News

In case you missed them, here are the top 10 Personal Finance stories from MarketWatch for the week of Nov. 2-6:

Credit cards gouge consumers ahead of new law

If you're one of the millions of Americans holding a credit card, this isn't necessarily news: Credit-card issuers are hiking interest rates, penalties and fees in full force ahead of stringent new laws that take effect in February.See full story.

Turn toward cheaper, unhealthier food weighs on Americans

The recession is busting wallets and bursting waistlines as U.S. consumers shift their eating habits to better balance their budgets. See full story.

Five warning signs that you're caught up in a market bubble

Recently my family spent a week in Florida, where we lived until a few years ago. Everywhere we looked, we saw property for sale, with real-estate signs competing for buyers' attention.See Personal Adviser.

How to invest in municipal bonds after their powerful rally

Municipal bonds are no longer cheap keys to the cities but they can still show investors around town. See Jonathan Burton's Life Savings.

Job insecurities create a day-care dilemma

There's a leap of faith when a working couple decides to have a baby. Somehow, when the time is right, they'll find adequate child care, the couple tells themselves. Ha! Getting your infant into day care, at least in Washington, is mountain-climbing rough. It's "Ulysses"-reading tough. It's not for wimps. See Diary of a Recession Baby.

These prize-winning retirees help veterans, at-risk kids, family farmers

When you retire, do you plan to visit your grandkids, go on a few trips, relax a little? That was Judith Broder's plan. But then she found herself profoundly moved by a play that chronicled Iraq war veterans' struggle when they return home. Broder, a psychiatrist with 35 years' experience, couldn't stop thinking about those soldiers. See Retirement Living.

Investors see mortgage rates rising as Fed wraps up buys

Some bond investors are expecting mortgage rates to rise as the Federal Reserve finishes its planned purchases of nearly $1.5 trillion in mortgage-related bonds, yet another risk to the fragile U.S. recovery.See full story.

From homeowner to tenant

Qualifying homeowners facing foreclosure will be able to stay in their homes -- as renters -- under a new program announced by Fannie Mae on Thursday.See full story.

Use retirement planning tools at your own risk

When it comes to retirement planning, it's important to measure risk. But it's just as important not to mismeasure it. Unfortunately, that's what most Americans and financial-services firms do today. They tend to focus on the probability of risk and less, if at all, on the magnitude of the risk. The net result is that many retirees and retirement savers now have investment portfolios that are far too aggressive.See Robert Powell.

Where are the jobs now?

Where are the jobs right now? Here's a hint: Think barbecue, good beef and a baseball team named the Royals. And John Wordock talks to unemployed workers about how they're getting by and whether they think Washington's stimulus plan will eventually kick in. Ann Cates hosts.Listen to Audio Report.