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"There are a variety of different options, but there are no good options. "The only option that really leaves our economy in good shape - and our financial system - is raising the debt ceiling." "It's trusted, and it is the ultimate safe asset and a failure to raise the debt ceiling, impairing the U.S. credit rating, would put that at risk. Yellen told lawmakers last week that Treasury will likely be unable to pay all the government's bills as early as June 1 without an increase in the federal debt limit. Because the government spends more than it takes in, lawmakers must periodically raise the debt ceiling.

☆ Yellen is calling CEOs personally to warn on US debt ceiling, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Treasury secretary is having one-on-one conversations with individual CEOs to warn them about the "dangerous consequences of the current brinkmanship," one of the sources said. While the sources did not spell out her purpose, Biden administration officials have been speaking to business owners about pressuring Republicans to raise the debt ceiling without conditions. Yellen is now slated to leave for Japan this week and will hold a news conference in Niigata, Japan, on Thursday before the G7 meeting. President Joe Biden insists that Congress has a constitutional duty to raise the debt ceiling, which reflects previously spent federal money, without conditions. Because the government spends more than it takes in, lawmakers must periodically raise the debt ceiling.

Medical debt like this is one kind of unsecured debt, which goes away if it isn't covered by the estate. My mother and I laughed bitterly as we sat together at the dinner table, in horrified awe at the absurdity of our essentially being billed for my father's death. Unsecured debts generally remain the property of the deceasedUnsecured loans include most credit card debt, student loans, personal loans, and medical bills. Handling a loved one's debts in the wake of their passing can feel daunting, and even retraumatizing. I discovered in the wake of my father's death just how bureaucratically difficult it is to make the biological fact of a loved one's death a legal one — especially regarding their debts.

"My belief is that we don't get inflation down to 2% without a recession," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. As the economy fluctuates, experts say there are several key risk areas that consumers may want to keep an eye on. That still leaves about 1.6 open jobs to every available worker, which is "very good," according to Andy Challenger, senior vice president at outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Pricey car loan 'quickly becomes untenable'Auto loan delinquencies are already rising, particularly for borrowers with weaker credit profiles, McBride noted. In 2022, consumers paid $133.1 billion in credit card interest and fees, a 23.1% increase from the estimated $108.1 billion they paid in 2021.

☆ Fed increases rates a quarter point and signals a potential end to hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In a unanimous decision widely expected by markets, the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee raised its benchmark borrowing rate by 0.25 percentage point. related investing news BlackRock’s Rieder highlights a fresh worry for investors beyond the Fed’s expected rate hike The increase takes the fed funds rate to a target range of 5%-5.25%, the highest since August 2007. The post-meeting statement had only offered some clarity on the future pace of rate hikes — and not by what it said but what it didn't say. Multiple officials have said rates probably will need to stay elevated even if the hikes are put on hold. Along with inflation, the Fed has had to deal with tumult in the banking industry that has seen three mid-size banks shuttered.

☆ Here's how the Federal Reserve's latest quarter-point interest rate hike impacts your money
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Federal Reserve Bank building Kevin Lamarque | ReutersWhat the federal funds rate means to youThe federal funds rate, which is set by the U.S. central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. On the flip side, higher interest rates also mean savers will earn more money on their deposits. As the federal funds rate rises, the prime rate does, as well, and your credit card rate follows suit within one or two billing cycles. With this rate increase, consumers with credit card debt will spend an additional $1.7 billion on interest, according to an analysis by WalletHub. Interest rates for the upcoming school year will be based on an auction of 10-year Treasury notes later this month.

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Geoff Cudd, Owner of FindTheBestCarPrice.comKareem Saleh, founder and CEO of FairPlay AIRyan Wangman, loans reporter at Personal Finance InsiderHow to Choose the Best Auto Loan for Bad CreditTo pick the best auto loan, take stock of the factors that are most important to you. See our full ratings methodology for auto loans »Auto Loans for Bad Credit Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I get auto financing with a 500 credit score? Our Experts' Advice for Choosing the Best Auto Loan for Bad CreditCan you get an auto loan with bad credit?

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). Our Experts for the Best Personal Loans With No Origination FeesWe consulted personal loan and financial experts to give their insights into finding the best personal loans with no origination fees. Personal Loan With No Origination Fees Frequently Asked QuestionsCan you get a personal loan without an origination fee? How to Choose the Best Personal Loan With No Origination FeesTo select the best personal loan for you, look at the factors that are most important to you. Methodology: How we chose the best personal loans without origination feesWe rate all personal loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale.

☆ The Federal Reserve is expected to hike rates one more time. What that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Yet another rate hike from the Fed means today's sky-high credit card interest rates will rise even further in the very near future," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. Cardholders should expect their current cards' interest rates to rise in the next billing cycle or two, he said. Auto loan rates rose to more than 6.5%Even though auto loans are fixed, payments are getting bigger because the price for all cars is rising along with the interest rates on new loans. Federal student loans are already near 5%Wavebreakmedia | Istock | Getty ImagesFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by rate hikes. Interest rates for the upcoming school year will be based on an auction of 10-Year Treasury notes later this month.

The hedge funds said they can share ideas, but cannot reveal their trading positions for regulatory reasons. Reddy said he preferred senior unsecured bank debt, that allowed bondholders payment ahead of some other creditors in the event of an insolvency. Taking bearish positions on banks that lend to smaller and medium sized firms could prove opportunistic if the economy weakens, he added. Trend-wise the Japanese yen should continue to weaken," said Chua, noting that central banks in Asia have slowed or paused rate hikes. Insurers, which holds commercial mortgage-backed securities and property, will likely feel pressures on CRE, he said.

☆ As lawmakers gear up for federal debt limit fight, here's what it could mean for Social Security
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks to reporters in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol after announcing his debt limit increase plan on the House floor on April 19, 2023. More from Personal Finance:GOP senator touts 'big idea' Social Security funding fixExperts argue Social Security retirement age should not pass 67The return on waiting to claim Social Security is 'huge'A default on the U.S. debt would be unprecedented, as the country has paid all its bills on time since 1789, Yellen noted. The extraordinary nature of such an event has called into question how the government would juggle payments, including Social Security benefit checks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury would likely prioritize the payment of Social Security benefit checks, Jason Fichtner, a former Social Security Administration executive and vice president and chief economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told CNBC.com in January. However, it is possible the Social Security Administration would delay payments to ensure it has enough cash on hand, he said.

☆ US default on debt would trigger 'economic catastrophe,' Yellen says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday warned that failure by Congress to raise the government's debt ceiling - and the resulting default - would trigger an "economic catastrophe" that would send interest rates higher for years to come. "A default on our debt would produce an economic and financial catastrophe," Yellen told Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce members. "Congress must vote to raise or suspend the debt limit. Yellen told lawmakers in January the government could pay its bills only through early June without increasing the limit, which the government hit in January. Because the government spends more than it takes in, lawmakers must periodically raise the debt ceiling.

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Amazon, Chipotle, Ford, Disney, Nvidia, Sunrun & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"We upgrade ALLY to Neutral (from Underperform) and raise our PO to $28 from $24, implying ~8% upside potential." Goldman Sachs reiterates Apple as buy Goldman said in its Apple earnings preview note that "solid iPhone demand to offset Mac weakness." Wells Fargo names Disney a top pick in media Wells said in a note on Monday that Disney is the "best opportunity in media." JPMorgan reiterates Ford & General Motors as overweight JPMorgan said in an earnings preview note that it's standing by both automakers heading into earnings tomorrow for GM and next week for Ford . Mizuho initiates Tencent Music Entertainment as buy Mizuho said in its initiation of the China music company that the stock has upside potential. "

☆ Blackstone is in talks to help regional banks with lending
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Blackstone Inc (BX.N), the biggest manager of private equity and real estate assets, said on Thursday it was discussing partnerships with U.S. regional banks to help them with constraints in areas such as car loans and home improvement financing. "As regional banks experienced outflows of deposits, we are seeing real-time opportunities to partner with them at scale," Blackstone President Jonathan Gray said on the firm's first-quarter earnings call. "The regional banks generally play a very large role in home improvement loans, auto loans and equipment finance. He did not identify the banks Blackstone is speaking to. The firm has shifted its focus in real estate to resilient sectors such as logistics and rental housing.

☆ The $25,000 electric vehicle is coming, with big implications for the auto market and car buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

And as the Biden administration pushes changes that seek to aggressively remake the car market in favor of EVs more quickly than previously anticipated. Tesla's lowest-priced model today is the Model 3 base MSRP of $41,990. There are also more financing options available in the auto loan market designed specifically for environmentally friendly cars. "There's nothing wrong with having a basic car as a first car. Tesla said its overall efforts have driven the cost of drive units, which include the car's electric motor, as low as $1,000.

☆ When buying a Tesla or other electric vehicle, a green auto loan could make it cheaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Beyond financial credits and rebates, many car shoppers don't know they may also be able to get a better deal on a car loan associated with an electric vehicle. These so-called green auto loans aren't necessarily well-advertised, so consumers need to do their homework. There's no difference between green auto loans and other car loans, other than that the borrower might be able to get a discount for purchasing an EV. A standard internal combustion car loan is set in 12-month increments from 24 months to 84 months, with 72 months typical. By contrast, green auto loans could extend the repayment beyond the standard timeframe, at favorable rates, he said.

☆ Car loan interest rates are reaching record highs and taking longer than ever to pay off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Christopher Hickey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

High loan rates mean monthly payments are soaring as well. In March, the average monthly payment for financing a new car hit $730 — the highest on record, according to Edmunds. Most $1,000 per month car loans are taken out by people who choose high-interest, longer-term loans. While buyers who opt for longer loans are paying less money up front, interest rates catch up over time. For instance, a buyer who takes a 70 month loan for a $28,700 used car at the current average loan rate could pay 38% more just in interest.

Wells Fargo fared less favorably, down 0.3%, and regional banks including Zions (ZION.O) and First Republic (FRC.N) fell. Net interest income, a measure of how much a bank earns from lending, surged 49% to $20.8 billion. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo set aside $1.21 billion in the quarter to cover for potential loan losses, compared to a release of $787 million a year earlier. "While most consumers remain resilient, we've seen some consumer financial health trends gradually weakening from a year ago," Mike Santomassimo, Wells Fargo finance chief, told analysts. More banking results are due over the coming week, including Bank of America (BAC.N) and Goldman Sachs (GS.N) on Tuesday and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) on Wednesday.

[1/2] The Citigroup Inc (Citi) logo is seen at the SIBOS banking and financial conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 19, 2017. First-quarter 2023 earnings from JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N) and Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) beat Wall Street expectations on Friday as consumer and corporate spending held up in the face of rate rises, although all three saw signs of a slowdown and made provisions accordingly. Net interest income, a measure of how much a bank earns from lending, surged 49% to $20.8 billion. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo set aside $1.21 billion in the quarter to cover for potential loan losses, compared to a release of $787 million a year earlier. "While most consumers remain resilient, we've seen some consumer financial health trends gradually weakening from a year ago," Mike Santomassimo, Wells Fargo finance chief, told analysts.

☆ Wells Fargo profit rises 32% as higher rates bolster interest income
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 14 (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co's (WFC.N) profit jumped 32% in the first quarter as it earned more from interest rate payments, helped by the U.S. Federal Reserve's tighter monetary policy, the lender reported Friday. The bank, however, set aside $1.21 billion in the quarter to cover for potential loan losses, compared to a release of $787 million a year earlier. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank last month prompted a rout in bank stocks as investors fretted over broader weaknesses in the industry. Deposits at Wells Fargo fell 2% to $1.36 trillion at the end of March, compared with $1.38 trillion at the end of last year. Overall, non-interest expenses fell to $13.68 billion from $13.85 billion a year earlier, mainly driven by lower operating losses.

☆ Wells Fargo gives up gains despite earnings beat. We see a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Wells Fargo (WFC) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on Friday, demonstrating its underlying fundamentals are strong. Shares of Wells Fargo initially climbed more than 2% following the earnings release, before giving up most of those gains. Wells Fargo stock was trading down around 0.2% Friday afternoon, at $39.58 a share. Wells Fargo management also noted that, like many other regional banks, it has a much broader business model and more diversified sources of funding than a bank like SVB. Within consumer lending, home lending was down 42% from last year, while credit card revenue increased 3% annually.

☆ Car Breakdowns Are Making More People Fall Behind on Their Loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Ben Eisen | Gina Heeb | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Cars are staying on the road longer, reaching an age where they need substantial repairs or break down. It is a key reason more people are falling behind on their auto loans. The trend, noted by lenders, consumer attorneys and others, is another example of the long-lasting effects of the pandemic, which transformed the auto industry by making new and lightly used vehicles hard to come by.

☆ Just get your tax refund? 7 smart ways to use it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

If you’re looking for a way to use your tax refund for maximum impact, here are some of the best options to consider in 2023 and beyond. Pay down high-interest debtPutting your tax refund toward paying down credit card debt could save you thousands of dollars in interest charges. If you can’t pay down all of your credit card debt at once, you can use your tax refund to cover a portion of it. Bulk up your emergency fundConsider putting your tax refund toward your emergency fund to prepare for surprise expenses. Invest in yourselfInvest in yourself by using your tax refund to improve your health or further your education.

☆ Crisis jolts Wall Street bankers already resigned to tough job market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street bankers face an increasingly gloomy job market after last month’s banking crisis worsened an already bleak outlook for pay and staffing. One likely consequence of the turmoil is that banks tighten their lending standards, which could further hinder dealmaking - making the prospects for jobs and compensation on Wall Street more gloomy. Now, financial industry workers are fretting not only about pay, but job security. The Wall Street giant typically cuts about 5% of its lowest-performing staff as part of the process. While there are plenty of reasons to be glum, Wall Street workers are enjoying one silver lining after the pandemic: greater flexibility in structuring their workday.

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