Credit Report Rating Score

Socked with a record $106 million in customer delinquencies, the state's largest provider of natural gas is taking an unusual get-tough step: telling the nation's big credit-rating agencies who pays the bill on time and who does not.The change, which will begin in January for CenterPoint Energy's residential customers, could potentially push down the credit scores of those who owe. Other utilities across the nation grappling with unpaid bills are mulling similar measures.CenterPoint is announcing the changes in radio ads, customer newsletters and an insert in November gas bills. The utility said that the practice can help customers who pay on time -- young people and renters, for example -- who have little or no credit record to establish a reliable history. But some privacy advocates see it as part of a worrisome trend."It's true, this could start to build you a credit score," said Evan Hendricks, author of "Credit Scores & Credit Reports."But they are ignoring the other side: late payments with a thin history will have a devastating impact."The utility said that it's trying to get its statements moved up from the bottom of everyone's stack of bills.

Stocks lifted by Goldman Sachs’ good news on subprime and Wal-Mart’s strong earnings report

NEW YORK (AP) —Wall Street shot higher Tuesday, lifting the Dow Jones industrials nearly 320 points after reassuring news from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quelled some of the market’s worst fears about the credit crisis and the economy. A plunge in the price of oil gave investors further incentive to buy.Goldman Sachs heartened investors with word that it didn’t expect a significant hit from the subprime mortgage turmoil. Goldman Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, speaking at a conference held by Merrill Lynch & Co., said the bank has a short position in the subprime mortgage market and won’t be taking any significant charges to write off losses.Goldman’s news helped offset an announcement from Bank of America Corp., which joined other big financial companies including Citigroup Inc.

(AFX UK Focus) 2007-11-19 11:37 GMT: WALL STREET OUTLOOK Lower open seen on credit woes, higher oil; H-P results due

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Wall Street is looking at a lower open amid ongoing credit concerns and rising oil prices, with investors looking ahead to results from Hewlett-Packard and home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos.

According to spread bettors IG Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is expected to open down 63 points at 13,114. Separately, S&P 500 futures fell 5.70 points to 1,4544.50 while Nasdaq 100 futures were off 6.25 points at 2,049.

"With the lack of data we may see the market focus on other stories and with the oil price again looking higher, trading around 95 usd, we could see this have some bearing on today's US session," said Claire Collingwood, a trader at CMC Markets.

Last Friday, stocks ended higher, wrapping up a positive week for the markets, as investors set aside some concerns about the banking sector and the health of the overall economy to buy into technology and oil-related shares.

Asian stocks recover from worst losses on report Fed upbeat on economy UPDATE

SINGAPORE (Thomson Financial) - Stock markets across Asia reversed from their worst levels in late trade Tuesday, led by Japan after a press report said the Federal Reserve will publish upbeat economic forecasts for the US when it releases the minutes from its October meeting later today.

The Fed will indicate it expects the US economy to pull through the current rough patch and regain strength in 2008, the FT reported on its website. The report will show that policymakers are much more optimistic than financial markets are currently and may challenge expectations of further rate cuts, said the paper.

"Optimism here towards the US economy in addition to rumors of an emergency Fed meeting, also heard in late New York trading, resulted in a major rally on the TSE," said Haruya Ida, analyst at Thomson IFR in Tokyo.