credit

According to ValuePenguin, credit scores in the United States are standing at an all-time high, with the average FICO score at 695 (scores range from 300 to 850). Scores fall into sub-ranges, or buckets, within which borrowers categorize borrowers to assess the level of risk associated with...

Credit is one of those notoriously confusing financial vehicles. It's the bane of many people's existence, but it is also all-but essential for financially independent survival. It's a device that can hinder or help future financial investments, and the decisions made that have reciprocal...

The federal appeals court panel threw out a $7.25 billion antitrust settlement on Thursday between Visa Inc (NYSE: V) and Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA) and millions of retailers, as some of the merchants covered by the pact weren't adequately represented. The efforts to resolve litigation between the...

The recent settlement rejection could hit Visa Inc (NYSE: V) and Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA) harder in the long term, according to a note from Cowen, which said Mastercard would bear more brunt than Visa if the settlement fees gets hiked. "If a monetary settlement is increased, MA would bear more...

It’s a natural instinct to want to help those we love, particularly if we are in a position where that financial assistance is feasible. However, it’s often inadvisable to loan money to friends or family, and even more imprudent to co-sign on a debt. Keep in mind, that is exactly what...

By the end of 2016, Americans will hold more than $1 trillion in collective credit card debt. If you are one of the many of Americans struggling with credit card debt, making the minimum payments on your cards each month may not be helping as much as you think it is. In fact, it could easily be...

Although the concept of credit has been around for many generations, documented from as early as the late nineteenth century, credit in its current iteration and most frequently associated form (credit cards) is a fairly newer element of finance. While American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) was...

American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) held its annual Investor’s Day event Thursday, hoping to reassure investors spooked by the company’s loss of the Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) co-brand account, and its announcement of $1 billion in cost reductions last month. The...

In a new report, Deutsche Bank analyst Ed Reardon discussed the impact that low oil prices are having on credit markets. Low oil prices are hurting the high-yield energy credit market, but consumer credit and aviation debt markets have benefited. Deutsche Bank is now projecting $33/bbl for Brent...

According to a recent study published earlier this month, millions of credit card holders have been "in a long-term relationship with their favorite credit card for at least 10 years." While keeping a line of credit open for an extended period can be beneficial for someone's credit...

In a new report, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Richmond discussed the firm’s new bullish take on investment grade (IG) credit. According to Richmond, the potential for a U.S. recession has already been priced into many IG valuations, making them a compelling risk/reward opportunity for...

Credit is like muscle – the more efficiently you use it, the better it is; the more you abuse it, the more you lose it. And unfortunately, there is a misconception that if your credit is bad once you retire, you are financially sunk. However, that is not the case. While it may seem...

There is a debt plague affecting the nation. Forty million Americans are burdened by this strain of debt and a colossal $1.2 trillion drained because of it. The epidemic is growing. Over the last decade, there has been a 325 percent increase in documented cases. While the contagion is in and of...

When it comes to money, it seems like everyone believes they are an expert. Financial advice from friends, family and coworkers almost always comes with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, finance can be so complicated that sometimes it’s difficult to sort fact from fiction. Here is a...