" This is Money Markets & More for Wednesday December 17. From the newsroom of the MarketWatch radio network I'm Tracy Johnke coming up a large number of stores have turned the lights out for good this year. And like Axl Rose and Stephanie Seymour best buying Guns 'N Roses have not been a match made in heaven. Those stories coming up but first this."

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" On the daybook grab a bowl of wheaties settle onto the counting your comfy as sportswear and get your game on General Mills Nike and the maker of Grand Theft Auto take two interactive will have news. And the dust may well have settled after the Federal Reserve's historic move on interest rates. The overnight lending rate for banks is now at a record low of zero to a quarter percent. Yes it's a moving target. MarketWatch dot com's chief economist doctor encounters tells me that the new rates simply reflect reality. He says the real federal funds rate has been at that level for a week's. Kellner says the Fed hopes this is the push needed to get banks lending again and get the economy moving again. He also says the Fed can't see the economy alone."

" Before I would be really confident about the outlook for the economy I would want to see some helpful fiscal policy. In the form of let's say a five to 700 billion dollar package coming out of Washington which would involve direct. Injection of money into with the economy through aid to states and local governments. Assistance to those who are unemployed either extending the benefits and or increasing them and of course helping people warm food stamps. This is the way that policy. Will really catch."

" Again as doctor Irwin Kellner of MarketWatch. By the way of Wall Street could have collectively jumped up and down this at the Fed news. It totally would have the Dow NASDAQ and S&P rose 45%. Either -- major procrastinators there were waiting for better deals that more than 41 million of us have not even begun to shop for the holidays that's right he heard me right. 41 million of -- according to the National Retail Federation. Could be we just have fewer places to go to these days more than 6100. Store locations have shut their doors this year. The most sense Credit Suisse started keeping track in 1995. And firm thinks it'll get worse next year. Credit Suisse expects many struggling retailers to try to make it through the holiday season and then declare bankruptcy. And clothes stores early next year. Best -- is healthy by comparison though it has scaled back its plans to open more stores next year and it will offer buyouts to some workers. Its corporate offices as it looks to cut expenses. Best buy on Tuesday reported a 77%. Drop in quarterly profits. Best buy might have a scapegoat handy though Guns 'N Roses. And now joining us is our consumer -- And -- and remember back Kennedy and rock mineral used to be about -- the power and sticking it to the man and blah answer -- in his field bus. Well. Times have certainly changed we have volleys these rock band's classic rock bands. Teaming up with major retailers Wal-Mart for example."

" Right Wal-Mart had an Eagles and had AC DC you know very successful deals for about the bans and for Wal-Mart. So best buy assign them. Sort of a similar deal with without Guns 'N Roses. To get their Chinese and so only -- Chinese democracy is sold only at best I really. And that's I was hoping that AC DC album which came out October sold has in just in the US this -- one and half million copies from Wal-Mart debuted at number one on billboard. But Chinese democracy debuted at number three. First week second week plunged by 78%. Since then -- we now retreated thousand copies its first two weeks and rightly so that's kind of disappointment for best buy and I guess I didn't know that it was an exclusive deal passed by excitement on that I rushed out to buy it. In Fujian are feeding well write an end of The Wall Street Journal points out that when AC DC and Wal-Mart had system in Wal-Mart was heavily marketing and AC DC was heavily promoting an accident -- first the first album and while. Of new material while. But this time around with Guns 'N Roses their lead singer Axl Rose. -- basically -- he was asked to do interviews with Rolling Stone in the New York Times exit now and you know music videos or out of in my opinion pretty cute the release of new album needs it against the video done on time for the Padilla first single from now on to fourteen years want to get back on us so now another yet another fourteen years and sonic perfectly crafted videos you know yeah so so. -- for whatever reason. It's not selling as well oh the management and throws a sense you know what we expected to be you know that's a good seller long term but just right now. That's by. Just very recently said that its profits are down sharply there cutting hair. Corporate headquarters staffed by him cast you can -- monitored -- so. That this is one more disciplined that's is it the fact that -- combine everything but the kitchen -- I mean even kitchen -- some super Wal-Mart and yeah I could be at people just don't go to best -- insulated pick -- music it could be either one -- mean wal mart's that he announces biggest retail in the world big. Budgets a lot of people and shopping lately because of the economic downturn people aren't necessarily. Going to best -- right now because. They're partners in power you know putting food on the table or maybe get a Christmas presents that certainly by a flat -- unity. And like you said people a silicon best by just buying music maybe they go there and while by the CD sections check this out. Well I wonder what this means for potential future. Partnerships between. Bans and major retailers -- best buy look at this thing. Never again -- maybe they'll see this as a special case it. -- mr. rose is being difficult right -- and and Starbucks in this there they had some exclusive CDs -- there are mean and India and so who knows of about Wal-Mart and if -- especially classic rock and that's the success of eagle -- with Wal-Mart or AC DC. I'd probably go. -- aren't classic rock."

" Now I know they are and the effect. I think UNK banks. And finally a lot of people rushed out to buy handguns went started to look like Barack Obama was going to win the presidency. The idea was a president Obama would restrict gun rights link on into the Oval Office. So gun shops have reported -- sales and it follows that the fire arms makers should be spending in the -- right now to. Not so as Smith & Wesson yes missile sales rose 40% in the past three months according -- company. But another trend made it a money losing quarter for Smith & Wesson. -- people are hunting for food order or sport so the more expensive hunting rifles did not do well. And I -- for Money Markets & More hope we were on target with the news today. It but if you have a story idea for us -- one -- to look into something please write this at MarketWatch radio newsroom at marketwatch.com. I'm Tracy Johnke -- next time."