Marketplace: Friday, August 13, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 10.75 (0.11%) ; NASDAQ 4.73 (0.27%) ; S&P 500 1.57 (0.15%)

Newscast Close to two million people have been ordered to evacuate. But much of Florida is still open for business on this Friday, August 13th. Hurricane Charley slammed into the Florida mainland this afternoon, bringing with it 145 mile per hour winds and 15 foot waves.... Just how much the evacuations and Hurricane Charley will cost Florida isn't yet clear. Governor Jeb Bush says damage could exceed $15 billion.... And now, the latest chapter in the Google saga. The web search engine company started accepting bids today for its much-hyped stock auction. It looked like the auction might be put on hold because an interview Google's founders gave to Playboy may have violated the so-called quiet period leading up to a company's stock market debut... Listen to all newscast items

Features That whopping U.S. trade deficit... From time to time, we here at Marketplace like to check in on the economic yardstick known as the trade deficit. That's the difference between what the U.S. exports and what it imports. New numbers show we're buying a lot more overseas than we're selling. The trade gap soared almost 20 percent to a record $55.8 billion in June. The White House's take on it? The U.S. is growing faster than the rest of the world economy, causing an imbalance in demand. But could there be another side to it? Reporter: Amy Scott Related Story: U.S. Trade Deficit Widened to a Record $55.8 Billion in June No Testament - Wim Mertens Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource A higher standard of living - for everyone? Some experts say the trade deficit is one of the economic trade-offs we have to make - along with offshoring jobs to places like China and India. In exchange, we get access to the world's markets. That kind of globalization ultimately is supposed to add up to a higher standard of living for everybody. Does it? Commentator: Andrew Strauss Related Story: Globalization story is one that touches way in which we live Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - Beautiful South Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Venezuela, voting, and a barrel of oil The trade deficit isn't the only thing setting new records. Oil prices shot up to a new high of $46.65 a barrel in New York today. An explosion at a refinery in Indiana helped fuel the run-up. But energy traders are also bracing for possible unrest in oil-rich Venezuela. Voters there head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to recall President Hugo Chavez... Reporter: Karen Lowe Related Story: Oil soars amid fears Oil Vein - Jack West and Curvatur The week that was on Wall Street (brutal...) Time to check the week on Wall Street with stockbroker and business analyst David Johnson in Dallas. Q + A: Host Cheryl Glaser with David Johnson Related Story: The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street This Week I Fought the Law - Bobby Fuller Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Lawyers on strike? Not quite Some lucky accused criminals in Massachusetts have drawn the "get out of jail free" card. Three defendants were released this week - more than a dozen may get sprung next week. That's because court-appointed lawyers are refusing to take their cases... Reporter: Monica Brady-Myerov Related Story: Romney public-defender plan draws fire from lawyers Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource The biggest yard sale... Today two online specialists in the redistribution of junk - made a deal. Auction giant eBay has bought a 25 percent stake in Craigslist. Craigslist operates online bulletin boards in 45 cities around the world - where you can post listings for jobs, housing, and all kinds of used stuff. If you prefer to do you bargain hunting off line -- you might want to head out this weekend to Highway 127. Specifically, a 450 mile stretch between Gadsden, Alabama and Covington, Kentucky. A massive yard sale... Reporter: Naomi Lewin Related Story: Yard sale brings bevy of bargain hunters

Coming up on Marketplace... When cities prepare for the Olympics...