| More people are freezing credit report
Spooked by the possibility of identity theft, increasing numbers of people are taking a radical approach to thwart criminals: They are putting their credit reports on permanent freeze. A frozen credit report prevents almost anyone from using your name to take out a loan or sign up for credit, such as a credit card, a bank account or cell phone service. That is because, with a freeze in place, potential new creditors can't get access to your credit record kept on file by the three main credit-reporting bureaus without your explicit permission. Michael Dana, a Dallas police detective, chose to freeze his credit reports after a Texas law took effect last month that made freezes available to all residents. Dana says he received several notices from financial institutions and the government saying that some of his personal information may have been compromised.
Free event to teach about saving money
Organizers of an upcoming financial awareness fair hope those interested in learning more about saving and budgeting will sign up for the free event. The fair, organized by Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Wichita and sponsored by the Kansas bank commissioner's office in Topeka, will be 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the R.H. Garvey Building, 300 W. Douglas. All seminars -- and lunch--are free. Parking will be available at no charge in the garage behind the Garvey Center. The fair should appeal to "anybody interested in improving their financial situation," said Jeff Witherspoon, executive director of Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Wichita and Salina. "I've wanted to do this for many, many years." Witherspoon received a grant from the bank commissioner's office for the fair.
Stocks close higher after volatile trading session
Wall Street finished an extremely volatile session mostly higher today after investors, still jittery about mortgage-related problems at the nation's major lenders, decided to interpret comments from the Federal Reserve as suggestive of another interest rate cut. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 51.70 to 13,010.14, after making 100-point swings in either direction during the day. The eventual gain followed Monday's swoon of more than 200 points. Microsoft, one of the 30 Dow stocks, gained 62 cents to close at $34.58 a share. Boeing, also a Dow stock, fell 41 cents to $81.86. Broader stock indicators also ended higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6.43 to 1,439.70, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 3.43 to 2,596.81. In minutes from their Oct.
UK small caps open lower; Greatfleet hit by FY warning
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - UK small caps were lower in early trade, taking their cue from the wider market, where credit market concerns weighed, with recruiter Greatfleet sold down on the back of a full-year profit warning. The FTSE Small cap index was 8.1 points lower at 3,796.7 by 9.21 am, while the FTSE 10 was 40.5 off at 6,490.1. Greatfleet was 3.6250 pence off at 4.250 after the specialist recruiter warned it now believes the outcome for the current year will be significantly below its previous expectations. The board has recently become aware of "certain matters" which may have an impact on the outcome for the current year. In addition, the company's trading in October was significantly below budget. Traders also made for the exit in Copper Resources, 6 adrift at 149, after the company said there has been no statement from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on review of its mining contracts.
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