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☆ Here’s what to expect as the Supreme Court enters the final stretch
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The Supreme Court is turning toward the final, frenzied weeks of its term, readying potential blockbuster decisions on abortion, guns and former President Donald Trump’s claims of absolute immunity. Trump claims ‘absolute’ immunityTrump’s appeal for immunity from special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion charges landed at the Supreme Court late in the term and instantly overshadowed most of the docket. The Supreme Court then put that ruling on hold last year, maintaining the status quo while it decided the case. Government regulation of FacebookThe Supreme Court is confronting a series of cases at the intersection of the First Amendment and social media. The Republican governors who signed the laws said they were needed to keep the social media platforms from discriminating against conservatives.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, –, Roe, Samuel Alito, Trump, Jack Smith’s, Biden, Wade, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Kacsmaryk, Joseph Fischer, ”, Joe Biden’s, Zackey Rahimi, Bruen, Moody, Washington, Raimondo Organizations: CNN, Wade, Conservative, Supreme, White, Trump ., Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Alliance for Hippocratic, US, Pennsylvania, Capitol, Trump, Prosecutors, New York, Rahimi, Facebook, Florida, Biden, Republican, Atlantic, of Commerce, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, Conservatives, Bright Enterprises, . Department of Commerce Locations: Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, Idaho, Moyle v, Amarillo , Texas, ”, Texas, New, Louisiana, Florida, Atlanta, New Orleans, Paxton, – Missouri, . Missouri

☆ Austin expresses 'concern' over China's activities in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC witnessed the two delegations walking out of the meeting venue, but neither Dong nor Austin responded to reporters' questions. According to a readout from the Pentagon, Austin said that the U.S. remains committed to its "one China" policy. He also added that more communication is necessary and will help to stabilize the military to military relations. The Pentagon readout mentioned Austin and Dong discussed North Korea's provocations, such as its contributions to Russia's war in Ukraine. Friday's meeting follows a video teleconference call between Austin and Dong in April.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, Dong, Austin, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wu Qian, Wu, CNBC's Lin Lin Organizations: Defense, SINGAPORE — U.S . Defense, CNBC, Pentagon, U.S, U.S . Department of Defense, PRC Locations: Singapore, Taiwan, SINGAPORE, China, U.S, Ukraine, Gaza, Austin

☆ Former U.S. Agriculture Official Says Menendez Told Him to ‘Stop Interfering’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In May 2019, a top official in the U.S. Department of Agriculture got a call on his cellphone from Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. The conversation was brief, the senator was curt, and the message was clear: “Stop interfering with my constituent.”Ted A. McKinney, then the under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, testified about the exchange on Friday during the third week of Mr. Menendez’s bribery trial in Federal District Court in Manhattan. It was the first time that jurors had heard directly from a witness who attributed conduct to the senator that is central to the government’s claim in an indictment that alleges a sprawling bribery conspiracy: that Mr. Menendez was willing to flex his political muscle to win favorable treatment for allies.

Persons: Robert Menendez, curt, ” Ted A, McKinney, Menendez Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Robert Menendez of New, Federal, Court Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan

☆ IRS free tax filing program to be available nationwide starting in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on May 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. The IRS will expand Direct File, its free tax filing program, nationwide starting in 2025, the agency and the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Thursday. "The Treasury Department and IRS look forward to working with states to expand Direct File to Americans across the country." Direct File was available to limited taxpayers in 12 states during the 2024 filing season. More than 140,000 users successfully filed returns using Direct File and the pilot saved an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees, the agencies announced in April.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Janet Yellen Organizations: IRS, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Treasury Department Locations: Washington ,

☆ DOJ charges Chinese national with operating 'world's largest botnet' that stole $5.9 billion in Covid relief funds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said it is "likely the world's largest botnet ever." The botnet hacked into over 19 million IP addresses in nearly 200 countries, the DOJ announcement said. In particular, the botnet targeted Covid relief programs and filed an estimated 560,000 false unemployment insurance claims, stealing $5.9 billion. The DOJ partnered with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies internationally to dismantle the botnet and arrest Wang. The charges come as U.S. law enforcement agencies try to update protocols to keep up with more sophisticated cybersecurity threats.

Persons: Wang, Christopher Wray, S, Axelrod, they're, Wray Organizations: US Department of Justice, Department of Justice, DOJ, Federal Bureau of, FBI, Export Enforcement, U.S . Department of Commerce's, of Industry, Security, Treasury Department, Treasury, Code, Tulip Biz, Company, Lily Suites Company Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, China

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Dow sinks 600 points, Nvidia soars
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Dow sinks 600 pointsThe Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its worst day of the year, dropping over 600 points on Thursday. Nvidia's blockbuster earnings and guidance failed to prop up markets, with more than 400 stocks on the S&P 500 trading lower. Nvidia popsShares of Nvidia soared as much as 11% after the AI chipmaker's earnings that beat Wall Street's estimates. Wall Street analysts are revising their price targets for Nvidia upwards after its blowout earnings and guidance.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Dow, Musk, Elon Musk, he's, Joe Biden, Tesla, Karen Tso, Brian West, General Merrick Garland Organizations: SAP Center, CNBC, Dow Jones, Boeing, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, Nvidia, U.S . Department of Justice, Ticketmaster, Wall, Microsoft Locations: San Jose , California, China

Beef tissue from a sick dairy cow has tested positive for the bird flu virus, federal officials said on Friday. The department continued to stress that the commercial food supply remained safe. But the positive test, which came as part of an ongoing federal study of beef safety, raises concerns about whether the virus might make its way into the commercial beef supply, posing a health risk to humans. Just one cow tested positive, the department said. Meat from condemned cows is not allowed in the commercial food supply.

Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Service

☆ A 20% down payment is 'definitely not required' to buy a house, economist says. Here's how much you need
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Phynart Studio | E+ | Getty Images'The conundrum of the housing market'One way to reduce your monthly mortgage payment is to put down more money and borrow less. Nationally, the average down payment on a house is closer to 10% or 15%, Hale said. Even with a conventional loan, buyers' required down payment could be between 3% and 5%, depending on their credit score and other factors. While a lower down payment is one way to "attack affordability challenges," it can be a "mixed bag," Hamrick said. With a lower down payment, you will need to borrow more from your lender, which raises the monthly cost of your mortgage, Hale said.

Persons: Hale, there's, Hamrick Organizations: CNBC, SurveyMonkey, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration, PMI Locations: U.S

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing to break up Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, over alleged antitrust violations. "The DOJ's complaint attempts to portray Live Nation and Ticketmaster as the cause of fan frustration with the live entertainment industry. Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010, creating a dominant entity in the live event industry. Through Ticketmaster, Live Nation controls roughly 80% or more of major concert venues' primary ticketing for concerts, the complaint said. Live Nation earlier this month reported its "biggest Q1 ever," citing first-quarter revenue that was up 21% from the prior-year period.

Persons: Taylor, General Merrick Garland, Dan Wall, Taylor Swift Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, Ticketmaster, DOJ, The Justice Department, Southern, of, Oak View, Nation, Live Locations: United States, North America, U.S, of New York

☆ Microsoft’s UAE deal could reportedly involve transfer of key U.S. chips and AI technology abroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. officials have said that AI systems could pose national security risks, for example by making it easier to engineer chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The Biden administration in October required the makers of the largest AI systems to share details about them with the U.S. government. Microsoft executives said the agreement has safeguards to protect Microsoft's technology and prevent it from being used by Chinese entities to train AI systems. The Commerce Department already requires notifications and, in several regions, export licenses to send AI chips abroad. Microsoft executives said the company welcomes a debate on a new legal framework governing the transfer of AI technology and that the deal with G42 requires the UAE firm to comply with U.S. regulations as they evolve.

Persons: Brad Smith, Smith, Biden, Michael McCaul, we're Organizations: Microsoft, United Arab, Reuters, U.S ., U.S . Department of Commerce, U.S . House, Commerce Department Locations: Madrid, Spain, United Arab Emirates, U.S, UAE

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Nvidia, Boeing, Live Nation Entertainment and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nvidia — The chipmaker and artificial intelligence beneficiary spiked 11% after Nvidia posted strong fiscal first-quarter results , issued better-than-expected guidance and announced a 10-for-1 stock split. Live Nation Entertainment — Shares dropped 7% after the U.S. Department of Justice sued to break up the parent company of Ticketmaster, alleging antitrust violations . The cosmetics maker posted fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 53 cents per share on revenues of $321.1 million. Snowflake had posted $829 million in revenue, surpassing the consensus forecast of $786 million, per LSEG. Adjusted earnings for the period came in at 14 cents a share, however, falling short of analysts' consensus estimate by 4 cents.

Persons: Brian West, LSEG, LiveRamp, GoodRx, Snowflake, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, — CNBC's Michelle Fox, Pia Singh Organizations: Nvidia, Micro Computer, Boeing —, Boeing, U.S . Department of Justice, Ticketmaster, RBC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Taiwan Semiconductor, Machinery, Titan Machinery, Triumph, JPMorgan, Corp, LSEG, Revenue

☆ Norfolk Southern agrees to $310 million federal settlement over Ohio train derailment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Sean Conlon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Officials continue to conduct operation and inspect the area after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, United States on February 17, 2023. Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $310 million to settle charges over a toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, the company announced on Thursday. The majority of the settlement is an estimated $235 million to cover all past and future cleanup costs. Per the agreement, the company will also pay a $15 million civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. "We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the community's future for the long-haul."

Persons: Alan Shaw Organizations: Norfolk Southern, EPA, U.S . Department of Justice, Norfolk Locations: East Palestine , Ohio, United States, Norfolk Southern

☆ A Microsoft under attack from government and tech rivals after 'preventable' hack ties executive pay to cyberthreats
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The decision by Microsoft to link executive compensation to successful cybersecurity performance is another is prompting discussions at other firms. One change the tech giant is making in response: linking executive compensation more closely to cybersecurity. In recent years, many Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, have added bonus pay tied to ESG metrics. The conversations about cybersecurity-linked executive pay have started taking place at other companies since Microsoft made its move, according to Aalap Shah, managing director at executive compensation consultant Pearl Meyer. Madnick's research shows that gaps in corporate culture are often culprits in high-profile hacks, not just the Microsoft example.

Persons: Brad Smith, Charlie Bell, Aalap Shah, Pearl Meyer, It's, I've, Shah, —, Stuart Madnick, Madnick, Ryan Kalember, unavoidability, Jen, Kalember, ransomware, Mike Doonan, Doonan Organizations: Microsoft, U.S, Hill, Google, U.S . Department of Homeland, Initiative, Microsoft Security, Team, Companies, Fortune, Apple, MIT, Infrastructure Security Agency, CNBC, Technology, State Department Locations: China, Russia, cybersecurity, U.S

☆ JetBlue, British Airways seek partnership to expand networks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

JetBlue Airways said Wednesday that it is seeking U.S. Department of Transportation approval to pair up with British Airways so the airlines could each expand their networks. The code-sharing agreement includes 75 destinations in the United States — 39 from New York and 36 from Boston — and 17 cities in Europe. Airlines frequently turn to code-sharing agreements, which allow carries to sell seats on airline partner's flights, to grow in regions outside their network. American Airlines also has a more than decade-old joint venture with British Airways across the Atlantic that is more involved than a code-sharing agreement. JetBlue's request for an agreement with British Airways comes a year after a federal judge struck down JetBlue's partnership with American in the U.S Northeast, which sought to allow the carriers to coordinate schedules and routes.

Persons: British Airways didn't Organizations: JetBlue Airbus A321neo, AMS EHAM, JetBlue Airways, U.S, Department of, British Airways, Boston —, Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, United, Delta Air Lines, Paxex Aero, U.S . American, American Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, United States, New York, Europe, Paris, Dublin, Edinburgh, U.S

☆ Biden administration to forgive $7.7 billion in student debt for more than 160,000 borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks regarding student loan debt forgiveness in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Wednesday August 24, 2022. The Biden administration said on Wednesday that it would forgive $7.7 billion in student loans for more than 160,000 borrowers, its latest effort to reduce the burden of education debt on households. "The Biden-Harris Administration remains persistent about our efforts to bring student debt relief to millions more across the country," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement. Wednesday's loan forgiveness includes $5.2 billion for 66,900 borrowers pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and $1.9 billion for 39,200 people enrolled in income-driven repayment plans. That option leads to student loan forgiveness after 10 years for those who originally borrowed $12,000 or less.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Harris, Miguel Cardona Organizations: White, U.S . Department, Public, Biden, Harris Administration, Valuable Education

☆ Here's how to buy renewable energy from your electric utility
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In the voluntary market, customers buy renewable energy in amounts that exceed states' minimum requirements from utility companies. Customers in these programs — also known as utility green power programs — pay their utility a "small premium" to get electricity from renewable sources, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Green power marketing programs Consumers in some states can also opt into "green power marketing programs." watch nowGreen energy programs instead rely on "renewable energy certificates," or RECs. It's a way to provide extra funding to a renewable energy project, typically sold by a broker or marketer rather than a utility, Sumner said.

Persons: Mark Felix, Jordan Vonderhaar, Jenny Sumner, It's, Joe Raedle, Loren Elliott, —, Sumner, Valerie Macon, Joydeep Mitra, Mitra Organizations: Afp, Getty, U.S . Energy Information Administration, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, Roadrunner, Bloomberg, U.S . Department of Energy, Getty Images, U.S . Energy Department, Yale University's, EPA, Michigan State University Locations: Dawson , Texas, U.S, McCamey , Texas, Solano County , California, California , Connecticut, Delaware , Illinois, Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts, Michigan , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island , Texas, Virginia, California, Imperial , California

☆ We're in the era of heat pumps — a market that experts say is 'set to skyrocket'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

This old technology getting some fresh attention is a trend investors may not want to miss: Heat pumps. Heat pumps provide both air conditioning and heat — all in one device. Heat pumps could play a viable role in this regard," Muhedini said in a research note last week. The DOE also runs a Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge , which is partnered with Trane, Carrier, and Johnson Controls, among other leading heat pump makers. In the chemicals sector, companies that produce more eco-friendly refrigerants for heat pumps could one day reap the benefits of recent legislation in the U.S. that will ban next year the production of heat pumps that use refrigerants with high levels of global warming potential.

Persons: hasn't, They're, William Thompson, Amantia, Muhedini, Thompson, Johnson, Jefferies, Stephen Volkmann, Trane, Andrew Kaplowitz, Deane Dray, Dray, Lennox, Owens, It's, they've, Nestle Organizations: UBS, McKinsey, Barclays, United Nations, UN, International Energy Agency, Johnson Controls, Carrier, Solutions, Citi, Wednesday, U.S . Department, DOE, Trane, RBC Capital, Johnson, Companies, Rockwell Automation, Honeywell International, Arkema, Unilever Locations: industrials, U.S, Paris, Trane, Monday's, Spain, Switzerland

☆ As their customers age, Macy's, Kohl's and Nordstrom are chasing younger shoppers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In this article JWNKSSM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTSignage of Macy's, Kohl's and Nordstrom retail stores. Department stores like Macy's , Kohl's and Nordstrom face an existential crisis, as they try to persuade investors to bet on their futures while sales slow and their core customers age. Melissa Repko | CNBCTo attract younger shoppers, Kohl's is adding trendier clothing for teens, opening more Sephora shops and bulking up its baby department. At the same time, Macy's is trying to go where younger shoppers are, including suburban strip malls and beauty aisles. The company plans to open up to 30 of its smaller off-mall Macy's stores over the next two years.

Persons: hasn't, Nordstrom, Oliver Chen, Cowen, Chen, Kohl's, Melissa Repko, Tom Kingsbury, Maxx, Kingsbury, Macy's, It's, Tony Spring, He's, TD Cowen's Chen, Scott Olson Organizations: Nordstrom, Getty Images Department, Department, Wall, Baby Boomers, Boomers, CNBC, Target, Costco, Getty Locations: Kohl's, Macy's, Sephora, Bluemercury, Bloomie's, Zara, Chicago , Illinois

☆ As student loan forgiveness nears $160 billion, here's what to know about the relief programs
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Joe Biden announces student loan relief with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (R) on August 24, 2022 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration fixes to the country's $1.6 trillion student loan system have resulted in regular announcements to forgive large shares of that debt. In total, the U.S. Department of Education has canceled almost $160 billion in federal student loan debt for nearly 4.6 million borrowers while President Joe Biden has been in office. Here what to know about the aid programs that have led to that relief. Income-driven repayment plansPublic Service Loan ForgivenessNavigating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has been famously difficult.

Persons: Joe Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Olivier Douliery, Biden, George W, Bush, Federal Perkins Organizations: Education Secretary, White, AFP, Getty, U.S . Department of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Family Education, Federal, Federal Perkins Loans, Education Department Locations: Washington ,

☆ One-third of single-family homes for sale are newly built, report finds. Here's what buyers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While new builds are still sold for slightly more than existing homes, the price gap has significantly narrowed. Over the last six months, the median price for a new home is only about 4% higher than the median price of an existing house. Reducing the square footage of your home can help reduce construction costs as well as utility and maintenance costs down the line. Keep construction costs down: Major factors like lumber and labor costs significantly impact the cost of a new house. And depending on the kinds of materials you add to the house, builders are "adding up the tab," Veronica Fuentes, a wealth management advisor based in Washington, D.C., previously told CNBC.

Persons: Alistair Berg, Digitalvision, Nicole Bachaud, Dietz, Matthew Walsh, Walsh, homebuilders, Veronica Fuentes Organizations: Getty, Zillow Group, CNBC, U.S . Census, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban, Moody's, Washington , D.C Locations: U.S, Washington ,

☆ Frontier Airlines does away with change fees in budget airline pricing overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Frontier Airlines said it will stop charging customers a fee to change their flights, taking a page from larger competitors as the Biden administration issues stricter rules targeting so-called "junk fees." Frontier currently charges up to $99 to change flights if the change is made within a week of the trip, according to the airline's website. Larger rivals Delta , American and United scrapped change fees during the Covid-19 pandemic for travelers who were booked in standard economy class and above. "The truth is the big four all have no change fees on the majority of their products, so we were not as desirable," Biffle said. He said change fees were a "top complaint" of travelers.

Persons: Biden, Barry Biffle, Biffle Organizations: Frontier Airlines, CNBC, U.S . Department of Transportation, Frontier, Delta, United, Southwest Airlines

☆ Refinancing student debt is risky amid Biden forgiveness push. Borrowers 'forever lose access' to safety nets, advocates say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

(For example, federal student loan borrowers can pause their payments if they become unemployed, return to school or get cancer.) But advocates have fresh warnings now as the Biden administration reforms the federal student loan system. Millions more federal student loan borrowers could receive debt forgiveness in the coming months if Biden's revised relief package survives legal challenges this time. PSLF allows certain not-for-profit and government employees to have their federal student loans cleared after 10 years of on-time payments. (The rates on federal student loans for the 2024-2025 academic year will range from roughly 6.5% to 9%.)

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Biden's, who've, PSLF, I've, they'd refinanced, —, Yu, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Education Department, Public, Art Institute, Art, Education Management Corp, Valuable Education Locations: Mayotte, Iowa , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania

☆ Biden administration extends key deadline for student loan forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Department of Education is giving borrowers more time to meet a key student loan forgiveness deadline. "The Department is working swiftly to ensure borrowers get credit for every month they've rightfully earned toward forgiveness," U.S. Borrowers pursuing the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness program can also receive additional credit from the payment count adjustment, as long as they certify their qualifying employment for those months. The payment count adjustment is an attempt to rectify longstanding issues for student loan borrowers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also found borrowers were needlessly steered into expensive forbearances, during which interest accrues and credit toward forgiveness is paused.

Persons: —, Biden, Education James Kvaal, weren't Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Education, Finance, Public, Government, Office, Consumer Financial Locations: U.S, deferments

☆ A 20% home down payment isn't 'the law of the land,' analyst says. Here's how much people are paying
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tetra Images | Tetra Images | Getty ImagesPutting 20% down is 'definitely not required'One way to reduce your monthly mortgage payment is by putting down more money and borrowing less. But for many households, trying to get a higher down payment can be challenging, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. While a lower down payment is one way to "attack affordability challenges," it can be a "mixed bag," Hamrick said. With a lower down payment, you will need to borrow more from your lender, which raises the monthly cost of your mortgage, Hale said. A smaller down payment can also mean you don't qualify for a lender's best -available interest rate.

Persons: Danielle Hale, there's, SurveyMonkey, Hale, It's, Hamrick Organizations: CNBC, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Association Locations: U.S

☆ Education Dept. announces highest federal student loan interest rate in more than a decade
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday the interest rates on federal student loans for the 2024-2025 academic year. The interest rate on federal direct undergraduate loans will be 6.53%. For graduate students, loans will come with an 8.08% interest rate, compared with the current 7.05%. Plus loans for graduate students and parents will have a 9.08% interest rate, an increase from 8.05% now. The rise in interest rates could complicate the Biden administration's efforts to get the student loan crisis under control and relieve borrowers of the pain of interest accrual, experts say.

Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz Organizations: US Department of Education, Washington , D.C, U.S . Department of Education, Biden Locations: Washington ,

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