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Marketplace Morning Report for Monday, December 10, 2012
Dec 10, 2012

Marketplace Morning Report for Monday, December 10, 2012

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European markets are slumping this morning on news that the prime minister of Italy is resigning. Mario Monti -- whose technocratic government took power a year ago to fix the Italian economy -- says he'll step down as soon as next year's budget gets approved. In North Dakota, oil production is booming. Of course, there's still no pipeline to move the oil -- which is causing a boom for another industry: railroads. And, there is still a glut of foreclosed houses on the market, but it's not ordinary homebuyers who are benefitting.

Segments From this episode

Small company SodaStream bets big on Super Bowl ad

Dec 7, 2012
Do-it-yourself soft-drink company SodaStream is spending 10 percent of its net earnings on a Super Bowl commercial.

Hedge funds crowd first-time buyers out of housing market

Dec 10, 2012
Hedge funds and private-equity funds are buying up hundreds of foreclosed homes at a time, turning them into rentals, crowding out first-time home buyers looking for bargains.

Railroads profit from oil boom in North Dakota

Dec 10, 2012
Trains haul fracking supplies into the region and haul oil out of it. The oil boom comes at a good time: the railroads' mainstay, coal, is in a slump.

Italian PM Mario Monti announces plans to step down

Dec 10, 2012
Italy, the third biggest economy in the euro zone, has been plunged into political turmoil as Prime Minister Mario Monti has announced plans to step down.

Senator Kent Conrad on the fiscal cliff

Dec 10, 2012
The chair of the Senate Budget Committee explains why he thinks we'll reach a fiscal cliff deal before the end of 2012.

High salaries at Freddie, Fannie draw attention

Dec 10, 2012
A government watchdog released a report this morning that scrutinizes the pay of senior staffers at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The report is from the inspector general of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie and Freddie.

Italy's political worries scare investors

Dec 10, 2012
The last thing the global economy needed was more political upheaval in Europe. But that's what we're getting. Italian prime minister Mario Monti plans to resign, and there will be elections early in 2013.

Key House Democrat talks fiscal cliff

Dec 10, 2012
Lawmakers in Washington continue to work towards a deal on the fiscal cliff before the end of the year. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, says House Democrats' opinions shouldn't be ignored.

The latest Internet craze: Porting

Dec 10, 2012
Watch out coning - you aren't the only kid on the Internet block anymore.

PODCAST: Italy in turmoil, U.S. on the cliff

Dec 10, 2012
You probably thought we forgot about Italy, what with all this business about Greece and Spain, but Italy is back this morning. Plus we've got a veritable cornucopia of important Democrats talking about the fiscal cliff -- by which I mean two. Republicans, you can return our calls any time. And Santa, if you're listening -- best keep your hatred of the Toronto Maple Leafs to yourself.

European markets are slumping this morning on news that the prime minister of Italy is resigning. Mario Monti — whose technocratic government took power a year ago to fix the Italian economy — says he’ll step down as soon as next year’s budget gets approved. In North Dakota, oil production is booming. Of course, there’s still no pipeline to move the oil — which is causing a boom for another industry: railroads. And, there is still a glut of foreclosed houses on the market, but it’s not ordinary homebuyers who are benefitting.