Segments From This Episode

• Saudi bailout draws UBS investors’ ire

  by Jill Barshay

  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.

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• A tale of two electronics retailers

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  Best Buy is going gangbusters. Circuit City's shares are down 75% so far this year, and things are expected to get worse. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports on how two companies selling similar stuff have wound up in such different places.

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• WaMu faces another mortgage probe

  by Jeremy Hobson

  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.

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• ‘The Squandering of America’

  by Kai Ryssdal

  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.

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• What has Martha wrought?

  by Marketplace Staff

  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.

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• Luxury hotels turn it up for extra stars

  by Marketplace Staff

  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.

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• Week on Wall Street

  by Kai Ryssdal

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

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• Taking ‘Wow!’ out of Wall Street parties

  by Amy Scott

  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.

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