Jun 16 Watch Lehman Reports $3 Billion in Losses Due to Bad Mortgage Investments Lehman Brothers chief Richard Fuld took responsibility Monday for a staggering $3 billion in losses in the second quarter, saying the company was too slow to react to the unfolding credit and mortgage crisis. Roben Farzad of BusinessWeek magazine outlines… Continue watching
May 29 Iraq Asks Leaders to Lift Sanctions, Forgive Debt By Admin, PBS News Hour Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki asked world leaders Thursday "to end the international sanctions that were imposed on Iraq because of the previous regime and to write off debts" that are an "impediment against reconstruction and development."… Continue reading
Apr 18 How can any elected official do anything about the economy? Question/Comment: How can any elected official do anything about the economy when 90 percent of the budget goes to the military, entitlement programs, earmarks and the national debt? Paul Solman: She or he can vote to spend less (or more)… Continue reading
Mar 21 How much national debt is a good thing? By Paul Solman Question/Comment: Paul, please keep up your enlightening NewsHour segments. My question: How much national debt is a good thing? Generational fairness clearly calls for limits, but despite the many voices weighing in on this issue, I have yet to hear… Continue reading
Feb 19 How much of the U.S. economic problems are caused by the deficit and what percentage of the deficit is the Iraq war? Question/Comment: 1. How much of the U.S. economic problems are caused by the deficit? 2. What percentage of the deficit is the Iraq war? 3. How can the U.S. ever pay off the deficit, and how… Continue reading
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 30 Should we have a central registry of mortgage lending so that trading can be more transparent? Question/Comment: As it is with all financial crisis, I guess, a lot of the damage stems from uncertainty. No one knows how much bad debt is out there and who’s holding it. My question is: why is it not possible… Continue reading
Dec 14 Once companies securitize an asset and remove it from the books, are there provisions by which a company can obtain (purchase back) the asset from the special purpose entity? Question/Comment: Once companies securitize an asset and remove it from the books, are there provisions by which a company can obtain (purchase back) the asset from the special purpose entity? Since the market for collateralized debt obligations (… Continue reading
Mar 08 Watch Senate Examines Credit Card Industry Practices The credit card industry and its practices, including interest rates and other fees, came under scrutiny at Senate hearings Wednesday. A Washington Post reporter details the hearings. Continue watching