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Oil futures settled lower Friday, down 4.8% on the week, pressured by a weekly rise in the number of active U.S. oil rigs and worries about a slowdown in energy demand spurred by losses in Chinese and U.S. stock markets. Oct. crude dropped 87 cents, or 2.1%, to settle at $40.45 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices based on the most-active contracts have now fallen for 8 weeks in a row, their longest weekly losing streak since 1986, according to FactSet data. Gasoline futures, meanwhile, turned higher following news of fire at a refinery in Delaware. Sept. gasoline added a penny to settle at $1.545 a gallon, but it was still down 8.4% for the week.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Gold futures on Friday logged a 4.2% gain for the week, their biggest weekly gain since January. Prices for the metal rallied as “equity markets continue to spook investors,” said Adam Koos, president of Libertas Wealth Management Group. Dec. gold climbed $6.40, or 0.6%, to settle at $1,159.60 an ounce on Comex. That was the highest settlement for a most-active contract since July 8.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

By Beth Rucker

It’s every parent’s favorite time of year! Back-to-school time! With the start of a new school year comes a deluge of homework. Help your kid start the year off right by giving her or him the kind of homework space where they want to spend time.

The watery blue wall in this teen bedroom designed by J&J Design Group helps promote focus when homework time arrives, and the hip, midcentury modern desk offers a comfortable spot to study. A Stormtrooper keeps an eye on the homework progress.

I love how this bedroom designed by Tineke Triggs promotes creativity with it’s artsy theme. The desk and desk lamp look as if they are dripping paint, and supplies and clipboards holding inspiration are at the ready on the wall facing the desk.

This cheery spot designed by Jenna Buck Gross can accommodate younger kids who may be focused more on craft projects than studying as well as older kids and their computer and piles of books. Built-in cabinetry offers plenty of storage, making it easy to keep the desktop uncluttered.

I love that this room designed by DKOR Interiors offers space to both spread out at the desk for projects that require lots of supplies as well as a comfortable sofa with side table for the times when reading is the task at hand.

Are you ready for back-to-school time?

Looking for more home inspiration? Visit the HGTV Photo Library to search for your new favorite space.

Get more study zone design ideas:

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From:: HGTV

By Rachel Jefferson

A “Smart House” with technology-based features is a popular request from renters. But there are pros and cons property managers should consider before installing modern pieces onto their property. While installing technology-based security systems can provide a positive return, investing in the installation of a $11,000 coffee maker may not be your best possible investment.

from Inman.com.

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From:: Property Management

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, a strong advocate of raising short-term rates at the Fed’s September meeting, stuck to his guns Friday and argued the U.S. central bank needs to hike interest rates. In an interview on Sirius XM, Bullard said he disagreed with the market’s gloomy outlook for the global economy and was upbeat about the outlook for the U.S. economy. He said the unemployment rate would drop to the 4% range over the next two years and said he was confident inflation was likely to return to the central bank’s 2% target. Several alternate measures of inflation are closer to the target than the Fed’s favorite inflation measure, he noted.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Oil futures dropped under $40 a barrel after data from Baker Hughes released Friday showed that the number of active oil drilling rigs rose 2 to 674 as of Aug. 21. The total active rig count, which includes natural-gas rigs, was at 885, up 1 rig. Compared to last year, the total rig count has fallen by 1,011, with the oil rig count down 890. Oct. crude was down $1.40, or 3.4%, at $39.82 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was trading at $40.08 just before the data.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Friday spoke with China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang and told him the Obama Administration is watching closely how China implements its new foreign exchange regime, a Treasury spokesperson said Friday. In the phone call, Lew said it was critical that China continue with reforms designed to move toward an economy driven by household consumption rather than exports. China has said its recent devaluation was a step toward a more flexible currency but many observers said this justification masked a desire by the Chinese government to boost its sagging export sector. Lew and Wang also discussed the upcoming visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington in September. Lew said the visit “will be an important opportunity to make progress on issues vial to our economic relationship.”

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Friday spoke with China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang and told him the Obama Administration is watching closely how China implements its new foreign exchange regime, a Treasury spokesperson said Friday. In the phone call, Lew said it was critical that China continue with reforms designed to move toward an economy driven by household consumption rather than exports. China has said its recent devaluation was a step toward a more flexible currency but many observers said this justification masked a desire by the Chinese government to boost its sagging export sector. Lew and Wang also discussed the upcoming visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington in September. Lew said the visit “will be an important opportunity to make progress on issues vial to our economic relationship.”

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

The Nasdaq Composite slid 2.2% in midday trade Friday, to the lowest level since Feb. 10. The technology-friendly index has now dropped 6.4% over the past four sessions, which puts it on track for its worst four-session stretch since the four-days ending Oct. 3, 2011, when the index shed 8.3%. Back then, the index shot up 7.3% the next three sessions. But after a 6.1%, four-day decline ending Nov. 21, 2011, the index fell another 3.2% over the next three sessions, before bouncing. The Nasdaq Comp is still up 0.7% year to date, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 6.5% and the S&P 500 Index has lost 3.1%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

The Nasdaq Composite slid 2.2% in midday trade Friday, to the lowest level since Feb. 10. The technology-friendly index has now dropped 6.4% over the past four sessions, which puts it on track for its worst four-session stretch since the four-days ending Oct. 3, 2011, when the index shed 8.3%. Back then, the index shot up 7.3% the next three sessions. But after a 6.1%, four-day decline ending Nov. 21, 2011, the index fell another 3.2% over the next three sessions, before bouncing. The Nasdaq Comp is still up 0.7% year to date, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 6.5% and the S&P 500 Index has lost 3.1%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News