Markets
With today being the last day of trading before the Christmas holiday, trading volume was light on Wall Street. Stocks were largely flat, despite several encouraging economic reports that showed small improvements in consumer spending and fewer people filing for unemployment claims.
The Dow gained 14 points, ending the day at 11,573.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both lost just over two points, to close at 1,257 and 2,666, respectively.
Rates on fixed mortgages dipped slightly after rising five weeks in a row. Still, according to Freddie Mac, they remain at a near historic low of 4.81 percent for 30 year-fixed rate.
New Yorkers May Be Eligible for Tuition Tax Credits
Senator Charles Schumer says New Yorkers are owed a billion dollars in tax credits for tuition they paid. Schumer says he's working with New York colleges to alert families of the tax credit for tuition that about half of families who are eligible have missed in their income tax returns. The credit provides $1 off taxes for every $1 spent on tuition, up to $2,500.
Researching Charities Before You Give
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, more than half of the 181 charities it recently surveyed say they've raised more money this year than last. Twenty-nine percent said 2010 donations have reached pre-recession levels. But charities that are reliant on government aid have had a harder time.
To find out how to give effectively, many people turn to Web sites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar for information about how the charity will use the money, like how much is spent on the actual charity, and how much is spent to pay salaries.
That's useful information to know, but The Wall Street Journal's Shelly Banjo says there's more you can do to give wisely. WNYC's Ilya Marritz spoke with Banjo. For starters, she says, looking at a charity's tax forms doesn't tell the whole story.