Jul 21 Watch Bernanke Details Stimulus Exit Plan to Congress Despite recent improvements in the economy, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates near zero, chairman Ben Bernanke told lawmakers Tuesday. Greg Ip of "The Economist" examines the chairman's testimony with Gwen Ifill, and discusses the central bank's plans to… Continue watching
Jul 21 Watch Other News: Bailout Funds Come Under New Scrutiny In other news, lawmakers asked new questions on the spending of federal bailout dollars, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed a vote on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor by one week. Continue watching
Jul 21 Bernanke: Fed has Stimulus Exit Strategy By PBS News Hour Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke looked to assure lawmakers and Wall Street that the central bank will be able to scale down its massive stimulus efforts and avoid inflationary concerns when the economic recovery is more certain. Continue reading
Jul 21 Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money? Question: Why do CEOs make so much money? The answer must be supply and demand, but I would like to hear a good analysis of the cost benefit. I do realize too however: Would… Continue reading
Jul 20 Is Madoff's Sentence a Deterrent for Future Swindlers? By Business Desk Question: I wonder whether the Madoff sentence is a sufficient deterrent for future potential criminals. If he is rumored to have stolen approximately $60 billion, then $60billion/150 years comes out to about $400 million per year. That figure is… Continue reading
Jul 20 Ask Fed Chief Ben Bernanke About the Economy By Business Desk Paul Solman: My longtime motto: There is no big time. But if there were, this might be your chance to become part of it. You can pose an economic question here — not to me or even one of my… Continue reading
Jul 17 Bank of America, Citigroup Report Strong Profits By PBS News Hour Two ailing banks that just a few months ago symbolized many of the troubles afflicting the American banking system posted strong second-quarter profits Friday, exceeding analysts' expectations. Continue reading
Jul 17 A Little Poetry for California's Crisis Paul Solman: Questions keep coming in about the likelihood and consequences of a California default on its bonds. One unexpected result might be anger for the ages. Here’s Lake Poet William Wordsworth on the 1842 bond default of Pennsylvania,… Continue reading
Jul 16 Watch Paulson Defends Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Deal Former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson testified Thursday in the third and final House hearing looking into the government's role in the Bank of America purchase of Merrill Lynch. Jim Lehrer discusses the hearings with Binyamin Appelbaum of the Washington Post. Continue watching
Jul 16 Watch Other News: Markets Advance, Auto Dealers Gain Congressional Support In other news, Wall Street advanced on tech stocks, and House members introduced a proposal that would force GM and Chrylser to restore franchise agreements with auto dealers. Continue watching