Dec 8, 2011

Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, December 8, 2011

Jon Corzine heads to Congress today to answer for the collapse of brokerage firm MF Global. The European Union is looking to the International Monetary Fund for bailout help, and that could have ripple effects in the U.S. Reporter Sally Herships looks at what other businesses can gain from big-box storse like Costco and Walmart. And the countdown to a big European summit is nearing its end.

Segments From this episode

Do the ratings agencies need a downgrade?

by Gregory Warner

Dec 8, 2011

Europe and the U.S. are both exploring new options for judging the value of debt after increasing threats of downgrade from agencies like S&P and Moody's.

Former MF Global CEO testifies before Congress

by Heidi Moore

Dec 8, 2011

Jon Corzine will have to explain how the bank lost $1 billion of customer money.

Mid-day Update

Mid-day Extra: Streamlining holiday shopping

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Dec 8, 2011

With increased competition from online retailers, stores across the country are taking steps to make the holiday shopping experience a bit faster.

Black Friday sales helped bolster the retail numbers, which went up for the sixth month in a row.

Chris Franz/Getty Images

European Debt Crisis

ECB drops interest rates to 1 %

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Dec 8, 2011

Economist Adolfo Laurenti discusses the rate cut and the role of the European Central Bank in Europe's future.

European Debt Crisis

Germany's tough role in euro debt crisis

by Stephen Beard

Dec 8, 2011

Critics have been complaining that Germany has grown too dominant in the EU, a sharp turn from previous complaints that the country wasn't doing enough to solve the problem.

Mid-day Update

PODCAST: Bigger stockpiles, butter shortage

by Mary Dooe

Dec 8, 2011

Wholesale companies increased their stockpiles as they look to the months ahead for better sales.

Ross Setford/Getty Images

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The danger of relying on ratings agencies

by Gregory Warner

Dec 8, 2011

As economic turmoil continues in Europe, leaders there -- and here in the U.S. -- are weary of the blind reliance on ratings agencies to value debt.

European Debt Crisis

Smaller euro countries fear pressure from France, Germany

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Dec 8, 2011

Representatives from countries like Finland fear that tomorrow's summit could force their hand on some issues, and create a new culture in the eurozone where powerful countries trump the rest.

European leaders have agreed on austerity measures to prevent further economic turmoil. But the country's that are less well off may not be able to grow as much in the future.

Photo Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

European Debt Crisis

Europe looks to the IMF

by John Dimsdale

Dec 8, 2011

The Europeans are starting to turn to the IMF for help with bailouts. Some in Congress are resisting. But withdrawing our help could have consequences.

Big-box superstores as bellwether indicators

by Sally Herships

Dec 8, 2011

Major retailers like Costco and Walmart often act as indicators of the overall economy, because they can reveal trends for what -- and if -- people are buying.

Attitude Check

Is the American Dream really disappearing?

by Steve Chiotakis

Dec 8, 2011

We asked Gallup's editor-in-chief Frank Newport about whether Americans are pessimistic about the future, and how that compares to Americans of decades past.