THE WEEK THAT WAS...

Class-action rule is crushed

The Senate voted to kill a controversial rule that would have allowed Americans to file classaction suits against banks instead of being forced in many cases into private arbitration. The move by the Senate followed a similar action by the House in July to rescind the rule. President Trump is expected to sign the repeal legislation, providing a major victory for the f inancial industry.

Median price at $505,000

Southern California home prices in September tied an all-time high as the white-hot real estate market continued to surge and raise concerns over housing affordability. The median price for the sixcounty region soared nearly 10% from a year earlier to $505,000, data f irm CoreLogic said. That matches a price level reached in 2007 before the housing bubble burst.

CVS Health bids for Aetna

Health insurer Aetna, which stunned Connecticut when it said it would move its headquarters from Hartford earlier this year, may be purchased by CVS Health. According to reports, CVS has been in talks for the last six months to buy Aetna in what would be a blockbuster deal. CEO Mark T. Bertolini told employees in June that Aetna is in a “transformation into a health company.”

Harassment scandals grow

Sexual harassment accusations continue to roil the business world after the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Political journalist Mark Halperin lost his role at MSNBC and NBC News after a report alleging he harassed f ive women. “Today” host Megyn Kelly blasted her former employer, Fox News, over a $32-million settlement of a harassment claim against former host Bill O’Reilly.