Marketplace Morning Report

Big banks are out with positive earnings reports just days after several CEOs faced off with lawmakers on The Hill. Jumia, Africa's answer to Amazon, begins trading on the NYSE (the jingle alone is worth the listen). Plus, we explore how prosecutors and judges are now looking at alternative sentencing programs, like community service, to avoid the consequences and costs of incarceration. Today's show is sponsored by Panopto and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

Ahead of Uber's forthcoming IPO, we take a look at the ride-hailing company's business model. One county in Virginia puts felons caught in the opioid crisis to work instead of in jail. Plus, winter has finally arrived, but marketing for the epic final season of "Game of Thrones" has been here for a while -- from "North of the Wall" cocktails to GOT Oreos. Will this be our last communal TV-viewing experience? If so, shame! Today's show is sponsored by Panopto and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

From the BBC World Service... Africa's largest e-commerce operator Jumia will begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange. We introduce you to Africa's Amazon. Then, we hear from the World Bank's new president David Malpass. And do you think you're an above-average driver? Perhaps you're a little less confident about making a billion dollars? A team of social scientists published a study on the topic and discovered what they call "illusory inferiority and illusory superiority" is widespread. Today's show is sponsored by Panopto and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

Jobless claims drop to an almost-50-year low. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro finally agrees to let foreign aid into the country as his opposition clamors for his ouster. Plus, the Economist magazine puts out a statistical model called "Eagle" that predicts the likely winner of the PGA Masters Tournament, which starts today. Just don't call it a betting tool.

Today's show is sponsored by EquityZen and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

Bank CEOs face Congress for the first time since the Great Recession, and -- surprise -- they want legislators to ease up on capital requirements. A labor shortage in construction is prompting the rebranding of the industry to attract good candidates. Plus, the PGA Masters Tournament tees off Tuesday, and, as tradition demands, cheap food is on the menu. Pimento cheese sandwiches, anyone?  Today's show is sponsored by EquityZen and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

From the BBC World Service... The United Kingdom has reached a compromise with E.U. leaders to avoid the country crashing out of the bloc without a deal on Friday. But what's next? Then, Venezuela's embattled president has finally agreed to allow humanitarian aid into the country. Plus, the world's largest-ever election has kicked off in India, where a lack of jobs is a key issue. We visit a jobs fair where five thousand graduates turned up to pitch for around 250 jobs. Today's show is sponsored by EquityZen and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

Consumer prices tick up. There's a little-known, controversial piece of tax preparation software provided for free by the federal government, but it's made by private companies. Is that a conflict of interest? Plus, we look at how some foster children struggle to find work or housing due to the difficulty of obtaining their identifying documents once they turn 18. Today's show is sponsored by BitSight Technologies and Panopto.

President Donald Trump's nominee for head of the World Bank, a critic of the agency, starts his new gig. Walmart is rolling out its in-store robot army. Plus, despite teachers' continued reliance on crowdfunding sites to raise money for school supplies, Nashville has decided to put an and to the practice in their schools. Today's show is sponsored by BitSight Technologies and Panopto.

From the BBC World Service... Turkey's finance minister has unveiled a new economic plan to revive the country's stricken economy. But will it work? Then, we bring you the latest from Brussels ahead of another crunch Brexit meeting. Also, voting in India’s general election begins in less than 24 hours. Political parties spend millions of dollars vying for support. We speak to some people who are paid to cheer at rallies.

Today's show is sponsored by BitSight Technologies and Panopto.

Investors want to get in on Saudi oil firm Aramco, the world's most profitable company, ahead of its giant bond offering. It turns out Netflix didn't kill the movie theater industry after all. Plus, we follow the tax drama unfolding for Chinese actress Fan Bingbing after her mysterious disappearance from public life and sudden resurfacing, and talk about what her ordeal has to do with country's government. Today's show is sponsored by Acquia and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.