Real Estate

May 06, 2008

Homebuilders: Waiting for the Thaw

D.R. Horton posted a bigger-than-expected loss but reduced inventory and beat its free-cash-flow goal. Analysts don't see sales improving much until credit markets loosen.

May 06, 2008

Fannie Mae Soothes the Street

Despite the mortgage giant's big credit losses, analysts say rising revenues and a $6 billion stock sale will provide it ample liquidity.

April 25, 2008

REITs Show Strength

Standard & Poor's has buy or strong buy recommendations on 17 names in the industry.

April 17, 2008

Housing: Time to Halt Taxpayer Subsidies

Even with the housing market declining, it's bad policy to give homes preferential tax treatment over stocks and other investments.

April 16, 2008

Inflation Warms, Housing Chills in March

In a mixed bag of economic reports, U.S. consumer inflation remains steady, housing starts plunge, and industrial output unexpectedly rises.

March 26, 2008

A Frigid February for New Home Sales

A government report shows that sales fell to the slowest pace in 13 years, while durable goods dropped unexpectedly.

March 25, 2008

Consumer Confidence, Home Prices Plunge

Mar. 25 reports show consumer confidence at a five-year low and the Case-Shiller home-price index fell at a faster pace than in the previous two months.

March 20, 2008

Fannie and Freddie Set Free

Federal regulators have eased the lenders' capital surplus requirements, to inject some much-needed money into the mortgage market.

March 18, 2008

Stocks: A Place Called Vertigo

With the Bear Stearns collapse, equities' age of anxiety just got an extra jolt of caffeine. Should individual investors give up on stocks?.

February 29, 2008

Subprime City Confidential: Leap Day Edition

Agony at AIG; Moody's gives one cheer for Ambac; Ross rests Assured; and more tantalizing tidbits from the capital city of the credit crunch.

February 26, 2008

The Economy: A Mix of Bad News

The latest reports on wholesale inflation, consumer sentiment, and home prices show just how deeply the pain is spreading.

February 21, 2008

Vital Signs: Deeper Damage from Housing?

On tap: January readings on new and existing home sales, home prices, personal spending and income, and durable goods orders.

February 19, 2008

Recession Watch: Inflation Rears Its Head

Will surging prices hasten a consumer-led economic downturn? Here's what Wall Street economists and strategists have to say.

January 28, 2008

New-Home Sales on a Slippery Slope

A Jan. 28 report shows December's larger-than-expected decline leaves this key housing indicator in a steep downtrend.

January 16, 2008

The Economy: Five Signposts to Recovery

Things are gloomy—and getting gloomier. How will investors know when it's safe to come out again? Here's what to watch for.

January 10, 2008

Misery Continues for Big Mortgage Players

Talks of a Countrywide buyout may have bolstered mortgage stocks on Jan. 10, but one big deal won't cure the sector's ills.

January 08, 2008

Housing: A Fresh Jolt of Bad News

KB Home reports a huge loss and Countrywide fights off bankruptcy rumors. Looks like the U.S. housing sector is in for another tough year.

January 07, 2008

Where the Stock Market Will Find Relief

Despite the year's lousy start, S&P expects Fed rate cuts and decent corporate earnings to lend support to stocks in 2008.

January 02, 2008

More Woes for Manufacturing

A newly released report shows a surprising drop in the widely followed ISM factory sentiment survey. Trading shows the market expects another easing from the Fed.

December 28, 2007

New Home Sales: A Stunning Slide

Sales plunged last month to their lowest level in more than 12 years, a grim testament to the problems plaguing the housing sector.

December 26, 2007

Home Prices Post Record Decline

The S&P/Case-Shiller index for October shows a 6.7% drop in U.S. home prices, which beats the previous largest decline in 1991.

December 06, 2007

Homebuilders Get Boosted by Bush Plan

Toll Brothers, which swung to a fourth-quarter loss, and other homebuilder stocks rally on hopes the government's proposal will alleviate pain in the sector.

December 04, 2007

What Will Europe's Central Banks Do?

S&P thinks the conflicting risks of higher inflation and lower growth will lead to at least one ECB rate cut in the second half of 2008.

November 27, 2007

The Economy: Consumers' Gloom Thickens

The Conference Board figures show a big November drop in buyer confidence, though spending decisions have yet to be affected.

November 27, 2007

Pulte's Good News Not Good Enough

The company says its homebuilding business is holding up this quarter, but nervous investors still sold the shares Monday.