Jul 24 Ford Reports $8.7 Billion Second-Quarter Loss By PBS News Hour The Ford Motor Co. on Thursday posted a second-quarter loss of $8.7 billion, due mostly to the declining value of its SUV and pickup truck lines, and announced a plan to overhaul its North American production to focus on small… Continue reading
Jul 23 Watch Wide-reaching Housing Rescue Legislation Moves Forward The House approved Wednesday a hotly-debated housing rescue package aimed at helping strapped homeowners avoid foreclosures after President Bush dropped his opposition to the bill. Experts examine the measure. Continue watching
Jul 23 The Health Care Debate: Eliminate the for-profit middle man and all is solved? By Business Desk Question/Comment: When the NewsHour does segments on health care, I would love for you or any of the staff to ask the health care administrators, economists and especially the politicians why people support a health care system that requires… Continue reading
Jul 23 Why can't the U.K.'s fuel efficient vehicles be sold in the U.S.? Question/Comment: Car companies such as Ford, GM and Toyota sell cars throughout the world. In examining the U.K. Web sites for these companies, even in cases where the car model is the same as the U.S. Continue reading
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