Personal Finance Daily: Mortgages, housing loom large for voters

Personal Finance Daily FEBRUARY 17, 2012 Friday's Personal Finance Stories By MarketWatch Don't miss these top stories: Housing crisis could play key role in election Congress approves extension of payroll-tax cut Gasoline lifts consumer prices 0.2% in January 5 big game-changers for small-cap stocks Dividend-paying stocks are still the place to be What, in your opinion, should the government do, if anything, to prop up the housing market? Your answer may go a long way in shaping your decision as a voter this November. As Lew Sichelman writes in his Realty Q&A column today, no fewer than five different surveys find that the problems roiling the housing market are top-of-mind for many voters, particularly young adults. Plus, read about how Congress came together in a rare show of bipartisanship to pass a bill that extends the payroll tax cut for the rest of the year. That bill keeps employees' Social Security tax rate at 4.2%, down from the usual 6.2%. Who's paying for that bill, which also includes extended unemployment benefits and prevents payment cuts to doctors who accept Medicare? Partly, government workers — the government's contribution to their retirement plan will get cut, raising $15 billion — and a public-health fund that was part of the health-care reform law loses some funding, for another $5 billion. Plus, $89.3 billion gets added to the deficit over 10 years. — Andrea Coombes , Personal Finance editor Housing crisis could play key role in election If the findings of several recent polls are any gauge, the eventual candidates and their political parties would be well served to address the nation's housing crisis head on, Lew Sichelman writes. Housing crisis could play key role in election. Housing still faces problems, despite gains Housing has been down so long that any gain is welcome, writes Kathleen Madigan. But the rise in January starts was positive than meets the eye. Housing still faces problems, despite gains. Track and field needs new heroes to step up Once home to some of the biggest names in U.S. sports, track and field is struggling to produce a new generation of heroes. Track and field needs new heroes to step up. ECONOMY & POLITICS Congress approves extension of payroll-tax cut U.S. lawmakers vote Friday to extend a two-percentage-point payroll-tax cut for the rest of the year, nearly two weeks before a tax hike would have gone into effect for about 160 million Americans. Congress approves extension of payroll-tax cut. Gasoline lifts consumer prices 0.2% in January Americans' cost of living rises 0.2% in January, driven higher by the first increase in energy prices in four months, according to Labor Department data. Gasoline lifts consumer prices 0.2% in January. Leading indicators rise in January The economy is expected to continue strengthening, possibly picking up this spring and summer, the Conference Board says. Leading indicators rise in January. German president resigns amid loan probe Christian Wulff steps down, succumbing to a scandal surrounding a home loan, and forcing Chancellor Angela Merkel to cancel a trip to Italy to deal with the domestic political fallout instead. German president resigns amid loan probe. INVESTING 5 big game-changers for small-cap stocks Small-cap stocks' strong rebound just may continue, writes Rachel Koning Beals. Here's a short list of economic and stock sectors where improved conditions should bode well for small-caps. 5 big game-changers for small-cap stocks. Wall Street insider blasts his industry Former trader Larry Doyle loves capitalism, but can't abide by what's happened on Wall Street with Washington's help, reports Al Lewis. Wall Street insider blasts his industry. Dividend-paying stocks are still the place to be There's still a strong case to be made for stodgy dividend stocks, although I would wait for a market pullback to buy them or add to what you have. Dividend-paying stocks are still the place to be. Oil market should worry but not fear Iran Iran's latest saber-rattling has made its mark on the oil market already, contributing to a rally in U.S. prices to more than $102 per barrel, but while nervousness in the market over Iranian threats is warranted, outright fear is not. Oil market should worry but not fear Iran. Fate of Silicon Valley icon hangs in limbo The future and the restoration of Moffett Field's Hangar One, a major symbol and icon in Silicon Valley, needs to be addressed now Fate of Silicon Valley icon hangs in limbo. We should worry about Apple's reputation Apple is now America's most admired company, but investors may want to think twice before investing in it, as such icons often fail to produce the returns going forward that investors hope and expect. Mark Hulbert reports. We should worry about Apple's reputation. The new economic hit men: you The most effective investing approach to the emerging markets is with debt, because it erases many liquidity concerns and provides a higher confidence of return on capital, writes Thomas Kostigen. The new economic hit men: you. Get the latest news on our mobile site: http://www.marketwatch.com/m MarketWatch has sent you this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. To ensure you receive this newsletter in the future, please add marketwatchmail.com to your list of approved senders. Sent to: kumaresan.selva.blogger@gmail.com Unsubscribe | Subscribe Copyright 2012 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. 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