U.S. stocks gain for third week, near 6-month high

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

Blue-chip stocks extend gains into a fourth day as investors drive up shares of Microsoft and IBM. But there were misses from some heavyweights, notably Google. See full story.

Where to put your money if the bond bull stumbles

The strong demand and celebrity status for bonds troubles some investors and investment strategists. They sense that this great bond bull market will slow in 2012. Indeed, with more of their nest-egg tied to bonds, investors need to ask some hard questions. See full story.

Exploiting munis� abnormally high yields

Other things being equal, tax-free municipal bonds should be yielding less than comparable Treasurys. But it is just the opposite today. A simple strategy would profit handsomely from a return to equilibrium, writes Mark Hulbert. See full story.

Readers vent gripes with mortgage lenders

Angry readers tell Lew Sichelman their horror stories in dealing with mortgage lenders. See full story.

Readers vent gripes with mortgage lenders

Angry readers tell Lew Sichelman their horror stories in dealing with mortgage lenders. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Gold has been one of the greatest investment stories of the decade, and despite some recent weakness, its safe-haven appeal is likely to continue. But regardless of the price gyrations in gold futures and demand, do we really know what the cost of gold is in human terms? See full story.