Fiscal hit up north - 2004-02-13
A Wall Street rating agency lowered Westchester County's credit rating yesterday. Fitch Ratings cited the growing burden of state-ordered spending and the county's potential liability for financial problems at the Westchester Medical Center.

The action came two days after the county Legislature approved a 2004 budget that raised property taxes by 19%, the county sales tax by half a percentage point and increased mortgage and auto use taxes.
Read the full story at New York Daily News

Hawaii mortgage rates drop to 5.25% - 2004-02-13
Hawaii's big lenders cut their 30-rate mortgage rates to 5.25 percent this week, the Honolulu Board of Realtors reports.

The two dominant lenders, Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank, both quote 5.25 percent, down from 5.375 percent the week before, and they were joined by number four Central Pacific Bank. Number three American Savings Bank stayed at 5.375 percent.
Read the full story at Pacific Business News