Marketplace: Thursday, July 29, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 12.17 (.12%) ; NASDAQ 22.80 (1.23%) ; S&P 500 5.02 (.46%)

Newscast Tonight, John Kerry will formally accept his party's nomination at the Democratic Convention in Boston. Now here's something you won't see on TV. On this July 29th, Mr. Kerry is to sign an agreement to stop raising and spending private money. That signed document will be rushed off to the Federal Elections Commission. This time yesterday we were telling you about hysteria in the oil markets. What a difference a day makes. Oil prices were headed down today. What's more, that drama about an asset freeze at Russian oil giant Yukos has been reversed. Listen to all newscast items

Features United Airlines fights to stay alive Today UAL, the parent company of United Airlines, announced quarterly losses of $247 million. According to company bosses, there's no way the airline will emerge from bankruptcy unless costs are cut. To that end, United announced this week it'll stop making contributions to employee pension plans. Reporter: Jeff Tyler Related Story: United Air to Miss More Pension Payments No One Knows - Queens of the Stone Age Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Are you really better off today? Well no ... Americans have long been proud of the idea that economically speaking, each generation does better than their parents did. The line seems to move one direction - up. So some may find a report today from the Internal Revenue Service a bit unsettling. Reporter: Hillary Wicai Related Story: I.R.S. Says Americans' Income Shrank for 2 Consecutive Years Jolene - Cake Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Another space race Today a U.S. team behind a privately funded space effort announced a September liftoff for two more flights -within a week of each other. The team's trying to win that $10 Million X-prize intended to kick-start a commercial space race. Careful not to write off NASA. Early next month the government plans to launch a trip to Mercury. Estimated time of arrival: 7 years from now. People get excited about this stuff. Well, most people ... Commentator: Lawrence Krauss Related Story: NASA Selects Future Mission Concepts for Study Space Girls - Soundscape UK Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Big Blue fights the outsourcing tide When internal documents filter out to the media, it's almost a sure bet someone on the inside has an agenda. Today the Wall Street Journal got its hands on some new job policies from one of America's leading corporations, and published a story about it. The report shows just how controversial a certain business practice has become. Reporter: Lisa Napoli Related Story: AU companies play down offshoring Extra Krispy - Mono Puff Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Krispy Kreme's bitter taste Krispy Kreme stock is less than half of what it was at this time last year. And now the company might be in for another good dunking... this time from federal investigators. Today the donut chain announced the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an informal investigation into some of the company's accounting practices. Reporter: Rachel Dornhelm Related Story: Krispy Kreme: Full of Holes? Speed dating -- with a british business twist Ever heard of speed dating? An organizer puts together a group of lonely hearts - typically half men, half women, all willing to pay to play the game. Time is of the essence. If nothing clicks after some fixed time--say three minutes--a whistle blows and it's on to the next person. Not the stuff of romance novels, but it sure focuses your sales pitch. "Eureka!" thought a British entrepreneur. Wonder if this thoroughly modern ritual might help with other potential partnerships? Reporter: Stephen Beard Related Story: Sign of the times as speed dating evolves Baby Please Set a Date - George Thorogood Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource

Coming up on Marketplace... Black Wall Street returns