Refinance mortgage applications slide - 2007-01-24
U.S. mortgage applications for both home purchase and refinance mortgage loans decreased last week as interest rates climbed, an industry trade group declared Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity, which counts both refinancing and purchasing loans, for the week ended Jan. 19 dropped 8.4 percent to 611.3.
Read the full story at CNNMoney.com

World economy 'set for good 2007' - 2007-01-24
The global economy is set for a positive 2007, leading economists have forecast at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Healthy growth in Europe and the Asia Pacific region should offset a possible slowdown in the US.
The experts also highlighted certain risks: a weak US housing market, higher oil prices and soaring interest rates.
Read the full story at BBC News