Marketplace: Wednesday, August 25, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 83.11 (0.82%) ; NASDAQ 23.83 (1.30%) ; S&P 500 8.77 (0.80%)

Newscast Dallas stockbroker David Johnson talks about whether oil markets are going through their own bubble. The President controls the U.S. strategic oil reserve. According to commentator David Victor, oil is too vital to the economy to be left to presidential politics. New home sales are down this month and Alan Greenspan made vague warnings about a housing bubble. Listen to all newscast items

Features A Lesson in Antitrust Law Wachovia is selling 18 bank branches so that it can pass antitrust muster in its acquisition of SouthTrust. How do companies figure out what it takes to get the Justice Department's seal of approval on a merger? Q + A: David Brown with corporate law professor David Skeel Related Story: Wachovia, SouthTrust to Sell Branches Responsible - Freedy Johnson Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Can G-men Stop Unsolicited E-mail? The Justice Department is set to announce another digital crackdown -- on spam, online scams and identity theft. Some reports say spam makes up eighty percent of all e-mail. The percentage actually rose after federal anti-spam laws went into effect. Reporter: Lisa Napoli Related Story: Dozens charged in span, scam crackdown Gay Activists to Demonstrate Their Purchasing Power Retailers beware - gay rights activists are organizing a shopping boycott on October 8th. They're protesting attempts to prohibit gay marriage. But do gay households have enough purchasing power to make people notice? (*As a note of clarification, the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has not supported calls for the boycott.) Reporter: John Dimsdale Related Story: U.S. gays call for boycott Oct. 8 Girls & Boys - Blur Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Pop Corn, Milk Duds, Room Service? Folks braving the highways in these last days before Labor Day have their pick of motels. Complimentary breakfasts, Jacuzzi tubs and chocolate kisses on pillows are among the perks. But a motel in Monte Vista, Colorado has found a true hit: rooms with a view. Reporter: Nancy Greenleese Related Story: Inn's rooms come with a (movie) view Soul Power - Common Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Vegas Woos China Nevada's become the first state to set up an office in China. The state's trying to tap into the Chinese love of gambling. But there's a catch; gambling is illegal in China. So how do you advertise Vegas without mentioning gambling? Reporter: Alyssa Roth Related Story: Harrah's Loveman to Address Nevada's 2004 Governor's Conference on Tourism Go Down Gamblin' - Blood Sweat and Tears Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource

Coming up on Marketplace... Apartheid may have ended in South Africa ten years ago, but building trust between white and black communities is still an ongoing project. When black and white entrepreneurs get together, money becomes the great equalizer.