World looks to Bernanke to clarify stimulus plans

In this Jan. 7 photo, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Budget Committee. The financial world looks to Bernanke this week to clarify the Fed’s timetable on economic stimulus. ( AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

World looks to Bernanke to clarify stimulus plans

WASHINGTON | Is the era of ultra-low interest rates nearing an end?

World looks to Bernanke to clarify stimulus plans

Is the era of ultra-low interest rates nearing an end? That's the question - and the fear - Chairman Ben Bernanke will face this week when he takes questions after a Federal Reserve policy meeting.

World looks to Bernanke to clarify stimulus plans

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2012 file photo, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Budget Committee. The financial world looks to Bernanke the Week of June 17, 2013, to clarify the Fed’s timetable on economic stimulus. ( AP Photo/Al…

Local banks earn national honors

The parent companies of Munster-based Peoples Bank and Michigan City-based Horizon Bank have received recognition as ranking among the nation's top community banks.

Texas governor in Illinois trying to lure business

CHICAGO | Texas Gov. Rick Perry arrived in Illinois on Monday on a determined mission to lure away the state's businesses, blast its nagging financial problems and spark a little interstate rivalry with a simple message to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Reverse Mortgage Gives Seniors Options

Often misunderstood, reverse mortgage provides income for borrowers during retirement.

Portage Redevelopment Commission extends two contracts

PORTAGE | The Redevelopment Commission this week approved extending two contracts into 2013.

Citizens Financial Bank parent triples 3Q profit

Net income for the parent of Citizens Financial Bank rose threefold in the third quarter as improving credit quality helped the institution reduce funds set aside to cover bad loans.

Text of the Federal Reserve's statement Thursday

WASHINGTON | Below is the statement the Fed released Thursday after its policy meeting:

Securities group releases list of top investment scams

Illegitimate crowdfunding requests and investment-for-visa schemes are among the new financial products and practices the North American Securities Administrators Association said are threatening to exploit unsuspecting investors.

Second quarter profit slightly higher for Citizens

CFS Bancorp Inc., the parent company for Citizens Financial Bank, said its second quarter net income rose 10 percent as it made progress in boosting revenue and reducing expenses.

Health care upheld with key vote from NW Indiana's Roberts

WASHINGTON | America's historic health care overhaul, certain now to touch virtually every citizen's life, narrowly survived an election-year battle at the Supreme Court on Thursday with the improbable help of conservative Chief Justice John Roberts.

Obama ad features steelworkers to undercut Romney's record on jobs

WASHINGTON | President Barack Obama is casting Mitt Romney as a greedy, job-killing corporate titan with little concern for the working class in a new, multi-pronged effort that seeks to undermine the central rationale for his Republican rival's candidacy: his business credentials.

Beverly Hills Hotel marks 100 years of swank

Stand on the Beverly Hills Hotel's red carpet, leading into its chandeliered lobby, and you can't help but visualize a century's worth of celebrities, royalty, politicians, musicians and actors who have stayed there, from Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to Madonna, Reese Witherspoon and …

Centier doubles profit in first quarter

Steady bank revenue and a smaller provision for loan losses helped Merrillville-based Centier Bank more than double its first quarter profit.

Financial ed advocates tout Money Smart Week offerings

GARY | Region bankers, educators and community group leaders are preparing to host a weeklong series of financial education seminars in connection with Money Smart Week.

For stocks, a stable and impressive climb in 2012

The stock market just had its best first quarter in 14 years. The surge has sent Wall Street analysts, some of whose forecasts seemed too sunny three months ago, scrambling to raise their estimates for the year.

Supreme Court justices are moving to the heart of health care overhaul

As demonstrations swirled outside, Supreme Court justices signaled on Monday they are ready to confront without delay the keep-or-kill questions at the heart of challenges to President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul.

Urban hospitals propose Illinois Medicaid plan

CHICAGO | A coalition of Chicago-area hospitals that serve the poor called on Illinois officials to go after more federal money before cutting their Medicaid funding, a proposition dismissed by state health officials as based on unrealistic assumptions.