McGraw-Hill Is Still a Good Buy Despite S&P Lawsuit

Despite the recent lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against McGraw-Hill Financial Inc (MHFI) and Standard & Poor’s, which alleges the company knowingly issued inflated positive ratings to mortgage securities and lenders from September 2004 to October 2007, it’s unlikely that the outcome of the suit will negatively impact the long-term stability of the company or the ratings industry as a whole.

Why the DOJ's Lawsuit Against S&P Will Do More Harm Than Good

On the heels of Monday’s announcement by the Justice Department that civil fraud charges have been filed against Standard & Poor’s and McGraw-Hill Financial Inc (MHFI) for accusations of intentionally misrepresenting the credit ratings of mortgage securities and the banks that issued them during the three years before the housing bubble burst, the DOJ is also reportedly considering an identical suit against Moody’s Corporation (MCO).

The lawsuit against S&P is unprecedented, as there has never before been a suit of this type against a ratings provider. Perhaps that’s also one of the reasons that so many state prosecutors are jumping in on the suit, not to mention the possibility of separate actions from the SEC.

Is the Life Insurance Industry Dying?

Moody’s recently downgraded MetLife Inc’s (MET) long-term outlook from stable to negative. Combined with the announcement last September that the life insurance industry as a whole could be in danger, how long it will be before industry giants like MetLife end up going the way of the Dodo?

Don’t Get Too Excited About Apple’s iTV

For the past few months, rumors about the pending release of Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iTV have spread like wildfire. It’s been predicted that the iTV will be unveiled toward the end of this year and could serve to further solidify Apple’s stronghold on the digital media industry.

However, projected sales figures and estimated profits are unlikely to be as high or as impressive as analysts have reported.

Expect Higher Prices at the Grocery Store

After yesterday’s announcement by the Agriculture Department that 14 states in the southern U.S. have been declared a disaster area due to extended drought conditions, consumers should expect higher prices at the grocery store. The affected area, which includes 351 counties in the Wheat Belt, is responsible for providing more than 1/3 of the wheat crop in the United States. Industry experts predict at least 1/4 of the wheat crop will be useless and abandoned.

The drought, perhaps the worst on record in over 50 years, has led to sky high crop insurance claims already approaching $11 billion, with the final total expected to reach near $25 billion.

How to Calculate the Taxes Paid on a Complete Early Withdrawal on an Annuity

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Figuring out how much extra you'll owe in taxes after closing your annuity is about as much fun as cleaning out your basement. But to prevent any surprises or problems with Uncle Sam, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of how annuities are taxed and what you can expect when cancelling a contract.

Annuities Vs. Mutual Funds for Retirement Investments

Annuities and mutual funds are common investment choices for retirement money, and many consumers view them as nearly identical. But the two are extremely different. Neither annuities nor mutual funds is appropriate for every investor, and careful consideration must be taken before contributing retirement money to one of these types of accounts.