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AmEx Deal Upset: Sometimes even "burn after reading" instructions aren't enough to cover up improper behavior. A federal judge threw out the proposed $79 million antitrust settlement between American Express and merchants Tuesday, finding that negotiations were "fatally tainted" when lawyers from opposing sides shared confidential documents. That's a big win for merchants hoping to reach an alternative deal that will give them more leeway in passing the cost of interchange fees...

Companies loaded down with cheap debt could be in for a tough time refinancing it in coming years, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service.

It's been nearly a century since reformers and lenders agreed on 36% as a small-dollar loan ceiling. Inflation has since swelled production costs, and lending under this cap is no longer profitable. The result: fewer options for consumers.

Puerto Rico missed most of a $58 million bond payment Monday, marking the first default by the U.S. commonwealth and escalating its attempt to restructure about $72 billion in debt, The Wall Street Journal reported. The payment to bondholders is the first skipped since Gov. Alejandro García Padilla in June said the island’s debts were unsustainable and urged negotiations with creditors, which range from individuals to hedge funds.