SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The country's financial regulator has expressed a negative view on a parliamentary move to stiffen rules for private money lenders, which could further stifle those who are denied access to loans by banks and other institutions due to low credit, sources said Wednesday. Under the bill pushed by the parliament, a money lender is required to have an net asset worth 100 million won (US$89,903) or above. Those with assets worth more than 1 billion won will be included in the Financial Supervisory Service's inspection list.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Americans got better about paying their credit card debt on time in the first three months of the year, a period when many borrowers use income tax returns to tackle their holiday season debt. The rate of credit card payments at least 90 days overdue fell to 0.69 per cent in the first quarter from 0.85 per cent a year earlier — drop of nearly 19 per cent, credit reporting agency TransUnion said Tuesday.

(Reuters) - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB) expanded its probe into the car loan industry by issuing subpoenas to auto lenders over the sale of financial products like extended warranties, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the investigation.

The Philippines received its second investment grade credit rating on Thursday with Standard and Poor's following Fitch in giving an upbeat assessment of the Southeast Asian country's economy. S&P said the outlook on the Philippines was stable, and raised its rating to BBB- from BB+. "The upgrade on the Philippines reflects a strengthening external profile, moderating inflation and the government's reliance on foreign currency debt," S&P credit analyst Agost Benard said in a statement.