Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood criticized a fledgling lobbying campaign on Wednesday which he said would undermine his work to limit drivers' use of cell phones and other electronic devices while behind the wheel. LaHood responded to a document prepared ... [full story]

Natural catastrophes caused record worldwide insured losses of $22 billion for the first half of the year, more than double the average for the period since 2000, Munich Reinsurance Co. said Wednesday. There were 440 catastrophic events through June, ... [full story]

Wells Fargo & Co., the U.S. bank with the largest branch network, eliminated free checking accounts for new customers as firms prepare for stricter consumer- protection measures. New basic checking accounts carry a $5 monthly fee as of July ... [full story]

Lower insurance and risk management administrative costs drove a 3.1% decrease in the 2009 average total cost of risk per $1,000 of revenue, according to survey data released Thursday by the Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc. The survey data compiled ... [full story]