After reading the breathless media coverage about the rumored $2 billion Yelp IPO, I have one question: Does the online-review site make money? None of the articles made any mention, but profitability is the issue that should be first on investors' minds.
The financial world's fee fever may have abated -- for now. Several big and medium-sized banks say they're not implementing fees for debit card use anytime soon. But with bank revenues slipping, they do need to act, and more are considering cost cuts to repair their bottom lines.
New and higher debit card fees may not be enough to satiate the big banks. Financial institutions looking for revenue are now eyeing another source: Selling your debit-card transaction data to marketers. So which is worth more to you: The deals such targeted advertising will bring, or your privacy?
Could your bank teller could go postal? Offering basic consumer banking services in the form of prepaid debit cards is just one of many ideas the U.S. Post Office is considering to boost its bottom line. And even with stamp costs going up to 45 cents, the USPS is in dire need of outside-the-box solutions to its budget woes.
This week, the government took a big first step toward shutting down the Can't Lose Room in the Wall Street Casino. It's now one comment period away from enacting the Volcker Rule, which limits the kinds of risky investments banks can make with money insured by the U.S. taxpayer.
Tallying up the flu's effect on our economy is enough to make you sick. Influenza was responsible for 100 million lost work days in 2010, according to a Walgreens study. That's $7 billion in lost wages, and $10 billion in lost productivity. Inspired to get vaccinated this year? We'll point you to the best deal.
Announcements made late Wednesday and early Thursday revealed that three large companies -- Wendy's, Costco, and Bank of New York Mellon -- are losing their CEOs. And while the first two cases sound like they'll result in smooth transitions, the third comes as something of a shock.
Walk into any Whole Foods Market and you are met with an array of vibrantly colored vegetables, leafy greens and barrels of fruit: The store is an emporium to healthy eating. Now, the company is wading deeper into the preventative health care market with member's only Wellness Clubs.
