Returns On Capital–And Interest Rates–Will Be Low In The Future

Forbes, Apr. 5, 2016–Conerly, Bill
There’s good reason to expect long-term returns on capital to be lower than historic averages in the coming decade. This conclusion is somewhat speculative but one that should concern every investor in every investment class.

The Federal Reserve is Back in the Drivers Seat

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 5, 2016–Eisen, Ben
As stocks sold off and volatility surged earlier this year, the talk of the markets was whether the Federal Reserve had lost control of the markets. Those concerns are going away quickly.

U.S. Official Overseeing Wall Street Mortgage Probes to Leave

Bloomberg, Apr. 5, 2016–Schoenberg, Tom 
Stuart Delery, the Justice Department official overseeing civil investigations of banks for conduct related to the financial crisis, is stepping down April 14 to explore options in the private sector.

February’s International Trade Deficit Widens

24/7 Wall Street, Apr. 5, 2016–Lange, Chris
The trade deficit came in at a wider-than-expected $47.1 billion, primarily due to a rising cross-border demand. The consensus estimate from Bloomberg called for a deficit of $46.2 billion.

Seven Steps to Housing Reform

Urban Institute, Apr. 5, 2016–Pollock, Alex J.
Will these seven steps solve all the problems of American mortgage finance and ensure that we will never have another crisis?  Of course not.  But they will set us on road more promising than sitting unhappily where we are at present.

Cognitive Decline of Older Americans Affecting Housing Market

Pleasanton (Calif.) Weekly, Apr. 4, 2016–Bing, Jeb
A new report  by the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Research Institute for Housing America finds a strong correlation between the future housing market and the cognitive decline of older Americans.