New releases this month from rising stars and seasoned performers point to the continuing strength of the American singer-songwriter tradition. Alongside hip young Brandi Carlile's latest CD are records from Texas troubadour Lyle Lovett and country royalty Rosanne Cash. There's

If you are a beginner investor, it may seem like an odd time to start saving for retirement. Despite the 23% rise in the S&P 500 this year, the third-quarter earnings season suggests companies are still struggling to get back

If earnings represent a company's take-home pay, book value is its net worth. Both measures can be turned into price ratios (price/earnings, price/book) and used to judge whether a stock is cheap or expensive.Which is better? A 2000 study published