Week of July 30th, 2007

This week, we learn the meaning of a short sale.

Oil prices are soaring again and that's good news for the people who invested in oil — probably bad news for drivers. What's one way to be more of the former and less of the latter? Something called an ETF. Marketplace's Jill Barshay reports.

One solution to homeownership that's gaining in traction in the U.S. is something called co-housing. Originally created in Denmark, there have been over 100 projects already completed. Marketplace's Helen Palmer reports.

A number of states are trying to alleviate the pressure on troubled homeowners by creating a fund to help homeowners refinance out of mortgages they can't afford. Tess talks to Chris Mayer from the Columbia Business School about it.

Thanks to a reference by Andrew Samwick, economist at Dartmouth University, here's a link to a good piece on the tragic bridge collapse in…

Chrysler began another chapter in its 82-year history today. Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management officially took over as new owner. But the same executives will tackle the same problems as before.

There's a good chance a new version of the venerable brand might carry a "made in China" label. It's a case of national identity vs. production costs. Janet Babin reports on the uproar over a pocket knife.

Wall Street is hoping the subprime mortgage crisis won't spread. But Bear Sterns' debt rating got downrated today, and some economists aren't sure the problem has been contained. Steve Henn reports.

A crackdown on fraudulent Social Security numbers could be costly to illegal immigrants and employers who don't bother to verify documents. As Dan Grech reports, as many as four million workers risk getting fired.

A power outage in South Korea shut down factories that make memory chips essential to a whole range of electronic devices. As Lisa Napoli reports, the timing of the shutdown echoes through the industry.

Texas attracts more visitors from Mexico than from any other country. And with tourism down due in part to heavy rains, cities like San Antonio are doing all they can to get a piece of the action. Joy Diaz reports.

Bob Moon talks to analyst David Johnson about what happened on Wall Street this week.

For a single man on the dating scene, the best way to break the ice — other than a cute puppy — is a woman friend doing the talking. Now a growing service is helping shy guys meet Ms. Right, or Ms. Right Now.

Tough new regulations on lobbyists might help clean up Congress. But commentator Jeff Birnbaum found a loophole in the bill that might mean the only way a lobbyist can pay for dinner is if they contribute to a campaign…

Wall Street professionals knew to expect the big merger announcements — and occasionally good news — on the first business day of the week. But these days, Monday's not always so sunny.

What it's like to risk your life? Professional Navy SEAL trainer Don Mann shows us the ropes.

Prospective employees have a right to know what they're worth in the job market. Alisa Roth shows us how salary websites can help your research and why you might also want to be careful about the numbers.

I'm skimming through a book by Carlo M. Cipolla, Between Two Cultures: An Introduction to Economic History. He has nice quote from Keynes on…

Two years after hurricanes devastated huge areas of the U.S. Gulf Coast, a federal appeals court has ruled in favor of insurance companies, saying they don't have to pay for flood damage when contracts specifically excluded it. Dan Grech has more.

The British telecom giant pulled its ads from the popular social networking site after its ads bumped up against the manifesto of the British National Party, seen as xenophobic and racist. Stephen Beard reports from London.

One of Orlando's lesser-known theme parks is in line for a much-needed promotional boost. The Holy Land Experience may find new life thanks to new owner Christian TV network Trinity Broadcasting. Jeff Tyler reports.

August recess is scheduled to begin tomorrow so lawmakers this week have been scrambling to put some bills to the president's desk before they leave town. Jeremy Hobson looks at what's on the agenda.

The announcement that American Home Mortgage will drastically cut operations and lay off 7,000 may be just the beginning of a crisis in the U.S. lending market. Steve Henn reports on how deep the problem goes.

Demand for skilled workers is already outpacing supply in the rapidly expanding eco-friendly sector of the economy. Enter legislation that could help fill the gap — and provide pathways out of poverty for thousands of workers. Sam Eaton has details.

Seems that companies could take a lesson from the political landscape when it comes to effectively using social media and social marketing: Engage first, get money later. Curt Nickisch explains.

Marketplace Money for Friday, August 3, 2007

While recovery efforts continue at the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, White House finger-pointing ensues. But problems with infrastructure are nothing new. Kai Ryssdal talks to Rod Diridon of the Minetta Transportation Institute.

Despite problems with tainted imports, the U.S. still wants to do business in China, and is doing so increasingly through sports. Kai Ryssdal talks to business of sports commentator Diana Nyad.

Removing all of the million recalled toys from shelves is a logistically complicated task for Mattel, which may explain the company's questionable timing. Janet Babin reports.

The merger of banking software makers Fiserve and Checkfree could speed up the death of the paper check. Jill Barshay reports.

British grocery giant Tesco plans to roll out 100 stores in the western United States during the next year — many of them in the kinds of places other supermarkets won't go. Jordan Davis reports.

U.S. zoos know that adorable baby pandas mean big crowds. But those air-conditioned caves cost a lot of money, and not all of those profits can go back into zoo coffers. Jeremy Hobson has the story.

Online ticket reseller StubHub has a new deal with Major League Baseball that give the site exclusive rights to resell tickets in concert with the league. Steve Henn explains why this might make it harder for fans to get reasonably priced seats.

Mattel's Fisher-Price is recalling some $30 million worth of toys made in China because the paint used on them may contain too much lead. Geoff Dyer explains why this particular case is an unusually worrying one.

While the U.S. wrestles over illegal immigration, a similar debate is occurring in Mexico over its southern border with Guatemala. But instead of building fences, Mexico's Congress may decriminalize the act and just send offenders home. Dan Grech reports.

Questions about possible conflicts of interest involving stock analysts have surfaced again. Like how reliable are their recommendations, especially when they have vested ties to the stocks they're pushing? Bob Moon reports.

After decades of violence, Northern Ireland's Catholic and Protestant parties finally signed a peace deal in 1998. The changes since haven't been just political. The region is also experiencing an unprecedented housing boom. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

Sales of TV ads and theme park tickets helped boost earnings at Disney in the last quarter, but the Mouse House is already wooing tomorrow's customers. Yesterday it announced it's buying popular social networking site Club Penguin. Lisa Napoli reports.

China has been accused of keeping the value of its currency low to bolster exports. Cheap goods help U.S. retailers but can hurt manufacturers. Jill Barshay reports on the battle in Congress over protectionist measures.

The eBay ticket-trading service gets an exclusive deal with baseball to re-sell tickets on team Websites. But critics complain about the markup, and the move could block cheaper competitors. Steve Henn reports.

The student loan industry is already in big trouble. Now there are implications that athletics departments at 40 universities have been playing along with some ethically questionable marketing tactics. Jeremy Hobson explains.

Several people over the past couple of weeks have asked me what i thought about the Murdoch takeover of the Wall Street Journal. I don't have a…

The Senate passed a bill that would make it easier to label China as a currency manipulator. Jill Barshay reports the Bush Administration isn't pleased with the China currency bills floating around.

Florida was already in the middle of its most intense hurricane season when Katrina hit. When private insurers backed away from the state's market, government-backed insurance stepped in. Dan Grech reports.

British Airways has been fined for colluding with rival Virgin Atlantic to fix the price of tickets. The carriers had secretly agreed to increase their fuel surcharges by the same amount. Stephen Beard reports.

Who says crime fiction and the stock market don't mix? Amy Scott pours over a new collection of noir stories from Wall Street coming out this summer.

A government health insurance program for children known as SCHIP has a fair amount of bipartisan support, but commentator David Frum says the program doesn't extend coverage where it's most needed.

Westerners setting up shop in China will have their perceptions, but doing business there may be different than they expect. Shanghai bureau chief Scott Tong talks to Kai Ryssdal about what he's learned.

The tabloid style of most of Rupert Murdoch's other media properties might not be a good match for the staid, buttoned-down tone of The Wall Street Journal. But staff writer Sarah Ellison isn't expecting major changes.

Operating largely unnoticed amid the world's major stock exchanges, some markets are just trying to get established. Lisa Napoli went to Thimpu, Bhutan to visit one of the tiniest.

More and more hospitals are plagued by bad debt. In other words: lack of payment for services provided. But is there anything they can do about it? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

Henry Paulson is saying a feared U.S. credit crisis is "contained" in the subprime mortgage market. But there are signs the issue isn't going away quietly, or quickly enough for investors. Steve Henn reports.

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has won his battle to buy Dow Jones. He'll pay $5.6 billion for the company that publishes The Wall Street Journal, and some say he'll let it keep its independence simply because it's smart business. Stephen Beard reports.

A new report reveals that the U.S. is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to fuel economy standards. Turns out even China tops us. Lisa Napoli has details.

As stands full of baseball fans dream of catching Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run ball, attorney and commentator Conrad Teitell reminds us that finders may be keepers, but Uncle Sam wants his cut.

U.S. complaint: The yuan's value is too low, which hurts the U.S.-China trade balance. So Congress today will consider new ways to help the Treasury Department pressure China and boost competitiveness. Steve Tripoli explains.

Memory matters in the broad sweep of public policy. I was reminded of this reading the latest newsletter by Peter Bernstein, a market historian and…

When American consumers are injured by unsafe Chinese imports, it's hard to figure out who to sue. As Steve Tripoli reports, most lawyers here are choosing targets close to home.

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill today requiring lobbyists to disclose their contributions to charities with ties to members of Congress. But the bill has some contenders as it moves on to the Senate. Steve Henn reports.

General Motors has had its third profitable quarter in a row, thanks largely to consumers overseas. Jill Barshay reports on who's buying these cars abroad.

Entrepreneur Tom Szaky found a way to harness the power of unusable organic material and turn it into plant food. But fertilizer giant Miracle-Gro thinks the product reeks. Alex Goldmark has the dirt.

There are still many unanswered questions about the safety of nanotechnology, but the FDA doesn't require any regulations when it's used in products. Commentator Bill Hammack says to be wary.

Bancroft family members unsure about the News Corp deal realized today that they'd be on the hook for legal fees if things fell through. Kai Ryssdal talks about the change of heart with Aline Van Duyn of the Financial Times.

If people disappeared from the planet tomorrow, nature would work fast to dismantle most anything man-made. Kai Ryssdal ponders a humanless world with Alan Weisman, author of "The World Without Us."

Most of Europe's banks had already joined the U.S. in halting financial transactions with Iran in an attempt to pressure it into giving up its nuclear program. Now the last two holdouts have caved, but Iran may find other sources. Stephen Beard reports.

Most New York City restaurants depend on low-wage workers, often immigrants who are easier to mistreat. So the city council will consider a bill that would put labor law violations on par with health code infractions. Alisa Roth reports.

As credit tightens in the wake of the subprime lending crisis, some analysts warn that it could impact lending in other areas. And that's one more risk factor on the recession pile. Steve Tripoli reports.

Alaska's congressional delegation takes a back seat to no one when it comes to bringing home the bacon. The latest allegations implicate Republican Senator Ted Stevens. Steve Henn has details.

The Wall Street Journal's future could be determined today. The boards of both Dow Jones and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp plan to meet and a deal could be approved, but it all hinges on a few Bancroft family members. WSJ reporter Sarah Ellison explains.

The European Union has required mobile phone carriers there to cap roaming rates by today. But not everyone is sold on the cheaper calls, Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez calls it "oil socialism:" upping taxes on foreign oil companies and forcing them out of the country if they resist. His strategy has alienated international investors, but he's got a bundle of cash, Dan Grech reports.

Bacardi is the latest booze maker to pour out millions in cash to step up production of Scotch whiskey as the spirit enjoys rising popularity among the fast-growing middle classes in emerging markets. Stephen Beard reports.

The FDA may have banned the import of Chinese shrimp, but it still doesn't help the rapidly declining American shrimping industry. Kai Ryssdal talks to Bob Jones, the executive director of the Southeastern Fisheries Association.

In the work place, standing out can often take you far. But commentator Richard Conniff says that it's safer and more effective to stand together with your colleagues.

A panel at the Food and Drug Administration voted not to pull diabetes drug Avandia from the U.S. market, despite a highly-publicized study linking the drug to an increased risk of heart attacks. Steve Henn reports.

When the relationship isn't meant to be, that diamond ring isn't going to do much good on your finger. But Sean Cole found out that it can still be a tough sale.

American Home Mortgage was the latest victim of a smarting subprime mortgage market. And as Amy Scott reports, the company doesn't even make subprime loans.

The FCC will soon announce the rules behind its auction of the broadcast spectrum. Lisa Napoli reports that the way the auction goes could have a big impact on the U.S. mobile industry.

H-1B visas used to be a way for immigrants to secure green cards. But these days, many foreign workers obtain the U.S. work permit with no intention to stay. Aswini Anburajan reports.

Adobe's partnership with FedEx Kinko's will allow users to send their documents directly to FedEx Kinko's for printing and delivery. Some in the printing industry are worried about the deal. Jeremy Hobson reports.

Two stock-market policers joined forces today. NASD and NYSE regulators decided not to hyphenate and picked a new name instead: FINRA. Jill Barshay tells us what it all means.

The price of U.S. citizenship goes up today. New fees nearly triple the old ones and that's creating a whole new barrier for low-wage immigrants who are playing by the rules. Dan Grech reports.

The PDF has become the standard electronic file for printing, and desktop publishing leader Adobe is teaming up with FedEx Kinko's to make printing the files much easier. Jeremy Hobson reports.

Markets around the world have managed to regain their footing following last week's tumble, but they'll be watching Wall Street closely today for warning signs of bigger trouble, says Stephen Beard.

The new hybrid Tahoe and GMC Yukons go on sale later this year, and some analysts say collectively they could save more fuel than all those passenger car hybrids. Janet Babin has details.

BusinessWeek has come out with its annual list of the top 100 brands and Coca-Cola is tops again. Reporter Burt Helm tells us how brands are valued for the rankings and what it takes to make or break a brand.