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Four years ago Dubai was at the height of an unparalleled economic boom that then turned to bustMost recently, it outlined plans to build a brand new city Analysts say the Arab Spring has made Dubai a safe haven for those who worry about the turmoil elsewhereThe hope is that projects like Mohammed bin Rashid will lure millions more visitors a year Four decades ago it was merely barren desert land. Four years ago it was at the height of an unparalleled economic boom that turned to bust amid the global financial crisis. Today the emirate of Dubai is staging [...]

During the heyday of home equity loans, some homeowners used their home equity like an ATM to pay for expensive vacations, boats or other luxury items. Today, borrowers are more likely to use a home equity loan for home improvements, college tuition or a major purchase such as a car, says Don McClintic, senior vice president of home equity and direct lending for SunTrust Bank in Richmond, Va. “Borrower surveys show that home equity loans now are more likely to be used for a specific purpose rather than a lifestyle change,” says McClintic. “We’re also seeing home equity lines of [...]

Americans have made some headway with their retirement savings after the last few disastrous years. Nearly one-fifth of Americans (18%) are saving more for retirement this year than last year, according to Bankrate’s August Financial Security Index. When we asked this same question in 2011, 15% said they were saving more than the previous year — not a significant difference. But the same proportion of people, 18%, say they are saving less than they did last year. That’s actually much better than last year, when 29% of Americans said they were contributing a smaller amount to retirement savings than the [...]