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Monday, February 8, 2010

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Fed puts focus on plan to tighten credit

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to testify on Capitol Hill about how the Fed plans to prevent inflation once the economy recovers. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports the Fed has a new tool at its disposal. More»

Education crisis helps private colleges

Public universities are reeling from the impact of state budget cuts. But that's creating an opportunity for some schools. Caitlan Carroll reports. More»
How U.S. feels about wealth gap

Author Dan Ariely polled more than 10,000 people about their thoughts on wealth distribution. He talks with Kai Ryssdal about the results. More»

The R&D departments at the big banks are still experimenting in their laboratories. The latest idea for financial “innovation” comes from Citigroup. It is working on the first derivatives that would pay out in the event of another financial crisis.

Continue reading Mad banker scientists

Feb 8, 2010 2:29 PM PT — Scott Jagow
2 Comments

The economy is so bad...

Perhaps we can contribute to the growing collection of one-liners about the economy. You don’t even need to use your imagination. I’ve come up with a couple “the economy is so bad” jokes just from today’s news.

Continue reading The economy is so bad...

Feb 8, 2010 1:12 PM PT — Scott Jagow
3 Comments

The inflation bomb and Charles Darwin

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will tell Congress this week how the Fed plans to diffuse the $1 trillion bomb ticking away inside the banks. Did I mention that the Fed assembled this bomb in the first place?

Continue reading The inflation bomb and Charles Darwin

Feb 8, 2010 10:16 AM PT — Scott Jagow
6 Comments

Morning Reading

Good morning. Hope you had a good weekend. Here a a few items to get the week started, including both sinners and SAINTS:

Continue reading Morning Reading

Feb 8, 2010 5:55 AM PT — Scott Jagow
1 Comments

Have something to say to Citi?

This week, Citigroup added one more blog to the universe. It includes video interviews with Citi executives in charge of things like risk, mortgages and credit cards. CEO Vikram Pandit even delivers his own message, and something akin to an apology:

Continue reading Have something to say to Citi?

Feb 5, 2010 1:32 PM PT — Scott Jagow
3 Comments

Misreading the job numbers

The consensus over January’s employment report seems to be “cautious optimism.” It’s “a cause for hope, but not celebration” is how the president put it. That’s an understatement. The unemployment rate fell below 10%, but it would have been better news if the unemployment rate had risen.

Continue reading Misreading the job numbers