| Euroshares close flat to higher; tech outperforms on SAP, IBM reports ...
(Updating with full report) LONDON, Jan. 14, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Europe's leading exchanges closed out the session flat to higher amid ongoing credit concerns and fears of a US recession, but the technology sector outperformed after strong quarterly sales from SAP and a solid earnings report from US computer giant IBM. (NYSE:IBM) The Dow Jones STOXX (OOTC:DJSFF) 50 Index dipped 0.17 point to 3,539.03 while the DJ STOXX 600 Index ticked up 1.09 points, or 0.3 pct, to 344.78. At the close of European trading, US stocks were trading higher after IBM said preliminary fourth-quarter earnings rose 24 pct year-on-year to beat Wall Street expectations by a wide margin, with the weaker dollar helping to push revenue up 10 pct. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, of which IBM is a component, was up more than 100 points.
HSBC Survey: Consumers Slow to Seek Free Credit Reports, Despite ...
(CSRwire) PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill. - A new survey by HSBC - North America finds that while 82 percent of consumers fear identity theft, only four in 10 have taken advantage of the recent law - the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) - that gives consumers free access annually to their credit reports to check for errors. Checking credit reports regularly can help consumers detect identity theft, which, according to the Federal Trade Commission, has struck 27.3 million Americans in the past five years. It's also an opportunity for consumers to understand their credit status, see how their financial decisions impact their credit standing and assess their progress toward achieving financial goals. "Knowing your credit history represents the first step toward understanding and managing your financial well-being," says Loretta Abrams, vice president of community development and consumer advocacy at HSBC - North America.
Stocks: A Big Blue Bounce
Stocks gained ground Monday, attempting to recapture large losses from the first two weeks of the year. News from the financial sector continued to worry investors Monday, with Merrill Lynch (MER) still looking for extra capital and smaller banks reporting hits from deteriorating credit. News reports also circulated of a potential $24 billion writedown from Citigroup (C). But technology giant IBM (IBM) offered investors some rare good news. In the early afternoon on Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 117.54 points, or 0.93%, to 12,723.84. The broader S&P 500 index moved 7.71 points, or 0.55%, higher to 1,408.73. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 21.4 points, or 0.88%, to 2,461.34. Twenty stocks were rising for every nine falling on the New York Stock Exchange, while the ratio on the Nasdaq was 17 to 10 positive.
Super-charging your credit score
For Natasha Horne, trying to buy a house all came down to a three-digit number. A 33-year-old home health care worker who lives with her husband and two kids in a rental in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, Horne was hampered by a low credit score of 612. But with the help of Marilyn Bell, a counselor at Neighborhood Housing Services, which has offices in all five boroughs, Horne went to work. She called her creditors; some were willing to negotiate a settlement. The big push, starting last May, wiped $4,000 off her debt load. Bell contacted the credit reporting agencies about Horne's efforts. Within three months, her credit score rose to 679. Now, she's eligible for a mortgage at better rates than those offered to people with very poor credit.
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