Consumer Front: Company and Ups

consumer front: UPS UPS, 0.65% executives said that the company was more productive this year during the peak holiday season, and the shipping giant continues to benefit from investments in automation, according to Market Watch. Despite some geopolitical headwinds, e-commerce is providing all kinds of opportunities, according to Chief Executive David Abney. But the real test comes after the bell when juggernaut Amazon Inc. reports. The company's latest initiative on the consumer front is a partnership with Shop Runner, through which members of UPS's My Choice program will be eligible for two-day shipping through the service. The company struck a more upbeat tone than peer Visa Inc., which spooked investors with its outlook the prior afternoon. Mastercard MA, 1.25% admitted to recent declines in consumer confidence in several European countries, but the company powered through, posting an acceleration in dollar-volume growth. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.