May 5, 2009

Marketplace Morning Report for Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Segments From this episode

Banks will likely need cash to make it

by Marketplace Staff

May 5, 2009

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke expects the U.S. economy to bottom out and improve later this year if the financial sector continues to mend. Meanwhile, many banks are expected to need more cash to make it through the fallout. Tamara Keith reports.

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Mexico still risks future flu outbreak

by Dan Grech

May 5, 2009

Mexican officials have given the OK for schools, government and business to reopen after a five-day shutdown. But whether swine flu has been successfully beaten will only be proven down the road. Dan Grech reports.

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Downgraded bonds junk up market

by Jeremy Hobson

May 5, 2009

With profits down everywhere, many once investment-grade corporate bonds are quickly getting downgraded to junk. Jeremy Hobson explores where this can hurt the economy and why it's bad for the companies involved.

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Mafia suspected of ill-gotten green

by Stephen Beard

May 5, 2009

Sicilian magistrates are investigating mafia ties to poorly-constructed wind farms in Italy. Concern about climate change is unlikely to be the gangsters' main motivation for investing in wind power. Stephen Beard reports.

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Lebanon calling for better cell service

by Ben Gilbert

May 5, 2009

Lebanon's cell-phone industry uses a poor system shared by only three other countries in the world. To improve the quality of its telecommunications, the country is turning to private auctions. Ben Gilbert reports.

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Maybe a textbook case for innovation

by Janet Babin

May 5, 2009

Will Amazon's new Kindle boost e-readership with the promise of a larger screen, loose-leaf size and flexibility? Some may be skeptical, but the device could bring innovation to the textbook industry. Janet Babin reports.