How a business tycoon cashed in on the Mexican Revolution

Jul 26, 2017
You may not have heard of him, but the Tennessee farm boy was once the richest man in Mexico.
Mexico City in 1912.
Reinhold Thiele/Thiele/Getty Images

Tax plan math: how middle class and corporate tax cuts square with deficit reduction goals

Jul 26, 2017
President Donald Trump wants the top U.S. corporate tax rate cut to 15 percent, as well as tax relief for middle-income Americans, he told the Wall Street Journal. The president also indicated a willingness to increase some taxes on rich Americans. But those cuts risk adding to the deficit over the next ten years. And […]

Cyber threats can pose significant risks to small businesses

Jul 26, 2017
The National Cyber Security Alliance, a public-private partnership supported by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Trade Commission, is holding workshops to help small businesses around the country defend against cyber threats. Hackers have launched successful data thefts against companies large and small in recent years, and the FBI reports that ransomware attacks […]

One thing holding back a Fed rate hike? Low inflation

Jul 26, 2017
As the Federal Reserve concludes its July meeting, many expect it won’t announce a hike in the interest rate. One big thing that factors into that decision is inflation. One of the Fed’s mandates is to keep prices stable – to prevent rampant inflation. Raising interest rates can help, but the Fed has been in […]

Why the U.S.’s productivity downturn might not be as bad as it looks

Jul 25, 2017
Many would agree that the key to economic growth, in the U.S. and elsewhere, has long been productivity — how many widgets produced per hour worked. Many would also agree that the U.S. is suffering from a downturn in productivity. But Neil Irwin, senior economics correspondent for The New York Times, thinks it may be […]

First the handbag, now shoes to match: Michael Kors buys upscale shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2 billion

Jul 25, 2017
Jimmy Choo has been among the biggest names in high-end shoes for decades, but the company put itself up for sale in April. Today, fashion house Michael Kors announced it’ll buy the British footwear brand for $1.2 billion. Kors has been struggling recently and announced in May it’s closing more than 100 stores. Can this […]

Big business puts some pressure on big banks

Jul 25, 2017
The Federal Reserve probably will not announce a rate hike on the second day of its Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday. But there’s a decent chance it will again by year’s end. And since the Fed started raising rates 18 months ago, we’ve seen the federal funds rate rise a full 1 percent. […]

For public good, not for profit.

Why consumer credit is a matter of "social trust"

Jul 25, 2017
The modern credit economy mostly works, author Josh Lauer says.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

AT&T reports second quarter earnings as it eyes a big deal to stay competitive

Jul 25, 2017
Telecom giant AT&T will report its second quarter earnings after the market closes today. The company’s shares are down 15 percent this year amid increased competition among wireless providers and more cord cutting in the cable space. Now AT&T is going for a big deal to help it stay ahead of the curve. Click the […]

All those small ailments make for big money: WebMD to be sold for $2.8 billion

Jul 24, 2017
For months, health website WebMD has been looking for a suitor. Today, it found one. The private equity giant KKR — Kohlberg Kravis Roberts — has struck a deal to buy the site for about $2.8 billion. But why was WebMD looking to be sold in the first place?  Click the audio player above to […]