Bonds, notes and bills

So much government debt! But what's the difference between the Treasury's bills, notes and bonds? Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.

Hostile takeovers

We all know what a takeover is. That's when one company agrees to be bought by another. But what happens when companies don't agree and the takeover goes hostile? Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.

Credit default swaps? They're complicated -- and scary! The receipt you get when you pre-order your Thanksgiving turkey? Not so much. But they have a lot in common: They're both derivatives. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.

Bonds, notes and bills

So much government debt! But what's the difference between the Treasury's bills, notes and bonds? Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.

Inflation

Most economists agree that inflation of about 2% or 3% annually is a natural function of a growing economy. But people are worried government stimulus measures could spark much higher inflation. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains

High-frequency trading

High-frequency trading is creating a ruckus on Wall Street. Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains what high-frequency trading is and why some people are up in arms about it.

Factoring

Many small businesses get the cash they need to operate and expand from so-called factors. One of the biggest factors in the business is CIT, and with CIT on the ropes, small businesses are worried. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains what factoring is, and how it works.

Comments

Comment | Refresh
By MJ Burke

From Indianapolis, IN, 10/14/2009

Great stuff. In a similar vein, I would like Paddy to also do a segment on the growing deficit as related to health care/social security outlays. How do versions of health care bills deal with future medicare government expenses and possible expenses. Also how the current operation definition of GDP figure into all this deficit/debt stuff as a measure of an economy's well being. I am unsure but, it appears if FY 2009 notes and interest only of 4.1 trillion deficit, up to 32% of budget- are we not going to have cut SS/Medicare expenses or increase taxes on some horizon. I need help understanding these treasury reports. What portion of US employment is based on the health care industry.

By Rick Kelly

From Greensboro, NC, 10/12/2009

Paddy,
Any chance you could do a whiteboard explaining all the effects of the fall in the value of the dollar? It seems to be in the news a lot these days and could use some clarification.
Thanks,

By Stephen Hoenig

From Houston, TX, 10/08/2009

Nicely done. I enjoyed it and learned something--besides the drinking thing (which I already knew about though personal experience.)

By rena moreno

From nyc, NY, 09/29/2009

really cute, what he did with that chalk at the end. But did I need this to know that even the USA might go bust, leaving me broke? Uh, don't think so. And by the way, didn't he notice that gold wasn't worth much last year this time? No assets were worth as much as cash under the mattress; which I agree isn't a good investment strategy.
Now what would he do with that chalk if he'd explained, say, a yield curve?

By Diane Durham

From DC, 09/21/2009

This was really excellent - please more of the same! People make boneheaded judgements about their money primarily due to ignorance and this info goes a long way to helping to explain and fill the gap- Paddy Hirsch is a very good teacher.

By senthil sivasamy

From Princeton, NJ, 09/21/2009

Paddy Hirsch should seriously consider make a video lessons about Economics, Capital Markets and Finance in a clearly structured standard. This way he could educate lots of young minds. I certainly believe he knows how to monetize his content. Organizing your content on your website would be a good start and it's a no brainer.
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