Jul 23 President Bush Drops Veto Threat for Housing Bill By PBS News Hour President Bush will sign into law a housing rescue bill hammered out in a compromise among House and Senate leaders, the White House said Wednesday. Continue reading
Jul 22 Wachovia Posts Surprising $8.9 Billion Loss By Admin, PBS News Hour Banking giant Wachovia Corp. reported a nearly $9 billion second-quarter loss Tuesday, surprising Wall Street analysts who had expected a smaller drop. The company plans to cut 6,350 jobs and slash dividends to offset the losses. Continue reading
Jul 22 Is capitalism the best arangement under which greed will do the least harm? By Business Desk Question/Comment: Is this true?: The problem of social organization is how to set up an arrangement under which greed will do the least harm; capitalism is that kind of a system. (Milton Friedman) Paul Solman: Could be. But the… Continue reading
Jul 22 What is the future of home loans? Question/Comment: What do you think is the future of home loans: higher interest for lenders' safety or lower interest to attract borrowers? Paul Solman: You force me to trot out yet again what I once heard the late economist John… Continue reading
Jul 21 Watch Airplanes Scale Back Service as Oil Prices Soar Despite efforts to ease the burden of soaring fuel costs by adding luggage fees and slashing flights, major airlines continue to suffer losses and predict fare hikes this fall. Tom Bearden reports on the latest woes of the airline industry. Continue watching
Jul 18 Watch Bailout of Mortgage Firms Could Set Risky Precedent As the nation's housing woes continue, the government announced a plan this week to shore up mortgage-giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Paul Solman weighs the role of government intervention and the possible ramifications of rewarding risky financial behaviors. Continue watching
Jul 18 Is there any way we can hedge against the energy and commodities as an individual investor? Question/Comment: As an individual investor/consumer, it’s really hard to adjust to sudden increases in gas and food prices. Is there any way we can hedge against the energy and commodities as an individual investor? Paul Solman: It might be a… Continue reading
Jul 17 Watch Fannie Mae CEO Defends Mortgage Giant’s Stability Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd reacts to questions about the stability of the mortgage-lending giant after the government took steps earlier this week to back Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to maintain stability and confidence in U.S. financial… Continue watching
Jul 17 Watch Reporters Measure Economy’s Health Across the U.S. Business reporters and columnists from across the country assess how recent economic troubles, including inflation and housing market problems, have impacted local communities. Continue watching
Jul 17 Tax Hike Dispute Reveals Chink in Argentine President’s Popularity By PBS News Hour Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, elected in a landslide vote in October, has started to encounter the country's economic and political realities, as evidenced in Thursday's legislative rejection of a proposed tax hike. Continue reading