U.S. stock indexes falter on Intel, IBM

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stocks opened lower Wednesday after technology heavyweights Intel Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. reported results that disappointed. See full story.

QE3 and the looming danger of currency

Like Pavlov�s dog, which would salivate at the sound of a bell, U.S. stock market investors will these days launch into a buying frenzy at the faintest hint of more monetary stimulus, writes Michael J. Casey. See full story.

5 money moves a Fed follower is making now

There�s a heaviness in James Bianco�s voice when he talks about the U.S. economy and the investing climate. It�s the tone of someone who is dismayed by current conditions but is resigned to them. See full story.

U.S. bows to Wall Street on derivatives

Under pressure from Wall Street and lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the nation�s commodity futures regulator Wednesday is set to vote on a rule that would require a smaller group of derivatives traders to set aside capital than it had originally considered. See full story.

Don�t blame speculators for market moves

With crude oil nearing the highs it reached in the 2007-08 commodity boom, there is the usual spate of editorials blaming �speculators� for the prices, writes Aaron Brown. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Playing the odds that you won�t live past a certain age because of numbers in a mortality table is the wrong way to plan for retirement, say researchers. See full story.