Investors' concerns with the credit crunch are showing up in auction-rate securities, which raise money for everything from roads and bridges to hospitals and museums. Marketplace's Bob Moon explains how these investments work and why we should be concerned.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Banking committee today he expects a year of slow-to-moderate growth. Then he said many unknown factors could stifle that growth. Kai Ryssdal has more.
Warren Buffett has offered to reinsure $800 billion in municipal bonds to help struggling bond insurers hampered by fallout from the credit crunch. The deal would likely allow the municipal bonds to receive a AAA rating. Dan Grech reports.
Regulators in Washington want to take a closer look at the investments of foreign sovereign wealth funds into U.S. banks. Jill Barshay reports funds usually invest in doses which narrowly avoid the need for regulatory approval.
A new estimate predicts a $400-billion hit in subprime write-offs. But Jurgen Hambrecht says if banks simply worked the way European manufacturers did, there would be little cause to worry. Stephen Beard reports.
While the Fed cut interest rates in order to curb the economic slowdown, the European Central Bank has decided to hold its short-term rate steady at 4%. Steven Beard reports from London on how the rate will affect both U.S. and European economies.
BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, is looking to buy one of its competitors, Rio Tinto. So far, Rio Tinto has rejected BHP's offers. But if the deal goes through, it would be the second-biggest takeover ever. Bob Moon reports.
A Microsoft-Yahoo merger could mean strong competition for Google. Doug Krizner talks to Marketplace Internet and technology report Lisa Napoli about the effects of the deal and what could happen next.
