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Insurance

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Settlements reached with major mortgage lenders

U.S. bank regulators announced settlements today with the largest home lenders over allegations of shoddy foreclosure practices, but the pacts did not include financial penalties, Reuters reported.

The banks agreed to compensate borrowers who were …

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ING appoints former AIG executive

ING Groep NV’s U.S. insurance division today announced the appointment of Alain Karaoglan as executive vice president for finance and strategy. The appointment is another step in preparing ING’s U.S. insurance and investment management organization …

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Wells Fargo to test microchip-embedded credit cards

Wells Fargo & Co., the U.S. bank with the most branches, is testing microchip-embedded credit cards with frequent travelers to address complaints of customers who have trouble using their cards abroad, Bloomberg reported. The pilot …

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Principal acquires HSBC Afore

Principal Financial Group Inc. announced that it will acquire HSBC Afore from Mexico-based Grupo Financiero HSBC for approximately $198 million.

HSBC Afore, HSBC’s Mexican pension fund business, will merge with Principal to form Principal Afore. …

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Holmes Murphy Financial Services changes name

Holmes Murphy Financial Services has changed its name to VisionPoint. The company said that the name change reflects the firm’s strategic alliances with companies such as Holmes Murphy & Associates Inc. and the ability to …

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Aviva USA goes to work for homeless youth

Aviva USA employees will volunteer at Iowa Homeless Youth Centers in recognition of The International Day for Street Children, a global campaign to draw attention to homeless youths around the world. Aviva employees will be …

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Insurance agencies link to expand services

Two Greater Des Moines insurance agencies have merged. Waukee-based J.A. Hinke & Co. Inc., which was founded by Joey Hinke in 2009, and Miller & Fidler Insurance Agency, which focuses primarily on home, auto and …

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Crude, gold prices up following aftershock

Crude oil futures approached $112 a barrel today following a major aftershock in Japan and amid continuing conflict in Libya.

Prices have been climbing since a week ago, when crude oil futures traded at $106 …

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High-tech speculation


Dear Mr. Berko:

Last February, my broker bought 300 shares of Universal Display at $35.45. Though this $10,000 investment represents only a tiny portion of my account, I’m uncomfortable with it because it’s one of …

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Direct deposit underutilized by small businesses


Only about half of U.S. small businesses offer their employees direct deposit of their paychecks, according to a recent national survey conducted by NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association. Increasing the number of small businesses …