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• Tuesday, 22 May 2012

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• Dodd-Frank, Operation Twist & Wall Street - 22 September 2011

It's been a year since the Dodd-Frank bill was signed into law, putting a whole new perspective on the term "too big to fail" and putting the brakes on taxpayer bailouts for failing financial institutions. With the downgrading of the credit ratings of three major banks – Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup – on Wednesday, it appears that the time has come to test the effectiveness of the Dodd-Frank bill. Commenting on the downgrade of Wells Fargo's stock, Moody's noted that, because the risks of contagion have become less acute, allowing a financially troubled large bank to fail is more likely to happen now than would have been the case during the financial crisis. This is seen as a vindication of the stance lawmakers took in passing the bill. Instead of propping up failing financial institutions with taxpayers' money, the federal government has the option of unwinding these banks in a controlled and orderly manner. Each of the three banks in question is required to present a plan by July next year outlining steps for distribution of assets in the event of becoming insolvent.

• AT&T/T-Mobile Face Antitrust Issues - 1 September 2011

In the current economic climate, mergers and acquisitions offer potential for growth, as well as a means to cut costs by the laying off of staff and sharing of resources. The danger in M&A activity is the domination of markets by monopolies, and this is where antitrust authorities step in to ensure that markets remain competitive and consumers have a choice in products and services. The proposed takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T has been big news recently and it is no secret that AT&T was counting on this acquisition to compete with Verizon. But yesterday, the Department of Justice stepped in to block the $39 billion takeover in its current form, noting that the deal would push up prices for consumers and reduce competition.

• Institute for Supply Management: Facilitating Supply for Demand - 4 August 2011

In a world driven by supply and demand, and where the consumer is king, the system of supply management makes use of the most sophisticated technology at its disposal to ensure that the flow of goods continues uninterrupted. Founded in 1915, the Institute for Supply Management addresses the issue of efficient supply management, which is essential in today's highly competitive markets. Its mission is to encourage the industry to adhere to standards of excellence, making available research resources, promotional activities and ongoing education. As a non-profit association and a member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM), the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has a network of affiliated associations, both in the United States and internationally, serving more than 40,000 members in over 80 countries.

• CFPB: Championing the Rights of Consumers - 21 March 2011

US consumers are faced with a host of options when it comes to making purchases, applying for a mortgage, selecting personal banking services, and using credit cards and other financial services. The economic turmoil of the past two years or so has brought to the attention of authorities that not all consumers are equipped to make financial decisions in their own best interests. This has led to the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which, under the jurisdiction of the Federal Reserve, regulates financial products and services offered to consumers, ensuring compliance with federal law, while at the same time educating consumers to enable them to make informed financial decisions.

• FCIC Urges: "Learn From History" - 31 January 2011

Many would agree with the sentiment that hindsight is the only exact science, or that hindsight is 20/20, and while some may go with the cliché of 'no use crying over spilt milk', there are times when analyzing exactly what went wrong is a valuable exercise, particularly when wanting to avoid a repeat performance. In the United States, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) was given the weighty task of investigating the causes, both domestic and global, of the 2007-2010 financial crisis, with the primary goal of correcting flaws in the system to prevent this type of crisis from every taking place again, but also to bring to light willful fraud and abuse that contributed to the financial chaos that went global.

• Hopes High For Tax Cut Extension - 6 December 2010

Economic recovery and stability are undoubtedly common goals for U.S. policymakers regardless of where their allegiance may lie politically, but that does not mean that there is complete agreement on how to reach that goal. The economic turmoil experienced by governments worldwide for more than two years now, has presented a number of unprecedented circumstances that have called for some drastic measures to deal with, and decision-makers charged with overseeing the economic welfare of many countries have often found themselves sailing uncharted waters. Investors have certainly been on a roller-coaster ride of note, with high-speed trading presenting additional challenges to overcome, making the stock market a place that is not for the faint-hearted to venture into.

• US Markets Respond to Economic Recovery Indications - 2 December 2010

In an effort to capture as many consumer dollars possible, some US retailers started Black Friday sales on Thursday, while others extended their specials through to the end of the week following the biggest retail event on US consumer calendars. The results revealed that shopping patterns are shifting, and according to the National Retail Federation, US consumers spent on average $365.34 as compared to last year’s $343.31 for this period. The total amount spent over the Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend was around $45 billion, with more than 212 million shoppers swelling the crowds, apart from consumers who did their shopping online. So, in general, both retailers and shoppers scored from the frenzied spending spree, and the outlook for economic recovery brightened with the good start to the holiday season.