Marketplace: Monday, October 1, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 112.38 (1.11%) ; NASDAQ 45.36 (2.39%) ; S&P 500 16.92 (1.52%)

Newscast Several notable departures mark this first day of October. The CEO of Northwest Airlines is waving bye-bye to join a health care group. One might argue you could see that one coming, given the unenviable challenge facing legacy carriers to cut costs and deal with tougher competition. But what really caught the attention of money types today was a resignation that was involuntary. It seems odd to pair the words "high drama" and "software company" but today's firing of the CEO of PeopleSoft is nothing if not dramatic... One other notable departure - the government's cybersecurity chief has resigned with one day's notice. Amit Yoran was with Symantec before he joined the Homeland Security department. He's reported to have been frustrated with what he considers to be a lack of government attention to computer security issues. Today we received a press release from a law firm offering to provide "free information and legal evaluations to those who have taken Vioxx and been seriously injured by heart attack, stroke or blood clots." You'll forgive us for not providing free advertising here--we're going to be seeing a lot more of these offers. After all, it's only been one day since Merck took Vioxx off the market. Listen to all newscast items

Features Those Congressional deadlines Here's a cautionary tale about missing deadlines. Which is what Congress did at midnight yesterday. The federal fiscal year ended without lawmakers finishing work on a big pile of budget bills. Reporter: Hillary Wicai Related Story: Congress Abandons Highway, Welfare Bills Drug State - Jade Vincent & Mr. Green Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource The week that was ... on Wall Street Friday means it is time to check the week on Wall Street. This week, we're joined by Money Magazine's Michael Sivy. Q + A: David Brown with Michael Sivy Related Story: Pfizer Acting to Fill Vioxx Void Drug Test - Yo La Tengo Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Fannie Mae ... getting spanked Today word that lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been talking with the Justice Department about Fannie Mae. Congress will hold hearings next week, focusing on senior executives at the mortgage finance giant. Reporter: Amy Scott Related Story: Fannie Mae Whistle-Blower Won't Testify Wrong - Everything But the Girl Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource To forgive or not to forgive Stewards of the world's economy descended on Washington today. Which ones? We could be talking about the so-called Group of Seven, and we will get to them in a moment, but first...there's that not so little matter of debt relief for Iraq on the table when the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund meet this weekend. Commentator: Patricia Adams Related Story: The Cato Institute's Website Simple Things - Dirty Vegas Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource China's informal financing Now on to that meeting of the so-called G7. When the finance officials of the world's 7 wealthiest nations meet in Washington... there will be an extra seat in the room. After all, it's getting difficult these days to discuss the global economy without Beijing at the table. That doesn't mean China is what people in pinstripes call a "mature economy." Take its banking system. It's so hard to borrow money in China that many business people turn to underground lenders instead. Reporter: Jocelyn Ford Related Story: Sizing up China's currency options Heaven - Lamb Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource

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