Another key factor could be an increased consumer preference for debit cards, which let consumers enjoy similar loyalty and reward programs in addition to the convenience of making card payments without incurring interest expense on the outstanding balance.

FORBES: AmEx Looks Like A $47 Stock But Skinflint Consumers Could Keep Upside Capped

They raise cash and help to shrink GE's balance sheet--at the expense of GE's reputation for buying smart and making earnings grow.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

Although we believe that the University is taking steps to bring operations into balance, we believe these revenue-generating and expense containment measures will take time to be fully realized.

FORBES: More Colleges See Bonds Downgraded

Either they will simply buy their properties, since this will now change little on the balance-sheet, and may cost less than the expense that leasing would imply.

ECONOMIST: Commercial property: Lease hurt | The

But even states that appear to be gaining jobs on balance need to remember that these benefits are gained at the expense of poorer health among the near-poor who will be forced away from private coverage through exchanges onto the rolls of Medicaid.

FORBES: Will Medicaid Expansion Create Jobs?

For balance, we add the Schwab International Equity ETF ( SCHF), which has an expense ratio 0.15.

FORBES: Cheating The Random Walk

The gentleman banker's renaissance reflects a broader shift in the balance of power on Wall Street and in the City of London, principally at the expense of the traders.

ECONOMIST: Introducing the winners of 2009

The bulls argue that the balance of power in the global economy has shifted decisively in favour of capital, at the expense of labour.

ECONOMIST: Companies are buying back their own shares at a record rate