Complaints of unfair rate hikes spur new consumer protections. Credit card companies would be barred from some retroactive interest rate hikes and other "unfair and deceptive" practices that cost consumers billions of dollars each year under a proposal by federal regulators Thursday.

Federal regulators said Tuesday that placing tougher restrictions on agricultural commodity trading would not alleviate high and volatile prices in those markets and could make matters worse.

Once deeply involved in sub-prime lending, the limping company must raise capital or sell its banking unit. Regulators who forced Fremont General Corp. out of the sub-prime lending business last year have given the financial company until May 26 to find a buyer for its bank, Fremont Investment & Loan, or raise more capital, Fremont said Friday.

Federal and state banking regulators have given financial services company Fremont General Corp. 60 days to raise new capital or sell its banking subsidiary, the company said Friday. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the California Department of...

The ex-fund wizard took nearly $16,000 worth of tickets from brokers seeking business, regulators say. The contrite executive agrees to pay for the value of the gifts, plus interest. In a case that could sully the reputation of legendary Fidelity Investments fund manager Peter Lynch, regulators said Wednesday that he had improperly accepted almost $16,000 worth of free sports, concert and theater tickets from brokers seeking the mutual fund giant's business.

Exchange-traded funds that aren't tied to a stock or bond index could appeal to some investors, analysts say. Regulators on Wednesday gave broad approval to the first exchange-traded funds that would be actively managed instead of being tied to a stock or bond index.

Federal regulators on Monday approved a long-pending deal allowing News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch to swap his controlling interest in satellite broadcaster DirecTV Group Inc. for a larger stake in his own company.

A new incentive for lenders to refinance more mortgages is being considered by regulators who oversee the U.S. thrift industry, which suffered a record $5.2-billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2007 as the housing market deteriorated, the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision said Wednesday.

U.S. regulators said  they would review whether to take action over the popular cholesterol drug Vytorin after a study showed it was no better than a generic in preventing the build-up of fatty plaque.

Regulators have issued a public health alert for about 14,800 pounds of missing ground beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria.