NEW YORK—Slumping valuations for insurance companies may dampen merger and acquisition activity in 2012, according to a report released Thursday by PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. The report, “Balancing uncertainty and opportunity: 2012 U.S. financial services M&A insights,” says valuation gaps have ... [full story]

WASHINGTON (AP) – The individual insurance requirement that the Supreme Court is reviewing isn't the first federal mandate involving health care. There's a Medicare payroll tax on workers and employers, for example, and a requirement that hospitals provide free ... [full story]