Online marketplace eBay to drop American Express, citing fees, and says customers have other options
Online marketplace behemoth eBay said it plans to no longer accept American Express, citing what the company says are โunacceptably high feesโ and that customers have other payment options to shop online.
GOP AGs push Visa, Mastercard, AmEx not to track gun sales
A group of Republican attorneys general are pushing the major payment networks _ Visa, Mastercard and American Express _ to drop their plans to start tracking sales at gun stores, arguing the plans could infringe on consumer privacy and push legal gun sales out of the mainstream financial network.
Business grows skittish about Trump and GOP after riots
Businesses are rethinking political contributions in the wake of the deadly Capitol siege by President Donald Trumps supporters on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Citigroup confirmed Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, that it is pausing all federal political donations for the first three months of the year. Outside conservative groups, including those affiliated with Republican leadership, were the ones who dropped the lion's share of money that helped him oust former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. Leading business groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce all condemned the insurrection. โThere was no big public push or pressure to get Marriott and others to announce they would no longer make campaign contributions.
Americans can pay their credit card bills, but for how long?
The coronavirus pandemic hasnt stopped Americans from keeping up with their credit card payments, thanks in large part to government relief programs passed by Congress earlier this year. โThe stimulus and unemployment benefits have definitely helped the lower end of (credit card borrowers),โ said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. In some ways, whatโs going on in the credit card market also reflects the diverging fortunes of those impacted by the pandemic. Credit card executives have for months been bracing for the impact on their customers if there is no new aid. โAs a result, we do remain cautious about the potential for future shocks to the economy.โOne point of uncertainty is how banks are reporting their credit card loans.
Issa Rae urges participation in Small Business Saturday
The "Insecure" star is urging people to shop locally as part of Small Business Saturday, a couple days after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES โ With many small businesses struggling to hold on during the coronavirus pandemic, Issa Rae believes now is the time to support independent stores more than ever. The creator and star of HBO series โInsecureโ strongly encourages people to shop locally as part of Small Business Saturday, a couple days after Thanksgiving. She said the initiative created by American Express, for which she is a compensated endorser, can help give an extra push during the holidays to small businesses who have gone into survival mode. So far, during the pandemic, Rae has watched several businesses close down, which she says โbreaks my heart."
Asian shares slip on faltering hopes for COVID vaccines
Stocks fell back across Asia on Thursday after gains for big technology shares pushed most Wall Street benchmarks higher. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.4% to 25,459.13 despite a report that machinery orders fell in September, suggesting weakness in corporate investment. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.1% to 26,206.78 and the Shanghai Composite index declined 0.3% to 3,332.24. Markets have been riding a wave of relief over hopes for a potential vaccine to beat back the pandemic. Strategists along Wall Street are raising their forecasts for stock prices on expectations that political control of Washington will remain split between the parties.
Check new rewards cards policies so you dont miss out on big savings
HOUSTON The pandemic has forced many of us to rethink our finances and that includes credit cards. If you use a rewards card to earn points or get cash back, you should know many of the cards have changed policies. Very few people are racking up frequent flier miles right now. That is why many travel rewards cards are giving you points and miles in the places youre spending the most money right now. The Hilton Honors American Express card is offering 12 times the points at grocery stores right now.