Gamers who waited in line for days snapped up PlayStation 3 as it went on sale today. Jeff Gerstmann at GameSpot says Sony's placing a big bet on the product.
Writer John Brady says the movie adaptation of Eric Schlosser's best-selling book on the fast-food industry has some unnecessary ingredients mixed in with its meaty parts.
A study out today indicates that not all corporate executives are earning their pay honestly. Playing fast and loose with stock options has generated serious cash for some bigwigs. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
President Bush is in Vietnam for a meeting of APEC countries. But most of the questions sent his way in Hanoi weren't about the talks on economic cooperation.
U.S. intelligence agencies are having a hard time grooming enough agents and analysts to cover their post-9/11 needs. So, they're relying more on private contractors. Jeff Tyler reports.
Algerians used to have a Saturday-Sunday weekend. But they replaced that tradition in the '70s with Thursday-Friday. Sarah Richards reports that some are now wondering if the non-Western weekend makes economic sense.
The PlayStation 3 has been hailed as a technological marvel with stunning graphics, flashy games and features galore. But its success is no game to Sony, Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
The transatlantic dispute over genetically-modified crops has flared up again now that a genetically-modified organism has been found in American long grain rice in the UK. Stephen Beard reports.
Last night the Senate overwhelmingly passed a controversial deal to share civilian nuclear technology with India. The bill still has to get through the House, but business leaders are hailing it as a major victory. Miranda Kennedy explains.
Winning the lottery is an American dream. Paying taxes on your winnings . . . that's a nightmare. And the IRS doesn't just take its cut from the big wins. Apryl Lundsten reports.
A new survey shows nearly half of all Americans are stressed about their personal finances, but some groups are more stressed than others. Ashley Milne-Tyte has details.
The Japanese auto giant opens a new plant in San Antonio today to begin making its revamped Tundra. It's looking to cut into the one market its U.S. rivals still dominate: full-size pickup trucks. Amy Scott reports.
Tomorrow small business advocates hope to boost regional economies by encouraging consumers to buy local — and to help people understand why it's so important. Lisa Napoli reports.
E&J Gallo Winery President and CEO Joseph Gallo talks about the importance of opening new strategies and giving them time to breathe. More Conversations from the Corner Office
The new NFL Network is set to air its first regular-season game on Thanksgiving night, but you might not find it on any of your cable channels. Kai Ryssdal asks sports business analyst Ed Derse what's going on.
The FEC has fined the Sierra Club for swaying voters toward Democratic candidates in the 2004 elections, and that's making other politically active nonprofit groups nervous. John Dimsdale reports.
Citigroup will pay over $3 billion for a majority share in the flailing Guangdong Development Bank. It's hoping to gain a toehold in China's banking industry — but is it worth the risk? Bob Moon reports.
It's official: Clear Channel has agreed to a buyout offer from two private equity firms. The broadcast giant also says it'll sell its TV channels and a third of its radio stations, but don't expect a big difference on your dial, Alisa Roth reports.
Host Scott Jagow and Marketplace economics correspondent Chris Farrell discuss a new approach to economic development through nurturing artist communities.
The fate of media giant Clear Channel is finally clear this morning: Two private equity firms will buy the company and take it private. Alisa Roth reports.
E.& J. Gallo Winery President and CEO Joseph Gallo talks with Kai Ryssdal about learning the family business from Ernest and Julio, and passing it on. Conversations From the Corner Office.
Britain's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service has used the release of the new Bond film "Casino Royale" to launch a recruitment drive. Stephen Beard reports.
Microsoft is helping to roll out new wireless Internet service in Portland, Oregon. It'll be free, but there's a catch: It's ad-supported. Lisa Napoli reports.
The lame-duck Congress probably won't get to all the spending bills on its long to-do list. Will the new Democratic-controlled Congress be able to instill fiscal responsibility in '07? Host Kai Ryssdal asks Maya MacGuineas.
A pharmaceutical company that sells anti-wrinkle cream is sponsoring a contest to find the Hottest Mom in America. The winner will get a cash prize, and become the company's spokesperson. Lisa Napoli reports.
Delta has said repeatedly that it's not for sale, but that's not dissuading US Airways — and the company has good reason to pursue the merger now, Amy Scott reports.
In protest of high trading fees, a group of investment banks is set to launch its own trading system to rival European exchanges. And that could put the brakes on other merger deals. Stephen Beard explains.
As Lebanon tries to pick up the pieces of its war-ruined economy, many companies are taking out ads to inspire hope and confidence — and bolster their brands — but not everyone's feeling the love. Ben Gilbert reports.
Startup companies founded by immigrants have helped entrepreneurship flourish in America, a new study finds. But the venture capitalists who funded it have their own agenda, Steve Tripoli reports.
The Internet is offering philanthropists broader latitude in how they give to charitable causes — including more control over how their money's spent. Alex Goldmark reports.
Delegates from around the world are meeting in Nairobi. Climate change advocates will be watching the U.S. closely for any sign of an olive branch. They say people's livelihoods are at stake, especially in the developing world. Gretchen Wilson reports.
This week in business history, Stacey Vanek-Smith takes us back to 1883 for a look at how the railroad industry changed the face of our nation's clocks.
Some of the world's largest investment banks — including major U.S. banks — are planning to launch their own stock trading systems and bypass existing European exchanges. Stephen Beard explains.
Ten of the biggest U.S. food companies have agreed to voluntarily cut back on junk food marketing aimed at kids, but some say the deal is just empty calories. Amy Scott reports.
Defense contractor KBR, currently part of Halliburton Inc., is now scheduled to go public Thursday. But with Democrats assuming control of Congress, will investors respond? Alisa Roth reports.
Enrollment starts today for year two of the government's Medicare Part program. Not everyone's satisfied, but it's been mostly a success for seniors — and insurers, Helen Palmer reports.
Commentator David Frum says Democrats better move quickly if they want to parlay their midterm win into real policy gains, but warns: Stick to what you campaigned on.
The NYSE recently raised fees for feeding market data to Internet companies. They're so high that sites like Google and Yahoo have had to drop the service, so today they asked the SEC to roll back the hike. Bob Moon reports.
An international version of the controversial Al Jazeera news channel debuts tomorrow. It's the world's first 24-hour English-language news service from the Middle East. Ramy Inocencio reports.
Iraqi gunmen abducted researchers and educators in Baghdad today. Such threats have been forcing many of the best minds to leave the country. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Christian Science Monitor's Scott Peterson about the exodus of Iraq's professionals.
Word has it that Russia is preparing to form an OPEC-like global gas cartel. The country today denied the claims — but not its ambitions. Stephen Beard reports.
Today is World Usability Day, a day to promote intuitive engineering and user-friendly design. Commentator and humorist Tim Bedore is all for it, if only we could come up with a better name . . .
The Nobel Peace Prize has brought microcredit into the global spotlight. The idea is that this form of lending is not only good for the poor — but also for business. Miranda Kennedy reports.
PPI and core producer prices plummeted last month on cheap fuel. The numbers suggest inflation is slowing down, but do they tell the whole picture? Stacey Vanek-Smith does the math.
Pyrotechnic explosions and massive amounts of electricity used to power huge movie sets are among the factors making Hollywood one of the worst polluters in Los Angeles, says a new study. Sam Eaton reports.
Microsoft's Zune MP3 player goes on sale today. Stacey Vanek-Smith looks at the marketing challenge the company faces going up against iPod's pop culture juggernaut.
Disharmony has broken out among former members of the British group Procol Harum. They're in court arguing over royalties for their biggest hit. Stephen Beard reports.
Nokia begins selling its new TV phone in Asia soon, but it won't be available in the U.S. — at least not for the foreseeable future. Janet Babin looks at why we're always lagging behind in mobile technology.
President Bush was hoping to deliver news of a deal for permanent normal trade relations with Vietnam, but the measure didn't pass the House. Could be a sign of things to come in Washington, Hillary Wicai reports.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez this morning urged business leaders in Beijing to do more to crackdown on piracy and intellectual property theft. Ruth Kirchner reports.
GE and Hitachi have formed a joint venture to build a nuclear power plant in the U.S. It's the latest in a wave of major consolidations in the nuclear business, Steve Tripoli reports.
U.S. automakers finally get their much-delayed meeting with President Bush tomorrow. Host Kai Ryssdal asks Marketplace's Washington bureau chief John Dimsdale what's on the agenda.
Europe and Japan have banned an increasing number of chemicals used in everyday products. The U.S. hasn't followed suit, so those products are ending up on our store shelves. Sarah Gardner reports.
Mercedes-Benz is slated to roll out a luxury sedan that gets 35 mpg and doesn't pollute the air. Host Kai Ryssdal heads out to the parking lot with Los Angeles Times auto critic Dan Neil.
The health insurance industry's main lobby group today unveils a plan to provide access to health coverage for all Americans. Does it live up to its promise? Helen Palmer reports.
A lot of celebs have been earning brownie points lately for good deeds in Africa. But is the publicity they create better for the impoverished countries — or for them? Suzanne Marmion reports.
A leaked copy of Toyota's Global Master Plan says it plans to grab 14 percent of the world car market by 2010 in its bid to unseat GM. Miranda Kennedy tells us how.
Russia's government has been making a push to bring alcohol sales back under state control — and money could be as much a motive as ending the rash of alcohol poisoning there. Host Scott Jagow talks to Moscow reporter Julian Evans.
And you'll never believe who's proposing it: The main lobbying group representing the insurance industry has a plan to cover the uninsured. It could be a pre-emptive strike, Hillary Wicai reports.
