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, Couric Clause. You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
Average investors often miss out on the big stocks. But what if you had the money and still missed out on the next big thing like Google? Dave Cowan of Bessemer Venture Partners knows how it feels — and tells Kai all about it.
In our ongoing series of Conversations from the Corner Office, Kai digs into the housing market by visiting one of the biggest homebuilders in the country. He sits down with Bill Pulte, the chair and co-founder of Pulte Homes
Consumers face thousands of choices in the water aisle at the grocery store. But what's your best bet for buying H20? Alex Cohen surveys the landscape.
A huge legal fight is underway to define employees whose positions are between the managers and the worker bees. Scott Tong reports that the government is expected to give management a huge victory.
The world's largest retailer is going to close all of its stores in Germany and take about a $1 billion loss. Lisa Napoli reports that Wal-Mart failed to understand the German consumer.
After arguing about sugar for nearly a decade, today the US and Mexico have a deal. The US will allow Mexican sugar to come in to the States and Mexico will open up its market to US corn syrup. Dan Grech reports.
The judge in Google's click-fraud case yesterday approved the search engine's $90 million settlement proposal and ruled that proposed efforts to end the practice are fair. Lisa Napoli reports.
New GDP figures out today show considerable slowing in the growth of the US economy. Whether that's good news or bad news depends on who you talk to. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Wal-Mart has finally admitted defeat and pulled out of Germany. The world's biggest retailing chain is selling its German stores at fire sale prices. Stephen Beard reports.
Host Mark Austin Thomas and Daily Variety managing editor Michael Speier talk about the unexpected crossover appeal and staying power of "The Devil Wears Prada."
Nearly three weeks since the partial collapse of a tunnel in Boston's Big Dig project, Steve Tripoli finds transportation-dependent businesses have had to adapt.
Trendy clothier American Apparel today becomes the first retailer to open up shop in the virtual online world Second Life. Charla Bear reports it could be the start of a trend.
The Congo's July 30 elections mark the end of nearly a decade of fighting, fueled mainly by its enormous mineral wealth. If Congo can stabilize, investors stand to gain tens of millions of dollars. But, Suzanne Marmion reports, that's a big if.
ExxonMobil made $1,318 dollars a second in Q2, which works out to $10.4 billion for the quarter. Meanwhile, the Senate is taking up a bill that might expand oil drilling in the US. John Dimsdale reports.
Today Japan announced it's letting US beef back into the country. But while US cattlemen cheer the news, American chicken and pork farmers are less excited. Dan GrechA explains.
A bipartisan congressional report out today finds that 32 Homeland Security contracts worth $34 billion are fraught with, you guessed it: fraud. Hillary Wicai reports on a Senate bill that seeks to change that.
He started as a humble carpenter and wound up running one of the biggest homebuilding companies in the US. Kai Ryssdal talks to Pulte Homes Inc. founder Bill Pulte.
Google makes its money by selling ads, but the model is susceptible to something called click fraud. Some of Google's customers sued over it and today a judge OK'd a $90 million settlement. Lisa Napoli has the story.
New home sales figures out today say nationwide sales are down again. And slowing sales have home builders offering some creative, and expensive, incentives to buy. KPCC's Tamara Keith reports.
British healthcare unions have attacked a plan to hire an American medical company to operate the UK's state-run health service. Especially since it's been accused of overcharging in the US. Stephen Beard reports.
Hundreds of US mayors have signed on to combat global warming in their cities. Sarah Gardner travels to one small Texas town to see how it is working to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The nation's top business lobby today launches a $10 million ad campaign supporting re-election of pro-business members of Congress. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
The online retailer took a beating in the stock market yesterday. It could be an indication investors have waning patience for the company's growth strategy. Jason Paur reports.
Oil-rich Venezuela is buying fighter jets and helicopters — from Russia. Chavez says he needs the hardware to defend against a potential US attack. Dan Grech reports.
India's economic growth rate is one of the fastest in the world, over 8% last year. But a new study says that HIV/AIDS will dramatically cut that growth over the next decade. Miranda Kennedy reports.
The Federal Reserve's current report on economic activity shows slowing in half of its 12 regional districts. But it doesn't offer many clues about whether the Fed will raise interest rates next month. Hillary Wicai reports.
US cattlemen can breathe a sigh of relief today. Once the biggest foreign consumer of US beef, Japan has officially ended its ban on imports following a mad cow scare. Dan Grech reports.
The housing market is slowing, but personal finance expert Chris Farrell tells host Scott Jagow, that's not enough to drag down the US economy on its own.
The war between the hi-def DVD formats heats up today with the rollout of Toshiba's new HD-DVD recorder. But as Charla Bear reports, the battle might already be won.
Ben & Jerry's founder Ben Cohen now runs a non-profit called Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to him about the change from peddling ice cream to trying to cut the defense budget.
General Motors said today it lost $3.2 billion in the 2nd quarter, but the real story is that its sales surged 12%. Amy Scott looks at how one earnings report can change a company's entire outlook.
A company in Nashville is behind the move to break down the wall between church and stadium. And now it's taking its game to the Major Leagues. Blake Farmer reports.
The federal government wants to help states transfer disabled Medicaid patients from nursing homes to actual homes. It'll cost almost $2 billion to launch, but they're hoping home care will save money in the long term. Lisa Napoli reports.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled into Syria to escape Israeli attacks. But their massive numbers have put a major strain on Syrian public services. Ben Gilbert reports from Damascus.
SEC regulators endorsed new rules today that will force public companies to disclose compensation packages for their top five corporate executives, including any perk over $10,000. John Dimsdale reports.
The government claims it gives a certain percentage of federal contracts to small businesses, but a report out today says last year $12 billion went to the biggies instead of the little guys. Dan Grech reports.
It's taken the help of 17,000 international peacekeepers, but this weekend, the African nation is holding its first elections in 40 years. Suzanne Marmion looks at the cost of bringing democracy to the Congo.
San Francisco yesterday became the first US municipality to offer health care for those without insurance. But as Rachel Dornhelm reports, businesses aren't happy about it.
Already this week there have been reports of two data security breaches compromising the personal information of more than half a million people. Luckily not all thieves know the real value of their loot. Lisa Napoli reports.
The SEC votes tomorrow on new executive compensation rules. A proposed requirement to reveal salaries and perks of high-paid talent — named after the former Today show host — may be cut. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
A new bill in Congress could dramatically cut back states' authority to tax businesses located outside their borders — and that has states crying foul. John Dimsdale reports.
As gas prices rise and consumers get scared of inflation, many people have started cutting back on small expenses. But commentator Amelia Tyagi says the little things don't matter as much as most people think.
It's been nine days since the lights went out in Queens, N.Y. Thousands of homes and businesses still lack power because, during the blackout's early stages, officials made a fateful choice. Amy Scott reports.
In Jerusalem and other areas well outside the range of the conflict between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hezbollah, life goes on almost as normal. Hilary Kreiger reports.
The men in brown are singing the blues today. UPS posted weaker-than-expected profits and led the Dow Transports Index down about 2%. Is it a bad sign for the broader economy? Jeff Tyler delivers this report.
SEC chairman Chris Cox goes before lawmakers today to answer questions about a possible politically motivated squelching of an insider trading investigation. Scott Tong reports.
British oil giant BP has reported a big hike in earnings thanks to higher oil and natural gas prices. But it's also facing plenty of problems in the US. Stephen Beard reports.
Producers of the global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" seize on the current heat wave as a marketing tool for the film. Jeff Tyler has the story.
Thousands of Lebanese citizens are fleeing their homes to escape the violence between Hezbollah guerillas and Israel. Many have made it to Syria. Ben Gilbert reports on the impact it's having on that country.
Advertisers claim Google needs to do more to curb click fraud at a hearing over a proposed $90 million settlement to dismiss lawsuits against the search engine. Janet Babin reports.
California officials warn of possible rolling blackouts if the current heat wave pushes energy use beyond supply capacity. Sarah Gardner takes a look at the economic toll the last time the Golden State faced rolling blackouts.
In the wake of growing conflict-of-interest criticism, the FDA today announced it will spell out how and why it grants waivers to outside experts and allows them to serve as FDA advisers. Hillary Wicai reports.
On Sunday, the Democratic Republic of Congo will hold its first multiparty elections in 40 years. But pre-election violence has left some observers extremely wary. Suzanne Marmion reports.
There's been increasing concern about fish and mercury levels lately, and now there's a company that hopes to reel in profits with a new method of testing fish for mercury. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Many US cities and states are experiencing record heat waves, and farms in the Midwest are no exception. That means the heat spell is likely to hit you in the wallet — at the supermarket. Lisa Napoli reports.
Can you believe that even with all the fraud at KBR and Halliburton, the contracting process actually saves money? That's what Business Week reporter Dawn Kopecki tells host Tess Vigeland.
The biggest hospital chain in the US — operating 176 hospitals and 92 surgery centers — may soon be part of one of the largest leveraged buyouts in history. John Dimsdale reports.
The US, Europe and developing nations have been trying for five years to draft a global free trade agreement. Today those talks broke down. Host Scott Jagow asks British economist Sean Rickart, what's the problem?
Vermont farmers are expected this week to sound off against a proposal to register all animals on livestock farms. They say it's just not feasible. Steve Tripoli reports.
Most consumers consider factors like memory, processing speed and price when they buy a new PC. Now a new rating system ranks computers based on environmental factors. Alex Cohen has the story.
New research shows a group of popular cancer drugs can increase risk of heart attack, but the findings may do little to dampen sales. Helen Palmer reports.
A Swiss firm that invests in hedge funds began trading today on the London Stock Exchange, a move that gives rank-and-file investors access to the ultra-risky investments. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
