Bonus Bucks Trivia Answers for CNBC's Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge

CNBC's Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge is back. Trading started November 17th, 2008. Hours: Monday 6:00 a.m. to Friday 4:00 p.m. During the week, you can post your answers even after the market closes.

==>From Daily CNBC Bonus Bucks Trivia Answers<==

Daily Answers for
12/31/08:

Squawk Box question: Market rally predictor Jack Hough jokes that he should have written what kind of book?

• Answer: "doom-and-gloom"

Squawk On The Street Question: : In his Guest Blog post "My Top 10 Investment Themes for '09", why does Tony Crescenzi praise the art market?

• Answer: all of the above

The Call Question: Just how bad were holiday retail sales this year?

• Answer: Worst since 1970, at least

Power Lunch Question: In our new slideshow entitled The Year in Slideshows, what story will you find bullet-pointed on the Miami Fashion page?

• Power Lunch Answer: "Bikinis and Business News?"

Street Signs Question: In the edition of Pros Say concerning a "Recession-Depression Hybrid" what does George Ball say we must do?

• Best CD Rate: 5.00% at Washington Mutual - WaMu
  
  

• Street Signs Answer: "learn to undo" our financial behavior
  

Happy New Year Everyone!
Thanks for your support!

Closing Bell Question: In the "Fast Money" episode "Famous Last Words of 2008," which FM trader chose his/her own words to mock?

==> Very Best CD Rates with FDIC Survey <==

==> Weekly Challenge Question #7 Answer <==

==> Global Stock Market Charts at a Glance <==

==> US Treasury Rate Charts at a Glance <==

Rates for US Treasury Bonds, Bills and Notes

Today's rates for US Treasury Bonds, Bills and Notes:

	COUPON	MATURITY DATE	CURRENT YIELD
3-Month	0.000	03/26/2009	0.06
6-Month	0.000	06/25/2009	0.22
12-Month	0.000	12/17/2009	0.36
2-Year	0.875	12/31/2010	0.88
3-Year	1.125	12/15/2011	1.06
5-Year	1.500	12/31/2013	1.51
10-Year	3.750	11/15/2018	2.13
30-Year	4.500	05/15/2038	2.61

Data current as of 12/28/08

US Treasuries are backed by the full faith of the US Government and its ability to tax.

Current US Treasury Rates at a Glance

Best CD Rate Update - 5.0%

The top rate for CDs this week is 5.00% at Washington Mutual, also known as WaMu, for a 5-year certificate of deposit.

For shorter term, Corus Bank has a 6-month CD with a 3.50% annual percentage rate .

With rates so low, banks will try to sell you their annuity products. Make sure you read our article: Beware of Annuities

The table below shows the best CD rates for other terms.

"Highest CD Rate Survey + Current US Treasury Rates"

Term	Date	Highest Rate (APY)	Where? (Click link for Full Rate Sheets)
Daily Savings	12/21/08	2.43%	Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund
Tax Exempt	12/21/08	1.03%	Vanguard Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
Online Savings	12/21/08	3.00%	High Performance Money Fund @ Wachovia Bank
3-Month Treasury	12/21/08	-0.01%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
6 Months	12/21/08	3.51%	Fultdirect.com & 3.50% @ Corus Bank
6-Month Treasury	12/21/08	0.14%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
7 Months	12/21/08	2.00%	Wachovia Bank
1 Year	12/21/08	3.90%	MetLife Bank
1 Year Treasury	12/21/08	0.37%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
18 Months	12/21/08	3.95%	MetLife Bank
2 Years	12/21/08	4.25%	MetLife Bank
2 Year Treasury	12/21/08	0.74%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
3 Years	12/21/08	4.35%	MetLife Bank
3-Yr Treasury	12/21/08	1.03%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
4 Years	12/21/08	4.51%	Flagstar Bank & 4.35% @ MetLife Bank
5 Years	12/21/08	5.00%	Washington Mutual - WaMu
5 Yr Treasury	12/21/08	1.36%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
7 Years	12/21/08	4.75%	Pentagon Federal Credit Union
10 Yr Treasury	12/21/08	2.12%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
10 Years	12/21/08	4.15%	Intervest National Bank
30 Yr Treasury	12/21/08	2.55%	US Treasury Rates at a glance

With rates so low, banks will try to sell you their annuity products. Make sure you read our article: Beware of Annuities

LIBOR Rates Fall: Historical and Current London Interbank Offered Rates at a Glance

LIBOR is the London Interbank Offered Rate. It is a daily reference rate based on the interest rates banks in the London wholesale money market (or interbank market) offer to lend unsecured funds to each other. LIBOR is usually slightly higher than the London Interbank Bid Rate (LIBID). LIBID is the rate the same banks are prepared to accept deposits.

Current LIBOR Rates
Term Rate
1-month 0.88%
3-months 1.85%
6-months 2.17%
12-months 2.37%

Data from Current and Historical Libor Rates at at Glance

.

Best CD Rates Update - 5.31% at Intervest National Bank

The top rate for CDs this week is 5.31% Intervest National Bank for a 7-year certificate of deposit.

For shorter term, the State Bank of India, with US Branches in New York City and Chicago, has a 6-month CD with a 4.32% annual percentage rate .

The table below shows the best CD rates for other terms.

"Highest CD Rate Survey + Current US Treasury Rates"

Term	Date	Highest Rate (APY)	Where? (Click link for Full Rate Sheets)
Daily Savings	12/04/08	2.60%	Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund
Tax Exempt	12/04/08	1.13%	Vanguard Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
Online Savings	12/04/08	3.25%	High Performance Money Fund @ Wachovia Bank
3-Month Treasury	12/04/08	0.01%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
6 Months	12/04/08	4.32%	State Bank of India & 3.76% at Ascencia Bank
6-Month Treasury	12/04/08	0.29%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
7 Months	12/04/08	2.60%	Wachovia Bank
1 Year	12/04/08	4.68%	State Bank of India
1 Year Treasury	12/04/08	0.64%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
18 Months	12/04/08	4.40%	UmbrellaBank
2 Years	12/04/08	4.50%	UmbrellaBank
1 Year Treasury	12/04/08	0.90%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
3 Years	12/04/08	4.75%	Intervest National Bank
3-Yr Treasury	12/04/08	1.09%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
4 Years	12/04/08	5.05%	Intervest National Bank & 4.75% @ Capital One
5 Years	12/04/08	5.25%	Intervest National Bank & 5.10% @ Capital One
5 Yr Treasury	12/04/08	1.61%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
7 Years	12/04/08	5.50%	Capital One & 4.75% @ PenFed CU
10 Yr Treasury	12/04/08	2.63%	US Treasury Rates at a glance
10 Years	12/04/08	5.31%	Intervest National Bank
30 Yr Treasury	12/04/08	3.13%	US Treasury Rates at a glance

Make sure you read the article:

=>How to Get the Best CD Rates