U.S. stocks slump after Fed minutes

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stocks fall from multiyear highs as investors react to conflicting views from the Federal Reserve on its monetary policy. See full story.

Gold sinks below $1,600 amid �death cross� talk

Gold futures tumble below $1,600 an ounce Wednesday, pressured by strength in the dollar to settle at their lowest since late July, just ahead of the release of minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve�s January meeting, as talk of a so-called �death cross� in gold prices spooks investors. See full story.

America�s coffee cup is half full

Hot or iced, drip, French press, espresso, Chemex or Keurig, each of us downs about 23 gallons of joe a year on average. It�s in our blood. It�s also on our streets, where Starbucks outposts outnumber hospitals and colleges. Yet the U.S. coffee market may still be far from saturated. See full story.

The IRS is too busy to talk to you

The days following Presidents Day tend to be the toughest times to phone the IRS, since the number of returns filed spike just after the holiday. Last year, more than 30% of the 100 million people who called the agency never reached a customer service representative. See full story.

Fed, uneasy over �QE,� plans bond-buy debate

The Federal Reserve will consider major changes to its quantitative easing program at its next meeting in March. Ideas on the table including varying the pace of the $85 billion per month purchases, or ending them. One new idea would have the Fed maintain the size of its balance sheet longer than expected. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Hot or iced, drip, French press, espresso, Chemex or Keurig, each of us downs about 23 gallons of joe a year on average. It�s in our blood. It�s also on our streets, where Starbucks outposts outnumber hospitals and colleges. Yet the U.S. coffee market may still be far from saturated. See full story.