Jul 14 U.S. Government Takes Steps to Back Struggling Mortgage Giants By PBS News Hour The Treasury Department and Federal Reserve laid out plans Sunday to help bolster lagging confidence in mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Continue reading
Jul 11 Watch Worries of a Bailout of Mortgage Giants Hit Markets Hard The market value of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae slumped again Friday, but rebounded after officials downplayed the likelihood of government action. A reporter and analysts discuss the developments. Continue watching
Jul 11 Paulson: No Bailout for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac By Admin, PBS News Hour Amid worries that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac might run short of capital, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Friday the government would support them "in their current form as they carry out their important mission."… Continue reading
Jul 10 Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Stocks Tumble over Bailout Fears By PBS News Hour Shares of government-chartered mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plunged to their lowest levels since 1991 in Thursday trading over concerns the companies won't be able to raise necessary capital. Continue reading
Jul 09 Why are many oil-producing countries still unable to solve their chronic poverty problem? Question/Comment: With the record world petroleum prices, why is it that many oil-producing countries, such as Mexico, Venezuela, Nigeria, are still unable to solve their chronic poverty problem? Shouldn't the oil boom generate more jobs for the masses… Continue reading
Jul 08 Watch Fed Ready to Strengthen Regulations Tied to Lending Practices Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke outlined new rules Monday that are intended to protect homebuyers from risky lending practices blamed for a nationwide housing crisis. Wall Street Journal editor David Wessel examines the move. Continue watching
Jul 08 Bernanke to Propose Stricter Mortgage Regulation By PBS News Hour Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke outlined a new set of mortgage-lending rules Tuesday, which will be aimed at shielding future homebuyers from risky lending practices and avoiding a repeat of the country's current mortgage crisis. Continue reading
Jul 08 For retailers, cash or credit? Question/Comment: Maybe 10 years ago I heard that cash was the costliest payment to exchange or process by a retailer. Also credit was costlier than debit for a retailer to have processed by a bank. Lately, I've heard just the… Continue reading
Jul 03 Watch Economy Burdened by Job Losses, Slipping Sales, Oil Costs The Labor Department announced the sixth consecutive month of job cuts Thursday as employers cut 62,000 workers, further fueling U.S. economic concerns. Analysts examine the news. Continue watching
Jul 03 U.S. Employers Cuts Payrolls by 62,000 in June By Admin, PBS News Hour The Labor Department announced the sixth consecutive month of job cuts as U.S. employers cut 62,000 non-farm workers from their payrolls in June, creating the longest-running decline since 2002. Continue reading