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	<title>Prime Rate Blog</title>
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		<title>President Obama Promotes the Use of Fuel Efficient Technology</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/03/president-obama-promotes-the-use-of-fuel-efficient-technology/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/03/president-obama-promotes-the-use-of-fuel-efficient-technology/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:02:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gas Prices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Global Economy Crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cost of crude oil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cost of gas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy efficiency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fuel efficient]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gas prices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[international oil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[repulican]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://prime-rate.info/blog/?p=463</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In his weekly internet and radio address on Saturday, President Obama focused on the ideal of utilizing fuel efficient technology as a means to lower the cost of energy, as well as decrease the dependency the US has on foreign sources of oil.</p>
<p>On Friday during an excursion to a factory in Virginia that makes jet components, <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/03/president-obama-promotes-the-use-of-fuel-efficient-technology/">President Obama Promotes the Use of Fuel Efficient Technology</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In his weekly internet and radio address on Saturday, President Obama focused on the ideal of utilizing fuel efficient technology as a means to lower the cost of energy, as well as decrease the dependency the US has on foreign sources of oil.</p>
<p>On Friday during an excursion to a factory in Virginia that makes jet components, an address by the present was logged in which he said the parts which are produced at the plant in Petersburg would be put to use in “lighter, faster and more fuel-efficient” planes of the next generation.</p>
<p>Now the Greece has been placed on the back burner, the attention of investors could be focused on a Federal meeting, sentiments of consumers and what both opinions echo on the rising cost of oil and improving the labor market. This was reported by Laura Mandaro from MarketWatch.</p>
<p>Obama stated that he felt one of the simplest ways of saving money as well as reducing our nations dependency on overseas oil was to use technology that has been designed specifically to use less fuel per mile. This statement was directed to all forms of travel, including air travel. The recent jump in gas prices seems to be part of the Presidents stance on the fuel efficient technology, aside from overall environmental benefit.</p>
<p>Despite the recent criticism heard lately from the Republican party on Obama’s administrations energy policies, the President defended himself by rebutting that United States oil production is at its highest in over 80 years with millions of acres being set aside and prepared for oil drilling on US soil. However, the president did express concerns over the fact that the US has only approximately 2% of global oil. He seems to think that wind, solar and technologically produced energy is going to be the best method of getting ourselves back to lower gas prices.</p>
<p>Of course the Republican response, not unexpected, was that Obama has been standing in the way of projects that would help us realize a higher amount of domestic oil, specifically pointing out the Keystone XL pipeline as an example. He said this in only one of many that have been squelched by the Obama administration.</p>
<p>The state of North Dakota has literally doubled its production of oil over the past 4 years and there was a plan to feed the pipeline with about one hundred thousand barrels of crude oil each day. However, that has not been able to be implemented as a large north-south pipeline would be needed in order to facilitate this.</p>
<p>The cost of crude oil and gasoline have gone up significantly in the past several weeks, as has the anxiety over the global standoff with Iran because of its nuclear program that is being disputed. These things could both be a contributing factor in the reason supplies have been disrupted. <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/obama-touts-fuel-efficient-technology-2012-03-10">Gas prices</a> all over the US can be seen on a steady rise with California having a ridiculous high of $4.35 per gallon of standard unleaded fuel.</p>
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		<title>iPad HD May Have Exciting New Feel Screen Technology</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/03/ipad-hd-may-have-exciting-new-feel-screen-technology/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/03/ipad-hd-may-have-exciting-new-feel-screen-technology/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:56:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feel Screen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPad 3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPad HD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senseg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Touchscreen]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://prime-rate.info/blog/?p=458</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Amidst the inescapable influx of iPad predictions and rumors we have been attempting to dodge, there is one specific report that we could not help but see. It is suggesting that Apple may be including an up and coming tactile technology in the 3rd generation iPad display. The report is a bit shocking, unexpected and certainly <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/03/ipad-hd-may-have-exciting-new-feel-screen-technology/">iPad HD May Have Exciting New Feel Screen Technology</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Amidst the inescapable influx of iPad predictions and rumors we have been attempting to dodge, there is one specific report that we could not help but see. It is suggesting that Apple may be including an up and coming tactile technology in the 3<sup>rd</sup> generation iPad display. The report is a bit shocking, unexpected and certainly captivating!</p>
<p>Apparently there were hints made by Senseg, a touchscreen interface solutions developer, during last week’s yearly Mobile World Congress trade-show that a brand new and ground-breaking technology may be used by Apple. The computer, tablet and cell phone giant is contemplating using this touchscreen technology in the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/03/07/apples-ipad-hd-may-feature-unbelievable-new-touchscreen-tech/">iPad HD</a>, also known as the iPad 3.</p>
<p>The new and exciting technology would allow the makers of touchscreen devices to modify the way the screen feels, coinciding with whatever graphics are being looked at by the user. What this means is that a user will not only be able to see the graphics, such as rocks for example, but will also be able to feel the rough surface on the screen! In the same way pictures of silk could have a soft feel.</p>
<p>Essentially this would transform “touchscreens” and turn them into “feelscreens.”  This was purported on the company’s official website. The best part is that this technology can be utilized on any device that has a touchscreen. The possibilities are almost endless and we cannot wait to get our hands on one of these “feelscreen” devices!</p>
<p>With the new touchscreen technology, devices will almost seem to come to life as users can feel contours, textures and edges. Thanks to this innovative technology brought to us by Senseg, creators of smart phones, tablets or any other touchscreen device can offer users the ability to feel tactile sensations, enabling them to feel the transformation at their fingertips.</p>
<p>When the question as to whether or not this rumor was true was presented to a spokesperson for Senseg, the reply was basically that no statements will be made until Apple’s makes it’s official announcement.  While the people at Pocket-lint are tending to take that answer in addition to other clues to mean the wonderful new technology may be seen in the third generation Apple tablet, there is nothing concrete yet to suggest it is 100% true.</p>
<p>Apple will disclose details about its third generation iPad during a press conference to be held today at 11:00 AM Pacific, 1:00 PM Eastern time. Until we get the iPad HD in our hands we will not know for sure how great this new technology is but one thing is for sure. Apple is making advances to their touchscreen products every day. It seems with each product they release we are simply blown away with what they can do.</p>
<p>We ordinary people cannot even comprehend the idea of being able to feel graphics come alive in our hands. The hope is that we will not have to imagine it for long! If Apple takes this step and introduces this technology to their products, we are certain it will not be long before other touchscreen companies follow suit. Who knows? There may come a time in the very near future when the ability to smell what we are looking at will emerge.</p>
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		<title>What Is Inside Credit Report?</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/02/what-is-inside-credit-report/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/02/what-is-inside-credit-report/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:09:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit report]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Scores]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://prime-rate.info/blog/?p=408</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>By this point in time we all know, or at least we should, that we can get a free copy of our credit report at least once per year from each of the three credit rating agencies, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. It is also common knowledge that our credit report affects virtually every aspect of our <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/02/what-is-inside-credit-report/">What Is Inside Credit Report?</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By this point in time we all know, or at least we should, that we can get a free copy of our credit report at least once per year from each of the three credit rating agencies, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. It is also common knowledge that our credit report affects virtually every aspect of our lives from the jobs we apply for to getting loans and credit cards.</p>
<p>However, what many of us question is exactly what is inside credit report? There are actually four areas in a credit report which pertain to identifying information, credit information, public records and of course recent inquiries. When asking what is inside credit report it is important to understand each of those broad categories and the information contained within as well as the weight each category carries  in terms of creditworthiness.</p>
<p><strong>What Is Inside Credit Report Identifying Information?</strong></p>
<p>Of course identifying information is used to keep you separate from all the other thousands of people across the country that may have your same name. Therefore, identifying information begins with your name and any aliases you may have used which are known to the reporting agencies. This section will also list your date of birth, social security number and your current address.</p>
<p>Any previous addresses known to the credit bureau may also be available. In this section employers, current and past, may be listed as would the same kinds of information about your spouse if you are married. Although this area does seek to make absolutely certain that you are the person being referred to, mistakes do happen so carefully check every last detail for accuracy.</p>
<p><strong>What Is Inside Credit Report Credit Information?</strong></p>
<p>This is perhaps the most important area of your credit report for you to understand because this is given the most weight in terms of creditworthiness. Before understanding what information would be listed here, it is vitally important to make sure you know how important it is to make sure these accounts really belong to you. With the rise of identity theft and fraud in this country, many consumers find that they have been negatively affected by accounts they were not responsible for.</p>
<p>Credit information in your credit report pertains to any accounts you have with such entities as retail stores, banks, credit card companies, utility companies and other types of lenders/creditors. Within this area, accounts are listed by the type of loan or credit such as student loans, mortgages, revolving lines of credit and installment loans. Also listed in this area would be the credit limit or the amount of the loan and of course your payment history over the past two years. Prospective creditors will pay special attention to this area.</p>
<p><strong>What Is Inside Credit Report Public Records?</strong></p>
<p>This particular area of your credit report really only carries weight, for the most part, in so far as it reflects on why it is being examined. For example most of the reporting agencies list such public records as tax liens, bankruptcies and monetary judgments (i.e. evictions) filed with the courts. Some of the reporting agencies may also record non-monetary judgments which may or may not affect how your credit history is viewed by the person/business reviewing it. These records can be from either state or county courts.</p>
<p><strong>What Is Inside Credit Report Recent Inquiries?</strong></p>
<p>Anyone who runs your credit history will be recorded in your credit report. However, some are not visible to just anyone. There are hard inquiries and soft inquiries and only hard inquiries will negatively affect your credit score. Hard inquiries are run when you are applying for credit, for example and soft inquiries are usually run by such entities as prospective employers. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and are not visible on your report.</p>
<p>You might rightfully ask what is inside credit report information and how it can affect your life, but it is vitally important that you check for errors and fraudulent entries. These are among the quickest and easiest to fix while it may take a good deal of time to repair your credit if you have been consistently late on paying bills. All information is important, but some carries more weight and credit scores are not part of your credit report.</p>
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		<title>Credit Score Definition and How It Affects Your Loans</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/credit-score-definition-and-how-it-affects-your-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/credit-score-definition-and-how-it-affects-your-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:34:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FICO]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://prime-rate.info/blog/?p=412</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Even today, with all the information available on the Internet, on television and radio, there is still a good bit of misunderstanding regarding the difference between a credit report and a credit score. The two are interrelated, but it is still good to know a credit score definition and how it affects your loans.</p>
<p>Understanding Your Credit <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/credit-score-definition-and-how-it-affects-your-loans/">Credit Score Definition and How It Affects Your Loans</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Even today, with all the information available on the Internet, on television and radio, there is still a good bit of misunderstanding regarding the difference between a credit report and a credit score. The two are interrelated, but it is still good to know a credit score definition and how it affects your loans.</p>
<p><strong>Understanding Your Credit Score</strong></p>
<p>Your credit score is actually based on the information contained in your credit report. While a credit report covers four main areas (identifying information, credit information, public records, recent inquiries), your credit score has five different categories which are weighed in varying degrees to come up with an overall score. In other words, a credit score is a combination of data which is then calculated to give you a score. The data considered when calculating your credit score is:</p>
<ul>
<li>Payment history</li>
<li>Amounts Owed</li>
<li>Length of credit history</li>
<li>New Credit</li>
<li>Types of credit</li>
</ul>
<p>However, each of those categories carries a different amount of weight when being factored into your credit score. The breakdown is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Payment history – 35%</li>
<li>Amounts Owed – 30%</li>
<li>Length of credit history – 15%</li>
<li>New Credit – 10%</li>
<li>Types of credit – 10%</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can see, your payment history is the factor in determining your credit score. After that the amount of money you still owe weighs heavily on your score with the length of credit history, any new credit you have gotten and the types of credit in your history following last, almost equally weighted.</p>
<p><strong>How Your Credit Score Affects Your Loans</strong></p>
<p>One thing which isn’t always understood by consumers is the fact that lenders do not base their decision whether or not to lend you money based solely on your credit score. There are other things they take into consideration as well. However, it is imperative to have a good credit score if you want to get a loan or get a loan with decent rates.</p>
<p>In the United States, a credit score is often called your FICO, named after the Fair Isaac Corporation that was the originator of the system used to score creditworthiness. There are other types of credit scores out there, but FICO is by far and wide the most often scoring system used in the U.S. Scores range from 300 to 850 and the median in the U.S. is 723.</p>
<p>Anyone with a score at or below 600 would have an extremely difficult time getting a loan based solely on that credit score, and even then, rates would probably be sky high. FICO provides an example based on a 100 point difference in a credit score. They state that 100 points could mean you would pay as much as $40,000 more during the life of $300,000 mortgage loan. Think about that. That is a lot of money to be paying in extra interest because your credit score was 100 points lower than optimum.</p>
<p>In other words, those with less than perfect credit may still be able to qualify for a loan, but at what cost? Interest rates and finance charges work in counterpoint so that the lower your score goes, the higher interest you will pay, if you can qualify for a loan in the first place. The higher your credit score is, the lower interest rates you will likely be charged.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that lenders are reluctant to lend at the moment because the economy is on shaky ground. Now more than ever before it is vital to keep you credit score as high as possible by focusing on the factors which affect it. In a nutshell, your credit score affects whether or not you can get a loan and how much that loan will cost you.</p>
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		<title>20% of Home Sales Were Made Up of Foreclosures in Third Quarter</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/20-of-home-sales-were-made-up-of-foreclosures-in-third-quarter/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/20-of-home-sales-were-made-up-of-foreclosures-in-third-quarter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:12:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial Markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank owned homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreclosed homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreclosure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[foreclosure sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RealtyTrac]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://prime-rate.info/blog/?p=454</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Not surprisingly, with the way the economy has been lately, 20% of all houses sold on the US market during the third quarter were previously foreclosed homes, according to a spokesperson for RealtyTrac. The good news is that 20% is a significant improvement when compared to the 30% rate recorded in 2010.</p>
<p>However, 20% is still not <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/20-of-home-sales-were-made-up-of-foreclosures-in-third-quarter/">20% of Home Sales Were Made Up of Foreclosures in Third Quarter</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Not surprisingly, with the way the economy has been lately, 20% of all houses sold on the US market during the third quarter were previously <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/26/real_estate/foreclosure_sales/index.htm?iid=SF_PF_Lead">foreclosed homes</a>, according to a spokesperson for RealtyTrac. The good news is that 20% is a significant improvement when compared to the 30% rate recorded in 2010.</p>
<p>However, 20% is still not good if you look at earlier periods in which the economy was stronger, showing 5% of all residential sales being foreclosures. The hope is that the trend will continue and in the coming years we will see a constant decrease in the percentage of foreclosure sales on homes.</p>
<p>The total number of distressed properties that were bought during the third quarter, lower by 11% from the second quarter and even 5% lower than the third quarter last year, was 221,536. Daren Blomquist who is a spokesman for Realty Trac stated he believes the reason for the decline is that less houses are actually making it to the foreclosure pipelines.</p>
<p>Because of the accusations made against banks since the housing market became volatile, it appears they are using much more caution to be sure they have not misfiled or mishandled and paper work when selling a foreclosed home. In addition, banks are practicing more diligence where statements with little to no facts are being made. This almost certainly came after the robo-signing scandal that occurred recently.</p>
<p>There seems to be a reduction in “supplies” as the number of bank owned properties being placed on the market has slowed significantly as a result of issues with processing. Because of this there has been of a delay in sales of foreclosed homes by almost 200 days in many cases. That delay had gone up a bit from 172 days in the same quarter reported in 2010.</p>
<p>It also seems that banks have been holding back homes they have for sale so as not to flood the housing market, causing an even greater effect of the cost of homes. If too many foreclosed homes are placed on the market at one time it could cause even more chaos to the housing market than we are already seeing. For this reason many banks have gotten on board with slowing things down a bit.</p>
<p>The housing market is different in each part of the country but one thing seems to be a constant and that is that foreclosed homes are selling less frequently than in past quarters and recent years. What is a buyer’s market at the moment could slowly change to a seller’s market in the next several years. It is believed that this could definitely impact the economy in a positive way.</p>
<p>Only time will tell and we must await data for the 2010 year but we can cross our fingers and hope for the best. Most people would like to see a much more significant increase in the housing markets stability but for now the lower percentage of foreclosed homes is at least a glimmer of hope in an otherwise gloomy area.</p>
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		<title>Is One Time Credit Report Enough?</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/is-one-time-credit-report-enough/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/is-one-time-credit-report-enough/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:45:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit report]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[identity theft]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://prime-rate.info/blog/?p=416</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify">While it is true that the government enacted a law stating that every consumer is entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies in the United States, is one time credit report enough? Perhaps many years ago a one-time credit report would have been adequate, but in <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/is-one-time-credit-report-enough/">Is One Time Credit Report Enough?</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify">While it is true that the government enacted a law stating that every consumer is entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies in the United States, is one time credit report enough? Perhaps many years ago a one-time credit report would have been adequate, but in today’s world there are a number of reasons why it may be insufficient.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>The Age of Electronic Data Transfer</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">As recently as a couple of decades ago, most creditors reported to the three credit rating agencies by fax and/or USPS mail. There were no centralized computer data bases established which could be accessed 24/7 in order to upload reports. In fact, it wasn’t until the mid 1990’s that the Internet virtually exploded, making information quicker and easier to access. Now creditors can upload to the reporting agencies daily if needed which is one of the main reasons why a one-time credit report may not be enough. Your credit report can change many times throughout the week if creditors report negative or positive payment history.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Identity Theft Running Rampant</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">While the age of electronic data transfer enables consumers to instantly access information on the Web, it also enables thieves to intercept that data and literally steal your identity. Only accessing your credit report once leaves you wide open to identity theft which is a leading cause of bad credit scores. If you can monitor your credit report so that every time a change is reported, you can more easily protect yourself against identity theft. There are a few ways of doing this, which include contracting a credit monitoring service that will notify you by email or text message every time your credit report registers a change. You can also apply for your three free annual credit reports staggered throughout the year, although this isn’t as efficient because there are four months in between each report.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Human Error Can Affect Your Credit Report</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Then there is human error to be concerned with. Sometimes a data entry clerk at Experian, TransUnion or Equifax make mistakes, after all they are only human. However, they are not the only ones responsible for errors on your credit report. Lenders are also known to make reporting errors which can have a devastating effect on your credit. Your credit report could have erroneous information recorded and you would never know until you were refused credit or that perfect job you have been waiting for. Sometimes it could be as simple an error as wrong digits in your social security number while other times you could be reported as not paying your Master Card on time when you have been keeping a zero balance for years. A one-time credit report would not afford you the opportunity to catch human errors before they can do some serious damage.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Monitoring Your Credit Report</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">As mentioned, the best way to make sure that your credit report is as accurate as possible is to monitor it on a regular basis. Yes, you <em>are</em> entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies, but is that enough? In order to keep tabs on what is being recorded on your credit report, it is always beneficial to find a service that will notify you as changes occur. They are not expensive and will help you to correct errors or fraud as soon as they are entered on your credit report. Is one time credit report enough? If maintaining a good credit score is important to you, a one-time credit report just isn’t going to be enough.</p>
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		<title>Suit Filed By Financial Industry Dismissed By Appeals Court</title>
		<link>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/suit-filed-by-financial-industry-dismissed-by-appeals-court/</link>
		<comments>http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/suit-filed-by-financial-industry-dismissed-by-appeals-court/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:18:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rater</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial Markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stock Markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CFTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CFTC lawsuit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commodities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commodities Future Trading Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Trading Regulations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trading]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>It appears that a court of appeals has decided to dismiss a lawsuit which was filed by the financial industry against the new federal regulations that would be geared toward cracking down on conjecture in the commodities market. This move will more than likely cause a delay to a decision being made over whether to pass <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://prime-rate.info/blog/2012/01/suit-filed-by-financial-industry-dismissed-by-appeals-court/">Suit Filed By Financial Industry Dismissed By Appeals Court</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It appears that a court of appeals has decided to dismiss a lawsuit which was filed by the financial industry against the new federal regulations that would be geared toward cracking down on conjecture in the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/21/us-financial-regulation-cftc-idUSTRE80K0QA20120121">commodities market</a>. This move will more than likely cause a delay to a decision being made over whether to pass the rules or not.</p>
<p>The Financial Markets Association, The Securities Industry as well as the International Swaps and Derivatives Association filed these challenges back in December. The challenge was against regulations which were put into effect by the Commodities Future Trading Commission.</p>
<p>The US Court of Appeals in Washington DC ruled that the case would have to be heard in a lower court. This argument was of course put forth by the Commodities Future Trading Commission, also known as the CFTC. The panel which was comprised of three judges made their ruling based on the fact that there is no distinct congressional authorization of the direct appellate review that would be considered applicable to this particular for review.</p>
<p>The judges also stated that federal law on the matter was in place for other organizations and agencies; however not for challenges of the new regulations. The CFTC had made their votes back in October and the outcome was 3-2. This set limits on positions regarding the amount of commodities swaps and futures that a single trader could hold. This moves has been seen by many traders as a politically charged motivation to place cap prices which would in effect make the market more volatile and less liquid.</p>
<p>Shortly after the regulations were put in place, the two trading groups filed a lawsuit in order to try and contest the new set of rules, claiming that the CFTC had gone over the line and had exceeded its power, and that there was no justifiable reason for the regulations.</p>
<p>The CFTC made the argument that the lawsuit should be first heard in the US District court in DC. This is the typical process as once a case is heard and decided upon in this lower court, the appellate court is where challenges are made, making the process quite a bit longer. Some might believe that this is the reason the argument was made in the first place but that is only speculation as there has been no official comment made that speaks to the reasoning of the CFTC.</p>
<p>While the statute seemed unclear to the two trading groups, they were not quite sure what the answer would be which is the reason they made the choice to file in both of the courts, according to Steve Kennedy who is a spokesperson for the ISDA. The financial industry groups had already filed the same challenge with the district court in DC but they thought they would have to wait until the appellate court decision was handed down.</p>
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