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☆ Bitcoin tumbles as risk assets plunge in global market rout
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Kelly Cloonan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bitcoin dropped on Monday amid the global market meltdown. Crypto has not been spared the carnage as traders eye a growing risk of a US recession. The sell-off in crypto comes as risk assets plunge in a global market rout caused by worries over the state of the US economy. Some market observers have said that the historic market rout could prompt an emergency rate cut from the central bank in the next week. Japan's Nikkei 225 index dropped 12% early Monday in its worst single-day decline since 1987, and markets in South Korea and Europe also plunged.

Persons: Bitcoin, Crypto, —, Gracy Chen Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Fed, Japan's Nikkei, Bank of America Locations: South Korea, Europe

☆ Back to school hauls follows TikTok's underconsumption core trend
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Customer shopping for school supplies with employee restocking shelves, Target store, Queens, New York. Altogether, this year's back-to-school spending, including for college students, is expected to reach $38.8 billion, the NRF also found. Higher prices are partly to blame: Families are now paying more for key back-to-school essentials like backpacks ahead of the new school year. The must have items of the back-to-school season"Back-to-school hauls have started infiltrating TikTok earlier than I've ever seen it," said Casey Lewis, a social media trend expert and founder of trend newsletter After School. How to keep back-to-school spending in check

Persons: Lindsey Nicholson, Happe, WalletHub, I've, Casey Lewis, Lewis Organizations: UCG, Intuit Credit Karma, CNBC, Deloitte, Adidas Locations: Queens , New York

As the Fed lowers rates this year, mortgage rates are expected to go down. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates were 5.99% this week, according to Freddie Mac data, which is an eight-basis-point decrease from the previous week. Now that the Fed has paused hiking rates, mortgage rates have come down a bit. Once the Fed starts cutting rates, which may happen this year, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: —, Freddie Mac Organizations: Federal, of Labor Statistics, Zillow, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Chevron

Last week, 30-year mortgage rates averaged 6.28%, and they're even lower today, according to Zillow data. What does this mean for mortgage rates? See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage Refinance Rates TodayMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. As inflation slows and the Federal Reserve is able to start cutting the federal funds rate, mortgage rates are expected to trend down as well.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Fannie Mae Organizations: Federal, Zillow, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, ARM Locations: Chevron

Mortgage rates are down in response to the labor market slowing. Average 30-year mortgage rates are now hovering in the low 6% range, according to Zillow data, the lowest they've been since January 2024. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowToday's refinance ratesMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. This is a significant slowdown compared when it peaked at 9.1% in 2022, which means mortgage rates should start trending down soon. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: U.S, Chevron

☆ Trump promises lower interest rates. But he doesn't have that power
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

At the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention in Chicago on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump said inflation and high interest rates are "destroying our country." The Republican presidential nominee said if elected, he would "bring interest rates way down." The president, however, exerts no direct control over interest rates. The Federal Reserve sets interest rates, and it operates independently of the White House. Once that rate comes down, consumers may see their borrowing costs fall as well.

Persons: Donald Trump, Harris, Kamala Harris Organizations: National Association of Black Journalists, Republican, Federal Reserve, White, Federal, Finance Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Chicago

☆ Japan stocks plunge 5% with Asia markets broadly lower after Wall Street sell-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An electronic stock board displayed inside the Kabuto One building in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Japan's Nikkei 225 nosedived almost 5% on Friday, with most Asia-Pacific markets lower after a sell-off on Wall Street overnight. The Nikkei extended its 2.62% slide on Thursday to lead losses in the region and reach its lowest level since February. Japanese government bond yields fell, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year JGB falling below the 1% mark and hitting it lowest level since June 20. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were at 17,047, lower than the HSI's last close of 17,304.96.

Persons: Marubeni, Hybe, Australia's, Hong Organizations: Japan's Nikkei, Wall, Nikkei, Softbank, Mitsui, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific

☆ Everything you need to know about when a rate cut could happen
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now the central bank is mulling over when to do something it hasn’t done since the darkest days of the pandemic: cut interest rates. “A rate cut could be on the table in the September meeting,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday, immediately jolting markets. When will the Fed cut rates? Rate cut probabilityThat said, investors are entirely convinced the Fed will cut rates at their September meeting, according to Fed funds futures data. Torsten Slok, Apollo Global’s chief economist, is maintaining his prior forecast that the Fed won’t cut rates at all this year.

Persons: Jerome Powell, we’re, It’s, Powell, ”, ” Powell, Torsten Slok, Apollo Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Fed, European Central Bank, CNN Locations: New York, “

Mortgage rates are often indirectly impacted by changes to the federal funds rate, and as the Fed starts lowering its benchmark rate, mortgage rates are expected to go down as well. This means that as long as inflation continues to ease, mortgage rates should drop further this year. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates fell to 6.07% last week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates increased dramatically over the last two years, but they're expected to go down at some point this year.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, you'll, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

☆ Fed holds rates steady and notes progress on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowWASHINGTON – Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday held short-term interest rates steady but indicated that inflation is getting closer to its target, which could open the door for future interest rate cuts. They also preserved a declaration that more progress is needed before rate reductions can happen. "In recent months, there has been some further progress toward the Committee's 2 percent inflation objective." Price pressures off 2022 peakEconomic data of late has indicated that price pressures are well off the boil from their peak in mid-2022, when inflation hit its highest level since the early 1980s. The Fed's preferred measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, shows inflation around 2.5% annually, though other gauges indicate slightly higher readings.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, Stocks, Price Organizations: WASHINGTON – Federal, Gross

☆ Interest rates remain steady once again — but it's likely the Fed will cut rates in September
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe nation's central bank didn't give interest rate relief to Americans — yet. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced it would be leaving interest rates unchanged, continuing the pause that began last fall. And with the labor market slowing down while avoiding a recession, the Fed might have the evidence it needs to cut interest rates at its next meeting in September. However, predictions point to a rate cut — CME FedWatch, which estimates probabilities of interest rate changes based on the markets, showed markets think it's far more likely than not that rates will ease. Related storiesThe high interest rates have meant it's more expensive for Americans to borrow money for things like mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, Powell, Michele Raneri, Donald Trump —, Trump, Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: Service, Federal, Market Committee, Business, Fed, TransUnion, Fox News, Democratic Locations: May's, Sens

☆ Powell says September rate cut 'on the table' if inflation data continues to cool
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Recent economic data has pointed toward inflation data falling back toward the central bank's 2% target, while the unemployment rates has crept up above 4%. Powell said Wednesday that central bankers would be "data dependent, but not data-point dependent" in determining when to cut rates. "I don't know think of the labor market in its current state as a likely source of significant inflationary pressures. So I would not like to see material further cooling in the labor market," Powell said. Powell said Wednesday a potential 50-basis point rate cut is "not something we're thinking about right now."

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell Organizations: Federal, Fed

☆ Record heat is set to drive the cost of fruits and vegetables higher
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But US consumers aren’t only taking a financial hit from this summer’s extreme heat by way of their electricity bills. Shoppers could soon have to pay much higher prices for fruit and vegetables as farmers shoulder higher growing costs from the heat, a reversal of a trend seen over the past year with the cost of fruits and vegetables dropping by 1%, according to June Consumer Price Index data. For the rest of this summer, consumers aren’t likely to see markedly higher prices for seasonal fruits like blueberries because contracts with distributors and retailers tend to be worked out in advance, he said. Climate change, he said, is causing his business to suffer financially with reduced crop yields. However, the steep costs to make that switch could also contribute to higher prices consumers pay for produce.

Persons: It’s, Tom Avinelis, ”, Avinelis, Tom Avinelis “, Mohamed bin, Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam, Ponnambalam, coauthors, Henry Gordon, Smith, it’s, Gordon Organizations: New, New York CNN, Foods, Costco, Safeway, CNN, Atlantic Council, University of Waterloo, University of Artificial Intelligence, “, Smart Agriculture, Columbia University Locations: New York, Fresno , California, Willamette, Oregon, California, Ontario, Canada, University, Abu Dhabi, Santa Maria , California

☆ Interest rate cuts probably aren't here just yet, but they could finally reach Americans in under 2 months
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's safe to say that Americans can count on an interest rate cut pretty soon, but probably not this week. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee will announce its next interest rate decision, and it's once again expected to hold rates steady. However, the FOMC's September meeting could finally bring Americans the relief they've been waiting for — CME FedWatch showed markets think it's all but certain the Fed will cut rates that month. Lower interest rates would make borrowing more affordable for consumers and businesses alike. "You have kept interest rates too high for too long: it is time to cut rates," they wrote.

Persons: it's, Claudia Sahm, Greg McBride, There's, Jerome Powell, Powell, Sahm, Matt Colyar, September's, Elizabeth Warren, Jacky Rosen, John Hickenlooper Organizations: Service, Federal, CME FedWatch, Business, New Century Advisors, Fed, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Democratic, Moody's

Mortgage rates are down from where they've been in recent months, with 30-year mortgage rates hovering just below 6.5%, according to Zillow data. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.78% this week, according to Freddie Mac. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates were 6.07% this week, according to Freddie Mac data, which is a two-basis-point increase from the previous week. Now that the Fed has paused hiking rates, mortgage rates have come down a bit.

Persons: they've, Freddie Mac Organizations: Federal Reserve, Mortgage Bankers Association, Zillow, Fed Locations: Chevron

☆ Here's everything you need to know about the Fed decision coming Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Market pricing currently indicates an absolute certainty that the Fed will approve its first reduction in more than four years — when it meets Sept. 17-18. They don't want investors to start pricing in a rate cut coming in September and there's literally nothing else that could possibly happen," he said. "Opening the door for that rate cut is probably the most appropriate thing for them at this point," Reynolds added. Expectations for easingGlenmede expects that starting in September, the Fed could cut at each of the three remaining meetings. The Fed will not provide an update on its quarterly summary of economic projections at this meeting.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Chris Kleponis, they've, Michael Reynolds, Reynolds, there's, it'll, Powell, Goldman Sachs, David Mericle, Mericle, Bill English, We've Organizations: Banking, Housing, Urban, Capitol, AFP, Getty, Glenmede, Fed Locations: Washington ,, Yale, Jackson Hole , Wyoming

☆ It’s not the end of the world if the Fed doesn’t cut rates tomorrow
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The Federal Reserve is all but certain to hold interest rates steady at its meeting this week. That’s why Torsten Slok, Apollo Global’s chief economist, is maintaining his prior forecast that the Fed won’t cut rates at all this year. “There are still two more CPI releases before the September 18 [Fed] meeting, so we have to wait and see if the downtrend in inflation continues,” he told CNN. Fed officials have signaled that September will be when they finally lower interest rates. The difference between a few months for that initial cut “really doesn’t matter unless there’s some big shock that hits the economy in that time,” Fed Governor Christopher Waller said earlier this month.

Persons: Alan Blinder, Paul Krugman —, Blinder, what’s, Brandon Bell, Torsten Slok, Apollo, ”, Sean Snaith, it’s, Christopher Waller, Waller Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal, CNN, ” University of Central, ” Locations: New York, ” University of Central Florida, Iran, Israel

☆ Sellers are 'losing their grip' on the housing market as home prices cool, research firm says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Sellers are quickly "losing their grip" on the housing market, according to Capital Economics. That's because home prices are cooling, thanks to more inventory staying on the market. Still, the research firm is forecasting a 5% surge in home prices by the end of the year. That's because higher levels of inventory are starting to weigh on home prices, according to the research firm Capital Economics. It's starting to reverse a trend that's persisted for the past few years, with tight inventory pushing home prices to record highs.

Persons: Sellers, — Organizations: Capital Economics, Service, Business

☆ Stocks are approaching a 'watershed' moment as rate cuts unlock opportunity in unloved areas of the market, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The stock market is about to see a major shift once the Fed cuts rates, Jeremy Siegel said. The top economist thinks value stocks could start outperforming growth stocks once the Fed eases policy. Cooling inflation data supports a Fed rate cut by September, Siegel predicted. The Wharton School finance professor pointed to opportunity lurking in value stocks, an unloved group of the market that's underperformed this year when compared to growth stocks. Growth stocks have outperformed partly due to Wall Street's AI craze, which has ignited investor fervor for growth stocks, like mega-cap tech firms.

Persons: Jeremy Siegel, Siegel, —, Powell Organizations: Service, Wharton School, CNBC

This could cause mortgage rates to move up or down slightly. If Fed officials signal that they could start lowering the federal funds rate soon, mortgage rates could ease. This would remove a lot of the upward pressure off of mortgage rates and allow them to trend down. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage Refinance Rates TodayMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments.

Persons: Fannie Mae Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, ARM Locations: Chevron

☆ The Fed Is Impacting Our Election, Our Climate, Our Economy - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jen Harris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Reserve’s handling of inflation is souring the public on our economy, harming vulnerable Americans, slowing our fight against climate change — and hindering the fight against inflation itself. For the past several months, the Fed has resisted lowering interest rates in an environment that clearly demands lower rates. The Fed repeatedly stated that it would not lower rates until it had confidence the P.C.E. While the Fed keeps waiting, the pain keeps accumulating. There is also the damage that unnecessarily high interest rates are inflicting on our battle against climate change.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris Organizations: Fed Locations: U.S

☆ Japan's Nikkei jumps 2% to lead gains in Asia as traders assess U.S. inflation data, await BOJ meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Asia-Pacific markets climbed on Monday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading gains in the region after a key U.S. inflation report late last Friday raised hopes for an interest rate cut. The Nikkei rose 2.02%, while the broad-based Topix was up 1.52%. In Asia, the highlight for this week will be the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting starting July 30. A Reuters poll of economists expects the central bank to raise rates by 10 basis points to 0.1%. Other key inflation data from the region include China's July PMI data, while Australia will release its latest set of inflation data before the central bank's Aug. 6 monetary policy meeting.

Persons: Topix, Dow Jones Organizations: Mount Fuji, Japan's Nikkei, Nikkei, Bank, ING Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S, Australia

☆ Treasury yields fall as investors look to key data, Fed meeting in week ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by over three basis points to 4.1666%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 4.3729% after falling by more than one basis point. U.S. Treasury yields fell on Monday as investors awaited the release of key economic data and looked to the Federal Reserve's meeting scheduled for the week. Investors awaited the Federal Reserve's July meeting and key data from the labor market slated for the week. Investors will be looking at the data for hints about the state of the labor market, as this could also inform monetary policy expectations and decision-making.

Persons: Jerome Powell Organizations: Treasury, Investors, PCE

Mortgage rates have been prohibitively high this year for many would-be homebuyers. But as mortgage affordability improves throughout the next few months, more buyers should be able to find a home and mortgage payment that fits their budget. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowToday's refinance ratesMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. This is a significant slowdown compared when it peaked at 9.1% in 2022, which means mortgage rates should start trending down soon. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

☆ Where inflation is the highest and lowest in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Honolulu metro area in Hawaii, meanwhile, saw the nation’s highest annual inflation rate in May, at 5.2%. Housing costs have therefore eased over the past year, tugging inflation overall much lower. Tight housing-market conditions are also plaguing New York, which at one point boasted the lowest inflation rate in the country. Housing costs make up about a third of the Labor Department’s CPI, a closely watched inflation gauge. Inflation is down substantially from the 40-year highs of two years ago, but housing costs have remained stubbornly elevated.

Persons: ”, Barbara Denham, Brian Adcock, Willy Nunn, homebuilding, Adcock, “, Jane Castor, it’s, homebuilders, Carl Bonham, Mengshin Lin, Roseann Freitas, ” Freitas, Freitas, Josh Green Organizations: Washington CNN, Consumer, Nationwide, Aloha State, Oxford, Labor Department’s CPI, Federal, Boomers, Tampa Bay Chamber, Miami, Tampa, Homes, CNN, ” Tampa, Urban, University of Hawaii, Washington Post, Building Industry Association of Hawaii Locations: The Tampa, St, Petersburg, Clearwater, Florida, Honolulu, Hawaii, Tampa Bay, homebuilding, Houston , Minneapolis, Denver, Central Florida, New York, Tampa The Tampa, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Miami, ”, Urban Hawaii, Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina

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