Marketplace for September 13, 2007

Banks are throwing a lifeline of $12 billion in credit to Countrywide. As a result, their stock rose almost ten percent on the announcement. Lisa Napoli reports.

Pimco has launched a $2-billion distressed debt fund. It will invest in mortgage-backed securities and other fancy credit instruments. Amy Scott reports.

Unicef says the number of children dying each year has dropped below ten million for the first time since it began keeping records. It stands to reason that more widespread public health campaigns contributed to the decline. Helen Palmer reports.

TV game shows promise huge jackpots these days. Contestants can line up to hit it big on more shows than before. But the ones really raking in the dough are the networks. Kai Ryssdal speaks with TV analyst Gregg Segall.

Hurricane Humberto bit into South Texas and Louisiana last night with rain and 80-mile-an-hour winds. The first hurricane to hit us in two years didn't approach anything near Katrina, and petered into a tropical storm by mid-morning. But hurricane season doesn't end until November 30. Commentator Andrew Marcellus says, over time, indifference to those who live in harm's way could become something much worse.

Most of Canada's crude oil is out west, in the oilsands of Alberta. Thirty-thousand people work there. Blair Ghent lives in Newfoundland, on the other side of the country. He makes the long commute alone, but he's not the only one dealing with the hardship. Chris Brookes brings us the story of this Canadian oil worker.