Archive for the 'US Markets' Category

Independent study reveals banks have a new troubled asset: Their customers

Guardian Analytics and Ponemon Institute Study highlights 40 percent of small and medium businesses change banks after a fraud incident
Guardian Analytics, the innovator in predictive analytics-based fraud prevention software, together with independent research firm, Ponemon Institute, announced the results of the 2010 Business Banking Trust Study. Over 500 executives and business owners from small and [...]

Consumer Reports Index: Slow job creation stalling economic recovery

Slow job creation continues to drag on the economy, according to the Consumer Reports Index for March. This month’s findings show that, although the tide of job losses has been stemmed, the level of job creation needed to fuel a consumer recovery has not developed.
Consumer Reports Employment Index stands at 48.7 for March, reflective of [...]

Platts Survey: OPEC pumps 29.31 Million barrels of oil per day in February 2010

Crude Oil Production Rose 60,000 Barrels Per Day From January
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) crude oil production rose to 29.31 million barrels per day (b/d) in February, an increase of 60,000 (b/d) from an estimated January level of 29.25 million b/d, according to a just-released Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials [...]

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index increases in February 2010

Sixth Consecutive Increase; Index is Growing at the Fastest Rate Since 1994
The Conference Board Employment Trends Index(TM) (ETI) rose in February for the sixth consecutive month. The index now stands at 93.5, up from January’s 93.2. During the past six months, the index increased by 13.4 percent (annual rate), the highest six-month growth rate since [...]

Proposed California eBilling Rules released

Largest State Workers’ Compensation System to Mandate Medical Billing EDI, Electronic / Paper Workflows, PHI Protections and Uniform Bill Data
Jopari Solutions is expanding its offering of eBill processing services in California to assist Payers’ compliance under the state’s new proposed Business Rules for Paper and Electronic Billing, published March 4, 2010. The proposed California rules [...]

U.S. Employment Report: Employee Confidence Index slips in February 2010

The SFN Group Employee Confidence Index decreased by 1.2 points to 48.9 in February. The Index, which measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, shows that fewer workers are confident in the strength of the economy and in job availability. On the contrary, more workers are optimistic about [...]

New CARD Act disclosures

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, which took effect February 22, 2010, requires new disclosures on monthly credit card statements. The Financial Services Roundtable and the Center for Responsible Lending have teamed up to explain a few of these new disclosures, which are intended to make the cost of credit [...]

U.S. Consumer Confidence heats up again in March, according to RBC Index

Consumer confidence levels rallied this month after taking a tumble in February, according to the RBC CASH (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household) Index. Buoyed by consumers’ upbeat evaluations of their current economic condition and their positive outlook for the job market, the RBC Index for March stands at 58.2, an 18.8 point increase from [...]

Postal Service outlines 10-year plan to address declining revenue, volume

Seeks Flexibility on Operations, Delivery; Possible 2011 Price Increase
Facing unprecedented volume declines and a projected, cumulative $238 billion shortfall during the next decade, Postmaster General John E. Potter today outlined an aggressive plan of cost cutting, increased productivity, and an array of legislative and regulatory changes necessary to maintain a viable United States Postal [...]

Bank of America to combine Global Card Services and Deposits

Susan Faulkner to Lead New Deposits and Card Product Organization
Bank of America announced that it is combining the leadership of Global Card Services and Deposits under Susan Faulkner. The combined business will report to Joe Price, president, Bank of America Consumer, Small Business & Card Banking.

“This structure continues the evolution of our Consumer businesses toward [...]