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Insurance

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Convenience store giant makes play for Casey’s

7-Eleven Inc. is the new player on the block in efforts to take over Ankeny-based Casey’s General Stores Inc., the Wall Street Journal reported this afternoon, citing sources familiar with the offer. On Tuesday, Casey’s …

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Wellmark won’t raise rates due to health reform

Iowa’s largest health insurer, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, does not plan to increase group rates as a result of new health-reform requirements, the company said this morning. Some other health insurers say they …

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Debit card use surpasses credit card purchases

Americans are shunning their credit cards and using debit cards to avoid incurring more debt, Bloomberg reported.

Total payment volume for debit cards surpassed credit-card volume for the first time in 2009 and will continue …

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Aviva Investors appoints CEO

Aviva Investors has appointed Pat O’Brien as CEO of Aviva Investors North America Inc., the company announced Tuesday. O’Brien will have overall responsibility for Aviva Investors’ operations in the United States and Canada, reporting to …

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Brown Publishing sold to banking conglomerate

Ohio Community Media LLC is taking over nearly all of Brown Publishing’s assets for $21.75 million, according to Editor and Publisher. The group – a corporation formed by the banks owed $74 million by Brown …

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Principal vice president to speak at global conference

Terry Lillis, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Des Moines-based Principal Financial Group, Inc., will present at Barclay’s 2010 Global Financial Services Conference on Sept. 14 in New York. His presentation will include …

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You can beat Treasury bond yields with little risk


Dear Mr. Berko:

I received a $53,000 settlement, and my lawyer has advised me to buy 30-year Treasury bonds yielding 3.9 percent. He thinks the stock market will continue to go lower. We own some …

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Wave Theory is all wet


Dear Mr. Berko:

Back in June, you said the Dow Jones industrial average could fall to 8,500. Please explain this. What do you think of Robert Prechter, who says the Dow will crash to 1,000? …

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Avista is a pleasant sight


Dear Mr. Berko:

About a month or so ago, you recommended five or six electric utilities, and believe it or not, I own at least 65 to 90 shares of each. I like utility issues …

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First Bank makes changes

First Bank’s board of directors has announced three changes in its leadership. Rick Messerschmidt has been promoted to chairman of the board and executive vice president of First Bank, and Jeffrey Rose was promoted to …