By Martin Crutsinger
The Federal Reserve announced Thursday that it was expanding a major lending program to provide support for businesses struggling to cope with the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fed said that it was expanding the scope and eligibility of its Main Street Lending Program which is designed to provide up to $600 billion in loans to small and mid-size businesses that have been harmed by the pandemic and the efforts to contain it.
The Fed said it was allowing businesses with up to 15,000 employees and $5 billion in annual revenues to qualify for loans. That is up from earlier limit of 10,000 employees and $2.5 billion in revenue.
The minimum loan size is being reduced to $500,000, down from an original minimum loan size of $1 million.
This support program, one of many the Fed has unveiled over the past two months, is designed to provide businesses with loans of up to four years from banks at below-market interest rates. Unlike a separate program being run by the Small Business Administration, the loans from the Fed must be repaid but payments can be deferred for one year.
The federal government is fining American Airlines $4.1 million for dozens of instances in which passengers were kept on board planes without a chance to exit during long ground delays.
Heather Barnett, editor with Money Crashers, joined Cheddar News to discuss ways to cut down costs when living alone and what apps to use to stay on budget.
Sean Burgess, chief claims officer with Lemonade, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to handle finances and expenses with roommates and which apps are best to use when doing so.
Tesla is defending itself in the first trial against its autopilot assistance feature.
3M has reportedly reached a tentative agreement to pay over $5.5 billion in a settlement from a lawsuit that claimed it sold defective combat earplugs.
Spirit Airlines will pay up to $8.3 million in a class action lawsuit over hidden fees.
Flights in the UK experienced delays after technical issues.
Robotics company Switchbot is working on a new product that helps vacuum and mop.
Instacart filed for an initial public offering to trade on Nasdaq.
Shein and the owner of Forever 21 struck a strategic partnership that could have an impact on the fast fashion world.
