May 04 Watch As U.S. Automakers Struggle, Fiat Seizes Expansion Opportunities With designs for global expansion, Italian automaker Fiat plans to acquire part of the restructured Chrysler company and is moving to take over GM's European unit. A Business Week reporter explains Fiat's plan. Continue watching
May 04 Watch Other News: Obama Outlines Plans to Crack Down On Tax Loopholes In other news, President Barack Obama announced a crackdown on tax loopholes designed to save jobs, and Iraq signaled it will not extend the June 30 deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraqi cities. Continue watching
May 04 President Obama Outlines Plan to Close Tax Loopholes, Raise U.S. Revenue By Admin, PBS News Hour President Barack Obama outlined a series of steps Monday aimed at overhauling U.S. tax policies that he says reward companies for shifting American jobs overseas and allow wealthy people to avoid paying taxes by using offshore accounts. Continue reading
May 04 How Are Banks Profiting on Mortgage Refinancing? Question: Banks like Wells Fargo and JP Morgan recently announced better-than-expected profits. The given reason is that they are making money on the refinancing of mortgages. Doesn’t mortgage refinancing imply lower rates of interest and repayment? How can they be… Continue reading
May 01 Watch For Those With Low Incomes, Help Creating a Credit History Spencer Michels reports on a program that helps low-income people with no credit gain access to loans and financial counseling. Continue watching
May 01 Watch Other News: Chrysler Bankruptcy Hearings Begin On other news, the Chrysler company's bankruptcy hearings got underway in New York City, and two U.S. marines and one sailor were killed in Iraq on Thursday. Continue watching
May 01 Is the Auto Crisis Just a Lack of Demand? Question: I don’t understand the auto industry crisis. I infer that it is because we’re in a recession, and not many people are buying cars. Is that all of it, or is there something more? Paul Solman: Are you talking… Continue reading
May 01 How Do We Regulate Credit Rating Agencies? Question: How do we supervise and regulate the credit rating agencies which, so poorly and perhaps illegally overrated so many derivatives? Paul Solman: I don’t know. One proposed reform has been that the investors pay the ratings agencies for… Continue reading
Apr 30 Watch Other News: House Advances Credit Card Regulations; U.K. Troops End Iraq Mission In other news, the House voted overwhelmingly to rein in credit card companies, and the Senate defeated a measure to give homeowners relief in federal bankruptcy court. In Iraq, British troops handed command of Basra to U.S. forces. Continue watching
Apr 30 Watch After Filing For Bankruptcy, Chrysler Faces Tough Road Ahead Chrysler filed for federal bankruptcy protection Thursday and announced a new partnership with Italian automaker Fiat as part of a larger restructuring plan. Auto analysts assess the company's move and what it means for its workers. Continue watching