Host Tess Vigeland talks to author Margaret Atwood about the place of lending in our society and the importance of trust in keeping the system working properly.
Insurances companies invest just like the rest of us. How much risk do they face from the financial meltdown? Marketplace's New York Bureau Chief Amy Scott reports.
Another person it's important to have faith in: the one managing your money. Host Tess Vigeland talks to Diahann Lassus about establishing a trusting relationship with your financial advisor.
As Americans lose confidence in banks and markets, there's always the safety of your own mattress. But as Rico Gagliano and the Marketplace Players explain, while we've been off investing elsewhere, the rules may have changed.
Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal talks to historian David Kennedy about the tools the next president will have at their disposal for battling America's financial crisis.
To better understand the odds we face in the current crisis, Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal and historian Sean Wilentz present a short history of high and low points of trust in America's economy.
The FDIC promises that the money you put into the bank isn't going anywhere, even if the bank goes under. Host Tess Vigeland asks former FDIC chairman William Issac how that guarantee works.
Marketplace presents "Here's What I'm Doing," a series asking people from all walks of life how they're coping with the financial crisis. In this edition, Marketplace Money listener Lita Powell-Drake.
Marketplace presents "Here's What I'm Doing," a series asking people from all walks of life how they're coping with the financial crisis. In this edition, New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff.
Marketplace presents "Here's What I'm Doing," a series asking people from all walks of life how they're coping with the financial crisis. In this edition, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.
The U.S. definition of poverty is more than 40 years old, and critics think it's time for an overhaul. Mayors from all over the country met in L.A. to come up with a plan for resetting the poverty line. Rachel Dornhelm has more.
President Bush will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Camp David. It's not likely to lead to a worldwide summit because the president is in lame duck status. But Jeremy Hobson reports on something that might come up.
Are we in a recession? A slowdown? A rebalancing? What happens next? Kai Ryssdal asks Mike Mandel, writer for BusinessWeek, and Johs Worsoe, senior executive vp, global markets, for Union Bank, for their thoughts.
Investment banks like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers have been major casualties of the financial crisis. With investors skeptical about risk, is the investment banking model dead? London Bureau Chief Stephen Beard reports.
The recent drop in oil prices might have us smiling at the pump now, but those lower prices could head back up. OPEC is expected to cut production during an emergency meeting next week. Nancy Marshall Genzer has more.
Reports say GM and Chrysler have stepped up merger talks, with GM running out of cash. Toyota, on the other hand, is promoting a new zero-financing initiative for 11 models. Ashley Milne-Tyte has more.
Construction of new homes was expected to drop in September, but not to the lowest number in seven years. With builders and buyers unable to get loans easily, the decline is expected to continue. Mitchell Hartman reports.
What effect would an OPEC production cut have on oil prices in this shakey world economy? Bill Radke talks to Carola Hoyos, who covers the oil market for The Financial Times.
With General Motors stock trading around $6, the company would like to close a merger deal with Chrysler as soon as possible. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports where GM's turnaround plan went wrong.
European leaders and President Bush will discuss global bank regulations this weekend. But John Dimsdale reports Europe may have some convincing to do if they want to get free market countries in.
If banks under merger deals come out with poor earnings reports, could the deals fall apart? Rachel Dornhelm reports an acquiring bank might not see a large write-down at a troubled partner as an entirely bad thing.
Pennsylvania is experimenting with a mandatory mediation system for foreclosures that requires borrower and lender to try to work things out before a judge. But Jeff Tyler reports many don't know the program exists.
When people visit New York's Wall Street today, they may be surprised to find more of the financial firms have moved uptown. But Sally Herships reports the residents may have changed, but the image is still intact.
Oil prices dropped below $70 a barrel yesterday, something that hasn't been seen in over a year. Now, OPEC will meet next week to consider a production cut. Renita Jablonski talks to Stephen Beard in London.
Banks are facing tough times all over Europe, but in France, no bank has gone under and none has required a government bailout. John Laurenson reports how the French have managed to keep themselves above peril.
Banks don't trust each other. Investors don't trust the market. And, people think their mattresses are the safest place for cash. Tess Vigeland talks with Kai Ryssdal about trust, the subject of a special weekend show.
Mark Cuban, the brash billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is among the top bidders for the Chicago Cubs. Kai Ryssdal calls on ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski to ask: Who is this guy?
When a stock falls, investors have a pretty good idea that it means less money for them. But what does it mean for the company? Do falling shares affect its bottom line? Marketplace's Jeff Tyler finds out.
FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Blair is publicly criticizing the administration's $700 billion bailout package, saying it doesn't do enough to help Americans facing foreclosures. Sarah Gardner reports.
At first, it looked like Southwest Airlines hedged its bets well when it prepaid for fuel because prices were going up. Unfortunately, now oil prices are falling. Janet Babin has more on Southwest and airlines in general.
A growing number of hedge funds have gone from big winners to big losers. Highland Capital Management is shutting down two of them, blaming "unprecedented market volatility." Senior Business Correspondent Bob Moon reports.
Have we made the turn from planning a bailout to managing the recession? What's next for interest rates? For answers to these and other questions, Kai Ryssdal turns to former Fed Board member Frederic Mishkin.
When banks don't lend to each other one side effect is that hundreds of billions of dollars in cash can pile up — unused — at the Federal Reserve Bank. Steve Henn reports that may not be a good sign for the economy.
The price of oil this morning is $72 a barrel — half of what it was three months ago. Ashley Milne-Tyte looks into some factors influencing oil markets, including the disappearance of some speculators.
Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are the latest banks to receive multibillion-dollar bailouts. Megan Williams reports how cash from the government and global investors has ended the banks' shareholder risk.
As U.S. consumers spend less, Japan's export-led economy has to be more careful. Scott Tong looks into how Japan and all Asian markets are affected by a complicated global bubble.
In its own take on comedy news, CNN will be airing its own comedian-hosted show, covering everything from politics to sports to pop culture. Susanna Capelouto reports why the move to be funny is very calculated.
In the midst of an economic maelstrom, why haven't the bank CEOs stepped up to say anything? Scott Jagow talks to economics correspondent Chris Farrell about one financial leader who has come out through everything.
With fuel prices half of what they were three months ago, it's surprising the airlines aren't doing so much better. Rachel Dornhelm reports air carriers are struggling with diminishing demand.
With a global recession on the horizon, the prices are right for companies to seek shelter in other companies. John Dimsdale reports why some consolidation can be expected in every down economy.
Local governments are feeling the pinch from the credit crisis. Water, sewer and road repairs are taking a backseat as governments try to scrounge up enough cash to keep cities running. Sylvia Maria Gross reports.
The Marketplace mailbox this week received not only comments, but questions — good ones. Kai Ryssdal rounds up Senior Business Correspondent Bob Moon to answer some of them.
The credit crisis is taking its toll on businesses, but there's optimism in the solar energy sector. Sarah Gardner reports that new technolgies and cheaper materials have improved solar's market potential.
The Fed soon starts lending directly to corporations, plus it's pledged unlimited dollars to foreign central banks. So, just how much is this gonna cost, and where's the Fed getting the money? Steve Henn finds out.
With oil prices slipping below $75, prices for corn, gold and other commodities are also down. That's good news for consumers, but what about the overall economy? Will it spark inflation? Nancy Marshall Genzer has answers.
The latest indication of global economic slowdown comes from something called the Baltic Dry Index. It tracks the price of hauling commodities like oil and grain. Those prices are at the lowest point in five years. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The economy is keeping shoppers out of stores and retail numbers prove it. They dropped to a three-year low. The downward trend is likely to keep holiday shopping lists on the small side this year. Danielle Karson has more.
The bailout plans from the U.S. and other countries do seem to be calming nerves in the financial sectors at least a little bit. Kai Ryssdal asks MIT economist Simon Johnson if this is the beginning of the end.
September saw a third straight month of declines in retail sales in almost every category — from cars to groceries. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports why this holiday shopping season could be the worst in years.
Despite research that says a close election is good for investors, some are saying the upcoming presidential election is upsetting an unsettled market. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports things may improve later.
How will the world financial landscape look different after the rescue packages go into effect in the U.S. and Europe? Bill Radke talks to European correspondent Stephen Beard about today's E.U. meeting in Brussels.
At tonight's third and final presidential debate, we're bound to hear more about the financial plans of each side. But are the candidates overpromising? John Dimsdale looks into what both campaigns are proposing to do.
The U.S. still has an estimated 21 billion barrels waiting to be extracted. At an oil field in Los Angeles, residents are fighting one company's plan to drill under their neighborhood. Jennifer Collins has the story.
The stock markets have been rejoicing over government interventions and bank takeovers. But now, it's back to the economic realities — and the potential ugliness — of corporate profit reports. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The average American household has taken on more debt than it can safely manage, but our we really living beyond our means? Commentator Robert Reich says we need to also take note of declining incomes.
In the middle of a financial crisis, is it wise to start a new business? Arlene Battishill did. Scott Jagow talked to the entrepreneur about the challenges she's faced starting her company right now.
Melamine, the chemical found in tainted milk in China, has begun to show up in other products. Scott Tong reports from Shanghai what it's like to worry about everything you eat and drink.
Small industrial cities get a lot of attention during presidential campaigns. Commentator Angela Glover Blackwell says they don't have to fade away after November. The new administration and the cities themselves can help ensure those cities' growth.
Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain say they have starkly different plans to restore the U.S. economy. But in reality, Steve Henn reports, the candidates' policies are moving closer together.
The financial downturn in Russian markets is affecting an unlikely area: English football. Some of the super-rich Russians who own U.K teams have lost a lot of money. London Bureau Chief Stephen Beard reports on how that's playing out.
With markets doing, well, better, what's going on with the rest of the economy? Another way of asking that question: Are we in a recession? Kai Rysdall brings up the dreaded "R" word with economist Steve Fazzari
An important part of the government's financial fix is to give the FDIC a bigger role in insuring bank deposits. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports it's all about restoring confidence in the markets.
The idea of having the Treasury Department take stakes in selected banks is to provide them with cash to start making loans again, not to keep it to themselves. Janet Babin wonders if banks will agree to that.
Have the financial rescue plans done anything yet to encourage banks to start lending again? So far, the major credit benchmarks aren't moving much. Senior business correspondent Bob Moon reports.
You guessed it: contributions to nonprofits have gone south with the economy. Among those organizations suffering the most are the ones catering to the arts. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
The president and the Treasury Secretary outlined a new part of the bailout plan that would invest $250 billion directly into banks and buy up their stock. Is this good? We ask economist Gary Schilling and economics correspondent Chris Farrell.
Europe's rescue packages have been good news for investor confidence so far, but that's not necessarily the case for taxpayers footing the bill. Megan Williams reports what some countries will pay for their plans.
Intel's size may help it weather a tough credit market, but it will still have a rough ride ahead with the entire tech sector. Janet Babin reports why the industry needs to prove its worthiness.
How do you manage a restaurant chain when everyone's eating in? DineEquity CEO Julia Stewart told Kai Ryssdal that the secret to success in a troubled market for Applebees and IHOP is selling to franchisees.
It's not the best time to be in the business of snakes and spiders, but Brett Wilson is still managing his "lizard boy" career. Scott Jagow met up with Wilson and his girlfriend at their loft in downtown LA.
So what does the U.S. government's new plan to invest directly into banks mean for the taxpayer? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports the idea is that everyone will get their money back eventually.
European investors seem to like where the U.S. government is going by investing in banks. Scott Jagow talks to Stephen Beard about the British government's efforts over banks and how that's effected the country.
We've yet to spot a guy walking around with a sign that says "the end is nigh," but the chatter on Armageddon and Rapture Web sites is heating up. Sean Cole decided it was time to check in with a few "end time economists."
