08876. AMERICAN EXPRESS'S NEW OPTIMA CARD: WILL IT SURVIVE THE NEW ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT? The investigation considers whether or not the release of the company's Optima credit card is a good decision for American Express, particularly with respect to the current economic and regulatory environment. Concludes that Amex is in a good position to expand into revolving charge cards now. 14 pages, 26 footnotes, 21 bibliographic sources.