33PM

Qatar Buys World's Most Expensive Painting

Cezanne's The Card Players has been sold to Qatar's royal family for more than $250 million, the highest price ever paid for a work of art.

Feb 04, 2012 04:02AM

Obama presses Congress to pass aid to homeowners (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama on Saturday pressed lawmakers to pass his proposal to provide up to $10 billion in aid to struggling homeowners, saying a failure to address the housing crisis would put the rest of the economy at risk.

Feb 03, 2012 09:51PM

Hiring surges in January; jobless rate at 8.3 pct. (AP)

AP - In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January — across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyone expected. Unemployment fell to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.

Feb 03, 2012 07:19PM

Obama pushes for veterans jobs programs (AP)

AP - In an effort to cut the unemployment rate among veterans, President Barack Obama is calling for a new conservation program that would put veterans to work rebuilding trails, roads and levees on public lands.

Feb 03, 2012 03:40PM

Unemployment falls sharply in US, rises in Europe (AP)

AP - Unemployment falls sharply in US, rises in Europe

Feb 03, 2012 03:14PM

Jobless rate at 3-year low as payrolls surge (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to a near three-year low, giving a boost to President Barack Obama.