Bruised AmEx Returns to Roots†

Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2009 — American Express Co., after outclassing its rivals for the past 50 years, is looking uncomfortably like just another credit-card company.

AmEx is reeling from late payments and defaults by customers it aggressively wooed before the U.S. economy tumbled into recession. Its sterling reputation for customer service is under attack from longtime clients. Even cardholders with plenty of money are putting away their plastic, pushing shares of the New York company to a 12-year low.

New Safety Setback Grounds Southwest Planes†

Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2008 — In another blow to Southwest Airlines Co.'s once-stellar reputation for safety and maintenance, the airline temporarily grounded 38 of its older jetliners yesterday after discovering that it was unable to determine whether an important safety inspection had been done properly.