When Wall Street's best and brightest devise things like collateralized debt obligations and mortgage-backed securities in the good times, they're applauded. But when those things go bad, they get the blame. Bob Moon reports on balancing innovation and regulation.
Banks are reporting more loans to small businesses going bad. That means the small businesses left standing are having a harder time getting credit. And that hurts their suppliers. Jill Barshay reports on some creative solutions to keep business flowing.
Wal-Mart says sales have started to follow the pay cycle — trailing off as money runs out before the next paycheck comes. And Bank of America is seeing more people paying for basics with credit cards. Janet Babin reports on families feeling the pinch.
The Commerce Department's monthly retail report shows consumer spending dropped last month, but not as much as predicted. Dan Grech looks into why and what the numbers say about the overall economy.
Many baby boomers are expected to keep working past retirement age, but those who do retire will be looking for a steady income. Commentator Todd Buchholz advises heading off one of their choices.
Transparency in Wall Street's innovative but extremely complex hybrid securities is all well and good, but when the disclosed information is too hard to understand, what's the point? Bob Moon asks if financial innovation has gone too far.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says he's only going to keep about 40% of the current Bear Stearns staff on the payroll. That decision is going to make an already tough job market on Wall Street even more difficult. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Commentator Fareed Zakaria says the growth of developing economies is a major factor in our current economic crisis. We know how to handle a recession, he says, but the worldwide growth we're now seeing isn't something we've dealt with before.
Although the cost of feed is soaring, the cost of chicken has barely budged this year. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports that chicken producers would love to raise their prices like everyone else, but are held back by retailers.
Europe's largest bank, HSBC, has made another big write-down because of subprime mortgages in the U.S. This news comes even though the bank has had a profitable first quarter. From London, Stephen Beard reports.
