Week of December 26th, 2005

A recent survey reported almost 40 percent of people raided their company retirement account when they left their job. Cashing out of a 401k account might be a financial sin. But Marketplace's Scott Jagow found himself tempted to take a bite from forbidden fruit.

The venerable AT&T brand undergoes rebirth of sorts this weekend when SBC unveils a $1 billion ad campaign to hype its new adopted name. Cheryl Glaser has more.

Mexico raises its minimum wage this weekend to $4.50 a day. But will that do anything to slow immigration to the United States? Dan Grech reports.

It's time to ready the champagne and noisemakers for end-of-year bashes. Producer Trey Kay catches up with the hardy few who attend these parties for work, not fun.

Japan's Nikkei stock index closed the day, and the year, at more than 100 points above 16,000. That marks its biggest annual gain in two decades, and for the first time in 14 years, it was private investment, not government money, that pushed the economy. Asia bureau chief Jocelyn Ford has more.

Marketplace Money for December 30, 2005

The regional airline operator is losing a quarter of the planes it operates for Continental as the legacy carrier tries to boost profits. Janet Babin reports.

Personal finance expert Chris Farrell previews the 2006 housing market with host Scott Jagow.

Eye doctors and dentists are experiencing an end-of-the-year rush of patients, as health care consumers scramble to finish up their flex plan allotments before the year ends. Rachel Dornhelm reports.

This month marks the 25th anniversary of legislation that created the Superfund tax to clean up polluted industrial sites. But as Alex Cohen reports, the fund is currently out of money.

Mississippi has opened its first land-based Casino. As Dan Grech reports, it won't be its last.

Immigrants from India are putting a new spin on the time-honored practice of sending money back to their homeland. Miranda Kennedy has more.

The rollicking real estate market is expected to cool in some places and surge in others in 2006. Alex Cohen reports.

GDP figures were released for Iraq this week, and the nation's economy is on pace to grow by 10% next year. As Ben Gilbert reports, rank-and-file businessmen hope that growth trickles down to them too.

It was an unusual RSVP….