Good Day, Bad Day
Financial voyeurs, balancing your checkbook
GOOD DAY FOR: Financial voyeurs, as UBS, under pressure from U.S. regulators, is considering divulging the names of up to 20,000 of its super affluent U.S. clients. Such a move, amid an offshore tax-evasion investigation, would go against Swiss banks’ centuries-old tradition of secrecy. Details of this rarefied investment world are expected to come to light when an ex-UBS banker testifies in U.S. court next week. (The New York Times, free registration)
BAD DAY FOR: Balancing your checkbook, as the net worth of Americans fell by $1.7 trillion—or 3 percent—in the first quarter, amid declining home values and stock prices, according to Federal Reserve figures. That’s the sharpest fall since 2002. With rising gas prices, though, Americans “are spending everything in their wallet and borrowing more,” said economist Michael Englund at Action Economics. (CNNMoney.com)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Torridon: a luxury retreat nestled amid Highland splendour
The Week Recommends Deep in Scotland's mountainous northwest, this boutique hotel is a stirring contrast between five-star elegance and rugged natural grandeur
-
'Arise, Sir Goldenballs': David Beckham plays the long game in quest for knighthood
Talking Point Former footballer set to be knighted in King's birthday honours after years of snubs
-
Quiz of The Week: 31 May – 6 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?