In the News: Top Stories in Business and Finance - February 2014
Factor King offers this quick monthly rollup of important stories related to business and finance. We also track leading economic indicators each month giving you a quick snapshot of the status of the economy.
Top Business & Finance Stories for February 2014
- Bitcoin Market Mt.Gox Files for Bankruptcy: Mt.Gox was one of the world's largest bitcoin exchanges until earlier this month, when it stopped investors from withdrawing money after discovering that its trading platform was under attack by hackers. [Source CNN ]
- Facebook Buys Whatsapp: Whatsapp, a fast growing, mobile messaging startup, has been acquired by Facebook for a jaw-dropping $19 billion. [Source CNN ]
- Winter Storms Chill the Economy: Based on data from 50,000 retailers, sales plunged 9.6% during the height of the polar vortex that gripped much of the nation. [Source USA Today]
Leading Economic Indicators for February 2014
- Real Estate: One would think home sales would be sluggish due to the extreme winter weather that hit most of the country in January and February. However, sales of new single-family homes surged to a 5 1/2 year high in January. In fact, according to a survey from Zillow, nearly 4 million homeowners are now “above water.” [Source CNBC]
- Employment: As per the January Jobs Report, employment grew slightly but was far weaker than hoped. According to the government, the U.S. economy added 113,000 in January. The February jobs report is not yet released, but some speculate that it will continue to be as lackluster as it has been in December and January, with an estimated 125,000 jobs added for February 2014. [Source CNN]
- Stocks, Bonds, and Interest Rates: Despite concerns of a crisis at the start of the month, February ended up being the best period for global markets since July, with the S&P 500 ending the month at a record high. Mortgage interest rates are still low, hovering around 4.5%. [Source CNN and Bankrate]
Opportunities for Career & Personal Growth
- 3 Simple Ways To Become A Great Negotiator [Business Insider]
- Walk Your Way to More Effective Leadership [Harvard Business Review]
- What is a Blog and Why Should Small Business Care? [Forbes]
Any other important business or financial news to report? Please share by leaving a comment below.
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