Appeals court rules for American Express in fee dispute

NEW YORK — American Express did not violate antitrust laws by barring merchants from asking customers to use one credit card over another and steering consumers to another form of payment, a federal appeals court said Monday.

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said American Express seemed to get its market share based on its rewards programs and perceived prestige and “there is no reason to intervene and disturb the present functioning of the payment-card industry.”