President Obama heads to Hawaii today for the APEC summit of 21 economies along the Pacific Rim. And Japan this morning said it would participate in talks to build a free trade zone among those nations. Nine countries are on board so far, including the United States. The Italian Senate has just passed the economic reform bill that Europe is demanding. Once it passes the lower house of parliament, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he’ll quit. An erroneous downgrade of French sovereign credit rating by Standard & Poor’s rating agency on Thursday was a very serious incident and will have to be investigated, the European Commission said on Friday.
Segments From this episode
Mid-day Update
Mid-day Extra: Happy 11/11/11!
by Marketplace Staff
Nov 11, 2011
Everyone from McDonald's to Chinese brides are celebrating the 11/11/11 holiday today. Why is it so valuable for companies?
Juli Niemann: It should be a decent Christmas spending season
by Juli Niemann
Nov 11, 2011
Consumer sentiment reports are out today, and Juli Niemann of Smith, Moore and Company, thinks that even though the markets are still down, Americans are willing to spend -- especially during the holidays.
Tax incentives for vet job growth
by Jennifer Collins
Nov 11, 2011
Next week, the House will take up a bill that would offer incentives for employers who hire out-of-work veterans.
The future of USPS, delivered by UPS
by Marketplace Staff
Nov 11, 2011
The CEO of UPS, Scott Davis, talks about the troubles of the U.S. Postal Service, and how it and the rest of economy is affecting the shipping business.
Proposing a 21-nation free trade zone
by Jeff Tyler
Nov 11, 2011
This weekend, President Obama hosts the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu. At the top of the agenda is a proposal for a Pacific free trade zone. How would it work?
Globalist Quiz
The consumption of the developed world versus the emerging world
by Stephan Richter
Nov 11, 2011
The Globalist's Stephan Richter administers his latest quiz on consumption, and where emerging countries are overtaking the developed world.
Where Italy's debt problems came from
by Marketplace Staff
Nov 11, 2011
The financial problems in Italy stem from years of mismanagement and even corruption.
How firm is the super committee's debt deadline?
by David Gura
Nov 11, 2011
Europe isn't the only one with debt concerns -- the U.S. has a deadline in two weeks to figure out a way to cut down our own deficit. But that deadline might not be too firm.
BBC World Service
French government to investigate false downgrade notice
by Christian Fraser
Nov 11, 2011
Weeks ago, Moody's put France under observation regarding its credit rating. Now, a false announcement of a downgrade is giving the French government reason to investigate such agencies.
Chris Low: Free trade deal with Asian economies is a great idea
by Marketplace Staff
Nov 11, 2011
President Obama is in Hawaii today for an APEC meeting. We speak to Chris Low, from FTN Financial, about the possible good that could come out of this weekend.
Big fights could help the ailing Las Vegas economy
by Marketplace Staff
Nov 11, 2011
A big fight is schedule this weekend in Las Vegas, between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. What kind of impact do these fights have on the local economy in Vegas?