A sign investors think the economy will remain strong
Corporate bond spreads, extra compensation that corporate bonds pay out compared to government bonds, have been narrowing this year, which means investors aren’t demanding much additional money to account for additional credit risk. That could indicate that investors think economic growth could pick up in the near term. Also on the program: a trade deal regarding U.K. pharmaceuticals and OPEC's plans to keep oil production flat to start the new year.
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Costco wants its tariff money back
If Trump's tariffs are illegal, Costco wants a refund. The lawsuits that brought President Trump’s tariffs before the Supreme Court last month were led by small businesses and Democratic state attorneys general, but now it’s bigger companies — including Costco — that are suing to make sure they’re in line for a refund if tariffs are struck down. Plus, "Marketplace Morning Report" is heading to the moon this week for views on an emerging lunar economy.
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The U.K. agrees to pay more for American meds
From the BBC World Service: The U.K. government has hailed a deal with the United States to keep tariffs on U.K. pharmaceutical shipments into the U.S. at zero, but the agreement comes with a cost. Then, Hong Kong's leader said serious problems in the city's construction industry, as well as oversight, were exposed in last week’s deadly high-rise fire. And, what's behind recruitment problems at Europe's air traffic control?
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How far away are we from humanoid robots doing our chores?
Robots are commonplace in factories, and increasingly in warehouses like those run by Amazon. But what about robots to help with household chores — so-called humanoids to load the dishwasher or fold the laundry?To find out, we checked in with Ken Goldberg, professor of engineering at UC Berkeley and co-founder of the AI and robotics company Ambi Robotics. He spoke to Marketplace’s Nova Safo en route from a robotics conference in China.
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The Emotionally Awkward Cost of Money, from “Alive with Steve Burns”
Reema and the team are working on some updates to the podcast that will arrive in your feeds in the new year. You’ve been telling us you want more TIU and we heard you. Stay tuned to this feed for more soon… In the meantime, if you’re looking for something that gets you thinking about the emotional side of money, you’ll enjoy Reema’s recent guest appearance on “Alive with Steve Burns.” Reema and Steve dig into what she’s learned about money over the years and why talking about finances can feel so strangely vulnerable and awkward. To hear more episodes, follow “Alive with Steve Burns” wherever you get your podcasts or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/AlivewithSteveBurnsfd
Marketplace® is the leading business news program in the nation. We bring you clear explorations of how economic news affects you, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. The Marketplace All-in-One podcast provides each episode of the public radio broadcast programs Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report®and Marketplace Tech® along with our podcasts Make Me Smart, Corner Office and The Uncertain Hour. Visit marketplace.org for more. From American Public Media.
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