According to a recent Smart Money investigation, many brokers are offering advice they shouldn't be giving. Tess Vigeland discusses broker trust with Smart Money Magazine senior writer Dyan Machan.
The country's war with credit card debt rages on. A new documentary called "Maxed Out" takes an in-depth look at our nasty credit addiction. Tess Vigeland talks plastic with director James Scurlock.
Buying a falling stock can be tempting, but if you think a quick rise will help you get rich quick, think again. As Bob Moon reports, you may be risking more than you can afford.
Credit card companies like to lure you with the promise of a fixed interest rate, but they may be taking a few liberties with the definition. Tess Vigeland interviews Travis Plunkett of the Consumer Federation of America on how "fixed" these rates really are.
Our economics editor Chris Farrell answers your burning money questions. This week, advice on buying U.S. savings bonds, checking a credit report and saving the right amount.
The Blackstone Group, which filed for a $4 billion IPO, is the biggest private-equity firm to offer stock in itself. Pat Loeb has more on what Blackstone as a public company might mean.
Hong Kong chooses its next leader on Sunday. There's not much suspense about the outcome, since political stability means economic prosperity. Scott Tong reports.
The House narrowly passed the $124 billion Iraq funding bill today. The bill contains deadlines for troop pullouts, which brought the expected response from President Bush.
One of the offers for Daimler-Chrysler's U.S. division reportedly is comimg from an anonymous private equity firm working with one of Chrysler's own parts suppliers. Alisa Roth reports.
Sunday marks the 200th anniversary of the British Parliament's abolition of the European slave trade. But even as Britain celebrates its role in history it's also facing up to an embarrassing present. Stephen Beard reports.
Colleges and universities are hitting up alumni this month for donations. But commentator and Stanford graduate Joel Stein says his alma mater shouldn't expect a check from him.
Companies are increasingly worried about how to get rid of data stored on computers. Geoff Brumfiel checked out some interesting solutions on display at a recent government technology conference.
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: "McJob." You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
Antibiotics are so cheap and easy to prescribe, there's little incentive for doctors not to, even though resistance grows with each use. But now a think tank has suggested novel approach: If you can't cure the behavior, tax it.
The European Union turns 50 on Sunday and people will be celebrating its history with free beer and sausage in the streets of Berlin. But as in many relationships, there's squabbling about the future behind the happy facade.
A vote is expected today on a plan to hike tobacco taxes again. This time the increase would be used to boost funding for a health insurance program for low-income children.
College basketball coaches are already among the highest-paid employees at universities — but taking a team to the Sweet 16 and beyond can propel them into a whole new salary league.
Last weekend's massive pet food recall has turned many nervous pet owners away from big box stores and big name brands. But organic suppliers and pet stores are having a hard time keeping up with the booming new demand.
Oracle is suing rival software giant SAP, saying it hacked into its support sites with Oracle customer logins. SAP allegedly accessed proprietary information and then used it to undercut Oracle rates in order to steal its customers.
It's not the kind of democracy we're used to, but Hong Kong's business community will vote Sunday to keep Donald Tsang as head of government there. It's pretty much a no-brainer considering the booming economy.
The truth in labeling movement is seeping into vineyards. Winemakers from the U.S., Europe and Australia were on the Hill this week asking lawmakers and trade officials to protect the integrity of their labels.
Fact is, many of the top box office draws are widely panned by critics. Now that we can watch trailers and read reviews from regular people online, are film critics are becoming irrelevant? Not exactly, says Daily Variety's Mike Speier.
While Washington might be looking for compromise on immigration, the Texas Legislature is considering bills that aim to make life tougher for illegal immigrants. Michael May reports.
The House is debating President Bush's request for emergency Iraq war funding. Neither the president nor some lawmakers are pleased with the bill's language requiring a troop pullout. John Dimsdale reports.
Author Benjamin Barber says the American economy has taken a wrong turn toward encouraging consumption — and that's not what capitalism was supposed to be about. He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
European Union transportation ministers have approved an agreement that's expected to increase airline flights and lower ticket prices between the U.S. and Europe starting next year. Stephen Beard explains.
The Child Online Protection Act was declared unconstitutional today. It's been tied up in the courts since it passed nine years ago at the dawn of the Internet Age. Pat Loeb reports.
NBC and News Corp have made a deal with Yahoo, Microsoft and AOL to distribute television shows and movies online. Sounds a lot like YouTube? That's the idea. Lisa Napoli reports.
A bipartisan measure to be unveiled in the House today calls for both increased border security and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants — but the Senate appears to be stalled on immigration and that could be a big boost for the status quo.
Chris Farrell says if we want to clean up subprime lending, we need more than regulatory reform. He argues that we need to open up the banking industry to competition and, flaws and all, Wal-Mart is the company to do it.
It wasn't long ago that the ultra-slim Razr phone was all the rage, but some analysts say Motorola spent too much time relishing that success while prices slumped and the industry raced ahead.
Deutsche Bank has plans to take over Maher Terminals, a major ocean cargo handler in the New York area. And it looks like the deal won't face the same scrutiny as last year's ill-fated Dubai Ports World proposal.
The U.S. and the European Union take dueling claims of unfair play before the WTO this week. At issue: billions of dollars worth of state subsidies granted to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus.
India's economy is booming, but only 10% of its citizens have health insurance. That's prevented millions from seeking care, but now India's poor are discovering the benefits of micro-insurance — and so are the companies providing it.
A growing number of Americans, seeking a street-level view of 21st-century socialism, are traveling to visit Venezuela under President Hugo Chavez. Dan Grech reports.
London's Barclays bank is in talks to buy Dutch rival ABN Amro for about $80 billion. Investors are salivating over a possible bidding war. But will it matter to you? Amy Scott reports.
The Federal Reserve indicated today that it doesn't plan to raise or tighten interest rates anytime soon. That news sent the Dow up more than 150 points.
Search-engine giant is developing a new strategy for its advertising customers that can almost guarantee their ads are working. If not, they don't pay. Janet Babin reports.
Al Gore returned to Congress today to testify about global warming. He even spoke before the committee chaired by Rep. John Dingell, who hasn't exactly enlisted in the climate-change fight. John Dimsdale covered the hearings.
Lawmakers meet on Capitol Hill on Thursday to search for an alternative to the alternative minimum tax. Getting rid of it won't be easy. The federal treasury depends on it. Bob Moon reports.
Investors at more than 50 companies now say they want a voice in how much the CEO makes. But commentator Robert Reich thinks shareholders are irrelevant to the real issue.
Monsanto, the world's largest biotech seed company, and European chemical giant BASF announced a $1.5 billion collaboration to develop global-warming-resistant plants. Sam Eaton reports.
Virgin America may finally get its wings. The U.S. government has reversed its position that allowing popular overseas carrier Virgin Atlantic to operate here would violate foreign ownership rules.
Jim Gilchrist was ousted by his own company's board for allegedly using a large portion of the Minuteman's funds to promote his own book. Today a California judge will decide who gets to lead the organization.
Staffers are preparing for crowds worthy of a Hollywood star as the former Vice President returns to Capitol Hill today to talk about global warming. But his heightened celebrity may not help the cause.
As the subprime housing sector continues to crumble, commentator David Frum says maybe our idea of the great American dream is a little off and some people just shouldn't be buying homes.
Both lenders and regulators will be in the hot seat on Capitol Hill this week. With millions of American homeowners facing the threat of foreclosure and a growing number of lenders facing bankruptcy, Congress wants some answers.
Google has already charmed Madison Avenue with its advertising potential, but now the search company is testing a service that guarantees marketers their ads are working. If not, they don't have to pay for them.
Airlines face their own editing dilemma: For every passenger who complains about scenes being cut from in-flight movies, there's a parent who's outraged at content that's been left in. Enter a plea for federal standards.
The transportation department's surprise move to let Virgin America operate in the U.S. could create even bigger waves in the travel industry if it sways E.U. opinion ahead of tomorrow's vote on the Open Skies Treaty.
The theory behind geo-engineering is that if technology is to blame for climate change, it might also be used to fix it. But the solutions are controversial and even proponents warn they should be viewed as an insurance policy of last resort.
IRS Commissioner Mark Everson went to Capitol Hill today to explain what the IRS is doing to collect more than $345 billion that taxpayers owe but it can't seem to find. Hillary Wicai reports.
We've heard a lot about the big names in subprime lending lately. But people like Frances Geary are struggling to keep their homes as mortgage payments rise. She talked with Jane Lindholm from her Upland, Calif., residence.
The number of failed mortgages is continuing to rise. Marketplace's Steve Tripoli talks with Kai Ryssdal about the shenanigans that have put a lot of new homeowners in trouble.
China is reportedly planning to stop buying foreign reserves — no small matter when its investments in U.S. Treasury bonds prop up the dollar. Yet, currency traders don't seem worried. Amy Scott reports.
Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's Mad Money and the former manager of a successful hedge fund, is known for having a big mouth. And in a recent interview he may have said too much.
Americans have the most expensive health care in the world. And a study released today says about 30 cents of every dollar paid for our health goes to administrative costs. Helen Palmer reports.
An estimated 70% of Papua New Guinea's population lives in poverty. Men have mostly been the wage earners. But economic opportunities for women are changing traditional gender roles. Skye Rhode reports.
Democrats may have given everyone the impression they would change the pay-to-play practices on Capitol Hill. But commentator Jeff Birnbaum says it's the same story as before — maybe worse.
Your Social Security earnings statement can be a nostalgic journey back to simpler times and summer jobs… or just plain depressing. Commentator Russell Frank suggests most of us use it as a friendly reminder that money isn't everything.
Google has become synonymous with Web search, but if you're on a cell phone or PDA, slogging through result links can be a clunky experience. Yahoo thinks it's found a better way — if consumers catch on.
McDonald's in Britain has tired of the expression McJob being used to refer to an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects. It wants dictionaries to change the definition — but language just doesn't work that way.
You had to know it was coming: ringtones plus video. As wireless networks and phones improve, video is going to play a greater role in our mobile lives. And video conferencing via cell could be just over the hill.
The more we spend on scientific research, the greater the advances we make. Seems simple enough, but funding hasn't gone up since 2003 — so a group of U.S. scientists gave Capitol Hill a healthy reminder yesterday.
Some are calling for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates to help insulate the economy against declines in the housing market. But others say the Fed is more concerned about inflation than recession.
The final report on BP's 2005 Texas City oil refinery explosion is due out today, and the findings are expected to be extremely critical of the oil giant's upper management.
President Bush meets with U.S. automakers on their own turf today at assembly plants in the Midwest — ones that happen to make hybrids. That'll be handy since he's expected to talk about fuel efficiency.
Chiquita pleaded guilty to paying paramilitary groups to protect its business in Colombia. But the banana producer isn't alone in paying for protection. Dan Grech reports.
Four years after the U.S. invaded Iraq, the country's job market looks a lot different. Tess Vigeland talks to Tina Susman from the Baghdad bureau of the Los Angeles Times and Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution.
Former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio is on trial for charges of selling off $100 million in stocks on insider tips. Amy Scott looks into his defense strategy.
India is an unparalleled provider of outsourced workers, but companies are beginning to discover a shallower talent pool. Miranda Kennedy has the story from New Delhi.
Merck's state-lobbying campaign to make their cervical cancer vaccination mandatory in schools has faced strong resistance. Backlash comes despite the fact that Gardasil has been proven very effective against the disease. Pat Loeb reports.
A report out today from the World Bank says businesses should be marketing to the poor. Ashley Milne-Tyte has more on why some say this could be beneficial.
In just a month, record highs and boom times on Wall Street have given way to big losses. Allan Sloan believes investors have simply let emotion get the best of them.
Former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio goes on trial today in Denver on charges of insider trading. Nacchio profited mightily before the telecom giant's stock collapsed. Steve Tripoli reports.
The Airbus A380 jumbo jet lands in New York later today on a promotional flight. Can Airbus convince anybody to buy this plane? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Four years after the start of the war in Iraq, the Marine Corps is spending more than $200 million on improved combat vehicles. Patty Murray reports on one company that got the contract.
The British financial giant is trying to take over the Netherlands' ABN Amro, which would create Europe's second-largest bank. Host Lisa Napoli discusses the deal with our London correspondent, Stephen Beard.
A new report suggests computer hackers may be motivated not just by hopes of notoriety, but a desire to get your money. Before you get too worried, though, consider the source. Janet Babin reports.
The Chinese government says it plans to compete with Boeing and Airbus in making passenger jets. Our Shanghai correspondent, Scott Tong, gets into the details with host Scott Jagow.
