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Companies are turning to the commercial paper market to reduce interest costs and prepare for potential rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Commercial paper, which has a short maturity, allows companies to quickly benefit from falling interest rates and can serve as a cheaper alternative to bank loans. Despite volatility in the market, corporate bond sales have remained strong. Issuance in the commercial paper market has increased since the initial economic shock caused by the pandemic. Companies are finding that the savings from commercial paper programs can outweigh the fixed costs, making it an attractive option. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the U.S. federal prosecutors' launch of a criminal investigation into the "Panama Papers" scandal involving the law firm Mossack Fonseca & Co. Topics discussed include the investigation into whether individuals at the law firm helped its clients launder money or evade taxes, the law firms' alleged creation of shell companies and offshore accounts for its clients, and the law firms' denial that it offered solutions whose purpose is to hide unlawful acts.

The article presents questions and answers about a California law which will allow supermarkets to charge for paper grocery bags and the implications of limiting competition.