Dec 16, 2016

Marketplace Morning Report for Friday, December 16, 2016

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On today's show, we'll talk about the relationship between the cost of borrowing for a home and interest rate hikes; how the Russian stock exchange is doing post-election; and Disney's development of the "Star Wars" franchise.

Segments From this episode

With 'Rogue One' and more, how far can Disney stretch the 'Star Wars' franchise?

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Dec 16, 2016

Disney paid $4 billion for the “Star Wars” franchise — and “Indiana Jones” — when it bought Lucasfilm. It seems the movie studio is quite intent on getting its money’s worth. The new movie “Rogue One” opens in theaters today — the first of two, possibly more, stand-alone “Star Wars” films that Disney has in […]

A view of a "Rogue One" panel at the London convention center ExCel.

Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios

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Slowly rising rates shouldn’t hurt housing market

by Mark Garrison

Dec 16, 2016

New data out this week show the average 30-year fixed mortgage at 4.16 percent. That’s a 2016 high, and is set to keep rising with the Fed promising more interest rate hikes. That means home buying is getting more expensive just ahead of the important spring selling season. But the economy is strengthening overall, which […]

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

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Christmas tree growers fight for sales

by Marielle Segarra

Dec 16, 2016

Got Milk? Beef: It’s What’s for Dinner. The Incredible, Edible Egg. All of these advertising slogans have something in common: they were created by marketing groups, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and funded by fees collected from farmers. Now you can add another slogan to the list: “It’s Christmas. Keep it Real.” It […]

Tim Dunne, owner of Woodsedge Christmas Tree Farm in New Jersey, cuts branches off a tree to make decorations.

Marielle Segarra/Marketplace

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Mid-day Update

How Facebook is taking on the responsibilities of a news organization

by David Brancaccio

Dec 16, 2016

Facebook's fight against fake news articles, the new biggest holder of U.S. debt, and artificial vs. real Christmas trees.

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On today’s show, we’ll talk about the relationship between the cost of borrowing for a home and interest rate hikes; how the Russian stock exchange is doing post-election; and Disney’s development of the “Star Wars” franchise.