Biography
Tom Petruno is the markets columnist for The Times. His column is aimed at the individual investor and covers a broad area of personal ...
In a low-rate world, here's how savers can help themselves
November 21, 2009
You'd think that $10 trillion would merit a little more respect.
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Fearing pay cuts as the new normal
November 14, 2009
Wall Street bankers make too much money -- on that the American public may be in near-unanimous agreement.
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Why gold is shining brighter
November 7, 2009
The American public has no say in Federal Reserve policy.
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For stocks, a correction may come, but probably not a calamity
October 31, 2009
If only the economy were as easy to fix as the stock market.
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With American Funds, it's take it or leave it
October 24, 2009
"Do one thing, and do it well," the old line goes.
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Recovery story still plays on Wall St.
October 3, 2009
Millions of Americans will no doubt see the government's grim report on September employment as confirmation that the "economic recovery" is a mirage.
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Safer in bonds? Yes, to a point
September 26, 2009
Quick -- you have one minute to answer this question: If you had to make a decision today to reallocate money in your 401(k) plan or other investment account, would you sell stocks to buy bonds or sell bonds to buy stocks?
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Markets gave Fed what it needed
September 19, 2009
The Federal Reserve needed a rebound in financial markets this year to set the table for a lasting economic recovery.
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Cash-needy state meets needy cash
August 15, 2009
California Treasurer Bill Lockyer will have to borrow $10.5 billion next month. That's no small chunk of change. But the way it looks now, many investors will be lining up to hand him their money.
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After GE's miss, analysts' forecasts get cloudy
April 12, 2008
This isn't the way investors wanted to head into corporate earnings season.
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Managers of money funds may take the hit
November 3, 2007
Financial advisors like to say that there is no free lunch in investing. If you expect to earn above-average returns, you must be willing to take above-average risk.
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Waiting on troubled times
October 6, 2007
Most investors probably are hoping that the market turmoil of the last few months is blowing over.
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Anxiety eases, but questions persist
September 29, 2007
The curtain dropped on the third quarter Friday, and the surprise to many stock investors might be that their portfolios came through the summer not much worse for the wear and tear.
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Wall Street bulls bet that Fed got it right
September 22, 2007
You can't please everyone, and the Federal Reserve didn't bother to try this week. With its bold interest-rate cut Tuesday, the Fed clearly put economic growth -- and the stock market -- ahead of inflation concerns.
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Big bailout might be inevitable
September 1, 2007
One view of the Bush administration's mortgage-crisis action plan, outlined by the president Friday, is that it's a Republican attempt to avoid a larger-scale federal intervention.
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The market's mood swings may not be over
August 25, 2007
Fear and panic may finally be taking their summer vacation.
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The Fed buys some time to rebuild confidence
August 18, 2007
Confidence went out the window on Wall Street this week, and that's why the Federal Reserve had to cut one of its key interest rates Friday.
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A survival guide for sub-prime bystanders
August 11, 2007
For months as the sub-prime mortgage mess has unfolded, Wall Street has talked incessantly about the risk of "other shoes" dropping.
