Oct 15 If the stock markets of the world all drop 10-20 percent simultaneously, are we as Americans significantly worse off? Question/Comment: Would you please clarify something for me that I am struggling to understand? If the stock markets of the world all drop 10-20 percent simultaneously, are we as Americans, or any other nationality, significantly worse off? If, relatively speaking,… Continue reading
Oct 14 U.S. Treasury to Inject $250 Billion into Banks By Admin, PBS News Hour In a new effort to shore up confidence in the economy and inject life into frozen credit markets, the U.S. Treasury will inject $250 billion into several large banks. Continue reading
Oct 09 A response as the markets close below 9,000 for the first time in five years. By Business Desk Paul Solman: This afternoon’s question comes from the steward of The Business Desk who wrote, moments ago: “I don’t know how you feel about this, but I thought maybe you could do another response to the day? The market just… Continue reading
Sep 30 President Urges Congress to Take ‘Decisive Action’ on Bailout By Admin, PBS News Hour Stocks opened higher Tuesday morning, but financial markets remained troubled a day after the House voted down a $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector that the Bush administration and congressional leaders had agreed was necessary. Continue reading
Aug 05 Do you believe that some of the run up in oil prices is based on speculation in the commodoties markets? By Business Desk Question/Comment: Do you believe that some of the run up in oil prices is based on speculation in the commodities markets? My understanding is that the amount of funds et al. playing in oil futures has risen more than 70… 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
Feb 05 How can a nation with manufacturing employment being replaced by “service” jobs expect to have a trade balance with the rest of the world? Question/Comment: Did you ever hear about the two old ladies who made a precarious living taking in each other’s laundry? My question is this: how can a nation with manufacturing employment being replaced by “service” jobs expect to have a… Continue reading
Jul 20 Watch Dow Hits Record High, But Housing Foreclosures Rise The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped a record 14,000 this week, but other concerns about the economy remained, including an increase in housing foreclosures. A columnist explains the economic factors. Continue watching