dropcard.com - business news

The bellwether measure for mutual funds' future returns had been in decline for years, but costs may be starting to climb again. And that could hurt the typical investor.

If it's big in Japan, it could also hit big in the United States--and these entrepreneurs are betting on it.

Speech-based search apps and services such as ChaCha, Microsoft's Tellme, and Yahoo's OneSearch cater to the needs of people on the go.

You may not spend much time considering Unicode, XML, and digital signal processing, but you couldn't get through your day without them.

Stocks recover from reports of a clash between U.S. and Iranian ships in the Persian Gulf, and the S&P 500 has its best close since Feb. 1. Investors hope another Fed rate cut will help the rally. Yahoo faces a critical weekend. Airline merger talk heats up.

Hand over your check to a retailer and you'll get a 10% bonus to spend. It's tempting. But wouldn't you rather buy your freedom than power tools or a few extra groceries?

If sailing is relaxing, then this is not sailing.

In the cutting room of a footwear company called Caboots, Arturo Estrada, a 70-year-old master craftsman, labors over a swatch of calfskin leather. As Estrada incises a delicate rose into the boot's vamp (the piece that fits over the top of the foot), Caboots CEO Joey Sanchez looks on with pride.

Although stocks' recent movement has been up, they're trading in a fairly narrow range. Now that they're near the top of it, expect them to head down again.

There's a lingering idea that past performance doesn't matter, even in investing. True, it's no guarantee, but performance does count. Here's why.

Self-serve is taking on a new meaning: Drivers are helping themselves to gas. But drive-offs are less common than they might be because many stations require prepayment.

Try these easy, down-to-earth ideas for cutting expenses and spending. Then use the freed-up cash to boost your emergency fund.

Microsoft shares fall in after-hours trading after a strong stock market rally built on falling crude oil and a higher dollar. But the software giant says it won’t boost its Yahoo offer. Financial stocks rally. Apple shoots up. Ford surprises with a profit.

No matter how many sales you make, your business will struggle if you don't watch your margins.