NPR : Your Money

Stock prices are at six-year lows. Over the past two days, the Dow Jones industrial average has lost more than 6 percent of its value. The $700 billion bailout was supposed to stabilize the financial industry and get banks lending again. But that hasn't happened yet.

The financial crisis is closing in on Citigroup. The banking colossus has more than 200 million customers around the world. But investors are increasingly worried about Citigroup's financial condition. Its share price tumbled more than 25 percent Thursday. CEO Vikram Pandit is weighing his options, including selling off parts of the company or selling the whole company. Citigroup lost half its value this week and is trading at levels not seen since the mid-1990s.

Some would-be investors may be too scared to dip their toe into the investment world of stocks and bonds. Now they don't have to worry, and can take the plunge in fantasy investing. It works similarly to fantasy sports leagues. Faux investors are using virtual investing games like "Wall Street Survivor" to learn the real deal.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd says he's angry that banks are using government-provided funds to pay dividends, for excessive executive compensation and for acquiring other banks. He also says the Treasury has been too slow in addressing the mortgage crisis.

As central banks continue to slash interest rates almost to zero, prices can plummet. It creates a liquidity trap, as it did in the 1930s and in Japan during the 1990s. Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff outlines what deflation could mean for modern America.

As companies try to survive the rough economy, they are cutting costs. The person in charge of deciding where and how deeply to cut is often the chief financial officer. CFO Magazine recently interviewed more than 300 CFOs, and nearly half said they plan to lay off workers. Kate O'Sullivan, a writer with the magazine, tells Steve Inskeep that companies are also looking at hiring freezes and reductions in overtime.

Worry that the U.S. auto industry could collapse has added to recession jitters on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average finished down nearly 430 points Wednesday, falling below the 8,000 mark — levels not seen since 2003.

Detroit automakers have hundreds of thousands of retirees who are wondering what might happen if their former employers go bankrupt. Auto executives say without $25 billion in loans, they could be forced into bankruptcy.

The Dow Jones industrial average closes below 8,000 points for the first time since March 2003.

Decking the halls might not be an option this season if paying the mortgage is a higher priority. Guests and callers share creative ideas for holiday giving — from shopping smarter to making your own crafty gifts.