United States

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 07:22 UTC

  Fed leaves rates unchanged; expectations over an increase move to June

  

  The U.S. Federal Reserve did what many expected on Wednesday as it left its key interest rate range unchanged. The central bank maintained its overnight lending rate for banks at a target range of between 0.25 and 0.50% where it has been since it was boosted from near zero back in December. Expectations now have moved to the two-day meeting on 14/15 June.

• Wednesday, April 27th 2016 - 10:44 UTC

  Paul Singer praises Macri but warns about negative impact from Collective Action Clauses

  

  Financier Paul Singer again took to the US media to celebrate Argentine President Mauricio Macri’s decision to settle with the so-called “speculative” creditors, including Singer’s own Elliott Management, with an article in the Wall Street Journal heaping praise on his business-friendly approach and willingness to negotiate with the holdouts.

• Sunday, April 24th 2016 - 09:03 UTC

  Anti/slavery crusader Harriet Tubman will command the $20 dollar bill

  

  Anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman will become the first African-American to be featured on the face of US paper currency when she replaces President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. She will also be the first woman on US paper currency in more than a century.

• Sunday, April 24th 2016 - 08:26 UTC

  International major effort to cooperate on tax issues and halt evasion and elusion

  

  The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are joining forces with other international organizations to cooperate on tax issues and develop new tools and standards to halt tax base erosion and evasion.

• Saturday, April 23rd 2016 - 10:46 UTC

  Treasury Secretary Lew praises Argentina for its reintegration to the global economy

  

  United States Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew celebrated Argentina's return to international markets and reintegration to the global economy, following the final settlement with holdout creditors, which it described as a major milestone not only for Argentina but for the global financial system.

• Friday, April 22nd 2016 - 15:51 UTC

  Carnival cruise to Havana triggers controversy with Cuban/Americans who allege discrimination

  

  A federal lawsuit is claiming that Carnival Corporation is discriminating against Cuban-Americans who weren’t allowed to book tickets on a cruise to the Castro brothers dominated country. CNN reports that when Carnival announced plans for a cruise ship from its Fathom line to sail from Miami to Havana in May, Francisco Marty jumped at the opportunity to surprise his children with a trip back to their native land.

• Friday, April 22nd 2016 - 07:48 UTC

  Singer praises Macri and calls him a great 'reformist' in a Time weekly column

  

  United States hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer is a big fan of Argentina’s new president. For one thing, Mauricio Macri doesn’t call him a “vulture lord” or a “bloodsucker,” as his predecessor Cristina Fernández did. More important, the newly elected Macri recently paid Singer’s firm US$2.28 billion in debt.

• Friday, April 15th 2016 - 09:04 UTC

  US regulators reject “too big to fall” banks proposals in case of another major 'blackout'

  

  US regulators have rejected the plans of five big US banks for closing their operations in the event of a crisis. Banks labeled “too big to fail” must have a so called “living will” that would allow them to close down without the help of public money. Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, JPMorgan Chase, State Street and Wells Fargo have until 1 October to submit improved plans.

• Friday, April 15th 2016 - 08:47 UTC

  US cautions Caribbean BOTs about whom they give their passports

  

  The United States Government has cautioned Caribbean countries offering a Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) to be extra cautious about who they give their passports to, and ensure that recipients have no terrorist or crime links. It gave the advice, in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Barbados, even as it made it that it was not advising regional countries on whether or not they should offer economic citizenship.

• Thursday, April 14th 2016 - 09:18 UTC

  World's largest private coal miner has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US

  

  Peabody Energy, the world's largest privately-owned coal miner, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US after a sharp fall in coal prices left it unable to repay its debts. The firm said the move was aimed at reducing debt and that all its mines and offices would continue to operate.