RBS agrees to pay $4.9 billion to settle U.S. mortgage probe

Royal Bank of Scotland said it reached a tentative agreement to pay a $4.9 billion penalty to resolve a long-running U.S. probe into its packaging and sale of mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis. While most of the cost will be covered by money the company already set aside, the deal will cut second-quarter earnings by $1.44 billion, the bank said in an emailed statement.

UPDATE 2-HSBC boosts investments in growth push, unveils $2 bln share buyback

Europe's biggest bank by assets said that this would likely be the only share buyback this year, as CEO John Flint looks to invest instead in the bank's twin homes of Britain and China in a bid to boost returns. The bank's shares fell 2.5 percent in London by 0750 GMT, in a sign of immediate investor scepticism that the bank's new investments will pay off after years spent focusing on cutting unprofitable parts of the business.

Alabama Storm Survivors Should Register for Disaster Assistance

Homeowners, renters and business owners in Calhoun, Cullman and Etowah counties affected by the March 19-20 severe storms and tornadoes are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for federal disaster assistance. Assistance available to eligible individuals and businesses who sustained damages during those storms.

Paul Ryan: Entitlement reform is the policy goal that ‘got away’

Speaker Paul Ryan said the reforms, which have passed in GOP-authored budgets over the years, have never cleared the Senate and faced opposition by former President Barack Obama. House Speaker Paul Ryan said he decided to retire in part because he was able to accomplish many of his top goals, including a massive overhaul of the tax code.

Mayor Emanuel Announces New Plan to Support Chicago’s Small Businesses

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced a package of new reforms to support small businesses across the city. The plan will reduce costs for businesses, simplify the licensing process, increase transparency, support start-up and innovative businesses, and reduce the burden of inspections for all businesses.

Blumenthal, Murphy Announce Bill to Provide $100 Million in Direct…

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy today announced introduction of the Crumbling Foundations Small Business and Homeowners Assistance Act to provide $100 million in direct federal relief to property owners in Connecticut with crumbling foundations. The bill, introduced by Blumenthal and co-sponsored by Murphy would establish a grant program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to award funding up to $20 million annually over a five year period.

John Fletcher: Internet sales tax gets its day in court

Wayfair . The online seller, along with Overstock.com and Newegg, challenged a new South Dakota law that requires remote taxpayers to collect the state's sales tax if they sell more than $100,000 of goods per year into the state or, regardless of dollar amount, have more than 200 transactions with state residents.

GOP unsettled by narrow win in US House race in Arizona

It took a big money push from the Republican Party, tweets by the president and the support of the state's current and former governors, but the GOP held onto an Arizona U.S. House seat they would have never considered endangered in any other year. Tuesday's narrow victory by Republican Debbie Lesko over a Democratic political newcomer sends a big message to Republicans nationwide: Even the reddest of districts in a red state can be in play this year.

Student Confronts Pelosi: Actually, Tax Reform ‘Crumbs’ Are Helping My Family Put Me Through College

A college student confronted House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at an on-campus event sponsored by Georgetown University's Institute of Politics on Tuesday, challenging her rhetoric referring to the GOP-passed tax cuts and related bonuses as " crumbs ." Other Democrats have followed suit , sneering at the tangible benefits being experienced by everyday American families -- all thanks to a law that people like Pelosi wrongly predicted would inflict "Armageddon" on the US economy and trigger "the end of the world."

GOP unsettled by narrow US House win in ‘safe’ Arizona district

It took a big money push from the Republican Party, tweets by the president and the support of the state's current and former governors, but the GOP held onto an Arizona U.S. House seat they would have never considered endangered in any other year. Tuesday's narrow victory by Republican Debbie Lesko over a Democratic political newcomer sends a big message to Republicans nationwide: Even the reddest of districts in a red state can be in play this year.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage (FMCC) vs. Federal Agricultural Mortgage (AGM) Financial Contrast

Federal Home Loan Mortgage and Federal Agricultural Mortgage are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, risk, dividends and earnings. Federal Agricultural Mortgage pays an annual dividend of $2.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%.

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Scheme

A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent pleaded guilty today to devising a wire fraud scheme that defrauded SunTrust Mortgage and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation of over $40,000, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. Shauna Kay N. Sutherland, 37, of Corpus Christi, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. of the Southern District of Florida.

Wells Fargo fined US$1b for mortgage, auto lending abuses

Wells Fargo will pay US$1 billion to federal regulators to settle charges tied to misconduct at its mortgage and auto lending business, the latest punishment levied against the banking giant for widespread customer abuses. In a settlement announced Friday, Wells will pay US$500 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency , its main national bank regulator, as well as a net US$500 million to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau .