Economy

Financially-Troubled Greece Meets IMF Deadline

10:16pm April 09, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

Greece managed to make a $494 million debt payment to the International Monetary Fund Thursday, despite a precarious financial situation that had many speculating it would fail to do so. The problem for Greece is that there are several more deadlines on the horizon.

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Economy

CEO Describes What It's Like When Investors Bet Against You

12:29pm April 09, 2015

by David Kestenbaum

The online furniture company Wayfair is now one of the most shorted stocks. Our Planet Money team talks to its CEO about what it's like to be running a company when investors are betting on your fall.

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Money is pouring into the stock market, but most new investors only have a middle-school education, says Texas A&M University economist Gan Li.

Sidewalk Touts Trade Tips On Shanghai's Booming Bull Market

9:50am April 09, 2015

by Frank Langfitt

The Shanghai exchange is on a tear, but there could be trouble ahead for ill-informed investors. Analysts say the current upswing is driven by perceptions rather than fundamentals.

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Economy

Hanesbrands Completes $200 Million Sportswear Acquisition

8:02pm April 08, 2015

Winston-Salem-based Hanesbrands Inc. has announced a $200 million acquisition to expand its college clothing business. The deal marks an expansion of the company's college sports line.

Greece Cracks Down On Longtime Tax Evasion Problem

7:24pm April 08, 2015

by Joanna Kakissis

Greeks don't trust their own state to give them good services, so for decades they have evaded taxes.

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States Review Laws Revoking Licenses For Student Loan Defaults

6:21pm April 08, 2015

by Eric Whitney

Montana could soon dial back laws that allowed defaulters to have their professional and driver's licenses revoked after failing to pay back debt.

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A customer shops for groceries with her son at the Wal-Mart on H Street in Washington, D.C.

Why Wal-Mart Is Betting Big On Being Your Local Urban Grocer

6:16pm April 08, 2015

by Uri Berliner

Wal-Mart conquered the suburbs, but its future may lie in smaller stores in dense city neighborhoods. And in our grab-and-go times, freshly prepared meals are a big part of its urban strategy.

You don't need to run a marathon â or wear a gorilla suit â to get a discount on John Hancock's new life insurance program. But at least one of them may help.

John Hancock Hopes You'll Trade Activity Data For Insurance Discounts

12:44pm April 08, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

Life insurance customers will receive discounts each year based on their activity levels. The practice is used in Australia, Europe, Singapore and South Africa. But privacy experts are concerned.

Apps like Venmo promise easy, carefree money transfers between friends.

The Risky Boom In Carefree Social Payment Apps

7:54pm April 07, 2015

by Noah Nelson

Lots of young adults are using apps like Venmo to settle all kinds of debts. As the apps get more popular, they've become targets for scammers and hackers. But that hasn't seemed to scare away users.

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Depending on the amount taken in subsidies, or changes in reported income and family status, some Obamacare policyholders this year will get a bigger refund than expected and others will owe more in taxes.

Many Obamacare Policyholders Face Tax Surprises This Year

7:54pm April 07, 2015

by John Ydstie

Depending on the size of the subsidy they got, some will get a bigger refund than expected and others will owe taxes.

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