Peering Into the Peer-to-Peer Lending Boom

For those who can’t get bank loans, the new business of peer-to-peer lending can be a lifesaver. Internet companies connect people who need cash with folks willing to lend — for a fair profit, of course. Here’s how it works, r…

What’s Behind the Share-Buyback Binge?

Companies that have piled up cash over the past few years are finding one good use for it: Repurchasing their own shares. January alone saw $57 billion in buybacks, compared with $357 billion for all of 2010. While buybacks don…

Why Rising Interest Rates Won’t Break the Bull’s Run

The climbing yield on the 10-year Treasury note — now 3.70%, a nine-month high — can mean bad things for economic growth and stock prices. But not yet, if market guru Jeffrey Kleintop is right. He says the 10-year Treasury ne…

Does It Matter That a German Exchange May Control the NYSE?

The fabled New York Stock Exchange isn’t what it used to be. Today’s NYSE Euronext has lost a huge volume of trading to upstart computerized exchanges in recent years, and scandals have tarnished its luster. Now, Germany’s Deut…