Week of December 17th, 2007

Happy Holidays. I'm taking a break Christmas Eve and Christmas. I'll resume answering your questions next Wednesday.

MoMA gift store buyer Chay Costello Sosin travels the world to find artifacts, jewelry and other items to stock one of the hippest stores in the world. We try to get some of that cool by hanging around.

Mutual funds are trying to ease young investors into building their portfolios, but they're not necessarily the best place to go for investment advice. Alex Schmidt explores what it's like to just start out.

What goes around might come around, but can karma apply to our finances? Cash Peters explores the mystical implications and cold, hard reality of tithing after deciding to give away 10 percent of his income.

The number of companies throwing bashes this holiday season has declined almost 10 percent from last year, according to one report. Chalk it up to general worries about the economy. Amy Scott takes a look at one industry in particular that is feeling the pinch.

Stockbroker and business analyst David Johnson chats with host Kai Ryssdal about what happened on Wall Street this week and what may lie ahead.

Whatever weakness the economy's showing, luxury goods continue to sell. The top-end hotel market is booming with plush one-upsmanship. Alex Goldmark looked into reports of six- and even seven-star hotels.

Twenty-five years ago, before the perfect pie crust, the signature series at K-Mart and the minimum-security prison, there was Martha Stewart's first book, "Entertaining." After all this time, says commentator Peter Hyman, the lifestyle queen's best creation remains herself.

Author Robert Kuttner says lawmakers on both sides of the aisle need to answer for the latest hiccup in our economy. His new book, "The Squandering of America" looks at how the failure of our politics undermines our prosperity. He talks with Kai Ryssdal.

Washington Mutual, this country's biggest savings and loan, is the target of another investigation. This time it's the Securities and Exchange Commission that is looking into whether the S&L handled mortgages based on inflated home appraisals. Jeremy Hobson has more.

The Swiss bank UBS has sold a slice of itself to Singapore and to Saudi Arabia. Its shareholders in Europe are making a big fuss about the Saudi investment. Jill Barshay reports.

Question: Help! How do I find a good financial planner? Someone who I can sit down with and show my entire portfolio, with stocks, IRAS, and real…

Denied at first for a liver transplant by health insurer CIGNA, Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, lost a battle last night with leukemia. She passed away shortly after CIGNA had reconsidered its decision. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

Venezuela has agreed to sell oil to poor countries in the Caribbean and Central America at sweetheart rates. Dan Grech reports how the country's solid economic benefits mix with an offering of its ideology.

Shareholders at Swiss bank UBS are upset over a deal with a mysterious investment from Saudi Arabia. Scott Jagow talks to Haig Simonian of The Financial Times about the realities these shareholders are facing.

Madonna left her longtime label to work with a concert promoter, CD sales declined yet another year and digital music sales didn't really grow. Doug Krizner deciphers what it all means with Billboard's Bill Werde.

A new E.U. bill setting CO2 limits for planes allows carriers to buy emissions permits at auctions. But Megan Williams reports the law is making some carriers anticipate paying billions and increasing ticket prices.

A new cyber-security plan is aiming to protect the government from not just individual hackers, but also other governments. Jeremy Hobson reports concerns over government spying have stunted the program.

Not long ago, shopping on a Sunday was forbidden in Germany because the constitution declared it a day of rest. But Brett Neely reports the rules are changing in Berlin, and some consider it a sin.

Some positive analysts think the bonuses on Wall Street will come up, and others hear that bonuses are down. Ashley Milne-Tyte tells us who is most likely to walk away with a healthy check.

Marketplace Money for Friday, December 21, 2007

Marketplace Morning Report for Friday, December 21, 2007

If you're going to be traveling in Europe, you'll no longer need to flash your passport at most border crossings. Megan Williams reports that the new rules are expected to help tourism, but some Western European countries aren't happy.

The video music game Rock Band has built a Christmas-season buzz among gamers and the less technically inclined. Kai Ryssdal and some Marketplace rockers checked it out with Kevin Pereira from G4 television.

In the past couple of months Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have sold off slices of themselves in exchange for billion of dollars from funds controlled by China and Abu Dhabi. John Dimsdale reports on the evolving politics of global finance.

MBIA, the country's biggest bond insurer, announced today it's backing far more subprime debt than anybody thought. Jill Barshay has more on what that might mean for the bond market.

The Federal Trade Commission has voted to let Google buy the ad company DoubleClick, despite privacy advocates' warnings of terrible consequences. Meanwhile, the European Union is still considering the deal. Lisa Napoli reports.

Why would anyone choose to get into the textile business, where the work is monotonous and the competition is brutal. Jon Miller went to Lima, Peru, to bring us the story of one man who did. It's the latest installment in our "Working" series.

Question: Hi folks, We were just sitting here listening to Chris Farrell say that the AMT should be eliminated. We agree that changes need to be…

The Federal Trade Commission this morning gave Google the OK to take over online ad company DoubleClick. Digital privacy advocates who fought the merger think this is very bad news. Lisa Napoli reports.

The final GDP numbers are in, and the economy grew 4.9 percent in the third quarter, despite the looming threat of recession. Nancy Marshall Genzer looks into why, and reports some economists are still cautious.

New ethics rules are forbidding members of Congress to participate in any event that would honor them. But congressional watchdogs don't trust the restrictions as the House finds loopholes. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

Irish tourism to the U.S. is thriving, thanks to a weak dollar and Ireland's fast-growing economy. Don Duncan reports from New York City, where many of the 300,000 Irish have come around the holidays for just one thing.

A new agreement allows visitors to 24 E.U. countries to put their passport away after the first time they enter. Megan Williams reports Europe expects it'll help tourism, but some Western European countries aren't happy.

Central banks around the world are pumping money into the global financial system to help ease the credit crunch. Jill Barshay also reports that instead of issuing penalty rates, they're lending money at a bargain.

With cheaper high-definition TVs on the market, consumers now just have to decide which DVD format is better. Doug Krizner explores the differences with Andrew Edgecliffe Johnson of The Financial Times in London.

Hit hard by the credit crisis, Bear Stearns and many other banks have taken huge write-downs. Janet Babin reports that with about 150 billion more of them to go, some large firms are seeking a cash infusion from overseas.

Now that the business travelers and foreign tourists are going home for the holidays, you can fetch a steal for that luxury suite you always wanted to book. Jill Barshay explores how cheap you can get a room.

A three-year-old program in San Francisco lets customers pay $90 for a living tree that will later be replanted in an urban area that could use the green. Rachel Dornhelm reports this option is becoming more popular.

Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, December 20, 2007

Christmas tree farmers in Denmark have been accused of engaging in price fixing. Kai Ryssdal called one to get his reaction. But there wasn't a whole lot of yuletide spirit in the response.

Time Magazine announced its Person of the Year today: Russian President Vladimir Putin. The magazine says Putin has put his country back on the map. Commentator David Frum agrees, but he says Putin is driving Russia to a dangerous place.

While most Americans seem to be riding out the credit crunch, a large number are struggling to stay afloat. Steve Tripoli reports on the people increasingly swamped by a second wave of debt distress.

One of the most pernicious viruses to hit computers this year is called Storm Worm. And it's got e-commerce in its DNA. Ed Skoudis, who tracks bugs like these for a living, explains how this pest wreaks havoc.

TV and movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer has signed on with MTV to produce video games. The network is pouring $500 million into interactive entertainment and hoping the action-flick mogul can get things moving. Jeremy Hobson reports.

Six months ago the biggest issue in the presidential campaign was Iraq. Now, it's the economy. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Matthew Yglesias, an associate editor at Atlantic Monthly magazine, about the campaigns' shift to pocketbook issues.

Imagine an eBay auction for $20 billion. That's what the Federal Reserve conducted this week to pump cash into our struggling financial system. Banks gobbled the money up at a high penalty rate of 4.65%. Jill Barshay reports.

Question: Hello, My husband and I are hoping to buy our first home in about 8-12 months, and we are trying to figure out how best to invest our…

A poll out this morning says the percentage of people who think a recession is coming is up since last month. But how does an obsession with recession affect the economy? Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

Online gift registries are becoming an increasingly popular option to fulfill holiday shopping. But some think the shopping portals are helping customers further deter from the spirit of Christmas. Dan Ankeles has more.

Newly elected South African President Jacob Zuma came to office after a bribery scandal last year. Gretchen Wilson reports what made him a strong candidate this time, even despite strong opposition.

The Treasury Department's Foreign Exchange Report might cause controversy if it's used to accuse China of manipulating its currency. Alisa Roth reports the U.S. worries China is keeping money cheap.

The European Commission made a new health care proposal allowing people to travel to another E.U. country to get treatment and bring the bill home. Scott Jagow talks to European report Megan Williams about why.

The White House has reinstated higher driving-time limits for truckers. Today the Senate will consider the 11-hour restriction and its potential impact on fatality rates. Sam Eaton reports.

When people are drowning, it's said that Republicans will extend too little rope, and Democrats too much. When it comes to foreclosures, commentator Robert Reich sees the same thing happening. He offers this suggestion.

Marketplace Morning Report for Wednesday, December 19, 2007http://content.publicradio.org/standard/images/001/choose.gif Open feature chooser

Kai Ryssdal reviews your letters about gift cards, plug-in hybrid cars, eco-friendly Christmas tips, and denying "Der Bingle" his due.

I find this troubling. Disdain at overweight and obese women is an increasingly acceptable prejudice. "The stigma of obesity has actually worsened…

At the time Doug Conant was hired as CEO of Campbell's, the world's biggest soup company had lost its way in selling soup. He talks with Kai Ryssdal about reviving an iconic brand in this latest installment of Conversations From the Corner Office.

The cost of food is rising in China and that's got everyone a little nervous. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to our Shanghai Bureau Chief Scott Tong about the country's inflation and how the government is trying to control the runaway economy.

The $516 billion federal spending bill OK'd by the House and now before the Senate funds 14 cabinet agencies and the war in Afghanistan. It's also got 9,000 earmarks in it. Jeremy Hobson has this holiday spending tale.

The FCC has voted to relax regulations on media ownership, allowing broadcasters to run newspapers in the top 20 media markets. A decision advocated by its chairman, Kevin Martin. However, as Lisa Napoli reports, we probably haven't seen the last of this decision.

The Fed's Board of Governors has endorsed new rules to protect home buyers from shady lending practices. But critics are wondering where the Fed's been since August. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

Question: My husband is planning to start a two-year Master's degree program next fall (2008) which will cost about 24,000 total. We have enough…

For two weeks, the European Central Bank is offering unlimited loans at below-market interest rates. Megan Williams reports the ECB hopes to make more credit available to businesses to keep the economy from further slumping.

Construction of new single-family homes hit a 16-year low last month, according to a Commerce Department report this morning. Amy Scott reports this could affect many other industries well into next year.

We have the Magna Carta to thank for documents declaring the rights of man and the sovereign system of government. And now for a few million, you can own it. Jeremy Hobson has more on the Sotheby's auction.

Anyone who's tried to get a Nintendo Wii this season knows how much they're in demand. Doug Krizner talks to Leo Louis of the Times of London about why supply is so short — and whether the shortage might be intentional.

Goldman Sachs earnings come out today, and while the firm is expected to have healthy numbers, it's not easy to be considered the "smartest firm on Wall Street." Sam Eaton reports people will be watching closely.

A wintry picture book lauding individuality through a shopping spree to Saks Fifth Avenue is not something commentator Susan Linn sees fit for any 4-year-old she knows. She warns of the dangers of early branding.

Decorating your home for the holiday is an arduous, stressful activity. So why not hire someone else to do it? For the right price, Dr. Christmas will do everything from roof lights to an Art Deco tree. Lenora Chu reports.

Airlines may say they care about their passengers, but many critics believe their actions say differently. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports on waning customer satisfaction and opposition to a passenger bill of rights.

The Federal Reserve wants to protect consumers from another subprime debacle by imposing new rules on lenders. But some lenders say more restrictions might have a reverse effect. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

Marketplace Morning Report for Tuesday, December 18, 2007

CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CORNER OFFICE: Campbell Soup Co., President and CEO Douglas R. Conant

CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CORNER OFFICE: Campbell Soup Co., President and CEO Douglas R. Conant

When social entrepreneurs' mission-oriented businesses get big enough they also attract serious buyers. Steve Tripoli reports on how some business owners have dealt with the dilemma of turning over the mission to someone else.

Sales of women's clothing are down about 6 percent this holiday season. A report cites boring fashions as one of the factors. But commentator Sandra Tsing Loh says her recent shopping spree was anything but dull.

Water is the subject of a new book called "Blue Planet Run." Kai Ryssdal talked with its author and photographer Rick Smolan about how so much of the water we do have is polluted and unusable.

A meeting of governors for Georgia, Florida and Alabama didn't resolve their fight over ever-shorter water supplies. But they did promise to make peace before they meet again in two months. Nancy Marshall-Genzer reports on how things got so bad.

Debate continues in the Senate over rules governing electronic surveillance. The sticking point on the bill at hand is whether telecommunications companies should be immune from lawsuits over their cooperation with the government in warrantless searches. John Dimsdale reports.

With only seven shopping days left until Christmas, sales aren't living up to expectations — which weren't that high to begin with. Retail management, on the other hand, is on a buying binge. Dan Grech reports.

There was plenty of applause on Wall Street today for the news that air-conditioner company Trane sold for a cool $10 billion to Ingersoll Rand. Companies flush with cash are stepping in to keep the economy moving. Jill Barshay reports.

CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CORNER OFFICE: Campbell Soup Co., President and CEO Douglas R. Conant

Question: I listened with interest about your story of the military man who is investing in the Thrift Savings Plan and was happy to hear your high…