Most U.S. banks have passed the latest round of U.S. stress tests. March 14, 2012- The Federal Reserve was pleased to see that the majority of banks passed their latest stress tests. On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve announced that 15 of the 19 larger financial firms had sufficient capital to make it through a difficult recession. The results were announced 48 hours early and helped pave the way for banks buy back some shares and increase dividends. A senior financial analysts said, “When the Fed... 

Bank bankruptcies continue to plague the U.S. February 12, 2012- Two more banks failed on Friday bringing the 2012 total of bank failures to nine. Regulators closed two small banks in Indiana and Illinois. The number of banks that have been shuttered thus far in 2012 is less than the rate in 2011 when 92 were closed. In addition, last year through February, regulators had already closed 18 banks. The FDIC took control of Charter National Bank in Illinois. The bank had nearly $94 million in total... 

U.S. mortgage prices are hitting record lows. December 16, 2011- This week the rates for mortgages dropped to record lows. The average 20-year fixed mortgage rate fell to just 3.94%. That matched the lowest all time rate from October of this year. The rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage dropped to a new low of 3.21% that passed a previous low set from October 6 of this year. Adjustable rate mortgages for five-year terms fell to new lows for the week at just 2.86%. According to analysts, the low mortgage...