GOOD DAY FOR: Learning from AIG, after Amsterdam-based financial giant ING, the recipient of a Dutch bailout, asked 1,200 employees to return their bonuses from last year. Other European banks, including UBS and Societe Generale, are also asking executives to return some of last year’s compensation. (Bloomberg)
BAD DAY FOR: Conspicuous consumption, after a new study from consultants Retail Forward and PricewaterhouseCoopers suggests that U.S. consumers will continue with their newfound frugality even after the economy picks up. “The habits learned during this economic crisis have the potential to permanently alter the mind-set of consumers,” the report said. (Reuters) Separately, luxury jeweler Tiffany reported a 75 percent drop in quarterly profit, to $31.1 million. (AP in Yahoo! Finance)
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