Marketplace Whiteboard
RSS
Meet Cap 'n Trade
Cap and Trade is the linchpin of the government's effort to curb carbon emissions. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains how the cap and trade model works. (05/22/2009)
Capital structure
In stories about the auto companies and the banks, we've been hearing about debt-to-equity swaps and exchanging preferred shares for common stock. To understand how those work, you need to understand a company's capital structure. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains. (05/06/2009)
Shadow banking
The shadow banking system is a key component of the U.S. economy, but the financial crisis has frozen it solid. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains what shadow banking is and why it's important enough to warrant its own bailout, called the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, or TALF. (04/13/2009)
The public-private partnership
The U.S. Treasury Department plans to recruit private investors to take toxic assets off banks' balance sheets. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains how the plan is supposed to work. (03/31/2009)
Collateral calls
Millions of Americans are wondering why AIG has paid so much taxpayer money to other banks. One reason is because AIG has had to honor "collateral calls" -- demands made by banks on the insurance contracts it's written. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains, (03/24/2009)
The Uptick Rule
Bankers have been debating bringing back the uptick rule for months, if not years. This week the debate made it to Capitol Hill. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch gives a quick and dirty explanation of what the uptick rule is, and why it could be reinstated to turn the American taxpayer into one of Citigroup's biggest stockholders. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains. (03/12/2009)
Cramdowns
A debate is raging in Washington, D.C., about how to deal with America's foreclosure problem. One proposal is to restructure the loans using a tool usually seen in bankruptcy courts: The "cramdown." Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains. (02/18/2009)
Write-downs
markets have deteriorated, "write-downs" have figured prominently in more and more corporate reports. What are write-downs all about? Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains. (02/10/2009)
Mark to market
There's a debate in financial circles over whether banks are unfairly penalized by the requirement that they "mark to market" their holdings. Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains what that term means. (01/30/2009)
Toxic assets
If you've been following the problems encountered by the banks, you've probably come across the phrase "toxic assets." They've poisoned banks' balance sheets and brought them to the brink of failure. But what is a toxic asset, exactly? Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains. (01/21/2009)
