NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2006--Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) will participate in Sanford C. Bernstein's Twenty-Second Annual Strategic Decisions Conference at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. On Wednesday, May 31, 2006, at approximately 10:00 a.m. (ET), Art Ryan, Prudential Financial, ... [full story]

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2006--According to a new Luxury Customer Experience Index survey (LCEI) from the New York-based Luxury Institute, USAA significantly outperformed its rivals in the Property and Casualty Insurance category. USAA was recently rated first as the life ... [full story]

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2006--Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive has unveiled several new, cost-effective co-branding tools - including print ad, news release, customer thank you/referral e-mail and commercial auto direct mail post card templates, as well as high-quality vinyl banners ... [full story]

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2006--Paladyne Systems, LLC today announced that it has licensed its PALADYNE(TM) product suite to Caledonian Fund Services, a global provider of fund administration services. Caledonian will use the front- and middle-office tools within the PALADYNE suite ... [full story]

CHICAGO, May 18 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday said he had become more convinced of the need to keep banking and commerce divided, but would not comment on Wal-Mart's bid to start limited banking activities. "This is ... [full story]

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) - Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG.N: Quote, Profile, Research), one of the biggest sellers of 401(k) retirement plans in the United States, on Thursday named Larry Zimpleman president and chief operating officer, effective June 1. The ... [full story]

NEW YORK & FRAMINGHAM, Mass. --(Business Wire)-- May 18, 2006 -- American Banker, SourceMedia's flagship publication for banking and financial services professionals, and Financial Insights, an independent research services firm and IDC Company, announced today the third annual FinTech rankings ... [full story]

A bill that would grant the Texas Railroad Commission title to carbon dioxide captured by the FutureGen project passed at the end of the Texas Legislature’s special session this week. Supporters of House Bill 149 say it gives Texas a major ... [full story]

NEW YORK, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporate America's acceptance of outsourcing non-core functions has benefited many U.S. and Indian companies, but the more attractive investment candidates are domiciled in the United States, according to Standard & Poor's Equity Research Services. ... [full story]

ZURICH, Switzerland -- Swiss insurance company Zurich Financial Services AG on Thursday reported a 1 percent increase in first-quarter net profit despite a heavy charge linked to bid-rigging settlements in the United States. Net profit for the three months ending March ... [full story]