The Bureau of Economic Analysis released its latest Personal Income and Outlays report, showing that personal income rose more than $30 billion, or 0.2%, in November. Consumption increased $63 billion, a jump of 0.5%. For October, income dropped by $11.7 billion and consumption increased $44.2 billion.
The Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index stayed steady for its last December reading, registering the same 82.5 as it did at mid-month. Though a bit lower than the predicted 83.5, the consistent reading was a vast improvement over the last November print of 75.1.
Meanwhile, the Dow is unaffected by comments by Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker, who opined that the Fed will begin to raise the federal funds rate in 2015, which he predicts will settle at 2% by the end of that year.
JPMorgan addresses credit breach
Big banks are holding their own today, with Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) respectively up about 0.70% and 1%. JPMorgan is making headlines regarding the recent revelation about the security breach at Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), where as many as 40 million customer credit and debit cards were recently compromised.
The bank announced over the weekend that about 2 million Chase debit card customers who were likely affected by the breach would be constrained in their daily debit card activity, limiting cash withdrawals to $100 from the usual $200-$500, and purchases to $300 versus the customary limit of $500. While other big banks such as Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) have indicated that they are monitoring the situation, only JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has taken concrete action in an effort to limit damage from the breach.
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is also on tap this morning, as The Wall Street Journal profiles the bank’s crafty avoidance of one Volcker Rule dictate that no bank may own more than 3% of any hedge or private equity fund: Goldman has announced that it will invest up to 20% in a fund that features lending funds backed by big real estate holdings — a notable exemption in the new law.
The exception for real estate loans from the definition of hedge funds and private equity investment products will allow Goldman to inject a hefty portion of its own capital into the project, according to the Journal, even though that may not be in keeping with the spirit of the new law.
The article JPMorgan Chase Is the Only Bank to Meet Target Breach Head-On originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Amanda Alix has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase.
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
comments
Tags: Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Target Corporation (NYSE