The Senate could vote this week on a bill to help small businesses by encouraging community banks to lend them up to $30 billion. But the measure has its risks.
It's rumored that Robert Dudley, a BP board member and part of the executive management team, will take over the CEO spot. He's an American, from the Gulf Coast even, but will that make a difference?
General Motors bought a subprime lender to increase leasing of GM cars and lending to customers who have lower credit rating. Is this a sign the economy is recovering or that companies are going back to the risky lending that got the economy in a recession in the first place?
Last year, the Obama administration said Chrysler wouldn't survive without a bailout of cash. Now, Chrysler Financial is starting to make money on loan payments.
Forcing GM and Chrysler to reduce the number of dealerships the companies had helped the companies become stronger, but may have a negative impact on communities where dealerships were a major employer.
The new financial regulations bill cleared its last real hurdle today and the president will likely sign it into law early next week. But it could take awhile for anybody to really notice.
