" This is Money Markets & More for this Monday may eighteenth 2009. From the newsroom at the MarketWatch radio network I'm Adrian Mitchell. Coming up both thank Kevin Sarah Cindy more places to get your caffeine fix."

" And I'm John ward -- coming up in a moment we're gonna talk about the Simpsons. Yes expect to see a lot more then that's right don't let me tell you more about it you know homer Simpson. Bart and company. -- going to be out there folks let's put it that way that story in a moment but first this reminder now."

" QB that you marketwatch.com. Giving you instant access to the advice you. He can manage your portfolio and make smart decisions about your money than you marketwatch.com. It's fast accurate comprehensive -- you marketwatch.com today -- Head of now."

" On this date in business history and 1652. Rhode Island passed the first line North America making slavery illegal. In 1765. Fire destroyed a large part of Montreal Quebec. In 1897. I."

" Do you want."

" The novel Dracula by the Bram stoker was published. In 1980 mount saint helens erupted in Washington they killed 57 people and caused three billion dollars in damage. And in 1998. The department of justice and twenty states filed an antitrust case against Microsoft. Some of them have these people in the world. Are people who pay the highest taxes. Denmark tops and international survey of the healthiest people. US isn't even in the top ten. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says people in Denmark Finland and the Netherlands are the most content with their lives. You'll be able to get alone from GMAC anymore that's because GMAC. Has decided it would rather not have GM in its name. As GM announced it's cutting ties with 1100 dealers that company the used to be GM's financing arm is changing its name. GMAC bank is becoming ally bank. GMAC's financial chief says the bank wants to make money with you not offered the you know it's tough to sell a house nowadays must -- short sale -- foreclosure but. Are things looking up are there any silver linings we may get a clue this week we get this look ahead from MarketWatch radio reporter Andrew day."

" Adrienne and there is hope on the horizon. For housing. No really apparently there is."

" We have probably seen them the worst numbers that we do that the only inventories has started to come down a little bit. So markets around the US home prices -- stabilized in recent months."

" Jeffrey Klein top as chief market strategist at LPL financial this coming week on Wall Street we get a look at the market for a new homes. The government reports on April housing starts small rebound is expected in new home construction. -- top is not so sure."

" They're literate there have been some optimism and in recent months from home builders and and some of the data. That I think it's difficult to continue the upward momentum there I think coming off for the Lowe's is one thing it's shifting more towards -- neutral position that's different."

" Also this week the conference board releases its latest index of leading economic indicator orders. That will really move this market."

" the market's going to take much consolation that. Why not is probably the leading indicators is that the S&P 500 is that there is a major component so often just wings with the stock market. "

" So will this market react to anything. Maybe just to this podcast Adrian."

" Thanks -- Also this week we're getting a look at two retailers that have felt the pinch from the housing market and tight credit. Home Depot reports earnings today followed by lows tomorrow. Home improvement retailers have been hit hardest people put off buying big things like dishwasher kitchen cabinets. You'll soon have more places to get your -- a fixed twenty -- seven. In Chicago Seattle San Francisco Washington DC New York. Several cities in Florida among others 7-Eleven says it's expanding it's going to open 200 -- Doris this year. Many of them and properties left vacant by the recession. John word -- then catching up on his TV viewing lately started talking about it within Kate's earlier today John might even watching."

" I don't know if you've ever seen this really cool show I sought the other day it's called the scientists. At the Simpsons yes. Features a guy named Bart and some guy named homer. And apparently there Colin big time now they're going to be promoted line. Let's bring in our consumer race and -- to talk more about this and where he could be seeing the Simpsons and heavy ever heard of the Simpson I think I have I think they've been around a little while like over twenty years you have to. But of course people on being facetious of do not send email to MarketWatch radio newsroom at Yahoo.com."

" Not about that anyway now we'll do -- for other things yes what's going up so fox that the company behind the Simpsons has decided to launch a really big marketing push -- I think they've always promoted it pretty heavily for along time. But they want and expand their efforts so just very recently. The Simpsons became the first cartoon characters who show is still on the air to be featured on postage stamps. First and that's one big push right there also starting next January fox is going to work with some museums in the US to have a Simpson's -- with art and artifacts from the show on display and a museum setting and also. Fox is working with. Some of the musicians of appeared on the Simpsons over the years there's a ton of them there's been Green Day and the -- in. All kinds of the the going to work on that line of limited editions Simpson branded guitar so those are just some of the things are doing sounds like we're going to see a lot of the Simpsons in the coming months a lot a lot well when the show first came on remember Bart there is parts and some T shirts and everything everywhere. They serve admit they didn't quite know what they were doing. When they show first went on the air as far as marketing but now they're they're finding that. And if there's huge demand and not just in the US Simpsons Simpsons are very big all around the country infect the Simpsons movie which came at a couple years ago is -- All time best selling dvd in Argentina so it is definitely a global brand as a war."

" I of course we should point out here that of the Simpsons. Fox product and MarketWatch radio network. Is also a product of News Corp. which owns five yeah homer Simpson's been here couple times he had to -- he has a co workers had it's amazing as those yes. But if you know one thing that that caught my -- about the story it sounds as though the folks at fox are trying to make the Simpsons. As classic as Mickey Mouse."

" Or Bugs Bunny yours nuclear any of those although I didn't -- personally think that they RDR at least you know for for kids who may not know. Younger kids who may not necessarily know who Bugs Bunny as they certainly know who the Simpsons are you and it's amazing what marketing can do I I would imagine a bunch of companies -- and hop on this. And we're going to have to -- on cereal boxes -- Simpson's everywhere around because so last year it does a big moneymaker for the consumers spent. 750. Million dollars on officially licensed Simpson merchandise last year."

" Don't --"

" Food food and amazing and he had time to do the mail bag of course --"

" Time now for the virtual mail bag. And let's head to the Milbank here we're gonna reach and sign it. We got this the other day from Mike. Who lives in Los Gatos California. In response -- your request about buying local pro news he wants to say. They have a weekly farmer's market in beautiful Saratoga California. Mike says he goes there every Saturday morning to get French just picked local produce -- seldom goes. To supermarkets. To get. His -- Andy and I enjoy your podcasts so I thought I would share some comments about the various people on it Tracy Johnke. Sexiest voice. John Wordock funny guy so must be good drinking -- And Kate's best consumer reporter. Well thank you yeah thanks Mike can mean yes do then my elbow from time to time but it when I told my wife about that she was totally news that. I asked Johnny walker black and I and body wise first name basis yes we're on a first name basis of Mike I appreciate the comments and I'm sure Tracy. Is going to blush when I teller this news about. Having the sexiest voice. And of course and that's consumer reporter we've right kind of yes MarketWatch radio newsroom. And Yahoo.com. If you want to write this you can also check this out on Twitter. And MW radio and on FaceBook ads MarketWatch radio's. Network Iraq this."

" And."

" It's MarketWatch radio network on FaceBook -- at this I guess I was wrong here infinite path that it does bleep yourself. It's it's very hard to leave yourself. A look so I've met it."

" Much better beep -- like somebody else but if you really yourself in already yes Clinton's little Honda -- and thank you very much thank -- and thanks folks are writing us here. And Money Markets & More and thanks you're welcome. And what could just happen by here it's Tracy Johnke -- you have a fan out there all of handle this but some gun owners Mike from Los Gatos California. The critique some of us and he says you of the sexiest voice -- yes I. How did you used to date Mike here's something at one point I think so I'm like that check is in the mail thank you mold Tracy have a fan congratulations. All right thank you Adrian."

" Thanks -- an -- and as you know following us on Twitter and and don't radio going to Facebook and looking for MarketWatch radio network or emailing us at MarketWatch radio newsroom at Yahoo.com. While also saving money on stamps. The that's it for Money Markets & More I'm Adrian Mitchell thanks for listening to on the."