Now might be the time to buy Russia. Yes, really.

The oil-dependent economy is on track for a deep recession this year, and there's a risk that the West may impose more sanctions over Ukraine.

Yet Russia's stock market, currency and bonds are all bouncing higher.

After a horror year that saw the ruble roughly halve in value, Russia's currency has gained about 4% since the start of 2015 to trade at about 58 to the U.S. dollar. That compares with the record low of 80 hit in late December.

Helping revive the currency's fortunes has been a halt in oil's recent slide. Crude futures are steadier, trading just below $50 a barrel as tensions in the Middle East stoke supply concerns. That's positive for the Russian economy, which relies heavily on oil revenues.

Related: Russia's economic misery deepens

Bond markets are also showing promise. Russia's 10-year government bond yields have eased to about 11.5% from 13.5% at the start of the year. Yields, which move in the opposite direction to bond prices, are still well above where they were a year ago but the drift lower is positive.

"That's a product of broader stabilization in financial markets," said VTB chief Russia economist Vladimir Kolychev. "It seems that trend is sustainable."

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is also bullish on Russian bonds.

David Hauner, an analyst at the bank, recently picked ruble-denominated government bonds as his top bet in eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Hauner said instability in Ukraine may be steering investors away from the "best [trade] of the year."

Russian stocks have brightened too. The MICEX index has rallied more than 14% so far this year.

Related: Carlyle Group CEO says oil is the best investment right now

Fund flows appear to support the view that sentiment is shifting. The stock market saw capital inflows of $6.6 million in the week to March 25, Russian media reported, citing data from EPFR Global.

That may sound small but it's a big swing from the previous week when the markets recorded an outflow of $57.7 million.

While Russia's financial markets are calmer than they were in December, the investment climate could sour again quickly if relations with the U.S. and Europe deteriorate further, or if oil prices resume their slide -- perhaps triggered by the lifting of sanctions on Iran.

A ceasefire deal reached in February between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists remains fragile. Violence in contested eastern Ukraine appears to be receding but an escalation of fighting could trigger additional sanctions.

Andrew Risk, principal Russia analyst at London-based political risk firm GPW, said there is a "reasonably strong likelihood of more sanctions."

New trade restrictions would exacerbate Russia's economic problems. Still, ignoring Russia as an investment destination could be shortsighted.

"It's still a very large economy with potentially very interesting opportunities," Risk said. And past political tension between Russia and the West hadn't prevented successful investments in the past.

Related: Putin slashes own salary as economy tanks

CNNMoney (London) March 30, 2015: 7:20 AM ET

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Land Rover's new $200,000 SUV is most expensive ever

Land Rover unveiled the new high end version of the Range Rover, the SVAutobiography at the New York auto show Monday, which has a $199,495 price tag. That's up about $12,000 from the suggested price on the Autobiography Black model, which it replaces.

The new model includes a 550 horsepower V8 engine, up from 510 horsepower in the previous supercharged model.

Rear-seat passengers have access to a beverage chiller compartment and powered deployable tables. Styling features include a new front grille finished in graphite and polished chrome.

Related: Ultra-luxury SUVs on the way

But Land Rover might not be able to hang onto the title of most expensive SUV for long - a number of ultra-luxury SUVs are in the pipeline. Lamborghini, Bentley, Maserati and Rolls Royce all have plans for SUVs. Jaguar, which is also made by Jaguar Land Rover, recently announced plans for its first SUV, the F-PACE, due out in 2016.

The Bentley could be the first of the group to go on sale, perhaps later this year. Others are two to three years away.

But all those cars would be the first SUVs for those high priced models, while SUV's are Land Rover's core product.

Related: Ford's big Lincoln Continental is coming back

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 9:38 AM ET

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Carly Fiorina: Now a 90% chance I'll run for president in 2016

Carly Fiorina told CNN in February the chances she would run were "way over 50%." Now she says they are "higher than 90%."

In an interview with "Fox News Sunday," Fiorina said the chances of her joining an already crowded field of presidential hopefuls is now "higher than 90%."

The former HP chief, who launched an unsuccessful Senate bid in 2010 against Senator Barbara Boxer of California, said she plans to officially announce her campaign in April or May.

Fiorina is billing herself as a Silicon Valley trailblazer and tech whiz with more tangible accomplishments than Hillary Clinton. She told CNN in February that the odds of her entering the race were "way over 50%."

Fiorina said her experience in the private sector, where she rose from secretary to CEO of a Fortune 100 company, gives her "a deep understanding of how the economy really works."

Related: Chances of run 'way over 50%' - CNN in February

She added that she "knows most of the world leaders on the stage today." She said she can manage large bureaucracies and is capable of "executive decision making."

Washington, she said, "has become a vast, unaccountable bureaucracy" in need of a strong leader.

Fiorina had a controversial tenure at HP from 1999 to 2005, a period marked by the bursting of the dot-com bubble and steep layoffs in the industry.

Fiorina, who was forced out by the company's board of directors, said she was "proud" of the way she managed the company through one of the worst "technology recessions" ever.

Related: The Ted Cruz economy

Related: Hillary's action figure is ready to run

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 7:17 AM ET

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5 travel spots that just got cheaper for Americans

Much of the world is on sale for Americans right now since the U.S. dollar is enjoying one of the strongest moments in modern history.

Just about everything from hotels to luxury handbags to McDonald's hamburgers is cheaper abroad than in the United States right now. When you take dollars to the foreign exchange booth, you get a lot more of another country's currency back than you used to.

If you were dreaming of a vacation to a far off destination, now is the time. While Europe may be the first destination to spring to many minds, Americans can get more bang for their buck across many other countries across the globe.

CNNMoney crunched the numbers on exchange rates, hotel costs and flight prices. Here are the top 5 places to find a bargain:

1. That European trip you always wanted. If you're dreaming of Paris, that's a steal right now. Recent roundtrip flights to Paris are as cheap as $519, according to Hopper, a travel-data site. Travelers have noticed the deals. Flight searches for New York to Paris are up nearly 10% last week compared to prior four weeks.

The reason is simple: the euro is now nearly equal with the dollar. One euro costs $1.09. Compare that to a year ago when one euro was about $1.40. (Here's more on why Europe is so cheap).

Travel to the euro area -- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Austria, among other nations -- is almost 20% cheaper now from a year ago. The European economy is struggling, causing more bargains and discounts.

Hotel reservations are up in Italy, Spain, and Germany, according to Priceline (PCLN, Tech30). Outside the euro zone, Norway is another good bet: the dollar has appreciated by a third over the past year. That's a lot better than usual, since Scandinavia is typically viewed as one of the more expensive places to visit.

Related: American cash is flooding into European stocks

2. Calling all Russian Vodka fans. Moscow is a can't-miss for cold-weather travelers right now. Russia's ruble has been tanking as its economy gets hurt by western sanctions and plunging oil prices.

One dollar would get you 35 roubles a year ago. Now a dollar gets you 57 roubles. Of course, this isn't just a currency problem. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has scared travelers away. The tourism industry is trying to rebound by offering deep discounts.

Flight prices from New York to Moscow have dropped 37% on the year and hotels are 45% cheaper than a year ago, according to Hopper and Tripadvisor.

If you'd rather see the sun than sip on Stolichnaya vodka, the U.S. dollar can save you money on the other side of the equator too.

Related: Russia's economic misery deepens

3. Brazil is a bargain. Pack your bikini, speedo and SPF 30: it's the right time to go to Rio de Janiero -- or anywhere else in Brazil.

Brazil's currency, the Real, has lost almost 30% of its value against the dollar from a year ago. That means places like Rio and Sao Paulo are much cheaper to visit now.

A typical flight from New York to Rio was $1,170 last March. Now it's $856, according to Hopper, which points out that flights have gone down since the World Cup last summer.

Hotels in Brazil are 12% cheaper compared to a year ago, Tripadvisor (TRIP)data shows. By the way, you want to go now before prices possibly soar again for the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Brazil economy is also getting hurt by inflation and the end of a long commodity boom. Add on a strong dollar and you've got a recipe for Americans to B-line it to Brazil this year.

But if you want to practice Spanish instead of Portuguese, there's another steal down South.

Related: Brazil's scandalous boom to bust story

4. Colombia is calling. Colombia is one of the South America's best growth stories right now, but the U.S. dollar's rally keeps the trip cheap.

The dollar has gained 18% in value on the peso in the past year. Hotels in Colombia are 10% cheaper from a year ago, according to Tripadvisor. Flights are bit cheaper too, Hopper reports.

While many Americans still think of Colombia as the "murder capital," that image is outdated. The country is booming.

The capital of Bogota and Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, are becoming tech and cultural hubs while Colombia's beaches are beautiful. The coffee is outrageously good and cheap too.

Related: How Colombia went from murder capital to tech powerhouse

5. The South African Safari. The famous ocean views in Capetown look even better now: It's 13% cheaper for folks with dollars to vacation in South Africa. Similar to Brazil, South Africa's currency is losing value against the dollar as commodity prices slump.

Flights from New York to Capetown are down 24% from a year ago, according to Hopper. To put it another way: South Africa is more than double distance to New York than Paris, yet flights there cost a mere $130 more. If you don't mind really long flights, South Africa offers a lot of bang for your buck.

How long will these deals last? At the moment, experts predict the U.S. dollar is likely to stay strong through the end of the year, but it's unclear whether travel will pick up enough to lift flight and hotel prices even sooner. The word is getting out.

Related: $15 flight to Europe? Too good to be true

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 8:07 AM ET

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George Soros: I'll invest $1 billion in Ukraine

George Soros' philanthropic work has focused on promoting democracy in eastern Europe.

The veteran hedge fund investor told an Austrian newspaper he was prepared to invest $1 billion in the collapsing war-ravaged economy under certain circumstances.

"There are concrete investment ideas, for example in agriculture and infrastructure projects. I would put in $1 billion," he told Der Standard. "This must generate a profit. My foundation would benefit from this, not me personally."

The Hungarian-born billionaire said Europe and the U.S. must show strong political leadership over Ukraine -- that would make it more attractive to private investors. The West could provide finance at European interest rates close to zero, for example.

A spokesman for Soros said his investment would depend on the West doing "whatever it takes" to rescue Ukraine.

Soros launched his Open Society Foundations in 1979 to promote democracy and open societies. Most of their work has been focused on former Communist countries in central and eastern Europe, but they've also funded programs in Africa and the U.S.

"Ukraine is defending Europe's borders," Soros was quoted as saying. "But above all, the country is fighting for European values such as the rule of law and freedom. That is too often forgotten."

Related: Ukraine's economy teeters towards collapse

Russia's seizure of Crimea a year ago, and its support for armed rebels in eastern Ukraine, has sent Ukraine racing towards the economic abyss.

Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, has lost nearly 60% of its value against the dollar in just a year. GDP shrank by 7% in 2014. It's expected to fall by another 5% this year.

And while the country secured an IMF-led international bailout package in February, the chances of recovery any time soon look small.

Ukraine faces a number of daunting challenges: corruption costs the government $10 billion a year in lost revenue, IMF-mandated austerity -- such as gas price hikes and pension cuts -- are hugely unpopular, banks are collapsing under the weight of bad loans, and interest rates are the highest they've been in 15 years.

Related: Soros urges Europe to throw Ukraine $50 billion lifeline

CNNMoney (London) March 30, 2015: 12:05 PM ET

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GNC boosts quality control of herbal supplements

The announcement comes after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman accused GNC and other major retailers of selling herbal supplements that contained fillers and contaminants that could be harmful to consumers.

In February, Schneiderman sent letters to GNC (GNC), Wal-Mart (WMT), Target (TGT) and Walgreens asking them to stop selling popular products, such as Echinacea, Ginseng and St. John's Wort.

Wal-Mart, Target and Walgreens did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The attorney general's office said it tested herbal supplements sold by those stores in New York and that only 21% of the samples contained DNA from the plants listed on the product's labels. GNC products that were tested had contaminants including asparagus, rice, spruce, houseplant and legume, among other things.

The agreement is the first to require testing standards for herbal supplements that exceed current Food and Drug Administration requirements, according to Schneiderman.

Schneiderman said he has formed a coalition with the Connecticut and Indiana state attorneys general and authorities in Puerto Rico to investigate the business practices of the herbal supplement industry.

On Monday, GNC said it's "Herbal Plus" products were subjected to "rigorous tests" by the company and a third party. It says those tests proved conclusively that the supplements are "safe, pure, properly labeled and in full compliance with all regulatory requirements."

The company said it has restored its full line of "Herbal Plus" products at all GNC stores in New York.

Related: Wal-mart, Target and others under fire for selling bogus supplements

Still, GNC said it would expand its testing process "deeper into its supply chain" to ensure that its supplements are made using the ingredients listed on the box.

The company will also begin testing for the eight most common allergens, including tree nuts, wheat and soy. It will display signs in stores and post information on its website explaining how supplements are processed, including the difference between whole herbs and extracts.

Schneiderman has said that a failure to identify all the ingredients in herbal supplements could pose a health risk for consumers with food allergies, or those who are taking medication for an unrelated illness.

GNC, which has more than 6,600 stores in the U.S., will introduce the new policies over the next 18 months, and will submit semiannual compliance reports to the attorney general.

CEO Michael Archbold said the new procedures are "good for consumers, good for the industry and good for GNC."

The move is a major shift in the lightly-regulated market for herbal supplements, which is estimated to be worth $60 billion worldwide.

Herbal supplements are not subject to the same level of scrutiny as drugs are by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

GNC said it is fighting lawsuits that have been filed after Schneiderman made his allegations, which the company says are "completely without merit."

Related: Hedge fund manager cries over Herbalife

Video: Explaining Herbalife's alleged 'pyramid scheme'

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 10:42 AM ET

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Boom! The Dow is surging 250+ points

Yup, investors have forgotten all that. The market is back in rally mode. The Dow is up more than 260 points Monday, or 1.5%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rose about 1% as well.

Here are three reasons why it's shaping up to be something that Susanna Hoffs would call "just another manic Monday."

1. The Fed is going to take things slow. Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen got traders in a festive mood late Friday.

In a speech released just 15 minutes before the market closed, Yellen made it painstakingly clear that she does not think the United States economy is anywhere close to its full potential.

She said that the economy should be "booming" if things were back to normal and that there was "some way to go" before the labor market was back to full employment.

Related: Janet Yellen says U.S. economy is not good enough yet

That strongly suggests that Yellen and the rest of the Fed are highly unlikely to raise rates dramatically this year. The Fed is probably going to take baby steps as it lifts rates from near zero.

Investors who were worried the Fed would jeopardize the economic recovery and six-year market rally by hiking rates too quickly can breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Related: What an interest rate hike means to you

2. Merger mania. Mergers always tend to brighten the mood of investors, and several deals were announced Monday morning.

The highlight of Monday's merger wave was health insurer and Dow component UnitedHealth (UNH) agreeing to purchase pharmacy benefits manager Catamaran (CTRX) for nearly $13 billion. There were three other healthcare mergers on Monday as well.

Investors were still contemplating the possibility of Intel (INTC, Tech30) doing its largest acquisition ever too. There were reports late Friday that it was looking to buy chip company Altera (ALTR). Both stocks fell Monday as a deal has yet to materialize. But many other semiconductor stocks were rallying.

Related: Kraft and Heinz to create food giant

And all this follows the big food merger last week. Heinz, controlled by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) and private equity firm 3G Capital, is buying Kraft (KRFT).

3. China stimulus. One of the biggest worries that investors have dealt with this year is the possibility of a hard economic landing in China.

The Chinese economy is slowing. But China's government is taking steps to soften the impact.

The most recent initiative was the unveiling of plans to spend a lot more on infrastructure in order to promote more trade between China and Europe and Africa.

This so-called modern "Silk Road" could lead to billions of dollars invested in railroads, ports, oil pipelines and other transportation equipment.

Related: China's factories slump amid growth concerns

China's central bank has already cut interest rates twice since November. So if China is able to keep its economy from losing too much steam, that's good news for the rest of the world.

Can the rally last? it's important to note that not much has changed in the past few days.

Earnings are still likely to be weak in the first quarter. Oil prices are still low. The Greek situation remains unresolved. The Fed is going to raise interest rates.

Related: Earnings are going to stink

Stocks have been extremely volatile this year and that is likely to continue. Big mutual funds and hedge funds may also be making moves to dress up their portfolios at the end of the first quarter.

And trading volume may be light this week since there are not many key earnings and economic reports scheduled.

What's more, the stock market is closed for Good Friday -- even though the latest jobs report is coming out that day. So while Monday's rally is a nice way to start the week, don't get too excited yet.

Related: The U.S. economy is showing cracks

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 10:59 AM ET

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Trevor Noah to replace Jon Stewart as new host of 'The Daily Show'

Trevor Noah, 31, the South African comedian who is an on-air contributor on the show, will take the seat of Stewart, the longtime host who is signing off later this year.

"It's an honor to follow Jon Stewart," Noah said in a statement. "In my brief time with the show they've made me feel so welcome. I'm excited to get started and work with such a fantastic group of people."

Latest reports had Noah as the frontrunner for the position, and on Monday the comedy network confirmed those rumors.

"Trevor Noah is an enormous talent," said Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless in a statement. "For the next host of 'The Daily Show,' we set out to find a fresh voice who can speak to our audience with a keen take on the events of the day, and we found that in Trevor."

Related: Jon Stewart to sign off 'Daily Show'

The New York Times first reported the news Monday morning, and Comedy Central retweeted the Times story.

The new host of "The Daily Show," Trevor Noah.

On Monday morning, Noah also retweeted the Times story along with a tweet from Chris Rock that had a photo of Noah along with the funny caption, "Thank you, president Obama."

The pick is a surprising one considering that many high-profile names had been tossed around to replace the satirical host and that Noah is somewhat of an unknown name.

Noah made his U.S. television debut in 2012 on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," becoming the first South African standup comedian to appear on the "Tonight Show."

The young comedian has also hosted before including his own late night show in South Africa called "Tonight with Trevor Noah."

As for the man Noah will replace, Stewart, the departing host could not be happier.

"I'm thrilled for the show and for Trevor," Stewart added in the network's announcement. "He's a tremendous comic and talent that we've loved working with. ... In fact, I may rejoin as a correspondent just to be a part of it!"

Comedy Central did not say when Noah's "Daily Show" would premiere.

Noah's "Daily Show" will join Larry Wilmore's "The Nightly Show" as the new late night comedy block for the cable network.

Related: Did Comedy Central let its 3 biggest stars slip away?

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 11:16 AM ET

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This man bet $100K that there's a startup bubble

Will these "unicorns" tech firms be valued at a combined $200 billion by 2020?

Many in the industry have been sounding warning bells about a possible bubble, citing early-stage startups attracting millions in investment at sky-high valuations, despite having little or no revenue.

Last week, tech investor Sam Altman challenged bubble believers to put money where their mouths are.

Altman, who invests in young tech companies through Y Combinator, said that though there are some unreasonable valuations, he's hopeful about the future of tech. He made three predictions on where specific tech startups will be in five years' time and encouraged someone to bet against him. The wager: $100,000 in a charitable donation.

Now, Boston-based venture capitalist Michael de la Maza has taken up the challenge. For De la Maza to win, Altman has to be wrong on one of the following statements:

• These six "unicorns" (companies valued at over $1 billion) -- Uber, Palantir, Airbnb, Dropbox, Pinterest, and SpaceX -- will be worth a combined $200 billion by January 1, 2020. That's double what they're worth today, according to Altman.
• Nine mid-level Y Combinator startups -- including payments startup Stripe and bitcoin exchange firm Coinbase -- will be worth a combined $27 billion (up from less than $9 billion currently).
• Y Combinator's current batch of 114 startups ("currently worth something that rounds down to $0") will be worth $3 billion by 2020.

Interestingly, de la Maza -- who runs a $500,000 fund -- doesn't have strong beliefs on whether we are, or are not, in the midst of a tech bubble.

"People call it a bubble whenever valuations are 50% higher than they were a year ago. I think that is very uninteresting," he said. "[It is] a very information light conversation."

De la Maza said he took the bet because he wanted the opportunity to work with the startup guru -- and he believes in Altman's mission.

"I'm relatively indifferent to what the bet itself is," de la Maza said. "I think what [Altman] was trying to do was turn [the bubble] into a hypothesis that can be tracked -- to make it very clear, and allow people to concretely talk about."

Altman confirmed the bet on Sunday via Twitter. He also opened up the bet to another investor with a larger portfolio.

Danielle Morrill, CEO of Y Combinator-backed Mattermark, will track the startup portfolios in question using her firm's business intelligence software.

De la Maza , who used to play chess and poker, said he's prepared to donate to charity should he lose the bet.

He's even eying a Y Combinator-backed nonprofit as a potential recipient: Watsi, a crowd-sourced healthcare platform.

"I think it's a wonderful thing that a charity is going to receive $100,000," he said.

Related: The great tech debate: Are we in a bubble or not?

Related: 9 reason to be hopeful about the future of tech

Related: What bubble? Many social media stocks are big losers

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 11:49 AM ET

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Popular Google search: 'Why are gas prices so low?'

If you type "why are" into Google search, the top two auto-complete results are: "gas prices so low" and "oil prices falling." The next most popular forms of this question: "why are gmos bad" and "why are gas prices going up."

The uncertainty -- and rush to Google for answers -- is understandable. Even the smartest people on Wall Street didn't predict the massive supply glut that caused oil to collapse from $107 a barrel in June to just $49 today.

Gas prices tumbled for a record 123 straight days between October and January to just $2.03 a gallon on average, according to AAA. Prices at the pump have since rebounded to $2.42 a gallon, but that's still down from $3.52 around the same time last year.

Related: $2 gas is gone -- for now

Uncertainty holding back spending? The unease that's pushing people to search for an answer on Google (GOOG) could explain why cheap gas has failed to encourage more Americans to splurge on big purchases. New numbers released Monday show consumer spending inched up just 0.1% in February from January, suggesting people continue to hoard rather than spend their gas savings.

"Perhaps people are trying to first understand the nature of this rapid fall before spending extra cash on discretionary purchases, such as at the mall or car dealer," according to a report from brokerage Convergex that highlighted the Google search results.

In other words, Americans are worried that this might be just a blip and that the cheap gas may not be here to stay.

Related: Iran nuclear deal could make oil even cheaper

Sign of a recession? The confusion over the oil prices may also be driven by worries about broader economic conditions. The last time oil was this cheap the U.S. economy was in the midst of the Great Recession. Demand was falling off a cliff.

Many people were understandably concerned that the recent plunge in oil prices was a sign of another economic crisis.

Yet that does not appear to be the case. While the economy has recently begun to show some cracks, it's in far better shape than the scary days of 2008 and 2009.

Related: Why OPEC can't kill the U.S. oil boom

Supply, not demand driven: Demand is sluggish, but the real driver of the energy selloff has been swelling supplies. There's simply more oil than the world needs.

North American oil production has skyrocketed in recent years, led by the U.S. shale oil boom. Canada is also pumping out tons of oil.

Interactive: World's top oil producers

Rather than cut back on output to balance the market, OPEC -- led by Saudi Arabia -- has put its foot down and kept production steady. The cartel's strategy appears aimed at maintaining market share by squeezing high-cost producers like U.S. shale and Canadian oil sands producers.

As OPEC and the West continue to flood the market with oil, consumers could get another break at the pump from an unlikely source: Iran. If the West and Iran reach a nuclear deal, it could pave the way for Tehran to start selling lots more oil on the open market. That's definitely not going to erase that supply glut.

Related: Oil surges after Saudi strikes in Yemen

CNNMoney (New York) March 30, 2015: 12:02 PM ET

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Brian Williams makes first public appearance since suspension

The embattled anchor turned up at a fundraiser Saturday to help save his high school alma mater, Mater Dei Prep in Middletown, New Jersey, from shuttering its doors later this year.

Mater Dei announced last month that it will close in June due to a projected loss of almost $1 million.

Williams, who never obtained a college degree, told the Two River Times that Mater Dei was a "very, very important part of my life."

"I did not know it then, but it was the last degree I'd ever earn," he said.

The Two River Times reported that Williams attended with his wife, Jane Stoddard, and "was warmly received and mingled with the crowd of 455 people" at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. According to the Asbury Park Press, Williams donated $50,000 to assist the school's efforts.

Williams has been lying low since NBC News suspended him for six months without pay for telling an exaggerated tale from his time covering the Iraq War in 2003. A spokesperson for NBC News said Williams has no upcoming appearances scheduled.

The network is conducting an internal investigation about the disputed Iraq anecdote, as well as other potentially questionable accounts Williams has shared over the years.

There has been ample speculation over Williams' future since the suspension was dealt on February 11. The anchor chair on "NBC Nightly News" has been filled by Lester Holt, who has maintained NBC's ratings supremacy since Williams was sidelined.

Related: Lester Holt's winning ratings earn applause at NBC

Williams, who has been silent since his suspension, didn't appear to address the controvesy at the fundraiser on Saturday. Perhaps the closest thing to a public comment on the controversy came last month when Williams' daughter, Allison Williams, spoke at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan.

She praised her father's "integrity," calling him "an honest man" and a "truthful man."

"So that's the kind of man he is," she said, "and I can't wait until he's back on TV. And I know that many of you guys feel that way."

--CNN's Brian Stelter contributed to this report.

Related: Brian Williams' daughter 'can't wait until he's back on TV'

Related: Andrew Lack is back at NBC News

Related: NBC's Chuck Todd 'proud' of how network handled Brian Williams

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 10:37 AM ET

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What bubble? Many social media stocks are losers

The Nasdaq is back above 5,000 and not far from its all-time high.

And social media stocks are leading the charge in tech. Twitter (TWTR, Tech30) is up more than 35% so far this year. Facebook (FB, Tech30) is at an all-time high. LinkedIn (LNKD, Tech30) trades for nearly 90 times 2015 earnings forecasts.

So this must be 2000 all over again, right?

Not exactly.

Sure, the sector's leaders are flying high. The stocks may be ahead of themselves and could be due for a pullback.

But Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are all reporting healthy gains in revenue and are expected to post solid increases in profits over the next few years.

Related: Mark Cuban is worried about a bubble in startups

These are real companies with enormous, entrenched user bases generating actual revenue from ads and fees. They are not the second coming of Webvan, theglobe.com and Pets.com.

Another difference between now and 15 years ago? Investors are also doing a better job of picking winners and losers this time around.

Companies that aren't doing well are being punished. There isn't a wave of hype lifting all social media stocks.

In fact, the Global X Social Media Index (SOCL) exchange-traded fund has fallen during the past year while the Nasdaq is up nearly 20%.

Even though this ETF owns the big social media companies that are thriving, it also holds many of the industry's laggards -- such as Groupon (GRPN), Zynga (ZNGA), Yelp (YELP), Pandora (P) and Angie's List (ANGI).

Related: Why this tech party isn't like 1999

If things were really as insane as they were in 2000, you would see a lot more companies with poor track records taking part in the rally along with the their stronger rivals. That's not happening now.

Yes, there are some private companies that have raised significant sums of money from prominent venture capitalists and are already worth tens of billions of dollars. That is a little unsettling.

Will companies like Uber, Aribnb and Snapchat be able to generate the strong levels of revenue and earnings growth that Wall Street will demand from them if they decide to go public? That's not clear.

Heck., Uber's $40 billion valuation makes the ride sharing app worth more than Twitter and LinkedIn.

So if there is a bubble anywhere in tech, look at the companies that aren't yet trading -- not the ones that are already public.

Related: Uber banks an additional $1 billion in funding

Related: Alibaba has invested $200 million in Snapchat

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 11:13 AM ET

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Stephen King slams Maine governor over tax dis

"Governor Paul LePage implied that I don't pay my taxes," tweeted King. "I do. Every cent. I think he needs to man up and apologize."

King made that statement on March 19. The governor had just called him out in his weekly radio broadcast for fleeing the state to avoid income taxes, according to the Portland Press Herald.

According to the Portland Press Herald's screen shot of the original transcript from the governor's web site, he says that King "moved away" from Maine, along with Burt's Bees co-founder Roxanne Quimby and former Gov. Ken Curtis, who "lives in Florida where there is no income tax."

On Monday morning, however, the transcript on the governor's site didn't contain any references to King.

Stephen King wants an apology from Maine's governor, who said that he left the state to avoid taxes.

King is the bestselling author of 55 books, including "It," a horror novel with a scary clown.

"No apology from Governor LePage," tweeted King on Sunday. "Some guys are a lot better at dishing it out than taking it back."

The governor's office did not immediately return messages from CNNMoney.

King is a native of Maine. He was born in Portland and owns two homes in the state. He reportedly winters in Sarasota, Fla., which is what the governor was referring to.

He is one of the most prominent living authors in the world, with a net worth of $400 million, according to celebritynetworth.com.

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 9:40 AM ET

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Steve McQueen's old motorcycle goes for $775,000

The motorcycle, a Cyclone Board Track Racer, looks more like a bicycle with a motor added on than a traditional motorcycle. The model was made by the Joerns Motor Manufacturing Co. between 1913 and 1916. This motorcycle was auctioned off Saturday by Mecum Auctions in Las Vegas. Despite its modest appearance a motorcycle from this model was recorded going 111 mph in 1914, which was a record at that time.

Related: Warren Buffett Cadillac sells for $122,500

The motorcycle was owned by McQueen, and was previously purchased at an estate auction in November 1984, four years after his death. It has been restored since then.

McQueen was an avid collector of cars and motorcycles and his ownership can sometimes result in a sales price five times greater than what a comparable vehicle would sell for at auction. The $775,000 for this motorcycle was slightly more than the top price expected before the auction.

The most expensive motorcycle ever sold at auction was the $1.35 million paid this past October for the chopper used in the film "Easy Rider."

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 9:42 AM ET

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China loves buying European companies

The latest big acquisition came Monday with news of an $8 billion bid for Italian tiremaker Pirelli (PPAMF).

The world's second largest economy poured more than $22 billion into deals in western Europe in 2014, according to global merger and acquisition tracker Dealogic. That's about four times as much as the previous year.

China National Chemical Corporation said it was buying a controlling 26.2% stake in Pirelli (PPAMF), which supplies the tires for Formula 1 racing. The Chinese company will then bid for the remaining shares as part of a consortium of investors.

That deal is China's third biggest acquisition in Europe, according to Dealogic, meaning 2015 is off to an impressive start.

With more than nine months of the year to go, Chinese buyers have already spent nearly $12 billion in western Europe.

Related: Obama crackdown fails to stop foreign mergers

France was the hottest destination for Chinese acquisitions last year, with Italy and the Netherlands rounding out the top three.

A weak euro and signs of an economic recovery have spurred China to step up its push into Europe. Analysts at Deloitte said depressed asset prices in the euro zone have created "vast opportunities for bargain seekers in China."

Now confidence in Europe's recovery is building. Growth is returning, cheap oil is helping consumers and the weak euro is giving exporters an edge. Plus massive stimulus by the ECB is giving markets a boost.

Deloitte said manufacturing and technology are the most attractive European sectors to the Chinese. Germany has plenty of appeal due to its strong industrial base, and the country's robust sector of medium-sized companies present attractive opportunities for investors, it added.

Outside the eurozone, the U.K. is another hot spot. So far this year it's drawn $1.3 billion in acquisitions from China. London's real estate market continues to attract steady investment flows from the country.

Related: China's rubber-stamp parliament is a billionaires' club

CNNMoney (London) March 23, 2015: 10:10 AM ET

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The student loan hack you don't know about

Alicia, it depends where you end up working. Are you planning on working for a nonprofit or the government? If so, that's a good first step.

The program you're hearing about is designed to help ease the burden of skyrocketing tuition costs while encouraging graduates to enter low-paying but socially important "Main Street" jobs -- like teachers, firefighters, nurses, librarians, court clerks, public defenders and EMTs.

Full-time employees of certain nonprofits also qualify. So you may be eligible even if the role you're in -- say accounting, clerical, or tech -- might not strictly be considered "public service." The key is working for a qualified nonprofit or government organization. About a quarter of the U.S. workforce does, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal government's consumer watchdog.

Still, your debt won't be forgiven immediately. First, you have to make 10 years' worth of payments -- on time -- while working in public service. If you're approved, whatever federal debt you have left is eligible to be forgiven.

Under current law, the debt forgiven is tax-free. The program was passed by Congress in 2007, so the first batch of borrowers will be eligible for forgiveness starting in 2017.

Wondering if you qualify? Ask your employer if it falls under the definition of nonprofit or public service employer -- the CFPB offers a guide. The Department of Education also offers a helpful list of common questions.

--Christine Romans is CNN Chief Business Correspondent and author of Smart is the New Rich: Money Guide for Millennials. The book is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com and in bookstores next week. Romans is giving away a copy to each person whose question is being answered this week.

Millennials: What's your most pressing money question? Are you worried about getting a job? Ask Christine Romans your question here, or on Twitter or Facebook using #askchristine and @cnnmoney.

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 10:33 AM ET

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India to surpass China in economic growth

Lagarde, who was visiting India last week, said the country's economy is expected to grow 7.5% in the upcoming 2015-2016 fiscal year, which begins in April, up from 7.2% in the current fiscal year.

At that rate, India would be the world's fastest growing large economy, she added.

Late last year, the IMF had predicted that India's economy would grow by 6.5% in 2016, faster than China's predicted 6.3% expansion. Estimates have since been revised for Indian gross domestic product.

However even with the faster pace of growth, India doesn't come close to China in terms of raw economic power.

China's economic output totaled more than $10 trillion in 2014, compared with India's roughly $2 trillion, according to IMF data. Also, predictions don't necessarily always come true.

Still, Lagarde describe India as a "bright spot" in the outlook for global economic growth.

"The conditions are ripe for India to reap the demographic dividend and become a key engine for global growth," Lagarde told students at an event organized at a women's college in New Dehil on March. 16. "It is on the verge of a new chapter, filled with immense promise."

Related: 6 big ideas from India's budget

Lagarde attributed India's dynamism to "recent policy reforms and improved business confidence" that provided a "booster shot" for the economy.

The pro-business government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made economic growth a top priority.

In its latest budget, the Modi government announced plans to cut taxes on businesses, boost spending on infrastructure, among other broad initiatives.

Looking further ahead, Lagarde said India's economy will have doubled in size compared with 2009. She said Indian output is also on track to exceed the combined output of Russia, Brazil and Indonesia.

Related: India has more billionaires than Russia

Lagarde said the India's robust outlook reflects its growing and young population.

More than half of India's 1.25 billion population is below the age of 25, with 12 million Indians entering the workforce every year.

By 2030, India is expected to top China as the world's most populous nation, according to Lagarde.

Related: India's growth numbers are a total mystery

Related: Indian economy gets a jolt

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 10:43 AM ET

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You can now rent a Rolex ... or five

Eleven James lets customers rent luxury watches for several months at a time.

Enter Eleven James, a company that offers men the chance to try out a new watch for a few months at a time, by allowing its members to rent different luxury watches several times a year.

Like NetJets, which lets customers buy à la carte flights on private planes, Rent the Runway for pricey party dresses and Bag Borrow or Steal for high-end handbags, Eleven James gives customers access to luxury watches they may not be able to afford or may just want to test out without the five-figure price tag and lifetime commitment.

Users make two primary choices: what type of watches they want to wear and how frequently they want to change. There are currently three tiers, based on watches that retail for $10,000, $20,000 and $40,000. They then choose how many times they want to switch it up -- between three and six times per year. They fill out a preference sheet based on brands and styles they're interested in, and work with a concierge to figure out which watches they'll try next.

Membership for the least expensive watches, brands like Breitling, Panerai and Rolex, start at $199 per month, or $2,150 per year. On the high end, for watches like Patek Philippe and A. Lange & Sohne, it can reach $1,379 per month, or $14,900 per year.

Related: 13 things to know about the Apple Watch

In an age when a clock is displayed on any of the expensive electronic devices people already carry, why would anyone pay to borrow a device that only tells time?

According to Randy Brandoff, Eleven James' founder and CEO, the watch is still what makes an outfit, and there's a tremendous amount of heritage and craftsmanship that many people, especially in the professional sphere, still appreciate.

But because it's such a huge purchase, and a person can only wear one at a time, the idea of getting to try out a number of different watches without first having to buy one is appealing, he said.

Santo Rosabianca is one customer who'd grown tired of his old Omega. But after signing up with Eleven James, he suddenly had new options that suited his tastes -- a Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco to fit his Formula 1 fandom, and an Italian-made Panerai to appeal to his Italian heritage.

"Everyone I meet compliments me and it's brought me new business. It's a real conversation starter," he said. "I've been really blessed by it."

Of course, it appeals to collectors who are intrigued by the idea of trying out all kinds of watches and models several times a year. But it's also bringing in a new customer.

"We're seeing millennials who, as adults, are getting ever more curious," he said. "It's a pretty big leap to go from an iPhone to a Rolex, so they want to try them out."

That's good news for the watch industry, since Brandoff said the company is attracting clients who weren't yet collecting or had become apathetic because they didn't have any variety. It makes sense, then, that 85% of its members said they were more likely to purchase a watch within the next year because of the service.

Brent Handler was one of them. He ended up purchasing the first watch he was sent to try from Eleven James. He owned a Cartier watch his wife bought him before, and didn't think he needed to spend $10,000 on another one, until he became "enamored with" the Zenith watch he was borrowing.

"I'm 46 years old. I have three kids. There aren't that many new things that I get to experience," he said. "But when I get a call six times a year from a concierge saying, 'what kind of watch do you want?' that's something to look forward to."

Eleven James also avoids the regret that often comes with make a big watch purchase. Eric Wind, a contributor to the online watch magazine Hodinkee, said that many people lament that they didn't know that much about watches or didn't know what they would like when they bought an expensive watch, and then they're stuck with it.

"Watch tastes typically evolve over time and the luxury watch rental services provide users with that commodity of time -- literally," he said.

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 10:56 AM ET

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Keeping Greece in the euro: Mission impossible?

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin later on Monday.

Tsipras arrives in Germany -- the biggest single contributor to Greece's 240-billion euro ($262 billion) international bailout -- warning that Athens will find it "impossible" to avoid defaulting on its debt repayments without more cash from Europe.

"Servicing these repayments through internal resources alone would, indeed, lead to a sharp deterioration in the already depressed Greek social economy -- a prospect that I will not countenance," Tsipras wrote in a March 15 letter to Merkel first published by the Financial Times.

Greek government spokesman Gavriel Sakelarides confirmed the content of the letter Monday. He said Tsipras was not threatening Germany but rather laying out the "reality" facing his country.

"There is a liquidity problem and political initiatives must be undertaken," Sakelarides told Greek TV.

And here's the problem: Europe will only hand over more cash once it's satisfied that Greece is implementing reforms it promised in February to win an extension of its financial lifeline to the end of June.

Pressure on Merkel to hold a firm line with Greece is coming from two sources: German taxpayers who don't want to throw good money after bad, and European states who have stuck with painful austerity and believe they're beginning to see the benefits of those reforms.

Related: Greece needs to behave like a startup

While the political wrangling continues, Greece's financial position goes from bad to worse. Tax revenues fell short of forecasts by more than one billion euros in the first two months of the year, the economy is shrinking again and cash is leaving the country.

"Tonight, Prime Minister Tsipras has potentially his last chance to convince German Chancellor Merkel that he will ultimately do what it takes to keep Greece in the euro," noted Christian Schulz at Berenberg bank.

"If he fails to inspire any kind of trust in Berlin, securing the necessary funds to keep going, let alone the inevitable third bailout in July, will be a fantasy."

Greece repaid more than 900 million euros to the International Monetary Fund last week, but faces another repayment demand of about 470 million euros on April 9.

With its budget surplus fast evaporating, and unable to borrow from international markets, Greece's anti-austerity government would then face a stark choice: default or slash spending at home.

-- CNN's Elinda Labropoulou in Athens contributed to this article.

CNNMoney (London) March 23, 2015: 11:02 AM ET

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Gallery to showcase art from UK's most violent prisoner

One of Bronson's drawings.

If you haven't heard of Bronson, then you're probably not British. He's been dubbed, by tabloids and the public, as one of the most notorious convicts in the U.K. prison system.

So imagine the surprise of Gabrielle du Plooy, owner of the Zebra One Gallery in London, when she discovered a stack of his art beneath a pile of papers and canvases.

The collection of 10 postcard drawings was obtained by her father, who owned the gallery until he died. He acquired them from a now-closed pub called Bedlam Bar. No one knows how the art ended up at the bar, said gallery spokeswoman Katie Malcolmson.

The art now also has a chance of going up for auction. The gallery will display the art on March 27 and will hold a private auction whenever a charity agrees to partner with them. She wants to donate the proceeds to a mental health charity, but the gallery hasn't yet been able to line up a charity willing to associate with the work of Bronson.

Bronson is a lifelong brawler and prisoner who nicknamed himself after the tough guy movie star Charles Bronson. He has three names -- he was born Michael Peterson and changed his name last year to Charles Salvador, after Salvador Dali.

He is a prolific artist, focusing on themes of incarceration and mental illness. Much of his art can be viewed on his web site.

He has spent most his life in the British prison system, since his original incarceration in 1974 for robbing a post office at gunpoint. He was initially sentenced to seven years. But his fights with other prisoners and guards, taking prison staffers hostage and starting riots, has extended his incarceration by decades. He has spent a good part of his 40-year prison life in solitary confinement.

His exploits are well-known to the British public since they provide irresistible fodder for the British press, especially because of his singular appearance, with a handlebar moustache and granny glasses. His status as a glorified anti-hero has made him a controversial celebrity in the United Kingdom.

In 2008, he was the subject of a violent art house film called "Bronson." He was portrayed by actor Tom Hardy, who went on to star as the villain Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises." Hardy has also replaced Mel Gibson in the upcoming "Mad Max" installment, "Fury Road."

Bronson has also published books that he co-authored in prison, including an autobiography, called "Insanity: My Mad Life," and an instructional book on working out, called "Solitary Fitness," where he claims to do thousands of push-ups every day.

"If I hit you, I'll deform your looks," brags Bronson in his fitness book. "I can hit a man 20 times in four seconds!"

Related: CNNMoney prison exclusive with Madoff, the king of thieves

Related: Out of prison, out of job, out of luck

CNNMoney (New York) March 23, 2015: 11:36 AM ET

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$45 billion cement merger collapses

Switzerland's Holcim has pulled out of a proposed merger with France's Lafarge that would have created the world's largest cement group.

Switzerland's concrete giant Holcim (HCMLF) has pulled out of its proposed 42 billion euro ($45 billion) tie-up with France's Lafarge (LFGEF), which the pair agreed to in April last year.

Holcim wants to renegotiate the terms including the one-to-one share exchange ratio and governance issues.

While Lafarge said it was willing to reconsider the share ratio, it's refusing to budge on other parts of the agreement.

Related: The hottest stock market in the world...

Holcim argues its shares have been outperforming Lafarge's since the deal was announced last year.

The Swiss franc has gained 13% against the euro since January, making the Swiss company more valuable.

Between them, the Swiss and French firms have about 30% of the market or more in the United States, Canada, Britain, France and many other smaller countries, according to UBS research.

After the announcement, Lafarge shares fell more than 4.4% while Holcim's stock edged down 0.4%.

CNNMoney (London) March 16, 2015: 8:03 AM ET

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Oil plunges to a 6-year low. Is $30 a barrel next?

Crude plunged 4% to as low as $42.85 a barrel on Monday. That's the lowest price since 2009.

This should bring smiles to the faces of the millions of American drivers who have watched gasoline prices creep higher in recent weeks.

A month ago, people were talking about an "oil comeback." Now that looks like just a mirage. More and more analysts predict prices of $40 or lower, at least in the near term.

"I think the market almost has to have a $30-handle on it before it gets this out of its system," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.

That could cause gas prices to take another tumble, Kloza says, bringing the average U.S. price back to around $2 a gallon. It's currently at $2.42.

Related: The 'smart money' is investing in oil now

What's fueling the latest plunge? The world still has too much oil. The supply glut that sparked the dramatic crash in crude from $100 a barrel last summer to under $50 in January remains.

The key now is to see a pullback in production, but so far no one wants to budge. OPEC hasn't scaled back production, and power player Saudi Arabia continues to say it has no intention to do so.

In the U.S., shale companies also continue to pump more and more oil. While there are signs that the number of oil drilling rigs has fallen significantly in recent weeks, there's a lag before that drop in rigs really translates into less production.

"Shale production is not getting dented," says Kloza.

Related: Tomorrow's oil price? Guesses range from $20 to $200

Strong dollar, weak oil: At the same time, the U.S. dollar continues to skyrocket at an even faster pace than anyone expected. One dollar is now nearly worth one euro, and Goldman Sachs thinks the euro could plunge to just 80 cents by the end of 2017.

A stronger greenback is bad for oil prices because the black stuff trades in dollars. So when the dollar strengthens, it makes oil more expensive for foreign buyers whose own currencies are weaker.

One factor that could spark another round of selling is a nuclear deal with Iran that lifts sanctions on the country. Allowing Iranian oil to flood the market would only exacerbate the ongoing supply glut.

Related: The dollar is crushing other currencies

Key numbers to watch: While the oil slide has been going on for months, there are key thresholds that act as trigger points for the market. Crude's collapse below $43.50 a barrel on Monday represents one of those points.

Barclays said that breach makes the bank more negative on oil and signals a further move below $40. In other words, the selling is probably not done.

"It will overreact to the downside. There are an awful lot of smart people who think this market is on a rendezvous course with the December 2008 low of $32.40," says Kloza.

That level represents a modern day low, although it occurred under extremely different circumstances. Back then oil was slammed by lack of demand as the world's largest economy was trying to rescue itself from a major financial crisis. Today oil is falling because there is too much supply.

These prices probably won't last, experts say. Oil is unlikely to average a low figure like today's $43 for all of this year or next. But it's part of the recovery process.

"It's a little bit like a professional athlete tearing his meniscus. There is a lot of rehab needed," says Kloza.

Related: Saudi Arabia: Don't blame us for oil's big plunge

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 11:51 AM ET

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This is BlackBerry's new $2,000 smartphone

BlackBerry has released a new $2,000 smartphone designed by Porsche.

The BlackBerry P'9983 is hand-wrapped with leather, and it features "glass-like keys" and a graphite, stainless-steel-color frame made of "blackened glass."

The new phone is so exclusive, it even comes with a unique BlackBerry (BBRY, Tech30) PIN ID for BBM messaging. Every Porsche-designed BlackBerry starts with the prefix 2AA, " which sets you apart and makes you instantly recognizable among other Porsche Design users," BlackBerry says.

It's a cool-looking BlackBerry for sure, but for $1,950, you'd think BlackBerry would up the ante a bit on the phone's guts.

The P'9983 has a teeny 3.1-inch screen. It has a classic QWERTY keyboard, so you're not going to get an iPhone 6 Plus-like screen size. But it's small even when compared to the 4.5-inch screen on the high-end BlackBerry Passport (which sells for $600). And the resolution is just "meh."

Its 64 GB of storage is respectable, but the Passport has 50% more memory than the P'9983's 2 GB of RAM.

What's particularly disappointing about the P'9983 is its battery life. It's a relatively tiny battery for any smartphone, let alone one that costs three times more than an iPhone. The Passport's battery is 64% larger.

Then again, if you're buying the P'9983, you're probably not in it for the specs.

This is the third collaboration between BlackBerry and Porsche Design. The previous phones have been priced similarly.

The P'9983 phone was first announced in September.

Porsche Design was founded by Porsche 911 creator Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972 after he left the automaker. The company designs a variety of luxury goods, from clothing to luggage to watches.

BlackBerry is in the midst of a difficult turnaround effort. The company says it thinks it can still make money in the handset market, but executives say the focus going forward is on providing software and services to business customers, particularly those in heavily regulated sectors like finance and insurance that demand top-notch security.

Related: A BlackBerry ... designed by Porsche

Related: BlackBerry commits to software on any device

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 11:46 AM ET

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Stocks: 6 things to know before the open

Click on chart for more pre-market data

Here are the six things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Monday momentum: Most European markets are rising in early trade, with Germany's DAX pushing above 12,000 points for the first time, as the newly-launched money printing program by the European Central Bank continues to support stocks. The DAX is the world's hottest market so far this year.

U.S. stock futures are also gaining ground.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

2. Stock market movers -- Construction crumbles: Building materials groups are missing out on the positive start after a mega cement merger fell apart. Switzerland's Holcim (HCMLF) said it wanted to renegotiate a planned $45 billion deal with France's Lafarge (LFGEF). Shares in Lafarge fell 4%, while Holcim slipped about 1%. Industry rival CRH (CRH) fell 3% in London.

3. China boost: The Shanghai Composite gained more than 2%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.5%, as China's Premier Li Keqiang promised to press ahead with economic reforms, and reiterated that the government had plenty of options to bolster growth if necessary to hit this year's target of 7%.

Keqiang was speaking as China's closed its annual parliamentary meetings on Sunday in Beijing. He said the reforms would hurt.

"This is not nail clipping," he said. "This is like taking knife to one's own flesh."

4. Waiting for the Fed: U.S. markets have been on edge in recent days as investors have tried to figure out the timing of a rise in U.S. interest rates. The Federal Reserve starts a two-day meeting Tuesday, and markets are speculating that a critical word -- patient -- may be removed from its official policy statement. That could open the door for the Fed to raise rates in June, earlier than some hoped.

5. Economics: The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index will come out at 10 a.m. ET.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

6. Friday market recap: The Dow Jones industrial average lost 146 points, while the S&P 500 fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq closed 0.4% lower.

Related: Have an investing question? Ask CNNMoney!

CNNMoney (London) March 16, 2015: 8:20 AM ET

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Facebook: Here's exactly what we mean by 'nudity'

For instance, Facebook (FB, Tech30) clarified what constitutes nudity (genitals, fully exposed buttocks and female breasts if they include the nipple -- except if the women are breastfeeding or showing post-mastectomy scars).

Nude illustrations are fine, as long as they're for educational or satirical purposes and aren't "explicit."

And so-called revenge porn, in which someone posts sexual images of another person without permission, is not allowed.

Hate speech has been another tricky topic for Facebook. The company said attacks on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender and "serious" disabilities are banned.

These distinctions have become necessary, because Facebook walks a thin line as it tries to police speech that spans dozens of countries and more than a billion people.

Facebook has run afoul of various interest groups and users when it has taken down controversial posts, including beheadings (which it then re-allowed and then re-banned last year). The company has inconsistently banned some hate speech, protests and nudity.

"It's a challenge to maintain one set of standards that meets the needs of a diverse global community," said Monika Bickert, Facebook's head of global policy management, and Chris Sonderby, Facebook's deputy general counsel, in a blog post. "For one thing, people from different backgrounds may have different ideas about what's appropriate to share -- a video posted as a joke by one person might be upsetting to someone else, but it may not violate our standards."

By clarifying its rules, Facebook said it hopes to explain more precisely why some posts and profiles stay up while others are taken down. The standards aren't new, Facebook says -- it only sought to clear up any misunderstandings.

"We have a set of Community Standards that are designed to help people understand what is acceptable to share on Facebook," Facebook said. "These standards are designed to create an environment where people feel motivated and empowered to treat each other with empathy and respect."

In addition to nudity and hate speech, Facebook gave extra emphasis to what constitutes self-injury, dangerous organizations, bullying and harassment, criminal activity, sexual violence and exploitation, violence and graphic content.

But the updated guidelines also clarify some other hot-buttion issues, including something seemingly as benign as what name you use. Recently, Facebook became embroiled in a debate with San Francisco drag queens who wanted to use their stage names rather than their legal names. Facebook ultimately gave in, and this week the company clarified that people must use their "authentic identities," which are the names that they are generally known by.

Facebook acknowledged that its policies "won't perfectly address every piece of content," but it will continue to address cases on an individual basis, when possible. It will also keep relying on the community to flag what it deems to be inappropriate content. Users can report troubling posts to Facebook by clicking the "Report" link at the top, right-hand corner of the page or app.

Related: Facebook will loosen policy for drag queens

Related: Outrage erupts over Facebook's decision on graphic videos

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 8:26 AM ET

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Dairy Queen is giving away ice cream

Dairy Queen is offering free cones of vanilla soft-serve ice cream Monday in honor of its 75th anniversary.

The one-day offer is limited to small cones, and it's just one per customer, so don't get any greedy ideas.

The giveaway is available at participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations.

Dairy Queen, part of Warren Buffett's sprawling conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA), has 6,400 locations in the United States.

In honor of its anniversary, the company is also raising money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity that provides support for children's hospitals nationwide.

Related: KFC tests edible coffee cups

Related: Krispy Kreme has a bacon hot dog donut. Yum or yuck?

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 8:55 AM ET

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5 highest paying jobs for military vets

As new data from PayScale recently found, veterans are at least twice as likely as civilians to hold certain high paying jobs in industries like national security, technology and transportation.

Here are the five veteran-heavy positions that pay the most after at least 10 years of experience in that field:

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Median salary: $167,200

It's not all that surprising that veterans are often hired to direct a company's IT strategies and infrastructure. Along with infantry and logistics, communication technology is one of the most common areas for officer training, said Nick Swaggert, who directs the veterans program at staffing company Genesis10.

"Communication is probably the single biggest thing we do in the military, even more than shooting guns," said Swaggert, who has completed two tours of duty and is currently an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve. "All these different organizations have to talk to each other across different services and foreign countries, so the number of communicators we have trained is really high."

Related: Highest paid graduates

Combine that technical expertise with years of leadership experience, and the military is preparing thousands of soldiers for a possible future in this executive level job. It is an especially popular position among Army veterans, who are almost four times more likely to become a CIO than an average citizen, according to PayScale.

CAPTURE MANAGER

Median salary: $164,100

Capture managers oversee a company's bids for new business opportunities, especially government contracts. And veterans are ten times more likely to hold this position than a civilian, according to PayScale.

"It's basically a fancy sales position," said Lisa Rosser, founder and CEO of The Value of a Veteran, a consulting and training company that helps companies with veteran hiring.

While sales is not an occupation in the military, businesses need someone who knows the workings of the government and the military so they can present their products and services in a way that makes sense to those organizations, said Rosser.

Companies are especially interested in hiring people who have been in the military for more than 20 years -- that's a "sweet spot" because they've risen far enough in the ranks that they've developed the right contacts and understand what makes their products most appealing to the organization, she said.

SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER

Median salary: $137,900

Veterans are almost seven times more likely than a civilian to become a senior program manager, which is an upper-level manager who is in charge of specific projects within an organization.

Military veterans are often tasked with leading groups of soldiers at relatively young ages and can transition those same skills into leading an office team.

"Our officer corps tends to be very management focused, but our senior enlisted members also manage projects, especially if they are in a staff position in the military where you're managing exercises or a program of some kind," said Rosser, who has served 10 years of active Army service and 12 years in the Army Reserve.

VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY

Median salary: $134,200

"There is a reason why people use the expression 'military-grade technology,'" said Swaggert. "The military does see a lot of hardware before other people see it."

A vice president of technology not only needs to have a firm grasp of the technological challenges facing a company, he or she must also be able to effectively manage and motivate employees.

Related: Best Jobs in America 2015

Military personnel -- and especially officers -- receive training throughout their military careers, which can add up to a set of technical and leadership skills that can be difficult to amass in civilian work, said Swaggert.

"That's where you see the huge difference between service members and civilians," said Swaggert. "How often does someone say they're going to take a year off and go to school again? That's what we do every few years as officers."

CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER

Median salary: $133,700

With major data breaches becoming an all too common occurrence, the role of chief information security officer is more challenging today than it has ever been. These IT workers usually oversee a team of highly-skilled employees who are responsible for protecting a company's information systems and evaluating its security strategies.

Armed with a new focus on "cyber warfare," military veterans are often well qualified to apply their skills to similar positions in the private workforce.

Veterans are more than six times more likely to work in this position than a civilian, according to PayScale.

"This is the future of warfare, and the military realizes that," said Swaggert.

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 9:48 AM ET

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Chicago's tallest building Willis Tower sells for $1.3 billion

The observation deck at Willis Tower.

The 110-story office tower, formerly called the Sears Tower, is a landmark in Chicago and one of the tallest buildings in the world.

Blackstone (BX) said Monday that it signed a deal to buy the nation's second-tallest office building from 233 South Wacker LLC., the group that currently owns the tower.

The private equity giant, which specializes in buying up companies and properties on the cheap, sees the tower as both a tourist attraction and a play on Chicago's growing business district.

"We are bullish on Chicago as companies expand within and move into the city and look for first-class office space," said Jacob Werner, an executive in Blackstone's real estate group. "We see great potential in further improving both the building's retail operations and the tourist experience for one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Chicago."

Related: Inside New York City's priciest apartments

The sellers, including an Illinois real estate firm called American Landmark Properties, stand to make a tidy profit on the transaction. They paid $840 million for the tower in 2004.

The Willis Tower was renamed in 2009 after the insurance broker Willis Group Holdings leased the naming rights. However, many locals still refer to the landmark skyscraper as the Sears Tower.

The Sears Tower was opened in 1973 and is 1,730 feet tall, including its antenna. It was originally named for retailer Sears, Roebuck & Co., which moved its headquarters to Hoffman Estates, Ill. in 1992.

New York City's Freedom Tower, completed last year, stands at 1,776 feet tall at its highest point.

Related: The answer to New York City's housing crisis is smaller apartments

Related: Luxury New York apartment accepts 'poor door' applications

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 10:02 AM ET

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Most profitable NCAA teams

Kentucky may be undefeated and heavily favored on the court, but the team doesn't make nearly as much money as many other men's basketball programs.

But when it comes to profits, they're also-rans.

The top-earning men's college basketball is actually the Wildcats' in-state rivals, the Louisville Cardinals. That team posted $24 million in profits on revenue of about $40 million during the 2013-2014 school year, based on a CNNMoney analysis of figures filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

While Kentucky has one of the best men's basketball teams, it actually ranks 16th in terms of profitability, with earnings of $7.5 million last year.

That makes them less profitable than the Northwestern Wildcats -- even though Northwestern has never made the NCAA tournament.

The second most profitable team is yet another one named the Wildcats: the University of Arizona, which posted a $17.7 million profit.

Related: Buffett's $1 billion NCAA bet goes bust

Syracuse, which was just hit by NCAA sanctions and won't be going to the tournament this year, was the third most profitable men's basketball team. But Syracuse's standing could drop, since it's been ordered to return an undisclosed amount of money to the NCAA.

Men's college basketball teams earn money selling tickets and merchandise, but the bulk of their profits come from TV deals. Their profitability is helped by the fact that players don't get paid beyond the scholarships they receive.

That's why the profit margins for college basketball are significantly higher than they are for pro teams. In fact, more than a dozen college teams have profit margins above 50%.

A team's profitability has less to do with its performance on the court than which conference it belongs to. That's because most college sports money is distributed through the conferences.

Related: Michael Jordan joins Forbes billionaires' club

For instance, CBS (CBS) and Turner Broadcasting are paying the NCAA $11 billion over 14 years to broadcast the tournament. That money is divided among the teams using a complicated formula that takes into account how many games teams in each conference play. (Turner is the Time Warner (TWX) unit that also includes CNN.)

So even though a school like Northwestern has never been to the NCAA, it still reaps the benefits when its fellow Big Ten teams do.

The conferences also get paid for many of their regular-season game broadcasts, which air on various networks including those dedicated to individual conferences, like the SEC Network and the Pac-12 Networks.

So it's easy for a team in a major conference to make a profit, but for the rest profitability can be a struggle.

Only 123 of the men's programs at Division 1 schools are profitable, and they're mostly from big money conferences. They earned $351 million combined on nearly $1 billion of revenue last year.

But the other 223 teams either broke even or lost money.

Oregon State posted the biggest loss last year: nearly $3 million.

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Related: The face of Under Armour's basketball shoe: Steph Curry

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 10:13 AM ET

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Cheers! That crazy 'Florida Man' parody is now a beer.

A small craft brewing company in Tampa is now selling a beer named after the social media phenomenon "Florida Man."

Now he's a beer.

"Florida Man" is a popular Twitter account that collects and shares unbelievably wacky (but true) news out of the Sunshine State, usually with a headline that reads like this: "Florida Man [insert bizarre act here]."

A small craft brewing company in Tampa is now selling a beer named after the social media phenomenon. Joey Redner, founder of Cigar City Brewing, described Florida Man beer as a double India Pale Ale that's "crazy hoppy."

Like most IPAs, it's a strong brew with the flowery smell of hops -- only this one has hints of grapefruit, mango and passion fruit.

"I just always thought it was funny all the shots Florida took on the chin for things that happen here," Redner said. "I figured, if people are going to poke fun at you, you might as well embrace it."

Cigar City Brewing created Florida Man beer last year, but it's now bottling it for the first time. Redner said they're only making a special batch with 3,000 bottles going for $9 each -- and only at some retail locations in Florida. If it gets as popular as the Twitter account that inspired it, Redner said he might consider making more and selling it outside the state.

The "Florida Man" thing has taken off ever since it started in 2013. Every insane headline has a link to a legitimate news story to back it up. Some have called it "Twitter's worst superhero ever."

Just consider these three, actual headlines from 2014:

• Florida Man attempts to smoke crack in ICU, almost burns down hospital
• Florida Man tattoos black widow spider on his face to combat arachnophobia
• Florida Man steals 850 pairs of underwear from Victoria's Secret

Redner's favorite "Florida Man" tale? The guy who thought his cat died and buried it in January. The zombie cat dug itself out of its grave and walked the streets of Tampa days later, sparking a custody battle with the local Humane Society.

The man featured on the beer label is the same guy on the Florida Man Twitter account: Ricky Lee Kalichun. He was an Indiana resident (strangely enough) when he was arrested in 2011 after allegedly drawing on his own face with a sharpie and attacking a man with a sword.

Redner said he didn't ask for Kalichun's permission to use the photo, but he hopes he'll just embrace the humor.

Related: Powdered alcohol gets Washington OK

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Related: Bud mocks craft beer. But it owns microbrews!

CNNMoney (New York) March 16, 2015: 11:53 AM ET

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Agencies have to address credit report complaints

Experian (EXPGF), Equifax (EFX) and TransUnion, the three main agencies that track your credit, have agreed to follow new guidelines to handle disputes on your reports, according to a settlement to be announced Monday by the New York Attorney General.

Credit reports have immense sway on a person's borrowing ability. The firms track data from lenders, credit card issuers and collections agencies, among others, to produce credit scores for millions of Americans.

The scores determine if a person can rent an apartment, get a mortgage or car loan and also qualify for a credit card.

However, critics say the credit-reporting firms don't do enough to address complaints about mistakes in credit reports. They say the firms just pass on complaints about inaccuracies to lenders rather than investigate the claims.

Under the new settlement, credit-reporting firms will be required to use trained employees to respond when a consumer flags a mistake on their file. Those employees will be responsible for communicating with the lender and resolving the dispute.

Credit-reporting firms only resolve about 15% of disputes they receive from consumers internally, according to a 2012 report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The remaining 85% are referred back to the lender to investigate.

Related: Millions of credit reports have errors

The agreement "is a good sign that the reporting agencies are finally willing to step up their game and respond to the needs of hardworking consumers and their families," NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.

A spokesperson for Schneiderman's office confirmed the details of the report, adding that the settlement will be announced later Monday.

Related: Identity theft tops list of consumer complaints

The settlement also changes how the companies report unpaid medical bills, which account for the bulk of overdue debt on credit reports.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 52% of all debt on credit reports is from medical expenses.

Currently, unpaid medical bills appear on credit reports as an account in collections. However, unpaid medical bills can occur when an insurance company delays payment, and is not the consumers' fault.

Under the settlement, credit-reporting agencies will have to wait 180 days before they add unpaid medical bills to a credit report, giving consumers time to resolve insurance claims or catch up on payments.

Related: Obama pushes protections for retirement accounts

Once an insurance company pays a delinquent medical bill, the negative record must be quickly removed from a credit report, regardless of when the claim was paid.

Most of the changes will take effect over the next three years and will be implemented nationwide.

Stuart Pratt, president of the Consumer Data Industry Association, the trade group representing the three credit-reporting companies, said the industry is committed to increasing transparency and enhancing the way it works with customers.

Related: Debt collection horror stories

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CNNMoney (New York) March 9, 2015: 11:25 AM ET

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Greece wants tourists to spy on tax cheats

Tourists? Or undercover tax inspectors?

The Greek government is planning to recruit tourists to spy on tax cheats as it casts around desperately for ways to stave off bankruptcy.

The idea to employ large numbers of students, housekeepers and tourists as undercover tax inspectors is one of seven reforms the Greek government has proposed before another round of crisis talks with eurozone finance ministers later Monday.

According to a letter from Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis -- published by the Financial Times -- Greece would employ these amateur tax inspectors after some basic training in how to pose as customers. They would be hired for two months at most.

The Greek finance ministry declined to comment.

Related: Greek drama is far from over

Wired with hidden microphones and video cameras, their main job would be to collect data that could be used as evidence against tax dodgers, for example nightclub owners or medical practitioners who avoid paying sales tax.

The Greek finance ministry suggests the plan will deter potential tax cheats. "The news that thousands of casual onlookers are everywhere ... has the capacity to shift attitudes very quickly," the letter said.

Greece has a serious problem with tax evasion. Government data suggest tax arrears totaled more than 70 billion euros at the end of 2014.

In January alone, the government's tax revenues fell almost one billion euros below target. Many Greeks held off paying, hoping the new government would scrap many unpopular taxes and wipe out some arrears.

Other reforms proposed by Greece include establishing an independent fiscal watchdog to monitor government spending, and introducing more efficient licensing and taxation in the online gaming sector.

European leaders have agreed to extend Greece's bailout program by four months, but need to see an acceptable list of reforms by the end of April before they'll release any more cash. Meanwhile, Athens is running short of funds to pay its bills.

Related: Three reasons to cheer Europe's economy

CNNMoney (London) March 9, 2015: 9:25 AM ET

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President Obama called stock market bottom in 2009

In the midst of the Great Recession, the president basically called the exact point where stocks bottomed out. It's a difficult prediction for any investment professional to make correctly, let alone a president.

"What you're now seeing is profit and earning ratios are starting to get to the point where buying stocks is a potentially good deal if you've got a long-term perspective on it," President Obama said.

That was at a press conference on March 3, 2009.

The stock market hit its low point less than a week later on March 9, 2009.

Related: The bull market is six years old. Now what?

Since then, the stock market has risen dramatically. If you invested $100 in a fund that tracks the S&P 500 around the time the president advised, your money would now be worth about $300 today. That's a return of about 200%.

At the press conference all those years ago, President Obama made it clear that he doesn't believe his job is to track the "day-to-day gyrations" of the market.

"The stock market is sort of like a tracking poll in politics. It bobs up and down day to day, and if you spend all your time worrying about that, then you're probably going to get the long-term strategy wrong," he noted, echoing advice of many prominent investors like Warren Buffett.

Unfortunately in this case, many Americans did not follow the president's advice. Only half of Americans have any money invested in the stock market and most of that is through their retirement accounts. Too many Americans have missed out on the fourth longest bull market in U.S. history.

Related: The millennial investor raking in a 250% return

Of course, not all of the president's economic and financial predictions that day in 2009 turned out quite so well. The president also expressed optimism that hiring and business investment would pick up.

"I'm absolutely confident that...businesses are going to start seeing opportunities for investment, they're going to start hiring again, people are going to be put back to work," he said.

As anyone looking for a job in recent years knows, it took a lot longer for hiring to really pick up than for the stock market to turn around.

The economy didn't even recover all the jobs lost during the Great Recession until June of 2014 -- over five years after the president's high hopes for hiring.

Related: Where the jobs are now

CNNMoney (New York) March 9, 2015: 11:58 AM ET

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Apple Watch is the first new gadget since Steve Jobs

Sure, its founder's DNA is engrained in the company's design approach. But truthfully, Apple (AAPL, Tech30) didn't start developing its smartwatch until Jobs was already gone.

The pressure is on for Tim Cook right now.

He's done an incredible job selling what the company already has. Apple posted the biggest profit in corporate history last quarter. Investors value the company at a stratospheric $700 billion. And the company has enough to cash -- $178 billion -- more than the market value of any of these major companies: Disney (DIS), IBM (IBM, Tech30), Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) and Netflix (NFLX, Tech30).

But Apple relies heavily on a single product -- the iPhone -- for 69% of its revenue. Its other gadget, the iPad, has had a slump in sales.

The burning questions now are: Will the Apple Watch be as revolutionary as the iPod or iPhone? Will it notch enough sales to make it the next new blockbuster product?

There are a few things to consider.

First, Apple isn't really in the business of releasing radically new products. Instead, its approach is to perfect an already existing idea with high design.

Consider the revolutionary iPod, which was introduced in 2001 with its sleek and simple click wheel. It was just a better portable MP3 player, which first made its first appearance in 1997. But those early designs were either bulky or had lots of buttons.

The iPhone appeared in 2007. But it certainly wasn't the first smartphone. That distinction would go to the 1994 IBM Simon or the 2002 Palm Treo. But even though the iPhone ran on a slow 2G cellular network and it didn't have an App Store, it still captivated us.

So, it's not surprising that the Apple Watch isn't a first either. But it needs to get the concept of a smartwatch right in a way that the Pebble and the Moto 360 haven't. People are having a hard time justifying an expensive device that's just another screen.

The Apple Watch could be a combination of many things -- It could do biometrics right and become a useful health tracking tool. It could integrate Apple Pay just right and let you pay at checkout with your wrist.

The design has to be right, and it's got to be easy to use.

Or it could flop.

In which case we will still have a giant, beloved company that's worth more than the GDP of 170 countries. And that includes Switzerland.

Related: Apple will finally join the Dow

Related: Thieves use stolen credit cards on Apple Pay

Related: Your next iPhone could be waterproof

CNNMoney (New York) March 9, 2015: 11:01 AM ET

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