Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'corporate'

Treasury Rule Tweak Gave Banks Billions

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:35:00 EST

In Late September, a Treasury Department rule change gave U.S. banks a windfall of as much as $140 billion. A change to Section 382 of the tax code relaxed the limits on a type of tax shelter that arises during corporate mergers. Washington Post reporter Amit Paley, who reported on the change, offers his insight.

Wisconsin Schools Shocked By Bad Investment

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Five school districts in Wisconsin invested $200 million in what they say they believed were safe corporate bonds. Instead, the schools ended up acting as insurers to companies that became some of Wall Street's worst bets.

Investors Fear Dreaded Margin Call

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Every investor dreads margin calls. It's what happens when people borrow heavily against their assets and then see their value plummet, forcing them to sell part of their holdings to pay their lenders. When the market plunged in October, a lot of corporate executives lost chunks of their fortunes to margin calls. But the impact on the economy as a whole is even more devastating.

Wis. School Investment Has Worldwide Implications

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:36:00 EST

In 2006, five school districts in Wisconsin invested some $200 million in what board members say they believed were safe corporate bonds. Now those investments have lost more than 90 percent of their value. A story in The New York Times Sunday, co-reported by NPR's global economics unit, Planet Money, draws the links between the schools and banks in several countries.

Voting Could Get You Free Food

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:45:00 EDT

A corporation is offering to pay for your vote. It's not really a scandal. Krispy Kreme isn't asking how you voted. Employees just want to see your "I Voted" sticker on Election Day. Voters get a free star-shaped doughnut. Ben and Jerry's wanted to do something similar. But the company says some state laws may prohibit it. So it's giving free scoops of ice cream to everybody, regardless of whether they voted.

Can U.S. Go 'Green' Even When Oil Prices Drop...

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EDT

It seems like every time oil prices skyrocket in the U.S., Americans takes steps toward energy independence, only to return to their profligate ways once prices recede. Here, a look at what it will take to get corporations and consumers onto a permanent path toward renewable energy.

'Marketplace' Report: Fed Begins Business Loans

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The Federal Reserve is starting to make loans to American corporations. It's a historic step meant to calm nerves in the short-term credit markets. Most of the firms that plan to participate have large financial businesses that rely heavily on short-term funding for their day-to-day cash needs.

Corporate Earnings And The Economy

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

What do corporate earnings say about the real economy? This week, two-thirds of the S&P 500 will release their results for the third quarter. Grim warnings about future prospects sent the Dow into another steep drop Wednesday.

As Meltdown Unfolds, CNBC Adapts

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:18:00 EDT

David Faber is a well-regarded correspondent for CNBC whose explorations of market workings and corporate intrigues have won top Peabody and Loeb awards. Faber is agog as he watches the nation switch from a fairly free-market system to one that he jokes is socialist.

Stocks Slide On Bad Economic Data

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:44:00 EDT

The stock market has fallen by 733 points. Retail sales numbers confirmed growing suspicion that a recession has finally arrived and corporate profits will be under great pressure going forward. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that it will take time for the economy to recover.

Fed Orders An Emergency Cut In Key Interest Rate

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:28:00 EDT

The Federal Reserve has taken yet another step in an effort to calm financial markets. It cut a key interest rate by a half percentage point to 1.5 percent. This comes a day after the fed made huge amounts of credit available to corporations.

Fed Considers Buying Commercial Paper

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The Fed and Treasury is considerig entering the commercial paper market, made up of unsecured corporate IOUs extended over a short period of time. We examine just how risky the unprecedented move is.

Assessing Impact Of Financial Crisis On Nonprofits

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:51:00 EDT

The financial crisis is going to have an effect on many organizations that are not interested in making any money. Nonprofits rely on corporate donations and interest income from their endowments for special programs, operational support and long-term sustainability.

Artist Taps Into Anger At Corporate CEOs

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

A Brooklyn artist is giving Wall Streeters the opportunity to vent their irritation with corporate America. Geoffrey Raymond takes his over-sized paintings of CEOs to Wall Street, then asks passers-by to write comments on his artwork.

Broadway Songs Teach A Wall Street Seminar

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:41:00 EDT

Broadway musicals of the 1960s were surprisingly good at explaining complicated economic matters. Before tourists took over the Great White Way, the "tired businessman" was the target audience. These four songs are particularly illustrative of the kind of vaudeville mixed with corporate-speak that the businessman favored.

McCain: 'I Know Americans Are Hurting Now'

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:56:00 EDT

The financial crisis on Wall Street has made its way into the presidential campaign. Both major party nominees are taking stances on how they would manage the turmoil. On Monday, Republican presidential nominee John McCain blamed the problems on a broken regulatory system and corporate greed. He said the fundamentals of the economy are at risk.

Payouts For Ousted CEOs Anger Shareholders

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Some shareholders are upset that the outgoing executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may receive big payouts after the federal government took over the troubled companies. They say it's an example of corporate executives receiving millions in compensation after dismal performances.

Novelist Found Inspiration In New Jersey

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Jacqueline Care talks about her new novel, It's a Crime. The novelist found inspiration in affluent New Jersey suburbs, just outside of Manhattan, and in the white-collar crimes of corporate CEOs.

Justice Department's New Rules On Corporate Crime

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The Justice Department on Thursday announced new guidelines for investigating corporate crime cases. The changes follow criticism that prosecutors went too far in pressuring companies to cooperate with criminal probes, and restricted individual defendants' rights.

Mexico City: A '21st Century' Megalopolis

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Half Shantytown, half corporate boomtown, the teeming and complex Mexico capital epitomizes the times we live in. Critic Simon Maxwell Apter thinks David Lida's book is a model, too — of passionate reporting.

Town Puts Surveillance Cameras Up For Adoption

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Flint, Mich., has a new take on the old "adopt-a-highway" program. Money is tight, so the city is asking residents to help cover costs — by adopting a police camera. The city wants to add 14 surveillance cameras around town. For $30,000, residents can have their name or a corporate logo put on the surveillance box.

With Resistance, Sports Stars Emerge In China

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:57:00 EDT

With sporting fame comes corporate sponsorship, television appearances, and fat paychecks. But in China, athletes are expected to let the government manage their image and to hand over a substantial cut of their earnings.

When Being Good is Just Not Good Enough

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:47:00 EDT

Keith Wyche is an African-American who has been navigating the world of corporate America since the early 1980's. In that time, Wyche has noticed what he calls unwritten rules for minority professionals. It's the subject of his book Good is Not Enough, and he joins Farai to run down the rules.

Mr. Jalopy: Are You Sure You Own Your Stuff...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EDT

Mr. Jalopy, a leader of the Makers Movement, pushes individuals and corporations to reconsider the meaning of ownership. The movement, which emphasizes fixing rather than discarding objects, is gathering steam across the country.

'Marketplace' Report: Redefining GM

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Steering a huge corporation in a new direction when the economy falters is a complicated task. General Motors may get rid of some of its larger brands, speed the introduction of smaller cars and make additional white-collar job cuts. Will that be enough?