May 13 Watch Financial World Shifts Gears Amid Economic Tumult As the U.S. grapples with an economic slowdown and a housing slump, financial leaders are rethinking their strategies. Financier and author George Soros reflects on the changing business trends and details his new book, which examines the "credit crash" of… Continue watching
Apr 29 Will oil ever be priced in a currency other than dollars? Question/Comment: Has there been a shift from petrodollars to petroeuros in world energy trading? I read that such a shift would result in less demand for the dollar, resulting in a drop in the dollar's value. Paul Solman: "Petrodollars" was… Continue reading
Mar 21 Watch Examining the Roots of U.S. Economic Woes In recent months, the U.S. business world has been hit with troubling economic news, ranging from the subprime mortgage crisis to the Bear Stearns bailout to the plummeting value of the dollar. Paul Solman explains the factors that have led… Continue watching
Mar 04 Watch Falling Dollar Pushes Oil Prices Up, Weakening Economy As the value of the dollar falls, the price of imported oil rises, which impacts costs from the gas pump to the grocery store. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal examines the current state of oil prices. Continue watching
Mar 04 Watch Dollar’s Falling Value Ripples Through U.S. Economy As the value of the dollar has fallen, the U.S. economy has had to adjust in a multitude of areas. While some sectors have benefitted from cheaper U.S. exports, others have felt the pinch of inflation. Paul Solman examines the… Continue watching
Feb 25 Watch New Cuban Leadership Intensifies Speculation on Reforms Raul Castro was confirmed as Cuba's president Sunday, after last week's announcement that his ailing brother, Fidel Castro, would step down after decades in power. Two experts on Cuba discuss the prospects for reforms in the country and relations with… Continue watching
Feb 15 It’s been a long time since I took Econ. 101, but as I remember, if you keep printing ever-greater amounts of currency, inflation takes on a life of its own. Question/Comment: It’s been a long time since I took Econ. 101, but as I remember, if you keep printing ever-greater amounts of currency, inflation takes on a life of its own. Isn’t that what we’ve been doing at the rate… Continue reading
Feb 13 How can such enormous debt be sustainable and what happens to the world economy if the U.S. defaults? By Business Desk Question/Comment: I am a Canadian. Unfortunately, 87 percent of our trade is with America. Consequently, U.S. recessions are felt more deeply in Canada. However, my questions are about the American debt. My understanding is that the debt could reach $10… Continue reading
Jan 23 I always hear about the Chinese keeping their currency at an artificial rate to help exports. Where would the cost of doing that show up? Question/Comment: I always hear about the Chinese keeping their currency at an artificial rate to help exports, but I know from trying to hold a lid on a boiling pot that the pressure is going to come out somewhere. If… Continue reading
Jan 11 How does China control the exchange rate of its currency? This installment’s “guest vetter” is Martin Neil Baily, now with the Brookings Institution. He was chairman of President Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors and is a certified VKP (very knowledgeable person). If you… Continue reading