Marketplace Morning Report for Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Segments From This Episode

• PODCAST: New blood at Yahoo!, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

  by Mary Dooe

  

  Today was a day of new directions for Internet giant Yahoo!, which named a new CEO. And President Obama is expected to appoint a new top cop for protecting consumers. Meanwhile today, the low-calorie, natural sweetener Stevia got the green light to be sold in Europe; Italy said it will allow 24-hour businesses; U.S. car sales look good in 2012; and more headlines from the GOP campaign trail.

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• Minimal snow in Midwest means big savings, headaches

  by Brian Bull

  A mild winter means cash-strapped governments save money. But lack of snow can be costly for others.

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• Popular candidates in Iowa can’t count on donations

  by John Dimsdale

  Rick Santorum is the latest GOP candidate to face the problem of increasing popularity without an increase in political dollars.

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• Resurgent labor unions in Ohio could tip presidential race

  by Jeff Tyler

  Supporters and foes of collective bargaining rights will spend big on the presidential race in Ohio. Labor unions claim the issue has rallied their members.

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• U.S. spending on Afghanistan and the United Nations

  by Marketplace Contributor

  In this week's quiz, Stephan Richter shows us how U.S. spending in Afghanistan stacks up against American spending for the United Nations.

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• Demand for German bonds remains strong

  The hard economic times in Europe have actually been a good thing for Germany, which can still borrow at low rates and benefit in export markets.

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• Chinese company to invest in U.S. oil drilling

  by Rob Schmitz

  Sinopec will spend billions of dollars on a partnership to drill for natural gas in Ohio. The company is hoping to gain the needed expertise to grow the fracking industry in China.

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• Shiny outlook for U.S. car sales in 2012

  by Bob Moon

  As automakers report December sales, several industry analysts predict sales growth of one million new cars this year, to nearly 14 million.

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• Stevia braces for a sweeter year in U.S., Europe

  by Eve Troeh

  The low-calorie, natural sweetener Stevia is set to show up in more drinks and desserts this year. Its market share grew in the U.S. last year, and now the European Union will also allow its sale.

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• Yahoo names former PayPal head as new CEO

  by Josh Brown

  Yahoo has a new CEO — Scott Thompson — current head of eBay's online payment system, PayPal. Thompson replaces Carol Bartz, who was fired from Yahoo in September.

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• Yahoo’s new CEO could shake up company

  by Steve Chiotakis

  Yahoo has named Scott Thompson, formerly of PayPal, as its new CEO. Will his skills transfer to the Internet giant?

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• Kodak could get kicked off NYSE

  by Steve Chiotakis

  Kodak's gotten a warning from the New York Stock Exchange that it will get booted off the big board if it can't boost its average stock price above a dollar a share.

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• Italy allows businesses to open for 24 hours

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  In an effort to boost the economy, Mario Monti announced that Italian businesses can now stay open at all hours. That has some Italian shopkeepers worried.

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• Obama appoints new head of CFPB

  by Steve Chiotakis

  The president plans to use a recess appointment to name Richard Cordray as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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• Mid-day Extra: In-flight wi-fi isn’t so popular

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  Only a small percent of airline passengers log on to the internet in-flight despite a growing number of airlines and private services

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