" This is Money Markets & More for this Wednesday march 4 2009. From the news through the MarketWatch radio network I'm Adrian Mitchell. Coming up another trip down memory lane for a major stock index and giving your kid's old toys for Christmas. That and more just ahead. On the -- book on this march 4 we're getting a look inside the pages of the latest Beige Book -- snapshots of unemployment and services and more details on the government's mortgage modification plan plus more testimony from the Treasury Secretary and the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Among those reporting earnings Amazon.com. Hewlett-Packard Cisco Systems home builder Toll Brothers retailers and big lots and Liz Claiborne. And chipmaker Altera. On this date in business history in 1630 boy. Then he'll call opened the first tavern in Boston Massachusetts. In 1837. Chicago was incorporated as a city. In 1861. Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the sixteenth president. In 1987 got laid -- there unveiled his first automobile. And in 1957. The S&P 500 stock market index was introduced it replaced the S&P ninety. After bouncing up and down all day stocks finished lower with the S&P closing below 700 for the first time since October 1996. Fed chair Bernanke and Treasury Secretary -- were talking about government efforts to pull us out of recession. The Federal Reserve and treasury have unveiled their new loan facility health that aims to get lenders to make a trillion dollars worth of loans to consumers and small businesses. And the auto makers reported their February sales data for -- sold only about half as many vehicles last month as it did a year ago. GM's sales are down 53%. Even Toyota and Honda reported big drops to forty and 38%. As traders took that -- in the Dow closed down 37 the NASDAQ down to the S&P down four to close at 696. When's the last time you drove over to blockbuster to rent a movie. And we thought so. The companies that suffering the effects of online rentals from competitors and of people watching their movies and TV shows online for free. But it says it has no intention of filing for bankruptcy an online report said it had hired a law firm to look into that possibility but Tuesday afternoon. Blockbuster denied it's planning to file. If you're thinking about an Apple Computer -- can now get more for less the new desktops around and they include a Mac mini it's cheaper than the previous model at 599. Dollars it's billed as the world's most energy efficient computer. This Mac mini uses only thirteen watts of power when it's -- there's also an iMac with a bigger screen at twice the memory for 1499. It's never too early to think about Christmas if you're one of the companies tried to sell toys to parents. John -- and discovered that this year everything old is new again or at least something."

" Yes Christmas is many many months away but that isn't stopping the toy industry from doing some planning already. And apparently old toys. Are in again and joining us to talk more about this is. Is and -- our consumer race fresh from the toy -- at the local store right hand -- that's very just to us yes so what's this all about to why are we going to have all these old toys. Out there on the shelves I wouldn't call them old toys and called them iconic brands you don't."

" Detroit toymakers have been very rough Christmas in 2008. This year because of the recession isn't looking to be much better and so these these toy makers don't have. Aren't going to risk. You know developing some fancy new tool that can be a just a complete dud so what they're doing is sticking with well known brands for example Intel. Is going to celebrate -- fiftieth birthday this year by. You know freshening her up making her look a little more -- 2009. Edition I feeding her. By feeding on their ego. An even though. Sales of barbies have been down lately it still makes you know sales of all of Barbie related merchandise still makes more than a billion dollars a year the company so that obviously nothing to sneeze that. -- panacea Hasbro. Which -- candy land. Which celebrates its sixtieth birthday this year is gonna come out the new version Candela and it's got some new characters of course I care -- the old characters work but that's a new characters and it's going to be in reading."

" While via while. Shoots and matters any update on you -- don't -- the -- but. It's that they are not the only ones that are hitting milestones in 2009. -- the super soaker. Yes I do remember and that's twenty years old this. Being. Sort of -- marketing that sponge Bob I was shocked that this is ten years old this year and."

" Who lives in a pineapple under the city that's right sponge Bob square pants down an ounce in hired you can now these days because he's on our television far too often Hank and I coming cutesy and tedious case."

" You know there's most watched shows that actually use complete sentences -- campus as students and -- kind Tressel exiles. --"

" Now if you continue -- home but I'm -- to -- Patrick. OK you know Patrick reminds me a giant middle finger -- that was given it up well all I never looked at it that way next time you see sponge Bob on TV losing Patrick."

" Look at the exit -- middle finger this thing and giant pink what is a starfish."

" I think he's a starfish and I don't keep track of any of this stuff called my son he knows I can. And I want to share some and some mail with a -- as a male this is from a dining Willie and he says. If you're gonna make -- your email address I do believe you need to speak -- tad more slowly when you pronounce the address. And he says he's having a hard time. Hearing it and he 68 years old and that may account for the difficulty but. I guess I should speak more slowly. Pleased it's MarketWatch radio newsroom. And Yahoo.com. MarketWatch radio newsroom at Yahoo.com. If you want us to look into something right and right. Any consumer topics out there any investor issues will gladly pursue them. That's our consumer race and -- and thank you as always Q and by the way folks and will read your emails. Yes I well she will have a public producer read them yes you are your own producer -- now -- You know you're also your own limousine driver hairdresser the this is radio -- a threat and -- our consumer race thanks."

" Thank you thanks John and and and coming up on Thursday's podcast to John and and talk chili recipes. Battle via hot. Finally thought about a cruise for your next vacation travel is down but one Chris -- says it has just had a record week. Carnival is reporting more bookings last week than ever before it's as bookings are up 10% from last year. The cruise line has cut prices and says customers think -- cruise is a good value for the money. And have been responding to aggressive marketing. That's it for money markets and mark. Have a story idea want us to look into something that's China and told you you can certainly write to us at MarketWatch. Radio news room. At Yahoo.com. I -- in itself thanks for listening till next time."