Marketplace Morning Report for Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Segments From This Episode

• Fed, Treasury consider AIG exit plan

  by John Dimsdale

  The government is trying to clean up one of the biggest messes left from the financial crisis, the bailout of AIG. Officials from the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank are meeting with AIG's board to consider a complex exit plan. Reporter John Dimsdale talks the details with Bill Radke.

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• Amtrak rolls out high-speed rail plan

  by Marketplace Staff

  Amtrak released a 30-year vision for high-speed rail travel along the Northeast corridor. It'll cost more than $4 billion a year over the next couple decades. That's more than the annual operating budget for the government-funded rail company. Alex Goldmark reports.

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• Groups try to shape consumer bureau

  by Marketplace Staff

  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency designed to help make sure banks and other financial companies are dealing straight with their customers, is on its way. L.A. Times consumer columnist David Lazarus talks with Bill Radke about how financial companies are trying to influence the rules and what activists want.

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• European workers protest budget cuts

  Labor strikes are occurring across Europe over government budget cuts in several different countries. Labor unions are worried about job and pay cuts as a result of deficit reduction measures by their governments. Europe correspondent Stephen Beard talks the details with Steve Chiotakis.

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• U.S. may pressure China on its currency

  by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

  The House may start debate on a bill that would pressure China to increase the value of its currency. The measure would make it easier for the U.S. to slap tariffs on Chinese imports. But some leading U.S. business groups are against the legislation. Why? Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

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• The Grateful Dead’s marketing lessons

  by Marketplace Staff

  For fans of the Grateful Dead who witnessed their music live, it was more than just a concert. It was a world unto itself. And a new book says there are important marketing lessons to be learned from the way the band operated. The book's co-author, Brian Halligan, takes a look at the band as a business model.

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• EU may fine countries for overspending

  by Rebecca Singer

  As labor strikes are being staged across Europe, the European Commission is announcing plans to stop European countries from overspending. Governments that borrow too much money will be hit with fines.

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• What the gov’t wants to do about AIG

  by Marketplace Staff

  Economist Richard DeKaser of Woodley Park Research talks with Bill Radke about what the government's goal is as officials meet with the board of AIG to figure out how to extricate the taxpayer from that bailed-out company.

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• Iran pistachio ban helps U.S. growers

  by John Dimsdale

  A new round of U.S. trade sanctions against Iran taking effect will ban Iranian pistachio imports. Washington bureau chief John Dimsdale talks with Bill Radke about how that is good news for American pistachio growers.

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