By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Democratic presidential hopefuls descended on New Hampshire prior to the state’s Feb. 11 primary, John Tackeff was busy.The 27-year-old attended candidate events across the state to raise concerns about a proposed tax on Wall Street financial transactions that much of the field supported. Bespectacled, unshaven and casually dressed, Tackeff wasn’t shy about asking questions.At a Dec. 22 gathering with former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Tackeff introduced a woman he said was his mother. Reuters could not verify her identity. Any tax on stock and bond...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Democratic presidential hopefuls descended on New Hampshire prior to the state’s Feb. 11 primary, John Tackeff was busy.The 27-year-old attended candidate events across the state to raise concerns about a proposed tax on Wall Street financial transactions that much of the field supported. Bespectacled, unshaven and casually dressed, Tackeff wasn’t shy about asking questions.At a Dec. 22 gathering with former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Tackeff introduced a woman he said was his mother. Reuters could not verify her identity. Any tax on stock and bond...WW…

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Bots on major social media platforms have been hyping up GameStop and other “meme” stocks, according to an analysis by Massachusetts-based cyber security company PiiQ Media, suggesting organized economic or foreign actors may have played a role in the Reddit-driven trading frenzy.Shares in GameStop soared last month after Reddit users banded together to squeeze hedge funds that had bet against the video game retailer and other companies. Reddit Chief Executive Steve Huffman told Congress this month that...…Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Bots on major social media platforms have been hyping up GameStop and other “meme” stocks, according to an analysis by Massachusetts-based cyber security company PiiQ Media, suggesting organized economic or foreign actors may have played a role in the Reddit-driven trading frenzy.Shares in GameStop soared last month after Reddit users banded together to squeeze hedge funds that had bet against the video game retailer and other companies. Reddit Chief Executive Steve Huffman told Congress this month that...WW…

By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House announced President Joe Biden would appoint Dave Uejio to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on an acting basis after its director, Kathy Kraninger, resigned at the new administration’s request.Slideshow Uejio, whose appointment was announced late Wednesday, will run the watchdog agency pending Senate confirmation of Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra as its permanent director.Uejio is a nine-year CFPB veteran and was most recently its chief strategy officer, according to his LinkedIn profile.Kraninger, who was appointed...…By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House announced President Joe Biden would appoint Dave Uejio to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on an acting basis after its director, Kathy Kraninger, resigned at the new administration’s request.Slideshow Uejio, whose appointment was announced late Wednesday, will run the watchdog agency pending Senate confirmation of Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra as its permanent director.Uejio is a nine-year CFPB veteran and was most recently its chief strategy officer, according to his LinkedIn profile.Kraninger, who was appointed...WW…

By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House announced President Joe Biden would appoint Dave Uejio to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on an acting basis after its director, Kathy Kraninger, resigned at the new administration’s request.Slideshow Uejio, whose appointment was announced late Wednesday, will run the watchdog agency pending Senate confirmation of Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra as its permanent director.Uejio is a nine-year CFPB veteran and was most recently its chief strategy officer, according to his LinkedIn profile.Kraninger, who was appointed...…By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House announced President Joe Biden would appoint Dave Uejio to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on an acting basis after its director, Kathy Kraninger, resigned at the new administration’s request.Slideshow Uejio, whose appointment was announced late Wednesday, will run the watchdog agency pending Senate confirmation of Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra as its permanent director.Uejio is a nine-year CFPB veteran and was most recently its chief strategy officer, according to his LinkedIn profile.Kraninger, who was appointed...WW…

By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Wall Street may be facing an uncomfortable four years after President-elect Joe Biden’s team confirmed on Monday it planned to nominate two consumer champions to lead top financial agencies, signaling a tougher stance on the industry than many had anticipated.Slideshow Gary Gensler will serve as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra will head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Progressives see the agencies as critical to advancing policy priorities on climate change and social...…By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Wall Street may be facing an uncomfortable four years after President-elect Joe Biden’s team confirmed on Monday it planned to nominate two consumer champions to lead top financial agencies, signaling a tougher stance on the industry than many had anticipated.Slideshow Gary Gensler will serve as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra will head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Progressives see the agencies as critical to advancing policy priorities on climate change and social...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Monday was set to re-open its signature small business pandemic aid program with $284 billion in new funds and revamped rules that aim to get cash to the most needy businesses while stamping out fraud and abuse.The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Friday that it would launch a third round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) this week, starting with small community financial institutions on Monday, and larger lenders in coming days.By prioritizing smaller lenders, the SBA hopes to address criticism from lawmakers that...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Monday was set to re-open its signature small business pandemic aid program with $284 billion in new funds and revamped rules that aim to get cash to the most needy businesses while stamping out fraud and abuse.The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Friday that it would launch a third round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) this week, starting with small community financial institutions on Monday, and larger lenders in coming days.By prioritizing smaller lenders, the SBA hopes to address criticism from lawmakers that...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is introducing new “robust safeguards” when the third round of the country’s main small business pandemic aid program launches on Monday after fraudsters and ineligible companies claimed cash last year, administration officials said on Friday.The Small Business Administration (SBA) will kick off the third round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on Monday, opening initially to community financial institutions and to all lenders shortly thereafter, the officials said during a media briefing.In contrast to the program’s previous two rounds...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is introducing new “robust safeguards” when the third round of the country’s main small business pandemic aid program launches on Monday after fraudsters and ineligible companies claimed cash last year, administration officials said on Friday.The Small Business Administration (SBA) will kick off the third round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on Monday, opening initially to community financial institutions and to all lenders shortly thereafter, the officials said during a media briefing.In contrast to the program’s previous two rounds...WW…

By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Friday it had fined restaurant chain The Cheesecake Factory $125,000 to settle charges that it misled investors about the impact of the pandemic on its business, the first such case brought by the regulator.In March 23 and April 3 regulatory filings, the company said its restaurants were “operating sustainably” when in fact internal documents showed it was losing approximately $6 million per week due to pandemic lockdowns and had only about 16 weeks’ of cash remaining, the SEC said.Although the company did not...…By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Friday it had fined restaurant chain The Cheesecake Factory $125,000 to settle charges that it misled investors about the impact of the pandemic on its business, the first such case brought by the regulator.In March 23 and April 3 regulatory filings, the company said its restaurants were “operating sustainably” when in fact internal documents showed it was losing approximately $6 million per week due to pandemic lockdowns and had only about 16 weeks’ of cash remaining, the SEC said.Although the company did not...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden tapped finance, trade, and banking regulatory experts for his transition team that ranged from core Democrats to progressive activists, reflecting ongoing debate within the party about how to address economic issues from wealth inequality to climate change.Biden's "agency transition teams," named in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, are tasked with liaising with the outgoing Donald Trump administration for a smooth transition.The names on the list will not necessarily join the new administration, although some may. They “reflect the...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden tapped finance, trade, and banking regulatory experts for his transition team that ranged from core Democrats to progressive activists, reflecting ongoing debate within the party about how to address economic issues from wealth inequality to climate change.Biden's "agency transition teams," named in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, are tasked with liaising with the outgoing Donald Trump administration for a smooth transition.The names on the list will not necessarily join the new administration, although some may. They “reflect the...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden tapped finance, trade, and banking regulatory experts for his transition team that ranged from core Democrats to progressive activists, reflecting ongoing debate within the party about how to address economic issues from wealth inequality to climate change.Biden's "agency transition teams," named in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, are tasked with liaising with the outgoing Donald Trump administration for a smooth transition.The names on the list will not necessarily join the new administration, although some may. They “reflect the...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden tapped finance, trade, and banking regulatory experts for his transition team that ranged from core Democrats to progressive activists, reflecting ongoing debate within the party about how to address economic issues from wealth inequality to climate change.Biden's "agency transition teams," named in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, are tasked with liaising with the outgoing Donald Trump administration for a smooth transition.The names on the list will not necessarily join the new administration, although some may. They “reflect the...WW…