Another day, another international crisis rattles the world's financial markets.

Home prices fell in the first quarter of 2010 but are still higher than they were a year ago.

Oil futures slumped 2% Tuesday as political tension between North and South Korea -- and Europe's continued economic woes -- sparked a sell-off in global stock markets.

Tax reform. For years, economists, tax experts and lawmakers have pushed for it, to no avail.

Why would Eliot Spitzer want to become a TV host?

The euro got no relief Tuesday, continuing its steady slide amid a global stock sell-off as worldwide concerns weighed on the shared currency.

With Rand Paul's victory last week in the Republican primary in Kentucky, the Tea Party has instantly earned, if not mainstream status, at least a seat at the table of national discussion. Paul galvanized that in his victory speech when he said, "I have a message, a message from the Tea Party, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We have come to take our government back."

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Introspection is a difficult task, even for the most self-assured among us. In fact, it can be most difficult precisely for the self-assured. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Wall Street crowd, never known to lack self-confidence, has emerged from the recent crisis with a self-regard that remains relatively unscathed.

At their annual meeting last week, WellPoint shareholders just voted in "say on pay," over the company's objections, after losing similar votes in the prior two years. At Sprint Nextel, both the company and shareholders favored say on pay this year. At Qwest, shareholders sided with management and voted it down.

A key measure of consumer confidence climbed for a third straight month in May, a research group said Tuesday, with the outlook for the next few months spiking to pre-recession levels.

Americans purchased homes at a surprising clip in April, but don't let that fool you into thinking the housing market is back.

Here we go again. In just six weeks the prices of U.S. Treasuries have soared, sending the yields on the 10-year bond from 4% back to 3.2%, close to their levels when terror reigned early last year. Don't let Wall Street's cheerleaders convince you that the sudden drop in the cost of borrowing heralds a new era of moderate inflation that will keep Treasury prices aloft, and interest rates low, for years to come.

Here we go again. In just six weeks the prices of U.S. Treasuries have soared, sending the yields on the 10-year bond from 4% back to 3.2%, close to their levels when terror reigned early last year. Don't let Wall Street's cheerleaders convince you that the sudden drop in the cost of borrowing heralds a new era of moderate inflation that will keep Treasury prices aloft, and interest rates low, for years to come.

Among the many good reasons to jettison our failed economic embargo against Cuba is one with timely new resonance: oil.

Question: With all the discussion about Greece, Portugal, Spain, etc., I'm concerned about how failing economies in Europe will affect my retirement savings. My portfolio is diverse, but I'm still worried that I am going to take another major hit. I am nine years from a potential retirement. Should I be concerned? --Gary, Buffalo, New York

European and Asian shares dived Tuesday amid ongoing debt worries and concerns about tensions between North and South Korea.

Americans purchased homes at a surprising clip in April, but don't let that fool you into thinking the housing market is back.

At their annual meeting last week, WellPoint shareholders just voted in "say on pay," over the company's objections, after losing similar votes in the prior two years. At Sprint Nextel, both the company and shareholders favored say on pay this year. At Qwest, shareholders sided with management and voted it down.