Sep 22 Watch Congress Struggles With Scope of Financial Rescue Plan The government's $700 billion financial bailout proposal now faces lawmaker approval. Senate finance committee members describe which parts of the plan are stirring debate. Continue watching
Sep 19 Watch Wall Street Turmoil Marks Wholesale Shift in Banking Sector After a week on Wall Street that saw stalwart financial firms fall and unprecedented levels of government intervention, NewsHour economics correspondent Paul Solman and market historian Richard Sylla offer perspective on the events. Continue watching
Sep 19 Is it possible, as a worst case scenario, for the Feds to close the banks as FDR did in the 1930’s? By Business Desk Question/Comment: I hope you will not think me too crazy for asking this question. Is it possible as a worst case scenario for the Feds to close the banks as FDR did in the… Continue reading
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
Jun 13 Inflation Jumps 0.6 Percent in May; Core Rate Remains in Check By Admin, PBS News Hour Inflation shot up at the fastest rate in some six months, the U.S. government reported Friday. The jump in prices was blamed largely on soaring gas and food prices. Continue reading
Apr 29 Can Fed come up with a better system for encouraging long-term savings? By Business Desk Question/Comment: I inherited some money, retired, and moved to Portland, Ore. Now that I have money in the bank, and the Fed has been lowering interest rates, I've been wondering exactly how our banking system actually works. When the Fed… Continue reading
Apr 03 Watch Bernanke Says Bear Stearns Rescue Was ‘Necessary’ Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the agency's rescue of Bear Stearns in a Senate hearing Thursday, saying the move was necessary to prevent further impact on the general economy. Financial experts weigh the Fed's response to recent economic turmoil. Continue watching
Apr 01 Will JPMorgan Chase have to assume all of Bear Stearns’ debt? Question/Comment: Will JPMorgan Chase have to assume all of Bear Stearns’ debt? Paul Solman: Nope. The Fed covers the first $30 billion dollars of Bear Stearns losses — $30… Continue reading
Mar 24 JP Morgan Hikes Offer for Troubled Bear Stearns By PBS News Hour Stock indexes rose in early Monday trading after banking giant JP Morgan Chase & Co. confirmed reports that it had quadrupled its offer for troubled investment bank Bear Stearns Co. 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