Personal Finance Daily: Could inflation be back from the dead?

	Personal Finance Daily SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 Wednesday's Personal Finance Stories By MarketWatch Don't miss these top stories: Is inflation back from the dead? Canceled contracts dog real-estate recovery Investor confidence in U.S. markets up: report What's happening with GM's pensions? Inflation hasn't been a concern during the financial crisis, but that may be changing, as Brett Arends writes today. The Federal Reserve's announcement of its latest round of quantitative easing has sparked inflation worries in the bond market, he writes. The market is now pricing in 2.6% inflation for the next 10 years, up from 2% just two months ago, he adds. And that's a big move in a short period. Read more in today's Personal Finance pages, plus read the latest statistics on housing starts and existing-home sales, as well as a story on why canceled contracts are dogging the housing recovery. —Amy Hoak , Personal Finance writer Is inflation back from the dead? The Fed's latest moves have revived fears among bond investors, writes Brett Arends. Is inflation back from the dead? What's happening with GM's pensions? The company's moved to offer lump-sum payments to salaried retirees, effectively off-loading their pension promises, and the same sort of offer may be extended to retired union workers. But in most cases, taking the money up front may not make a great deal of financial sense. What's happening with GM's pensions? Buyer beware on leveraged ETFs Almost everyone agrees that exchange-traded funds that magnify returns aren't suited for most investors, but a federal judge says "buyer beware" is still the operative rule. Buyer beware on leveraged ETFs. Canceled contracts dog real-estate recovery A housing recovery may be under way, but there's an obstacle that appears to be slowing down the rebound: the unusually high number of buyers who walk away from their contracts. Canceled contracts dog real-estate recovery. IRS whistle-blowing for fun and profit The IRS program designed to encourage snitching and whistle-blowing could be a boon to you. There is a special form, Form 211, you can use to turn someone in to the IRS and collect a reward. IRS whistle-blowing for fun and profit. Spend $700 at Apple store or on Apple stock? Back in February, when Apple's stock hit $500 – the same price as an iPad — we asked which was the better buy. Most experts said the company's stock was headed higher – and they were proved right. Spend $700 at Apple store or on Apple stock? ECONOMY AND POLITICS Sales of existing homes surge in August Sales of existing homes surged 7.8% in August to the best level in more than a year as low interest rates and a slowly improving jobs market help fuel a rebound in activity. Sales of existing homes surge in August. U.S. housing starts advance 2.3% in August The housing market shows little signs of retreat in August despite a slower U.S. economy as construction on new homes rose by 2.3%. U.S. housing starts advance 2.3% in August. Europe's bailout nations bleed bank deposits Call it another symptom of the dreaded "convertibility" premium that prompted Mario Draghi to ready the European Central Bank's bond-buying bazooka Europe's bailout nations bleed bank deposits. Anti-foreigner sentiment hurts the economy The best solutions for the world's economic problems entail international cooperation. Anti-foreigner sentiment hurts the economy. More people should pay taxes Too many Americans are exempt from paying income taxes, writes Curtis Dubay. And too many are dependent on government. More people should pay taxes. RepubliCubs won't win baseball or politics Joe Ricketts, patriarch of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs, risks inextricably linking the biggest losers in baseball with the GOP. RepubliCubs won't win baseball or politics. QE3 is much ado about nothing The Fed's new quantitative easing isn't the answer to our economic problems, which lie with fiscal policy, says Irwin Kellner QE3 is much ado about nothing. INVESTING Housing gaining strength in fits and starts After data on new housing construction and resales are released, it appears the housing rebound is on track, even if it's not quite as strong as the most bullish investors would dream. Housing gaining strength in fits and starts. Investor confidence in U.S. markets up: report Investors' confidence in U.S. capital markets increased four percentage points to 65% after declining or remaining static every year since 2008, according to an annual report on investor sentiment by the Center for Audit Quality. Investor confidence in U.S. markets up: report. Canada's last mining frontier about to be opened No one has ever built a railway on huge Baffin Island, part of which is north of the bottom half of Greenland. That is, until now. A huge iron mine that will use the railroad was formally greenlit by the government last week after months of hearings, four years of planning, and big proxy fights. Canada's last mining frontier about to be opened . Sunoco's future after ETP buy The marriage of Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco is an odd fit. Sunoco's future after ETP buy. Using leverage to achieve your financial goals We've been taught that borrowing should be avoided, but Tom Clarke, a top investment adviser, says employing leverage in strategic ways can help individual investors achieve their goals. Using leverage to achieve your financial goals. Lopsidedly bullish consensus on Apple The overwhelming consensus on Wall Street is that Apple is headed significantly higher. But before you read too much into this, writes Mark Hulbert, you should remember Enron, for which the consensus was equally lopsided just before the company went bankrupt in 2001. Lopsidedly bullish consensus on Apple. Five winning investments if the euro survives Here are five investments to make if the euro survives this crisis, writes Matthew Lynn. Five winning investments if the euro survives. 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. MarketWatch, the MarketWatch logo, and BigCharts are registered trademarks of MarketWatch, Inc. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (updated 6/26/07). MarketWatch - Attn: Customer Service, 201 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111