Marketplace AM for August 27, 2007

Segments From This Episode

• No. 1 threat: Credit crunch, not terrorism

  by Janet Babin

  Survey says: Economists now cite massive defaults on subprime mortgages and heavy debts as the top threat to the U.S. economy. As recently as March, the possibility of a terrorist attack was still the greatest worry. Janet Babin has more.

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• Bat Boy cast into cyberspace!

  by Marketplace Staff

  It'll still be published online, but today's issue of Weekly World News will be the last to hit newsstands. For 28 years the paper greeted shoppers in the grocery checkout line with fantastical, OK, ludicrous tales, and commentator John Booth is going to miss it.

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• Ready to go back in the subprime water?

  by Steve Henn

  The recent problems terrorizing the mortgage market are likely to scare off some investors for some time to come. But sale prices in the aftermath could also lure in bargain hunters. Steve Henn reports.

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• Brazilian political scandal hits frying pan

  by Dan Grech

  Dozens of officials in Brazil are accused of getting their palms greased to support the policies of President Lula da Silva. This week that nation's high court takes up the case that's been simmering for years. Dan Grech reports.

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• Beware: Subprime sharks still lurking

  by Ashley Milne-Tyte

  Even as the subprime mortgage sector crumbles and lenders like Countrywide take out multi-billion dollar lines of credit to stay in business, ads appealing to people with bad credit are still surfacing on the Internet. Say what? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

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• Bailing out lenders for a profit… or not

  by Marketplace Staff

  Bank of America got a lot of attention on Wall Street last week for a timely loan that saved mortgage lender Countrywide Financial. But it also got a heckuva deal, says Allan Sloan, the kind taxpayers can only wish the Fed and the ECB were getting.

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• Tata shopping for luxury cars

  Indian steel and auto conglomerate Tata will likely be the proud new owner of luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover. And it could be a good match all around, Stephen Beard reports.

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