IBT Staff Reporter

China's efforts to defuse what experts have called its pension time bomb have created a multibillion-dollar opportunity for domestic and international fund managers.

While difficulties related to the war have hampered growth, recent oil-related developments show the nation is on its way to financing reconstruction efforts.

H&R Block Inc. has no plans to break itself up or sell some businesses to private equity firms to improve the company's value to shareholders, Chief Financial Officer William Trubeck said on Wednesday.

The sales tax deduction is back ... for now, at least. As I pointed out in an earlier article, the new tax changes allowed for a deduction for sales taxes in 2004. Many folks are still unclear on how to apply it, though. Here are a few frequently asked questions:

An IRS audit is one of those things - like public speaking - that makes most of us sweat by just thinking about it. And unfortunately, the IRS is enforcing the nation's tax laws with renewed vigor, so you can expect a higher statistical chance of being audited in the future. How much higher remains to be seen, but I advise increased caution and attention to detail with your 2005 return.

You've done it - tacked a few vacation days on to the end of a boring business trip. And why not? It's one of the few perks of spending time on the road. But what if you're self-employed and the only one picking up the bill is you? Well, you can still combine tax savings and vacation into the same trip. Consider yourself reimbursed by Uncle Sam.

Employers added a smaller-than-expected 121,000 new workers to their payrolls last month, but the jobless rate stayed at a five-year low of 4.6 percent and average hourly earnings rose, the Labor Department said on Friday.

The European Commission confirmed on Friday it would debate antitrust sanctions against U.S. software giant Microsoft at a regular meeting on Wednesday.

Britain's biggest insurer, Aviva Plc, is in talks to buy U.S. life insurer AmerUs Group Co, valued at about $2.3 billion, in a deal that would boost Aviva's undersized presence in the booming U.S. market.

Verizon Communications Inc. is close to putting in motion long-awaited plans to shed its directory business, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Could yields for money market fund see 6 percent?

Hedge funds and other money managers are moving more money out of the market amid short-term problems.

Hedge funds posted their first losses of the year in May as prices for stocks, metals and oil fell last month, according to data released on Wednesday.

A mutual fund pools money from hundreds and thousands of investors to construct a portfolio of stocks, bonds, real estate or other securities, according to its charter. Each investor in the fund gets a slice of the total pie.

The recent stock slide got you scared? These time-tested strategies ensure you can whether downturns and still benefit from the rebounds.

Stop if you have heard this one before: 2006 was supposed to be the year large-cap funds finally clawed their way out of the basement of the mutual-fund race.

It's never too early to take steps to reduce your tax bill. Here are 10 tax savings tips that can help you reduce your 2006 tax bite.

Standard Life is set to price next week's market debut at the low end of its price range and at a discount to the UK insurance sector, even as markets claw back recent losses, investors and analysts said.

It wasn't too long ago that most people simply bought whatever insurance was mandated by the government and lenders, or recommended by insurance agents and friends.

What prompts an insurer to deny coverage? The reasons for rejection fall into a handful of categories, but they all boil down to one maddening fact: Companies don't like to sell insurance to people who are likely to use it.

For most people, the right type of life insurance can be summed up in a single word: term. But before we explain why, it's important to understand the differences between the most common types of insurance available. Our glossary1 can help with that, and decipher some of the more common insurance lingo.

Insurance agents may have a less-than-golden reputation as a group, but when you think about it, this stereotype is mostly based on sales practices. Nowadays, with Internet resources at your disposal, you can educate yourself to avoid shady sales practices and select an agent that offers real value. It comes down to personal preference.

I just read the Q&A titled Risk of rolling over 401(k) with company stock, and part of it confused me. I am 25 years old. My company matches my 401(k) contributions with company stock. Are there large fees and tax issues with converting my company stock to other higher risk stocks? It isn't a huge problem for me at the moment as my company stock consistently makes 8 percent to 9 percent, but this may not be the case for everyone. Please help!

We've heard the adage that to become physically fit, we need to eat less and exercise more. The corollary for fiscal fitness is to spend less and save more.

A 401(K) CAN be a glorious thing, but let's not forget that these plans are regulated by government bureaucrats. That means they are rife with rules and regulations. Here are answers to some of the more common questions we get about 401(k)s.

Variable Annuities are sold more aggressively than fake Gucci handbags on the streets of New York City. Thanks in part to commissions around 5%, sales of variable annuities have soared over the past decade.

Figuring out how to live off of your retirement savings is as much a personal issue as it is a financial decision. You have to come up with a strategy that will allow you to enjoy spending the money you've saved without constantly worrying that you're running through it too quickly.

An exciting new retirement-savings option is coming in 2006.

A spate of oil and gas pipeline deals has boosted mergers and acquisitions for the industry by nearly 30 percent this year, but soaring prices are turning off many potential buyers.