By Maria Kolesnikova (Bloomberg) - JPMorgan Chase & Co. led lending to commodities companies for a third consecutive year even as global financing to the industry fell to the lowest since 2010. The biggest U.S. bank by assets arranged $44.1 billion of loans, giving the New York-based company a 7.8 percent market share, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. came next. Three Canadian banks were in the top 10, from one a year ago, as European Read more [...]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Apple CEO Tim Cook got $4.2 million in pay for the latest fiscal year, a modest sum compared with last year, when the company's board set him up with stock now worth $510 million for taking the reins in 2011. Cook's pay for fiscal 2012, which ended in September, consisted of $1.4 million in salary, a bonus of $2.8 million, and $17,000 in company contributions to his 401(k) account and life insurance premiums, according to a filing. Apple Inc.'s board saw no need to give Cook Read more [...]

Christina Rexrode and Larry Neumeister, Associated Press NEW YORK - When the U.S. Justice Department announced its record $1.9 billion settlement against HSBC last week, prosecutors called it a powerful blow to a dysfunctional bank accused of laundering money for Iran, Libya, and Mexico's murderous drug cartels. But to some former federal prosecutors, it was only the latest case of the government's stopping short of bringing criminal money-laundering charges against a big bank or its executives, Read more [...]

By  Michael A. Fletcher and Dina ElBoghdady - (Washington Post) As lawmakers struggle to agree on a plan to avert the series of tax increases looming next year, many investors are taking preemptive action to get out of harm’s way. Americans are moving to sell investment homes, off-load stocks, expand charitable donations and establish tax-sheltering gifts before the end of the year. Financial advisers and accountants say people are trying to avoid the higher taxes that will take effect Read more [...]