Financials

Cash-laden companies are on a mergers and acquisitions spree

Businesses spent $1.74 trillion on mergers and acquisitions involving U.S. companies during the first six months of the year—the highest amount in more than four decades—as finance chiefs tapped into cheap funding options to acquire technologies, services and other assets.

Venmo raising and adding fees

Venmo will soon be adding fees for some previously-free services and hiking existing fees on others, the mobile transaction service informed its customers.

HSBC to sell US retail bank branches

HSBC Holdings PLC will exit from its U.S. retail and small-business banking operations as the bank shifts its focus to wealth management and international banking, especially in Asia.