Social Security Benefits; Changes and Reform News USA Today; Billions More for SSI could Help Current Seniors and Disabled

Posted on | May 18, 2013 | No Comments

Social Security Benefit Reform News Review today May 18, 2013:

Social Security Benefits in America continue unchanged so far but changes could certainly be on the horizon.
President Obama and administration make headlines almost daily regarding the federal budget. A national debate focuses on dealing with the fiscal cliff of debt the nation has racked up. The government admits that the Social Security program will have significant future shortfalls unless changes are made to the existing system.
Right now, more money is being paid out for Social Security benefits than the government is receiving via taxes. The President’s most recent plan to “fix” the Social Security program is to modify the cost of living adjustment component when determining individual benefit amounts. So far this plan has not been popular because it would reduce the benefit amount that Social Security recipients receive. The nation is looking for alternative ways to support the faltering Social Security program. In a recent analysis, the National Council on Aging’s joint study with the National Hispanic Council on Aging reported that immigration reform could help. The theory presented says that by increasing the number of documented workers (immigrants previously working with undocumented status), contributions to the Social Security program will increase. The Social Security Administration reports that this would net billions more in revenue for the program in the future. Could comprehensive immigration reform save the nation’s Social Security program?

Stephen Johnson

Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA Index DJX:DJI, Nasdaq, S&P 500 Finish on Top; Fourth Week of Stock Gains in U.S.

Posted on | May 18, 2013 | No Comments

Today’s Stock Market News and Stock Composite trend review Today May 18, 2013:
U.S. investors continued to move forward with their optimistic ways during the last full trading session. This action helped push the primary stock composites in a positive direction to close out the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, as well as the Nasdaq and the S&P 500, finished the last full trading session on the positive side of break-even and closed the week out overall with advancements.


Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, S&P 500 Stock Index Close Review Today May 18, 2013:
Any corrective action that some expected did not present as this week closed. The primary U.S. stock composites finished higher once again. The S&P 500 finished the last full trading session higher by 1.03 percent at 1,667.47. The Nasdaq closed the last session higher by .97 percent at 3,498.97 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the final session of the week positive by .80 percent at 15,354.40. The positive close last session pushed the composites to another consecutive week of gains. The last week represented the fourth consecutive week of gains for stocks in the U.S. No corrections in sight.


For the week overall, the S&P 500 finished higher by approximately 2 percent. The Nasdaq closed the week out above break-even by about 1.7 percent and the S&P 500 finished the week higher by 2 percent.

Frank Matto

Today’s Gold price per ounce Spot gold price per gram spot silver price per ounce Precious metal Investing Data

Posted on | May 18, 2013 | No Comments

Gold price and silver price precious metal news review today:
Gold price and silver price trend-lines continued to track through negative territory last session as stock trend-lines rose higher and finished the week out in positive territory.


Stocks advanced for another consecutive week in the U.S. The positive stock market environment continues to assert pressure on gold and silver price trend-lines. Both gold and silver contract price trend-lines are negative when viewed during the last several weeks.
According to current one month price change, gold price trend-line is negative by approximately .8 percent.
Silver price change is currently negative by approximately 5 percent at this time.
Both gold and silver contracts finished the last full trading session of this week in the red at close.

Today’s Gold price per ounce and silver price per ounce contract close review today:
June contract gold price dropped lower by 1.6 percent last session to close at 1,364.70 per troy ounce. July contract silver price dropped lower by 1.35 percent to close at 22.35 per troy ounce.

Spot gold price per gram and spot silver price per ounce Precious metal news review today May 18, 2013:
Spot gold per gram and spot silver per ounce price trends posted a negative slope as of last session close. Spot gold per gram price was lower at 43.71 and and spot silver per ounce price was lower at 22.22.

Camillo Zucari

Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA Index; Stock Market Gains and Losses Todays mid-day News Review May 17, 2013

Posted on | May 17, 2013 | No Comments

Stock Market News Review and Stock Index Trends mid-day Today May 17, 2013:
Stock futures were brighter this morning prior to opening bell just hours after indices closed in the red across the board. Economic data last session was weaker than anticipated with higher initial jobless claims and lower housing starts posting.


The market also felt pressure last session when comments from Federal Reserve members revealed that the Feds may start to draw back on economic stimulus measures later this year. Sell-offs ensued and stock composites dropped lower to end. The Dow Jones dropped down to 15,233.22. The Nasdaq dropped lower to 3,465.24 to close last session and the S&P 500 finished red at 1,650.47.


Today, brighter stock futures presented and stocks positioned for the better open. By the mid-day mark today, stock trends were positive across the board and stocks were positioned for weekly gains. In economic news, the University of Michigan/Thomas Reuters consumer sentiment survey rose to its highest level in over five years. Asian and European market data was were positively skewed today.

Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, S&P 500 stock composite review mid-day May 17, 2013:
As of the mid-day mark today, The S&P 500 was higher by .48 percent at 1,658.31. The Nasdaq was higher by .46 percent at 3,481.17 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher by .38 percent at 15,291.74 at mid-day.

Frank Matto

Today’s Gold price per ounce Spot gold per gram spot silver per ounce prices mid-day May 17, 2013

Posted on | May 17, 2013 | No Comments

Precious metal price review Gold and Silver News mid-day May 17, 2013:
Gold price per ounce and silver price per ounce trend-lines were pressured last session despite the stock market slide which presented during the latter half of the day.


The primary stock composites in the U.S. finished the last trading session in negative territory due, in part, to the weaker than anticipated economic data which posted in the U.S. Precious metal gold was unable to pick up enough safe haven attention to propel prices higher.


Gold contract finished the last full trading session on the negative side of break-even. News linked to the Federal Reserve revealed that stimulus measures may be minimized later this year which could further pressure gold prices as well.
Gold contract ultimately fell by .67 percent to close at 1,386.90 per troy ounce last session and silver contract closed at 22.66 per troy ounce. Price trends early this morning were negative for gold and silver and continued to track lower through the first half of the trading session today.

Today’s Gold price per ounce and silver price per ounce contract review May 17, 2013:
Gold and silver contract prices were negative at the mid-day mark today. Gold price per ounce was lower by 1.5 percent at an electronic post of 1,366.10. Silver contract was lower by 1.39 percent at an electronic post of 22.66 per troy ounce at mid-day.

Spot gold price per gram and spot silver price per ounce review mid-day May 17, 2013:Spot gold and spot silver price trends were negative at mid-day. Spot gold per gram price was tracking lower at 43.87 and spot silver per ounce price was lower at 22.33 at the mid-day mark.

Camillo Zucari

Today’s Low Mortgage interest rates 30 and 15 year fixed Home loan trends Not Enough to Support Housing Starts; Freddie Mac Data

Posted on | May 17, 2013 | No Comments

Mortgage interest rates have remained low and positive momentum in the housing sector has helped to push the economic recovery process in the U.S. forward.


Mortgage interest rates have recently hit all time lows which has pushed many Americans from the sidelines into the home building and buying markets. Despite the continued low mortgage interest rates, the housing data which posted last session was weaker than anticipated.


According to data posting via the Census Bureau last session, housing starts fell lower by 17 percent last month to an annual rate of 853,000. Although starts fell, the data was skewed by a drop in the starts of buildings.
In contrast to the weaker than expected housing starts data, building permits were up by approximately 14 percent. The rise in permits is a positive sign for builder confidence in the marketplace. The low mortgage interest rates help support building in the U.S.
Current mortgage interest rate review today May 17, 2013:
According to mortgage interest rate data via Freddie Mac, home loan interest rates remain at relative lows. The current interest rate for the 30 year fixed plan posts at 3.51 percent. The interest rate posting for the 15 year home loan plan posts at 2.69 percent according to Freddie Mac.

Stephen Johnson

Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA Index DJX:DJI, Nasdaq, S&P 500 Stock Market USA Today mid-day May 16, 2013

Posted on | May 16, 2013 | No Comments

Stock Market News USA Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, S&P 500 Trends:
Positive stock market momentum in the U.S. continues to propel the Dow Jones Industrial Average, as well as the Nasdaq and the S&P 500, to new highs.


The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 hit new all-time highs last session once again with the Dow closing up at 15,275.69 and the S&P 500 finished the last full trading session higher at 1,658.78. Economic news was mixed last session with drops in manufacturing and producer prices.


Today is a relatively busy day for economic data. Housing starts and building permits posted today. Jobless claims posted for review as did the consumer sentiment report. Initial jobless claims climbed higher by 32,000 to a seasonally adjusted rate of 360,000. Housing starts were down but building permits increased across the U.S. Consumer sentiment fell to a three month low in April.
As the trading session reached the mid-day mark today, the primary stock composites in the U.S. were mixed.

Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, S&P 500 Stock Market Index Trends mid-day May 16, 2013:
As of the mid-day mark today, the S&P 500 was lower by .08 percent at 1,657.48. The Nasdaq was higher by .15 percent at 3,476.62 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher by .02 percent at 15,278.47.

Frank Matto

Today’s Gold price per ounce Spot gold price per gram Spot silver price per ounce Precious metal News Review May 16, 2013 mid-day

Posted on | May 16, 2013 | No Comments

Gold price and silver price precious metal news review today May 16, 2013:
Prior to the start of this week, a majority of Kitco Gold survey participants suggested that gold per ounce and silver per ounce price trends would fall lower.


So far, gold and silver prices have dropped back as both contracts currently post negative price trend-lines this week. Gold contract fell back to 1,396.20 per troy ounce last session and silver contract dropped down to 22.66 per troy ounce as of last session close.


Through the first half of the trading session today, gold and silver contract price trend-lines were mixed.

Today’s Gold price per ounce and silver price per ounce contract news review mid-day May 16, 2013:
Gold contract for June delivery was lower by .86 percent at an electronic post of 1,384.20 per troy ounce at mid-day. Silver contract price posted at 22.60 as of the mid-day mark.

Spot gold per gram and spot silver price per ounce trend-line review mid-day May 16, 2013:
Spot gold price trend was red while silver price trend was tracking higher. Spot gold per gram price posted lower at 44.66 as of the mid-day mark and spot silver price was higher at 22.68 at mid-day today.

Camillo Zucari

Today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Hit New Highs; Stock Market News Review USA Todays Open; Google Finance AXP Dow Top Gainer

Posted on | May 16, 2013 | No Comments

Stock Market Open News Review USA Stock Composite Trends:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its ascent during the last full trading session. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 followed higher as well.


Despite the weaker than expected economic reports which posted last session, all three primary U.S. stock composites advanced for the day.
Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, S&P 500 stock index close review:
The Nasdaq tracked higher by .26 percent last session to close up at 3,471.62. The S&P 500 improved by .51 percent to close at 1,658.78 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the last session higher by .40 percent at 15,275.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index hit new all time highs again.


Investors were apparently undeterred by the significant drop in the producer price index last session. The Labor Department reports that the producer price index dropped lower by .7 percent last month which marked the biggest drop for the index since 2010. Manufacturing reports indicated contraction as well. The news might support continued stimulus via the Fed’s bond buying program which may have charged some investors last session.
Top Dow gainers as of last session close:
According to Google Finance stock quote review, American Express Co. was the top gainer on the Dow last session. AXP rose higher by 1.78 percent and closed at 72.78 as of last session close.

Frank Matto

Today’s Gold price per ounce and spot gold per gram price; spot silver prices review today May 16, 2013

Posted on | May 16, 2013 | No Comments

Gold price per ounce and silver price per ounce contract price trends reviewed today May 16, 2013 open:
Gold contract and silver contract price trend-lines tracked lower through the course of the last full trading session.


Stock composite trends were positive once again in the U.S as the Dow and the S&P 500 hit fresh new highs. Stocks continued to benefit from the positive stock market momentum and precious metal prices continued to track lower in this market environment.


Gold contract and silver contract prices closed the last session on the negative side of break-even as a result.
Today’s Gold price per ounce and silver price per ounce precious metal Close review:
June contract gold price tracked lower last session by 1.99 percent and finished the day red at 1,396.20 per troy ounce. Silver contract for July delivery tracked lower by 3.08 percent and closed red at 22.66 per troy ounce.

Spot gold per gram and spot silver per ounce price trend review today May 16, 2013:
Spot gold per gram and spot silver per ounce price trend-lines tracked lower prior to opening bell today. Spot gold per gram price was lower at 44.81 and spot silver per ounce price was lower at 22.71.

Camillo Zucari

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