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S&P downgrades France and Austria from AAA rating
Stephen Beard Jan 16, 2012
Right after Wall Street closed on Friday, the ratings agency Standard and Poor's downgraded the credit ratings of nine European countries. France and Austria lost their prized AAA credit ratings.
What the S&P downgrades mean for Europe
Stephen Beard Jan 16, 2012
Europe correspondent Stephen Beard discusses why the European markets remained pretty steady despite the credit downgrades of several European countries, and why we ought to worry about the Greek debt talks collapsing.
In noise-averse Paris, 'silent discos' spread
John Laurenson Jan 13, 2012
Many young Parisians want to listen to loud music, but don’t want to annoy their neighbors -- so they’re using headphones at their parties.
French nuclear power export hopes dim
Christopher Werth Jan 9, 2012
France claims it has designed the world's safest nuclear reactors, but last year's nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, dealt export hopes a blow.
Why is there record pessimism in France?
Adriene Hill Dec 23, 2011
A new poll finds the French are as pessimistic about the economy as any country has been since 1978.
PODCAST: Who gets the big holiday tips, impact of the payroll tax cut extension
Daryl Paranada Dec 23, 2011
Congress has passed the payroll tax cut extension. We take a look at what the means for consumers. We have some numbers for you: Consumer spending grew just 0.1 percent in November, while orders for U.S. factory goods went up 3.8 percent. Plus, what is the most pessimistic country in the world? And find out which professions receive the biggest holiday tips.
French nuclear giant Areva to slash 1,500 jobs
Christopher Werth Dec 13, 2011
After the disaster in Fukushima, nuclear energy is less popular than it once was. Now, the nuclear company Areva will take drastic cost-cutting measures.
Do the ratings agencies need a downgrade?
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.
Eurozone on watch for S&P downgrade
Kai Ryssdal Dec 5, 2011
But it could be a good thing for the debt crisis there.
Standard & Poor's downgrades major U.S. banks
Stephen Beard Nov 30, 2011
Pressure builds in Europe as clear signs begin to show that a default there would hit the U.S. banks hard.
