Why investors want companies like Blue Apron to go public

Jun 2, 2017
The meal-kit delivery company Blue Apron has filed to go public. Investors hoping to get a piece at the IPO or later will be buying into a company that’s got a young customer base and that’s growing fast. But it’s a company with a business model that’s not all that complicated, shall we say. So […]

The latest numbers on the job market may not align with Trump’s goal

Jun 2, 2017
We’ll get the latest government data on the labor market in a couple hours. Analysts are predicting unemployment held steady in May at 4.4 percent, with 185,000 jobs added — right in line with average job growth for the past six months. Now President Trump has promised faster job growth under his administration—25 million new […]

Illinois already had the worst credit rating of any state, and it just got lower

Jun 1, 2017
Illinois’ credit rating is now just short of junk. That’s the news after a downgrade from S&P Global Ratings. The agency cited Illinois’ budget stalemate and its $14.5 billion in unpaid bills. It will take more revenue and more cuts to make any progress, but the state’s regular legislative session just ended — with no […]

Dramatically different views emerge on the future of oil

May 24, 2017
OPEC nations meet this week to discuss cuts to oil production, as prices for crude remain in a slump. Price volatility, changes to car technology, and other major uncertainties are leading to widely divergent views on the future of oil – namely, whether the world will see a peak in demand anytime soon. Click the […]

'Fear index' at its lowest level since 1993

May 9, 2017
VIX, known as the 'fear index,' gauges market volatility.
Traders working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Live vs. on demand: the battle ahead

Apr 17, 2017
Netflix will report earnings when the market closes on today. As ever, analysts will be keeping a close eye on subscriber numbers. They’ll also be considering all the new players jumping into streaming TV. But these are mostly new services planning to offer livetelevision over the internet. Will that hurt Netflix? Click the audio player […]

Real estate investors help grow the medical-marijuana business

Feb 28, 2017
And, land a cannabis-related stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
Inside a growhouse at PharmaCann in Hamptonburgh, New York
Justin Ho/Marketplace

For public good, not for profit.

U.S. companies are hopeful but wary about trade under Trump

Feb 27, 2017
President Donald Trump’s administration promises a very different trade approach than its predecessors. Trump and his team have criticized trade deals involving multiple countries, preferring to work with countries one-on-one. It appears multilateral deals are out and bilateral deals are in. Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Textbook publishers in a bind as students go digital

Feb 27, 2017
Pearson, the global education publisher, announced a nearly $3.3 billion loss for 2016. It’s struggling, as many traditional publishers are, with big shifts in the way college kids buy (or don’t buy) textbooks. According to the National Association of College Stores, spending on course materials has fallen 14 percent in the last 10 years. Students […]

TPP is dead, but US-Japan trade lives on

Feb 9, 2017
Prime Minister Abe will meet with President Trump tomorrow.