Singapore, known for outlawing spitting and restricting chewing gum sales, has hired Las Vegas Sands Corp. to build and run what will be the world's most expensive casino. Expected cost: $3.2 billion. Alisa Roth reports.
The airplanes are sure to be crowded on this holiday weekend. Commentator J.D. Samant says that what you bring on the plane to eat is more than just a meal, it's a status symbol.
Second in a series: In this second report of his two-part series on human trafficking, Scott Carrier has the story of a Cambodian family whose daughters were sold to brothels to make ends meet.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a shingles vaccine for older Americans that was developed by the drug company Merck. Hillary Wicai reports.
Life is hard enough without having to decipher everything. Each week, Marketplace Money brings you a word or a phrase that has bubbled to the top of the news. For instance, Euronext. You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
There's an old work saying that goes something like this: The grass is always greener in your neighbor's cubicle. When do you know it's time to find a better job? Career expert Michael Laskoff joins Kai for a conversation.
The AARP is a familiar name in the retirement business. Now it has tossed its hat into the mutual fund ring. Kai talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Ian McDonald.
It may sound like science fiction, but researchers yesterday reported it could be possible to make things invisible. Janet Babin looks at some of the commercial implications.
Newly-convicted Enron executives Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling both plan to appeal, but whatever happens the case has changed the legal landscape for corporations. Alisa Roth reports.
Most of the plastic in this country is made from petroleum, a nonrenewable source. But it doesn't have to be. A company in Nebraska is making an innovative plastic — from corn. Sarah Gardner reports.
The IRS will refund three years' worth of an antiquated long-distance telephone service tax this year, a decision that will lead to as much as $60 billion in lost revenue for the government. Scott Tong reports.
Enron founder Kenneth Lay and CEO Jeffrey Skilling have been convicted on multiple counts of fraud, conspiracy and insider trading. Host Kai Ryssdal talks with Houston Chronicle reporter Mary Flood about what the verdicts mean for the corporate world.
Yahoo gets to sell advertising on the world's largest auction site. In return, eBay will steer users to the number two search engine. Amy Scott has more on the ongoing quest for Web domination.
First in a series: The annual report on human trafficking next week will estimate between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year — and that doesn't include people sold within their own countries. Scott Carrier reports.
Personal finance expert Chris Farrell and host Scott Jagow discuss a new report suggesting debt is a growing problem for the middle class. The Center for American Progress says debt now makes up 108% of incomes.
We always hear about analyst predictions before the release of economic data. But who are these analysts and why do their predictions matter? Amy Scott reports.
The Senate will likely pass its version of the immigration bill today.And that sets up a battle with the House. The two versions are so different, this could be a long, ugly fight. Hillary Wicai has a preview.
Delphi wants a bankruptcy judge to void its contracts with the United Auto Workers. The UAW is threatening to strike if that happens and GM wants more time to get this resolved before the dominoes would start falling. Alisa Roth reports.
New home sales rose 4.9% last month. But the housing market is showing signs of strain. The price of homes sold last month dropped at the same time the number of unsold homes rose to a record high. Tess Vigeland reports.
General Motors will subsidize gas purchases in Florida and California to boost SUV sales in those states. It will cap gas prices at $1.99 per gallon for new buyers of some 2006 and 2007 vehicles. Bob Moon reports.
President Bush has granted his intelligence czar the authority to exempt publicly traded companies from reporting requirements — in the name of national security. Kai Ryssdal talks with BusinessWeek reporter Dawn Kopecki.
The House is looking at government waste, setting up a bipartisan commission to get rid of federal programs that aren't worth the money. Commentator Steve Moore looks at some outdated government programs that need to go.
British band Art Brut has adopted the corporate franchise model, only with a twist. It's giving away its name and music for free. Jane Lindholm reports.
MasterCard is going public Thursday, and it's expected to be one of the biggest IPOs in years. About $2.8 billion. Alisa Roth reports on the company's transition — and where all that money's going.
The high-finance world of derivatives is all the rage these days at one French school. One teacher's students have been so successful that getting into her class is almost as hard as its subject matter. Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris.
After nearly two decades, the man who invented coronary stents may finally get his due. The device used regularly in heart surgeries has made billions, but Atlanta dentist Henry Wall hasn't seen a dime of it. Emily Kopp reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is on Capitol Hill today trying to drum up $10 billion so Israel can relocate thousands of settlers from the West Bank. It could be a tough sell, Eric Niiler reports.
Congress is working to forge a combined pension overhaul and tax cut package before Memorial Day recess. Commentator Robert Reich says there's one thing everyone should agree on: Require companies to honor pension obligations.
A day after selling its theme park division, CBS announced yesterday it was looking to sell 10 of its radio stations. Marketplace business editor Cheryl Glaser looks at what CBS might do next.
Philadelphia's two daily newspapers are being sold — for the second time already this year. A group of investors is buying the Inquirer and the Daily News from news giant McClatchy. Brad Linder reports.
The FTC ruled that oil companies didn't manipulate the market after Hurricane Katrina. But it did find 15 situations that could be labeled as price gouging. Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court defines the term.
Republican Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana is floating a proposal to establish a temporary worker program operated by private industry. His plan would require all applicants to leave the country. Hillary Wicai reports.
Internet phone service provider Vonage will price its initial public offering later today. And the company could use the cash, Janet Babin reports, as it faces growing competition in the VoIP (voice-over-Internet protocol) business.
A scathing government report accuses Fannie Mae of "arrogant and unethical" financial practices. Host Kai Ryssdal asks Wall Street Journal reporter James R. Hagerty whether the company really needed to be cooking the books.
In Palermo, Sicily, business owners have had enough of the Mafia and are refusing to pay protection money. They are sticking together, believing there may be safety in numbers. Megan Williams reports.
The Hercules, Calif. City Council meets tonight to discuss using the power of eminent domain to seize 17 acres on which Wal-Mart intends to build a store. Lisa Napoli reports.
Decades of toxic spills and pollution have caused a backlash against the notion that chemistry can improve daily life, but "green chemistry" is catching on — even in big business labs. Sarah Gardner reports.
Companies like Proctor & Gamble are farming out research and development in an effort to stay on the cutting edge of their industries. Steve Tripoli reports.
A report out yesterday says 25% of Americans are functionally illiterate because teachers aren't being taught to teach reading. And that's bad news for the US economy. Hillary Wicai reports.
Wall Street and overseas markets have taken investors on a bumpy ride lately. Marketplace business editor Cheryl Glaser reports there could be more turbulence ahead.
Today a minority stakeholder could formally request an initial public offering of media conglomerate Bertelsmann. Or the family-owned company could decide to buy out the 25% ownership instead. Alisa Roth gives us the pros and cons.
Internet telephone pioneer Vonage is expected to raise $550 million in a public stock offering this week. Janet Babin reports the company is likely to spend most of that money on advertising.
Commentator Peter Coy says that the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the workplace is on the rise — and that it could drastically alter the business world.
The financial services giant settles with stockbrokers over whether they should receive overtime pay. Amy Scott reports the agreement could jeopardize the lucrative commissions paid to many stockbrokers.
Congress is working on immigrantion reform, but commentator and Russian-born attorney Ilya Shapiro says even if current versions of the legislation pass, they won't help him become an American citizen.
Marketplace's Sam Eaton tells host Kai Ryssdal that with their mayoral election behind them, New Orleans' residents are now keying on Mayor Ray Nagin to lead the city's recovery.
The Federal Trade Commission says it found some cases of gas price gouging after Hurricane Katrina, but no broad market manipulation by oil companies. It blamed "regional or local market trends" for high prices.
FBI officials say they've caught Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson on tape accepting a $100,000 bribe. Agents later found the cash hidden in his freezer. Scott Tong reports.
Wal-Mart has announced it's selling its South Korean retail business for $882 million. Tess Vigeland looks at why the big box store is pulling out of the country.
A major Wall Street brokerage house is expected to announce a settlement this week in a class-action suit that claims stockbrokers should get paid overtime. It's a fight that could transform the whole profession. Amy Scott reports.
The New York Stock Exchange has offered to buy European exchange operator Euronext for $10 billion. It's seeking to beat rival Nasdaq in the race to become the first transatlantic stock market. Bob Moon reports.
China's largest trading partner in the European Union is Germany, with bilateral trade reaching $63.2 billion last year. Ruth Kirchner reports on the cozy business relationship between the two countries.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has little time to savor his reelection victory before turning to the task of reinventing the city's battered economy. Sam Eaton reports.
The charge card is expected to go public this week in an effort to raise cash to pay legal bills and give industry leader Visa a run for its money. Alisa Roth reports.
It's a phrase we're likely to hear a lot more of. As viewers embrace downloadable programming, advertisers are working to make sure they aren't left behind. Janet Babin reports.
