| | U.S. consumer spending grows at fastest pace since 2009 | | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending recorded its biggest increase in more than eight years in September, likely as households in Texas and Florida replaced flood-damaged motor vehicles, but underlying inflation remained muted. | | | | | U.S. regulator wants to loosen leash on Wells Fargo: sources | | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading U.S. regulator wants to make it easier for Wells Fargo to pay employees when they leave, loosening a restriction in place since a phony accounts scandal hit the bank last year, according to people familiar with the matter. | | | | | New Akzo Nobel boss pursues $30 billion deal with Axalta | | AMSTERDAM/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Dutch paints maker Akzo Nobel, seeking to recover after rejecting a takeover offer and issuing two profit warnings, is discussing a merger with smaller U.S. rival Axalta Coating Systems Ltd to create a $30 billion company. | | | | | U.S. oil exports boom, putting infrastructure to the test | | NEW YORK/HOUSTON (Reuters) - Tankers carrying record levels of crude are leaving in droves from Texas and Louisiana ports, and more growth in the fledgling U.S. oil export market may before long test the limits of infrastructure like pipelines, dock space and ship traffic. | | | | | Scandal-hit Kobe Steel seeks loans, shareholder offers support | | TOKYO (Reuters) - Kobe Steel Ltd is seeking 50 billion yen ($440 million) in loans from banks, a banking source said on Monday, while a shareholder said it was ready to offer support as the company grapples with a scandal over falsified product specifications. | | | | | Two banks drop McKinsey in fallout from South Africa scandal | | JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Barclays Africa and Standard Bank said on Monday they would stop working with McKinsey, a further blow to the global consultancy as it faces allegations of bribery for work done with friends of South African President Jacob Zuma. | | | | | Activist White Tale demands Clariant board seats, review | | ZURICH (Reuters) - White Tale Holdings, the activist investor that thwarted a $20 billion merger between Clariant and U.S. rival Huntsman, on Monday demanded three seats on the Swiss chemical maker's board and an independent strategic review of the business. | | | | | | | | | Related Video | | | | | | | | | | | Counterparties is a curated snapshot of the best finance news and commentary around the web. Register Today | | | | | | News you can use with actionable, timely advice for managing your financial life, including retirement, taxes, real estate, education and more. Register Today | | | | » » MORE NEWSLETTERS | | |