Accessibility links
Business and Financial News Find the latest business news with reports on Wall Street, interest rates, banking, companies, and U.S. and world financial markets. Subscribe to the Business Story of the Day podcast.

Business

As New Coronavirus Cases Slow In China, Factories Start Reopening

Workers wear protective face masks at the Yanfeng Adient factory in Shanghai, where car seats are assembled, on Feb. 24. Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

The Coronavirus Crisis

As New Coronavirus Cases Slow In China, Factories Start Reopening

Strict quarantine measures have prevented 300 million migrant workers from returning to work. Now local authorities are trying to get businesses going again. The main bottleneck: a shrunken workforce.

As New Coronavirus Cases Slow In China, Factories Start Reopening

Listen · 4:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810334985/810687819" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The Last Chevy Impala Has Now Been Made In Detroit

The last Chevrolet Impala rolled off the assembly line this week as General Motors converts its Hamtramck, Mich. factory to electric vehicle production.

The Last Chevy Impala Has Now Been Made In Detroit

Listen · 2:03
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810501511/810501512" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Economy

Stock Market Continues Plummet As Coronavirus Fears Continue Rise

Financial markets have suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. The drubbing continued as coronavirus spread and fears grew that its impact will damage the global economy.

Stock Market Continues Plummet As Coronavirus Fears Continue Rise

Listen · 4:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810501445/810501450" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Wall Street's Brutal Week Slashed Nearly 3,600 Points From Dow

Traders work during the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. Losses on Wall Street deepened following a bruising open, as global markets were poised to conclude their worst week since 2008 with another rout. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

Wall Street's Brutal Week Slashed Nearly 3,600 Points From Dow

The U.S. stock market ended its worst week since the financial crisis with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 12.4%. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell promises to support the economy as necessary.

Wall Street's Brutal Week Slashed Nearly 3,600 Points From Dow

Listen · 3:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810295350/810704651" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Prominent Retired Banker In North Carolina Explains Why He Backs Bloomberg

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Hugh McColl, ex-Bank of America CEO, about why he favors Mike Bloomberg for president, and where his vote will go if Bernie Sanders clinches the Democratic nomination.

Prominent Retired Banker In North Carolina Explains Why He Backs Bloomberg

Listen · 5:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810269011/810269012" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Planet Money

After Coronavirus Outbreak, Protective Masks Are In Short Supply

Prices for protective masks have surged as fears of coronavirus spread. Demand for masks has easily outpaced the current supply. The U.S. government is urging manufacturers to scale up production.

After Coronavirus Outbreak, Protective Masks Are In Short Supply

Listen · 3:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810268983/810268984" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Health

News Brief: Coronavirus Effects, Democratic Nominating Contest

Stocks continue their free-fall amid fears of the coronavirus. Scientists suggest ways people can prepare for an outbreak. And, South Carolina's Democratic primary takes place Saturday.

News Brief: Coronavirus Effects, Democratic Nominating Contest

Listen · 10:38
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810268962/810268963" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Your Money

As Stock Market Plunges For Coronavirus Panic, Advisers Say: Stay The Course

The stock market has been plummeting in recent days — on Thursday the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 1,200 points. Financial advisers are advising clients to not panic and stay the course.

As Stock Market Plunges For Coronavirus Panic, Advisers Say: Stay The Course

Listen · 4:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810095488/810095489" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Clothing Retailers Explore An Alternative To Fast Fashion: Rentals

Buy or rent? That's becoming a question for manufacturers of more and more types of products. Now, fast fashion brands like H&M are trying to get in on the movement too.

Clothing Retailers Explore An Alternative To Fast Fashion: Rentals

Listen · 3:24
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/810095453/810095454" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Citing Climate Commitments, U.K. Court Blocks New Runway At Heathrow Airport

An airplane arrives at London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday — the same day a court blocked plans for a third runway at the airport, citing the government's climate change commitments. Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Europe

Citing Climate Commitments, U.K. Court Blocks New Runway At Heathrow Airport

The Court of Appeal said the major international hub's plans for an additional runway failed to consider the government's pledges on carbon emissions. It's a big win for climate activists.

Dow Falls Nearly 1,200 Points; Stocks Now In Correction Territory

Traders work during the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower amid fears the coronavirus will grow into a significant international health crisis. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

The Coronavirus Crisis

Dow Falls Nearly 1,200 Points; Stocks Now In Correction Territory

Stocks continued their downward slide on Thursday, with major indexes falling 10% below their recent peaks. Investors worry about the economic toll of a widening coronavirus epidemic.

Dow Falls Nearly 1,200 Points; Stocks Now In Correction Territory

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/809934194/810269032" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Better Late Than Never? Big Companies Scramble To Make Lofty Climate Promises

A protester holds a sign reading "The Oceans Are Rising But So Are We" at an Amazon employee walkout in Seattle, as part of the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20, 2019. At some companies, employees are putting increasing pressure on their bosses to act on climate change. Chloe Collyer/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chloe Collyer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Better Late Than Never? Big Companies Scramble To Make Lofty Climate Promises

Pressure is mounting on CEOs as everyone from investors to employees sounds the alarm about the climate crisis. Some companies are responding, but even ambitious targets won't be enough on their own.

Better Late Than Never? Big Companies Scramble To Make Lofty Climate Promises

Listen · 4:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/806011419/809884919" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
As U.S. Preps For Coronavirus, Health Workers Question Safety Measures

The new coronavirus has yet to sicken American health workers, as it has in China. But deaths of hospital workers in Asia have heightened scrutiny of the U.S. health care system's ability to protect people on the front line. Thomas Northcut/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Thomas Northcut/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

As U.S. Preps For Coronavirus, Health Workers Question Safety Measures

The plight of Chinese health care workers contracting the coronavirus has prompted front-line medical staff in the U.S. to wonder if they're protected. Hospitals say they're taking steps to prepare.

As U.S. Preps For Coronavirus, Health Workers Question Safety Measures

Listen · 4:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/809253920/809741327" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript