Weekend Linkage – March 15, 2009

Market Recap

It has been quite a long time since we had a rally in the stock market like the one we had last week as investors were encouraged by comments made by Citigroup and Bank of America chiefs that the nations largest banks were profitable in the first two months of this year. The rally also snapped a 4-week losing streak of U.S. stocks. Citigroup, BofA, and JP Morgan Chase all surged nearly 50%. For the week, the Dow Jones gained 9.01% to 7223.98, the S&P soured 10.71% to 756.55, and the Nasdaq gained 10.64% to 1431.50. Oil also rose along with the stocks, adding 1.60% to $46.25 a barrel. Precious metals, however, went to the opposite direction. Gold ended the week losing 1.30% to $929.60 an ounce and silver dropped 1.12% to $13.19/ounce.

Weekend Readings

• How to Stick to a Decision @ Brip Blap
• Preparing My Income Tax Return: How I Organize My Tax Documents @ The Digerati Life
• Renting Rims For Cars – Now I’ve Heard It All @ Frugal Dad
• FTC Creates Video PSA Spoofs of FreeCreditReport.com Commercials @ Generation X Finance
• Giving a Lasting Gift to a Baby (But Not the Parents)? @ Lazy Man and Money
• How to Invest with Small Amounts per Month @ Million Dollar Journey
• Save Money by Not Flushing the Toilet? @ Money Smart Life
• What Worries You Most About the Economy? @ My Dollar Plan
• How We Have Reduced Our Expenses @ 2 Million
• Retirement Plans – 2009 will be a year of financial adjustments @ My Wealth Builder
• Life Insurance – Whole versus Term and choosing the right option @ Saving to Invest
• Do Precious Metals Belong in My Portfolio @ The Dividend Guy
• Walking Out On My Mortgage? My View @ My Money Blog

Carnivals

• Money Hacks Carnival #55 – Thank You Edition @ Money Ning
• Carnival of Personal Finance 195th Edition @ Stock Trading To Go
• Carnival of Debt Reduction: Spring Forward edition @ Mighty Bargain Hunter
• Festival of Frugality @ Funny About Money