Expenses and Income Rise for American Express

American Express Co. reported Monday that its expenses rose 17% to $5.6 billion in expenses in its fourth quarter, including charges from layoffs.

The New York company last week announced that the closure of two of its customer service centers, in Madrid and Greensboro, N.C., would result in roughly $133 million in charges in the quarter.

"While we continue to retain the flexibility to scale back our investments as business conditions change, the progress we made during 2010 has put us in a strong competitive position for the next phase of the economic recovery," said Kenneth I. Chenault, Amex's chairman and chief executive, in a press release.

Indeed, Amex reported increases in both revenue and income during its fourth quarter, as the company earned cash from fees and increased spending.

Amex's net income was rose 48% to $1.1 billion from the same period a year ago. Its revenue rose 13% to $7.3 billion.

At the end of the day Monday, its stock price dropped 0.21% to $45.79.

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