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As inflation continues to slow, mortgage rates should keep inching down, as well. 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. But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. If the Fed acts too aggressively and engineers a recession, mortgage rates could fall further than what current forecasts expect.

☆ Global supply of oil inches tighter amid Russia's response to the G7 to reduce oil output
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The global supply of these commodities is expected to remain tight. The upticks come amid fears over tightening oil supply. On Friday, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told state television that the country could reduce oil output by 5 to 7% in early 2023. This year, the energy sector has seen a strong performance relative to the broad stock market. The global supply of these commodities is expected to remain tight.

[1/2] The U.S. Capitol is seen as Congress continues work on passing a $1.66 trillion government funding bill in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueWASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - A $1.66 trillion U.S. government spending bill, delayed by weeks of policy disagreements over immigration and overall levels of funding, was inching toward passage in the Senate on Thursday following a deal on amendments that would be allowed. "The omnibus contains nothing to secure the border, and in fact contains language undermining border security," Lee wrote on Twitter, referring to the spending bill. "Without an up-or-down vote on Title 42, every Senate Republican should oppose." House Republicans wanted to delay negotiations on the full-year vote until early next year, after they take the majority.

While travel demand is roaring back, many hotels, airlines, cruise operators and airports are still racing to hire and train workers. That means the level of customer service will likely take a hit, industry experts say. One potential bright spot can be found at sea: During the summer, several cruise lines had to cancel voyages due to staffing shortages, but major disruptions have been largely resolved. “It’s highly unlikely your holiday cruise will be canceled due to lack of staffing,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, a Tripadvisor-run travel site. “This year, I moved my annual holiday travel to earlier in December,” said Abby Rhinehart, an educational researcher in Tucson, Arizona.

☆ Dow Edges Higher After Surprise Bank of Japan Adjustment
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Will Horner | Hardika Singh | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. stock indexes and bond yields rose after the Bank of Japan surprised investors by raising the cap on a benchmark rate, inching away from its ultrarelaxed monetary policies. The S&P 500 added 3.96 points, or 0.1%, to 3821.62, on Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite rose 1.08 points, or less than 0.1%, to 10547.11. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 92.20 points, or 0.3%, to 32849.74.

WASHINGTON/PARIS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - For nearly two years the United States has tried and failed to negotiate a revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal yet Washington and its European allies refuse to close the door to diplomacy. Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action under which Tehran reined in its nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions. A U.S. intelligence estimate disclosed in late 2007 assessed with high confidence that Iran was working to develop nuclear weapons until the fall of 2003, when it halted the weapons work. "We will continue with the pressure while keeping the door open for a return to diplomacy," U.S. special envoy for Iran Robert Malley told reporters in Paris last month, adding that if Iran crossed "a new threshold in its nuclear program, obviously the response will be different." Even if the 2015 nuclear deal cannot be resurrected, the senior Biden administration official said other diplomatic solutions might be possible.

☆ Accenture beats quarterly revenue estimates amid higher IT spending
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 16 - Accenture Plc surpassed Wall Street estimates for quarterly revenue on Friday, a sign that IT spending is holding strong even as economic headwinds pressure businesses. Companies are prioritizing spending on IT infrastructure as well as management and transformation projects which have become key as firms adopt more digital work-flows. The company forecast second-quarter revenue in the range $15.20 billion to $15.75 billion. The mid-point of the guidance is lower than analysts' estimate of $15.61 billion, according to Refinitiv. Revenue grew 5% to $15.7 billion in the quarter ending Nov. 30, inching past analysts' estimate of $15.58 billion, according to Refinitiv.

Researchers for decades have attempted to recreate nuclear fusion – replicating the fusion that powers the sun. Nuclear fusion happens when two or more atoms are fused into one larger one, a process that generates a massive amount of energy as heat. Scientists across the globe have been inching toward the breakthrough, using different methods to try to achieve the same goal. This heat can then be used to warm water, create steam and power turbines to generate power. “The opposing argument is that this result is miles away from actual energy gain required for the production of electricity,” he said.

But more recently, a tip prompt on credit card payments has been added as well. At the same time, those disgruntled at finding a new tip prompt generally direct their pique at the wrong target. Most either express pleasure at the opportunity to better compensate Starbucks workers or outrage at the expectation of the surcharge. At the same time, those disgruntled at finding a new tip prompt generally direct their pique at the wrong target. There are two types of tip creep inching ever upward like a vine snaking its way along a trellis.

☆ Manufacturing orders from China down 40% in unrelenting demand collapse
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. manufacturing orders in China are down 40 percent, according to the latest CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map data. HLS expects most carriers to extend their West Coast rates until December 14, holding at $1,300-$1,400 per forty-foot equivalent containers (FEU). The 2M Alliance of Maersk and MSC has suspended almost half of its U.S. West Coast services for December. is also impacting Vietnam, which has been booming as a manufacturing hub as more trade moved away from China. Canceled ocean sailings bound for Vietnam are up 50% for December.

☆ EU inches towards deal on Russian oil price cap this week
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Last Wednesday, representatives of EU governments debated for the first time a price cap level that would still provide an incentive for Moscow to sell, but at a much smaller profit. "But since then prices have kept falling and are now below the cap level, so that level achieves no objective," he said. The three countries, which all border Russia, back a $30 price cap. The oil price cap has not been added to their agenda, but still could be, diplomats said. They also said talks would continue in smaller groups, and between EU and G7 countries, to find a deal before Monday.

☆ The EU wants to cap Russian oil around $65 a barrel, but Ukraine President Zelenskyy is pushing for it to be as low as $30
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

European governments are in talks for a price cap on Russian oil at around $65, but Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that's too high. The proposed limit is artificial, he said, and would like to see instead a price cap of $30 to $40 per barrel, per Reuters. On Friday, Zelenskyy said a price cap of $70 a barrel is like a "concession" to Moscow. The idea is to create a loophole in the EU ban that keeps supplies of Russian oil flowing on the global market while limiting export revenues for Moscow. "The limit that is being considered today — about $60 — I think this is an artificial limit," Zelenskyy said.

☆ China Recovery Hopes Crushed by Record Covid Outbreak as Lockdowns Spread
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Jason Douglas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SINGAPORE—China’s worst Covid-19 outbreak is squashing hopes for an economic rebound and fanning concern about disruption to the world’s supply chains, heaping more pressure on a global economy that is already losing speed as central banks ratchet up interest rates to beat back inflation. The record number of new cases and the authorities’ tough response have extinguished hopes that China was inching toward reopening. Those hopes were stoked earlier this month when the government published a 20-point plan to refine some virus controls, such as reducing quarantine periods and easing restrictions on close contacts of confirmed cases.

☆ ECB accounts show inflation fears justifying more rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Nov 24 (Reuters) - European Central Bank policymakers feared that inflation may be getting entrenched at their last policy gathering so rates would need to rise further, the accounts of the Oct 26-27 meeting showed on Thursday. The ECB raised rates by 75 basis points to 1.5% at the meeting to fight sky high inflation, bringing its total hikes to 200 basis points since July for its fastest policy tightening on record. "It was also clear that rates would need to be raised further to reach a level that would deliver on the ECB’s 2% medium-term target," the accounts of the meeting showed. The 75-basis-point rate hike was supported by a large majority, although a "few" policymaker wanted a smaller, 50-basis-point move. Even if the ECB slows down, markets see the deposit rate doubling to 3% next year as inflation, now at 10.6%, will take years, possibly until 2025, to fall back to the ECB's 2% target.

Mortgage rates started inching up mid-week but are back down today. 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. Whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. If the Fed acts too aggressively and engineers a recession, mortgage rates could fall further than what current forecasts expect. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

☆ Alaska’s Senate and House Races Inch Toward Finish
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Lindsay Wise | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski was slightly ahead of Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka in the Senate race Friday, with Democrat Pat Chesbro far behind. Alaska’s Senate and House races are inching toward resolution, with the two high-profile contests pulling up the rear of the midterm elections due to slow counting and the state’s ranked-choice voting system. In the House race, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola was running well ahead of her Republican rivals, former Gov. Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III , but shy of the majority needed to win in the first round. In the Senate race, incumbent GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski was neck and neck with her Trump-endorsed Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka , jumping into a slight lead in the latest round of votes.

☆ Wall Street finally has the leverage it's been wanting over Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Matt Weinberger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Take one giant step back, and there's one group benefitting from all the tech carnage: Wall Street investors, who finally have leverage over Big Tech after years of having to swallow spending to excess. Wall Street is ready to slice and dice. The balance of power has shifted: With tech companies struggling on the public markets, Wall Street has more leverage than it's held in a long time. Read more about how Wall Street is taking the driver's seat in tech here. Their mutual interest is complicated by fights over licensing and costs, Insider reports here.

☆ Mortgage rates plunge to 6.61% amid signs of easing inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Mortgage rates dropped sharply last week following a series of economic reports that indicated inflation may finally be easing. Mortgage rates have risen throughout most of 2022, spurred by the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented campaign of hiking interest rates in order to tame soaring inflation. While the Fed does not set the interest rates borrowers pay on mortgages directly, its actions influence them. Mortgage rates tend to track the yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds. Mortgage rates are expected to remain volatile for the rest of the year.

Control of the Senate - and the shape of President Joe Biden's next two years in office - will now hinge on contests in Nevada and Georgia. Democrats needed one more seat for control, since Vice President Kamala Harris can cast the tie-breaking vote. Political analysts anticipate a rush of campaign funds into Georgia as Republicans and Democrats gear up for the final battle of the 2022 midterm elections. In the fight for control of the House of Representatives, Republicans were inching closer to becoming the majority and ending four years of rule by Democrats. The Republican House leader, Kevin McCarthy, has already announced his intention to run for speaker if Republicans take over, an outcome he has described as inevitable.

☆ EU exec revises up 2022 euro zone growth forecast, sees bigger slowdown in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The euro zone economy will grow more than previously expected in 2022, the European Commission forecast on Friday, and decelerate more than previously thought in 2023, but the slowdown will only slightly affect euro zone jobs or public finances. The Commission forecast the euro zone economy would grow 3.2% this year, more than the 2.7% predicted in July, but then slow down sharply to 0.3% growth next year, well below the July forecast of 1.4%, before rebounding 1.5% in 2024. Also the aggregated budget deficit of the euro zone will hardly increase, inching up to 3.7% of GDP in 2023 from 3.5% seen this year and then declining again to 3.3% in 2024. Public debt is to continue falling to reach 92.3% of GDP next year from 93.6% this year and reach 91.4% in 2024. Inflation, while still high, will also decelerate to 6.1% in the euro zone in 2023 from 8.5% this year and slow down further to 2.6% in 2024, the Commission said.

Either Democrats or Republicans can capture a Senate majority by sweeping contests in both states. In the fight for the House of Representatives, Republicans were inching closer to wresting control of the chamber from Biden's Democrats. House control would give Republicans veto power over Biden's legislative agenda and allow them to launch potentially damaging investigations into his administration. The Republican House leader, Kevin McCarthy, has already announced his intention to run for speaker if Republicans take over, an outcome he has described as inevitable. Even a narrow Republican House majority would be able to demand concessions in exchange for votes on key issue such as raising the nation's borrowing limit.

Either Democrats or Republicans can capture a Senate majority by sweeping the contests in both states. A split, however, would transform a Dec. 6 runoff Senate election in Georgia into a proxy battle for the chamber, which among other powers holds sway over President Joe Biden's judicial appointments. The Republican House leader, Kevin McCarthy, has already announced his intention to run for speaker if Republicans take over, an outcome he described as inevitable on Wednesday. The outcome of the Arizona and Nevada Senate races, where Democratic incumbents were trying to fend off Republican challengers, may not be known for days yet. Even a narrow Republican House majority would be able to demand concessions in exchange for votes on key issue such as raising the nation's borrowing limit.

☆ Here's how to overcome the stigma of getting laid off so you can reenter the job market with confidence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Rebecca Knight | Catherine Henderson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

And recovering from a job loss takes time, effort, and self-awareness. For some, it can feel like a personal failure, according to John Pohl, a career coach based in the Atlanta area. Still, recovering from a job loss takes time, effort, and self-awareness. Take a breatherIn the immediate aftermath of a job loss, Pohl recommended taking a little time off. That's why it's important to make sure that throughout your search, you're getting plenty of rest, exercise, and fresh air.

☆ INDIA RUPEE Rupee begins week on positive note, U.S. inflation data next trigger
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Nimesh Vora | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MUMBAI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee rose against the U.S. currency on Monday, on the back of an upbeat risk tone in Asia and the dollar's struggles. The rupee was trading at 82.14 by 0454 GMT, compared with 82.44 in the previous session. The U.S. jobs report supported demand for Asian assets in that the unemployment rate ticked higher. The job number had little impact on U.S. yields and on the probabilities of a 50 or 75 basis points rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve next month. "Remember though that we do have another jobs report and two more CPI (consumer price index) reports before the Dec. 14 Fed decision."

☆ Reports of possible Meta layoffs could point to 'self-help' moment for megacap stocks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Michael Santoli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This is the daily notebook of Mike Santoli, CNBC's senior markets commentator, with ideas about trends, stocks and market statistics. Apple is holding the S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite in check, giving back more of its sizable outperformance and "stability premium," though oversold Big tech is seeing some relief. Heavy layoffs at Meta hinting that a "self-help" moment has arrived to hep preserve mega-cap tech platform margins even as last week's messy purge of busted-growth cloud stocks persists. The S & P 500 since 1950 has never been down the six or 12 months after a midterm vote, and the returns on average for the post-midterm year are twice all other years. All of this is pretty contingent, the S & P 500 still churning under resistance, earnings forecasts inching lower, much reliance by bulls on positioning and seasonal factors.

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