Would you be willing to lend some cash, for say, 50 years? If so, the British government would like to hear from you. Today the UK's finance chief announced plans for a fifty-year bond. These long-term borrowings are fast becoming a must-have accessory for European governments. And with America's budget deficit, you've got to wonder whether the idea might have some appeal on this side of the Atlantic. Marketplace's Stephen Beard reports.

India's economy is surging. A recent economic survey predicted India will grow at 7% this year. But many say that to keep that growth going, India needs to improve its infrastructure. To that end, the government has devoted 6 billion dollars to a massive urban renewal project in India's financial capital, Bombay. Half of its 16 million residents live in the slums. As Miranda Kennedy reports, the government's first step is clearing them out.

The U.S. trade deficit has reached the second-highest level on record. The gap between what we import and what we sell abroad hit $58.3 billion in January. Today's news triggered another dip in the dollar. Does any of this really matter? Fair question. Alan Greenspan doesn't think so. "Not overly worrisome".That's what he said yesterday.But they're not so sure in London, where most of the world's currency trading is done.Some wonder if the U.S. has handed a powerful weapon to its adversaries. Marketplace's Stephen Beard explains.