TALF - Implications for Credit Card Issuers
March 12, 2009
Press Release: The Federal Reserve Board Announces the Creation of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) | www.federalreserve.gov
This program will be a benefit for the large credit card issuers: JP Morgan Chase, Citicorp, Bank of America, American Express, Discover and Capitol One, all of whom can position themselves as a high quality, AAA rated, source of new loans. TALF could prove to be especially helpful to American Express, Discover and Capital One, credit card issuers who lack the branch network and deposit base of the big money center banks. TALF could open up a funding source by reviving the credit card securitization market.
Winners and losers in Healthcare IT
October 14, 2008
Stark Offers Bill to Hasten e-record Adoption | modernhealthcare.com
This will soon be the best time in history to be selling Healthcare IT software and services. More money will be spent in the next three years than ever before. It may not be the best time for the staff at many hospitals. The staff are woefully unprepared for a quantum leap in Healthcare Technology.
Healthways A Market Downturn and Results
August 26, 2008
Healthways' Guidance Not So Healthy | www.forbes.com
Healthways reported lower than expected earnings in its current quarter and analysts are pointing to a tightening in the healthcare markets and the fact that Healthways products are expensive. Does this really make sense?
August 7, 2008
HR outsourcing gaining steam | www.hindu.com
A recent study claimed that the global BPO industry will be worth $230 billion by 2012 and India stands to gain $50 billion of that global pie. This boom may be in the wake of an U.S. economic downturn as employers who have historically shied away from offshoring may now become more receptive to the idea to cut costs. After the business process outsourcing and knowledge process outsourcing boom, the corporate sector in India is steadily gearing up for a new concept - RPO, which is recruitment process outsourcing. It aims at taking the burden out of the head-hunting. While the RPO concept has taken a healthy shape in the Western countries, in India however, there are only a few RPO firms currently catering to the needs of various domestic as well as multi-nationals in hiring employees for them. The RPO sector in India is currently at its infant stage.
MasterCard Clouds on the Horizon?
June 4, 2008
MasterCard "buy," target price raised | www.newratings.com
The near-term prospects for MasterCard are positive, despite a weak US economy. MasterCard is riding a trend of payment transactions moving from cash and check to card and electronic media. The challenge to MasterCard comes from potentially disruptive regulatory and technology forces that MasterCard must acknowledge and address.
Credit Card Deal on Target for JP Morgan and Target
May 12, 2008
Target in credit card deal with JPMorgan | www.ft.com
The credit card deal announced between Target and JP Morgan makes sense for both parties. It allows Target to address shareholder concerns regarding its card business and mitigate potential growing credit losses. It enables JP Morgan to further develop its private label retail card strategy by taking a substantial interest in the Target portfolio, while placing limits on its loss exposure. There is protection for both parties as well as options to further extend the relationship.
Genetic Testing Will Move to Mainstream Acceptance
April 29, 2008
Experts see boost to genetic testing from US bill | www.reuters.com
The passage of this bill by the Senate and the likely passage by the house are both good for consumers as well as the companies that conduct genetic testing.
April 22, 2008
Insurers Overly Focused On Cat Models, Says Expert | www.propertyandcasualtyinsurancenews.com
Primary insurers and reinsurers will demand that catastrophic modeling be used in order to justify their underwriting decisions of this type of insurance. These newer models in conjunction with in-house capacity aggregation tools (Insurers now know where and how much of their capacity is in play) will guide their underwriting decisions from windstorm and earthquake to workers compensation in terrorism prone cities like DC and NYC. The process is another way to spread the risk, so that any one insurer does not take a huge hit from any one event. Using technology to spread risk will utimately decrease volatility in insurance markets.
What can Hospitals do about their Spending and Borrowing in 2008?
April 21, 2008
University Hospitals in Cleveland makes aggressive refinancing move | blog.cleveland.com
Increasing interest rates and debt service, a Decrease in available cash, a Migration to more fixed rate borrowing and appeals to state governments for assistance, a delay in physical plant additions/upgrades
Discover Goes Global With Diners Club Acquisition – A Positive Step
April 14, 2008
Diners Club assets sold to US card issuer | www.businesstravelworld.com
The Discover Card acquisition of Diners Club International is a positive step, addressing one of Discover's competitive weaknesses, the lack of a strong global merchant acceptance network. But it is only one component of the comprehensive solution needed to address Discover’s competitive weakness versus Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
New FINRA Rule 2210-Simplification Whose Time Has Come
November 4, 2009
ADP Must Grow Three Major Markets for Continued Success
October 22, 2009
Battle for Dominance in Mortgage Fraud Analytics Space
October 17, 2009
All hands on deck, full steam ahead
September 7, 2009
Dollar destined to be second class currency in world's largest banana republic
September 1, 2009