The U.S. is finally becoming a nation of savers. Now if only we could get something for our money. Interest rates are sinking to near zero for the first time since last year's financial meltdown, dampening spending as Americans earn less on their bank deposits and investment accounts.

No associated text to display

Treasury prices mostly fell Friday, pushing their yields higher. Yields on short-term bills hovered near their lows of the year.

NEW YORK----As part of its ongoing surveillance efforts, Fitch Ratings affirms its 'AAA' rating on Cobb County Solid Waste Management Authority, Georgia's approximately $12.4 million outstanding solid waste management authority revenue refunding bonds, series 2004.

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AAA' rating to two series of State of Maryland general obligation qualified tax credit bonds, consisting of:

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings has assigned an unenhanced 'A' rating to the following Georgia Development Authority pollution control revenue bonds to be issued on behalf of Oglethorpe Power Corporation :

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA+' rating to bank bonds corresponding to the following two series of New York City Transitional Finance Authority bonds:

BOSTON----Evergreen Investments today announced the dividend declaration for Evergreen Income Advantage Fund , Evergreen Utilities and High Income Fund Evergreen International Balanced Income Fund , and Evergreen Multi-Sector Income Fund , and Evergreen Global Dividend Opportunity Fund .

NEW YORK----TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation announced today that it has agreed to sell the following in an underwritten public offering: $250 million, 2.950% senior unsecured notes due 2012 $500 million, 4.150% senior unsecured notes due 2014 $500 million, 5.600% senior unsecured notes due 2019

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA-' rating to the $19,440,000 Trustees of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana tax-exempt student fee bonds, series M and the $70,425,000 taxable student fee bonds, series N .

SAN FRANCISCO----Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA-' rating to the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska's $50 million water revenue refunding bonds series 2009. Concurrently, Fitch affirms the 'AA-' rating on the district's outstanding parity water revenue bonds.

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA-' rating to $34.89 million in Alaska Municipal Bond Bank general obligation bonds, consisting of GO bonds 2009A series four and GO taxable bonds 2009B series four .

CHICAGO----Fitch Ratings has assigned an unenhanced 'BBB-' rating on approximately $60.2 million of City of Gaithersburg, Maryland economic development revenue bonds series 2009A and economic development revenue refunding bonds series 2009B.

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA+' rating to Forsyth County, North Carolina's estimated $15 million limited obligation bonds , series 2009. The LOBs are scheduled to price via negotiated sale on Dec. 9, 2009.

The city plans to hold its first bond sale in two years next month though the outcome of three high-stakes meetings with rating agencies could push it back again.

The U.S. government offers some handy online tools for determining a savings bond's worth.

Asian shares fell on Friday and the dollar firmed as investors took profits on riskier assets after U.S. data raised fears that a global economic recovery could lose momentum.

SAN FRANCISCO----Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA+' rating to Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's $26 million water revenue refunding bonds, series 2009E. Fitch has also affirmed its 'AA+' rating on Metropolitan's outstanding $4.4 billion of water revenue bonds at 'AA+'.

Banks borrowed slightly less from the Federal Reserve's emergency lending program over the past week, but increased their use of other credit programs designed to ease the financial crisis.

NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings affirms its 'A-' rating on the District of Columbia's outstanding deed tax revenue bonds , series 2007A. The Rating Outlook is Stable.