Apr 21 If AIG Uses Its Bailout to Pay Off Other Debts, Is That a Ponzi Scheme? Question: If we are shoveling money into AIG and they are pushing it out the back door to pay off bad debts and then banks announce profits, does this mean we are in a… Continue reading
Apr 20 Watch Banking Industry's Uncertain Future Puts Investors on Edge Stocks tumbled Monday on skepticism over financial sector earnings, despite a better-than-expected earnings report from Bank of America. A reporter updates the state of the banking sector. Continue watching
Apr 20 Watch Other News: Oracle Buys Sun Microsystems By PBS News Hour In other news, Oracle bought the troubled Sun Microsystems company for $7.4 billion and a suicide bomber killed 3 Iraqi civilians and injured 8 U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Continue watching
Apr 20 How Should We Interpret the String of Positive Earnings Reports from U.S. Banks? Question: After three major banks – Citigroup, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs – announced better-than-expected earnings last week, Bank of America announced more than $4 billion in first-quarter profits today. How should we interpret this string of good earnings reports?… Continue reading
Apr 20 Bank of America Posts Better-Than-Expected Earnings By PBS News Hour Bank of America, the largest U.S. lender by assets, reported that its income in the first quarter of 2009 more than tripled to $4.2 billion. Continue reading
Apr 20 Who Pays the Rating Agencies? Question: Who pays the rating agencies, like Moody’s? What is the source of their income? Paul Solman: That’s been the scandal. They’re paid by the issuers of the bonds and stocks they rate. They thus have a huge incentive not… Continue reading
Apr 17 Watch Bolivia's Lithium Resources May Prove Hot Commodity Bolivian leaders are debating whether the country's vast natural reserves of lithium -- a key ingredient powering electric cars -- should be nationalized in order to boost the nation's struggling economy. ITN's Channel 4 news correspondent Lindsey Hilsum reports. Continue watching
Apr 17 Why Doesn't the Yuan Trade Like Other Currencies? Question: Why don’t we let the yuan trade like other currencies? Even now, the yuan has an 20 percent or higher edge on other currencies because of the existing rules. Paul Solman: Now, now, Maya, as my dad used to… Continue reading
Apr 17 EPA Report Marks First Step Toward Climate Change Regulations By Brian Santalone Carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions are a danger to public health and welfare, and possibly even national security, according to an Environmental Protection Agency scientific review released Friday. Continue reading
Apr 17 Global Recession, Drug Violence Top Summit of the Americas Agenda By Admin, PBS News Hour The pressing issues of the global recession, Mexico's drug war and Cuba's conspicuous absence are expected to emerge during the fifth Summit of the Americans, which begins Friday in Trinidad and Tobago. Continue reading