Business Channel 2006-10-26&28

What if I answered: Well, it depends. You say: Oh ,come on ,Val, be more direct than that. (Please) But it does depend on how much education you have because according to a new government report, a bachelor's degree is worth around 23,000 dollars a year. That's the average difference in earnings 1 between adults with a bachelor's degree and those with a high school diploma. In fact, take a look at these numbers, Richard, on average, college graduates earned just over 51,000 dollars a year in 2004, which is the most recent year for which figures are available. Now, compare that to an average annual salary at around 28,000 dollars for adults with only a high school diploma. Those with advanced degrees earned more than twice that amount. So Richard, as you might expect, it pays to get that diploma, even though the cost of getting it is really out of reach of a growing number of people, Richard.

That's right, kids, remember that, it does pay. We saw the number. Val proved it to us. It's in the pudding here. Also paying off, and this is for Wal-Mart really since we're talking about money, their generic 2 drug plan paying off for them.

Oh, absolutely, and Wal-Mart knows it, and it's speeding up the rollout of that drug plan yet again. The world's biggest retailer 3 says it's expanding its 4-dollar prescription 4 drug program to 12 more states beginning today. The plan first launched in Florida last month. It was a huge success. The company then expanded ahead of schedule to another 14 states. Wal-Mart wasn't planning to make that move until January at next year. So, what does this mean for Wal-Mart? Analysts 5 say that the program could bring in more customers who would then shop in other departments in the store. It could also make Wal-Mart a stronger competitor among drugstore chains such as CVS and Walgreens. So far, Richard, those chains have not matched the plan.

Hmm, it, it is a great plan, how did their stock do today in light of that?

Oh, gained nearly 2% on the day. And also listen to this, since the plan was first announced, again back in September, the stock has risen more than 6.5%. Let's take a look now at the overall market because it was slow-going at first, but stocks managed to finish modestly higher thanks to some solid corporate 6 earnings reports. And adding to the positive sentiment 7, oil prices slipped more than a dollar following yesterday's spike 8. You are looking now at the New York Stock Exchange Big Board and checking the final numbers. The Dow Industrials rose 28 points, finishing at yet another record high. This is the 13th in the past 18 sessions. The NASDAQ Composite 9 added nearly 1%.