Seeking Alpha
Seeking Alpha Portfolio App for iPad
Finance
(1)
Market Currents

The settlement between merchants and credit card firms isn't only a win for merchants, as...

  • Monday, July 16, 2012, 2:13 PM ET
    The settlement between merchants and credit card firms isn't only a win for merchants, as Deutsche Bank's Bryan Keane argues it's also time for investors to "aggressively buy" Visa (V +2%) and MasterCard (MA +2%): "The agreement does nothing to increase competition (e.g., freedom of routing) or damage the networks’ dominant positions... a big risk [is] removed."
Track new comments on this story

This news story has 3 comments:

  • Wrong, this is not a win for merchants.

    This is a lose-lose settlement. Smarter customers will refuse to get gouged the extra fees and simply resort to cash, check or debit cards. The interest-free, month-long loan was nice but not required since either way the purchase needs to be paid for.

    And because consumers are paying up-front they will be more conscious of how much they're spending which means they'll spend less. Thus, there will be less use of credit cards and fewer goods will be sold.
    16 Jul 2012, 02:27 PM Reply Like
  • The final outcome is still not settled. At most, merchants can pass on the direct costs of the swipe fees and no more than that.

    In addition, several states have laws on the books outlawing surcharges on customers who use CCs so this whole agreement may be dead in the water when it comes time to implement it.
    16 Jul 2012, 02:32 PM Reply Like
  • you forgot the most important person - the poor consumer

    fees fees fees, taxes taxes taxes
    16 Jul 2012, 02:42 PM Reply Like
Other date
DJIA (DIA) S&P 500 (SPY)