Latest USA Headlines

All the headlines from our USA Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Administration Debating Powers of Proposed Systemic Risk Regulator

May 28 2009 // The Obama administration is weighing if a new systemic risk regulator should have the power to conduct on-site examinations of banks, broker-dealers and other market players suspected of posing a threat to the U.S....

Greenland Ice Sheet Melt Could Fuel Severe US Sea Level Rise

May 28 2009 // New York, Boston and other cities on North America’s northeast coast could face a rise in sea level this century that would exceed forecasts for the rest of the planet if Greenland’s ice sheet keeps melting as...

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Merck Appeal on Reinstated Investor Lawsuit

May 27 2009 // The U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday that it would hear an appeal by Merck & Co. Inc. of a ruling that reinstated a securities fraud lawsuit involving the company’s disclosures to investors about its withdrawn...

France, Germany Urge More Flexible Climate Pact

May 26 2009 // France and Germany suggested on Monday that rich nations should collectively guarantee deep cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020 while giving flexibility to laggards such as the United States to catch up later.France said the...

World Economy Stabilizing, Says Krugman

May 26 2009 // The world economy has avoided “utter catastrophe” and industrialized countries could register growth this year, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said on Monday.“I will not be surprised to see...

Forecasters Predict Average 2009 Hurricane Season

May 21 2009 // The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season will be fairly average with as many as seven hurricanes expected to form, U.S. government forecasters predicted Thursday.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast nine...

Coastal Insurance Rates Could Rise if Federal Tax Law is Enacted

May 21 2009 // As it girds for hurricane season, Texas has plenty to worry about. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) – which provides coverage for high risk coastal properties – has ended up at the brink of...

U.S. Financial Product Safety Commission Proposal Still on Table

May 20 2009 // The Obama administration is studying a long-discussed proposal to create a U.S. agency that would protect consumers who buy financial products, possibly as part of a major package of reforms, congressional aides said on...

Ratings Recap: Echelon, Calabash Re III

May 20 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb+” of Canada’s Echelon General Insurance Company. Best also affirmed the ICR of...

Cunningham Lindsey U.S. CEO: Market Conditions Not Slowing Growth

May 20 2009 // With its acquisition in early 2009 of the international business of GAB Robins (excluding its UK operations) and the U.S. forensic engineering firm, EFI Global, Cunningham Lindsey became the second largest property...

Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Sarbanes-Oxley

May 19 2009 // The Supreme Court said Monday it would decide a constitutional challenge to the 2002 law that created a national board to oversee U.S. public company auditors.The justices agreed to review a ruling by a U.S. appeals court...

The Hartford’s Wolin Confirmed as U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary

May 19 2009 // Neal S. Wolin has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.In February, Wolin was named deputy assistant to the President and deputy counsel to the President...

AIG Launches IPO Process for Asian ‘Crown Jewel’

May 18 2009 // American International Group said it would accelerate plans to separate its Asian subsidiary through an initial public offering as the bailed-out U.S. insurer seeks to raise cash and list the unit as soon as possible.The...

Some Insurers Including Allstate Might Not Need Federal Funds

May 18 2009 // Government approval for billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout funds for life insurers is dividing the industry into haves and have-nots, with Ameriprise Financial Incand possibly others rejecting the government’s...

Report Analyzes Threat to U.S. Coastlines

May 18 2009 // Lloyd’s of London has issued a summary of a report – “Resilient Coasts: a Blueprint for Action” – originally prepared by the Heinz Center and Ceres, which analyzes the threat to U.S....

Int’l. Maritime Organization Questions Arming Ships to Fight Pirates

May 18 2009 // Proposals to arm sailors on commercial shipping vessels to battle pirates could lead to an “arms race” on the high seas, a senior maritime official said on Monday.Some shipping companies want their crews to...

Best Affirms AXA (US) ‘A-‘ Ratings

May 15 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of New York-based AXA Insurance Company, both with stable outlooks.Best also...

Hartford, Prudential Among Life Insurers Approved for Treasury Funds

May 15 2009 // At least four U.S. insurers won approval on Thursday to raise billions of dollars through the government’s bank bailout plan, the U.S. Treasury Department said.Hartford Financial , the No. 4 U.S. insurer and beset by...

Tank in Blast That Killed 3 Not Inspected for More Than 10 Years

May 15 2009 // Three men killed when an empty gasoline storage tank exploded in north Arkansas likely died from the impact of the blast, a coroner said.Federal safety officials have begun an investigation into the blast at the TEPPCO...

Report: Process for AIG Asian IPO to Start Soon

May 14 2009 // AIG is expected to soon begin the process of launching the initial public offering of its largest Asian subsidiary, according to sources familiar with the matter, in what could be one of the largest Asian IPOs to hit the...