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☆ Earnings aren't bad, but fourth-quarter forecasts are slipping. Here's what that means for the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Results haven't been bad, but the macro is overwhelming everything, and fourth-quarter guidance is slipping. Here's a general rule for the stock market: earnings are the main determinant of stock prices in the long run, but in rare cases macro trends can overwhelm their message. Earnings are OK, but the trend is down On the surface, this looks like a good earnings season. With earnings, however, it's the trend in the forward quarter that matters: is the trend up or down? If Treasury yields stabilize or even move lower, that will be a more important factor than a slightly lower earnings environment.

Persons: Here's, CNBC's Robert Hum, Sellers, Chubb, Sherwin, Williams, Kimberly Clark, Campbell, Swift, FactSet's John Butters, what's Organizations: Microsoft, Waste, Norfolk, Procter, Gamble, Pepsi, Soft, Nvidia, Express, Visa, Southwest Airlines Locations: Meta, Winnebago, Corning, Big Tech, Treasurys

☆ Taylor Swift helps fuel Universal Music Group's third-quarter revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Universal Music Group logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Cultural phenomenon Taylor Swift helped fuel revenue at Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) in the third quarter, the world's largest record label said on Thursday. Universal Music and a number of its artists also partnered with YouTube on a Music AI Incubator, to explore how to use the technology to enhance artist creativity. EBITDA for the quarter fell 11.3% to 478 million euros, reflecting the impact of non-cash share-based compensation expenses of 103 million euros during the quarter. Revenue from music publishing rose 17.5% to 491 million euros, while merchandise sales increased 20.1% to 227 million euros.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Taylor Swift, Swift, Lucian Grainge, Grainge, we're, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, King, Prince, Dawn Chmielewski, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Universal, REUTERS, Universal Music, YouTube, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Amazon stock swings after a great quarter underscore our golden rule during earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Operating income increased over 340% to $11.12 billion, significantly exceeding forecasts of $7.7 billion, according to FactSet, and above the high-end of management's guidance. As a result, the operating income estimate is a more telling metric on how Amazon fared relative to Wall Street's expectations — and make no mistake, it was strong. In the Companywide part of the table, the cost of sales line-item came in above expectations at $75 billion. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Jassy, that's, it's, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Omar Marques Organizations: Amazon, Services, Revenue, LSEG, Rivian Automotive, Management, North, CNBC, Lightrocket, Getty

The U.S. economy is on a roll, expanding at a 4.9% annual clip in the third quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday. Analysts are looking for the overall index to show prices increased at a 3.4% annual rate and the core index at 3.7%, down from 3.5% and 3.9%, respectively. On Wednesday, Adobe Analytics issued its monthly measure of online prices showing they continue to fall, hitting a 41-month low in September. “Online prices fell for the majority of Adobe’s tracked categories (12 of 18) on an annual basis. On a month-over-month basis, online prices were down 0.6%.”

Persons: ” Joseph Brusuelas, ”, Steve Rick, Raymond James, Eugenio Aleman, “ Organizations: Economic, RSM US, Federal Reserve, TruStage, Labor Department, Adobe Analytics, “ Locations: U.S

It was called a “yellow flag” law, different from the “red flag” laws cropping up in other states to seize weapons from gun owners viewed as a threat. At a minimum, the Maine Gun Safety Coalition wants the state to ban assault weapons to prevent more mass shootings, said Cam Shannon, the group's chair. Wednesday night's mass shooting is especially difficult to stomach considering the recent failures to strengthen Maine’s gun laws, said Lynn Ellis of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition. The yellow flag law had the support of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, which was instrumental in writing it and viewed other states' red flag laws as unconstitutional. It wasn't clear whether the yellow flag law should have stopped the suspect in the Lewiston shootings or where he got the gun he used.

Persons: —, Kamala Harris, ” Harris, Cam Shannon, ” Shannon, Lynn Ellis, “, ” Ellis, Janet Mills, It's, Lindsay Nichols, don’t, ” Nichols, Kristen Cloutier, ” Cloutier, ___ Whitehurst, Levy Organizations: Democratic, Maine Gun Safety Coalition, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Giffords Law, Lewiston, Washington , D.C Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, Maine’s, . Maine, Lewiston, Washington ,, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

☆ Bristol Myers says it needs another year to hit target for new drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bristol Myers reported that it earned $4.1 billion, or $2 per share, in the third quarter, down from $4.3 billion, or $1.99 a share, a year earlier. Analysts, on average, had expected earnings per share of $1.76. It now expects earnings per share in the range of $7.50 to $7.65, up from its previous target of $7.35 to $7.65. Chief Operating Officer Chris Boerner is expected to become chief executive of Bristol Myers next month, replacing current CEO Giovanni Caforio. Earlier in October, BMS agreed to buy cancer drugmaker Mirati Therapeutics (MRTX.O) for up to $5.8 billion, in an attempt to diversify its oncology business.

Persons: David Elkins, Bristol Myers, Chris Boerner, Giovanni Caforio, Michael Erman, Sriparna Roy, Leslie Adler Organizations: Bristol Myers Squibb, BMS, Bristol, Therapeutics, Thomson Locations: The New Jersey

☆ The race to create the 'Amazon of real estate' could change home buying forever
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

But after years of trying, the basic structure of buying and selling a home remains pretty much the same. Even if you accept a bit of intricacy, real estate remains a stodgy industry — and regulation is at the core of that resistance to change. Despite the best efforts of would-be disruptors to cut out this middleman, 88% of buyers this year enlisted a real-estate agent, a Zillow survey found. Short of a tech-enabled homebuying nirvana, there are some other changes that could make the process easier for consumers. Saul Klein, an early internet evangelist in the real-estate industry, told me he sees an approaching "paradigm shift."

Persons: that's, you'll, they're, it's, Mike DelPrete, Rob Hahn, DelPrete, aren't, they'd, pocketing, —, ClosingCorp, we're, John Berkowitz, hasn't, Berkowitz, They're, Bobby Bryant, Bryant, Rich Barton, Wendy Gilch, Gilch, Saul Klein, Klein, James Rodriguez Organizations: Companies, University of Colorado Boulder, National Association of Realtors, Ojo, Group Inc, Universal Locations: Washington, California, Georgia

☆ Jim Cramer's five factors that could improve market conditions and help interest rates peak
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Wednesday laid out five scenarios that could improve the market. To Cramer, interest rates need to stabilize in order for stocks to trade based on company fundamentals, and these factors could help rates reach their peak. More bond market buyers: Cramer said there needs to be more buyers than sellers on the bond market. Cheaper stocks: To Cramer, the market may keep going down unless stocks get to a place where it doesn't make sense to sell. He said the "tyranny of the bond market" can end once bonds get attractive in yield or stocks get attractive in price.

Persons: CNBC's Jim Cramer, Cramer Organizations: Federal Reserve

☆ If Amazon, why not Walmart?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Shopping habits vary widely, however, and the company’s pricing strategies are commonly used, including at Walmart (WMT.N). According to the complaint, if Amazon finds a cheaper product elsewhere, it punishes the seller by removing merchandise from the “buy box,” effectively tanking sales. Thus, the argument goes, Amazon prevents rivals from competing on price. Walmart, which bought Jet.com in 2016 for $3 billion, is also just as discerning when it comes to online pricing. The agency accuses Amazon of stifling competition on price, product selection and quality, and preventing rivals from attracting a critical mass of shoppers and sellers.

Persons: Lina Khan, Andy Jassy, Walton, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Walmart, Amazon, FTC, eBay, Amazon.com, Thomson Locations: United States

NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of thousands of books are being banned or restricted by U.S. prisons, according to a new report from PEN America. In its report, PEN found parallels between the frequency of prison bans and book bannings in schools and libraries. Texas, another frequent site of library bannings, had more than 10,000 prison book bans, second only to Florida. "Prison book programs have mostly tried to raise awareness locally when prisons implement new censorship restrictions for communities they serve," the report reads. In Idaho, Amazon and Barnes & Noble are not among the nine approved sellers, which include Books a Million and the Women's Prison Book Project.

Persons: Elmore Leonard, ”, Moira Marquis, Marquis, Michigan's, Frederick Forsyth's “, Charles de Gaulle, Amy Schumer’s, ” Barrington Barber's, Robert Greene's, Greene, ” Marquis, Noble, —, “ Organizations: PEN America, PEN, Michigan Department of Corrections, ”, Power, Barnes, Idaho Department of Correction, AP, Marshall Locations: Cuba, Spanish, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Maine , Michigan, Idaho, Amazon, United States, State

☆ Ticketmaster’s hidden fees remain common long after it vowed to scrap them
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Noah Pransky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this photo illustration, A Ticketmaster ticket is shown on a cellphone on November 18, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Klobuchar asked the company to provide an update on its price transparency efforts by Oct. 31. Live Nation didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on her letter. New York, Connecticut and Tennessee have each passed ticket transparency laws, requiring all ticket sellers to display total prices upfront in searches. As a result, Live Nation doesn't let venues hide fees in those states.

Persons: Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Michael Rapino, Klobuchar, didn't, Kenny Loggins, Biden Organizations: Ticketmaster, Biden, NBC, NBC News, Live Nation Entertainment, Nation, Live Nation, Administration, White, Congress Locations: Miami , Florida, Los Angeles, New York , Connecticut, Tennessee

☆ A condo on New York's Billionaires' Row sells for less than half of its original $135 million asking price
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A five-bedroom, five-bathroom unit at 432 Park Avenue was listed for $135 million back in 2021. Two years later, it's sold for less than half that to an anonymous buyer, The Real Deal reported. That same year, the 8,000-square-foot apartment on the 79th floor was put on the market for $135 million, according to The Real Deal. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis May, the asking price was lowered to $92 million, and the condo went into contract in August, per the real estate news outlet. The unit's listing agent, Noel Berk of Engel & Völkers, previously told The Real Deal that it was being marketed to Asian buyers.

Persons: it's, —, hasn't, Noel Berk, Engel, Völkers Organizations: Service, Real, The New York Times, Engineers, Deal, Times Locations: New York City, Russian, Greek

Last year, that amounted to $75 million of $88.5 million in candy corn sales, according to the consumer research firm Circana. Political Cartoons View All 1215 ImagesWhen compared to top chocolate sellers and other popular confections, candy corn is niche. Several years later, the Goelitz Confectionery Co., now Jelly Belly, began to produce candy corn, calling it Chicken Feed. Candy corn is basically sugar, corn syrup, confectioner’s glaze, salt, gelatin, honey and dyes, among some other things. She equates candy corn with childhood memories of having to visit her pediatrician, who kept a bowl on hand.

Persons: Shannon Fiedler gushed, Paul Zarcone, Brach's churns, ombre, Rice Krispie, Kellogg's, Michelle Williams, Brach's, “, ”, Katie Duffy, Ferrara Candy, George Renninger, “ Brach's, “ It's, I've, Richard Hartel, Hartel's, it’s, Candy, Margie Sung, She's, Duffy, Don't, Sung, ” Aaron Sadler, doesn't, can’t, Sadler, ” Sadler chuckled ., he'll, Sandler, Lisa Marsh, Diana Peacock, Jennifer Walker, Walker, Marie, Abby Obenchain, Obenchain Organizations: Vans, Nike, Ferrara, Ferrara Candy Co, University of Wisconsin -, Ontario, Washington , D.C Locations: Huntington , New York, Ferrara, Philadelphia, University of Wisconsin - Madison, New York, Little Rock , Arkansas, Junction , Colorado, Ontario, Canada, Sault Ste, Savannah Woolston, Washington ,

☆ Asian shares hit 11-month lows; focus on US economic data
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was 0.28% lower at 473.37, having touched 472.73 - the lowest since November 2022. China shares remained under pressure, with the Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC) 0.32% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (.HSI) slid 0.5%. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index (.CSI300) was 0.2% higher after closing at its lowest level in 4-1/2 years on Monday. The dollar index was 0.038% lower at 105.56. The Japanese currency was last at 149.62 per dollar, having hit the symbolic 150 level on both Friday and Monday.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Hong, Gary Dugan, bitcoin, Chris Weston, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Reserve, Nikkei, Shanghai, Dalma, Microsoft, Facebook, U.S . Commerce Department, Treasury, West Texas, Brent, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, Israel, Pacific, Japan, Britain, France, United States

☆ Shopify's former head of its app ecosystem business is launching an AI imaging tool for online sellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She ended up starting two businesses, one of which is ImagineCreate AI, an AI imaging tool that officially launches Tuesday with an undisclosed amount of pre-seed funding from Precursor Ventures. ImagineCreate AI was directly inspired by a brand Yusuf started shortly after leaving Shopify. ImagineCreate AI is launching as a web app that can be integrated into Shopify merchants' admin. Before-and-after images show how ImagineCreate AI generates custom backgrounds. Launching ImagineCreate AI on the Shopify App Store brings Yusuf's entrepreneurial journey full circle.

Persons: Fatima Yusuf, Yusuf, ChatGPT, Shopify, Madeline Stone Organizations: Precursor Ventures Locations: Shopify, mstone@insider.com

☆ Google is shaking up its sales strategy to push its most important AI-powered product to more advertisers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Hugh Langley | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

These smaller advertisers work with the Google Customer Solutions (GCS) team and spend between $250,000 to $2 million per quarter, according to a Google source. An official restructure of the sales team hasn't been announced internally but the recent sales moves reflect this broader trend, those sources said. "Performance Max has been around for three years, keeps getting better and drives increased performance for advertisers ," a Google spokesperson said. Agency executives have also noticed Google sales people trying to push Performance Max to mid-sized advertisers. However, some people familiar with the product are skeptical of Google's sales strategy.

Persons: –, hasn't, Max, there's, We're, Sellers, We've Organizations: Google, YouTube, " Agency, Gmail, Meta

☆ Home Sellers Take On the Realtors Cartel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Allysia Finley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The week's best and worst from Dan Henninger, Mary O’Grady and Kim Strassel. Images: Reuters/AFP/Getty Images/Bloomberg News Composite: Mark KellyThe 1.5 million-member National Association of Realtors spent $81.7 million on political lobbying in 2022, more than any other business group. Consider Burnett v. NAR, a federal class-action suit that Missouri home sellers have brought against the association. The case, which went to trial last week, presents an existential threat to the cartel. If the plaintiffs prevail, home buyers and sellers could save $120 billion in fees each year.

Persons: Dan Henninger, Mary O’Grady, Kim Strassel, Mark Kelly, Burnett Organizations: AFP, Getty, Bloomberg, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: Missouri

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — For months after Ukraine's Western allies limited sales of Russian oil to $60 per barrel, the price cap was still largely symbolic. That time has now come, putting the price cap to its most serious test so far and underlining its weaknesses. But most of that, economists say, stems from Europe's ban on Russian oil, which cost Moscow its main customer. They're accused of carrying Russian oil priced at $75 and $80 per barrel while relying on U.S.-connected service providers. “The price cap is working,” says Nataliia Shapoval, vice president for policy research at the Kyiv school.

Persons: —, Benjamin Hilgenstock, Vladimir Putin, ” Hilgenstock, P Global Platts, It's, They're, “, ”, Viktor Katona, haven't, Alexander Novak, Putin, Novak, Europe —, Craig Kennedy, doesn't, Nataliia Shapoval, Shapoval, Josh Boak Organizations: Kyiv School of Economics, International Monetary Fund, U.S . Treasury Department, Stanford University, ”, Russia ”, Research, Energy, Clean, P Global, Russia, U.S . Treasury, United Arab Emirates, Treasury, Radio Business, Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian, Studies, Kyiv, Stanford, Tanker Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Ukrainian, U.S, Moscow, Helsinki, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Kozmino, Turkey, India, Russian, Asia, Washington, russia, ukraine

☆ A price cap on Russian oil aims to starve Putin of cash. But it’s largely been untested. Until now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

For months after Ukraine's Western allies limited sales of Russian oil to $60 per barrel, the price cap was still largely symbolic. That time has now come, putting the price cap to its most serious test so far and underlining its weaknesses. But most of that, economists say, stems from Europe's ban on Russian oil, which cost Moscow its main customer. The U.K. Treasury says it is "actively undertaking a number of investigations into suspected breaches of the oil price cap." "And there's a reason why the shippers haven't really complained or haven't flagged any issues with the oil price cap — because it's very easily circumvented."

Persons: —, Hilgenstock, P Global Platts, It's, Benjamin Hilgenstock, Vladimir Putin, They're, Viktor Katona, haven't, Alexander Novak, Putin, Novak, Europe —, Craig Kennedy, doesn't, Nataliia Shapoval, Shapoval Organizations: Salym Petroleum, U.S . Treasury Department, Stanford University, Research, Energy, Clean, P Global, Kyiv School of Economics, International Monetary Fund, Russia, U.S . Treasury, United Arab Emirates, Treasury, Radio Business, Harvard's Davis Center for Russian, Studies, Kyiv, Stanford, Tanker Locations: Salym, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Moscow, Helsinki, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian, Europe, Kozmino, Turkey, India, Russian, Asia

☆ Two key indicators with with spooky significance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

As in 5% yield on the 10-year T-bill, and 8% interest on the 30-year fixed rate mortgage. The 10-year Treasury yield, which goes up as prices fall, is flirting with 5% for the first time since 2007 (that’s ominous comparison No. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is barreling toward 8% — a level not seen since the dot-com bubble popped in 2000. Because:In addition to painfully high interest rates, prices on the homes themselves have soared. “Unfortunately, the upward shift in Treasury yields this week will likely make returning to ‘normal’ an even more challenging target to hit,” Walden said.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Nicole Goodkind, Sellers don’t, Anna Bahney, Andy Walden, ” Walden, ”, Jerome Powell, you’ll Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, econ, Treasury, US Treasury, ICE Mortgage Technology, ICE Locations: New York, Econ

☆ Amazon says bottles allegedly containing delivery drivers' urine listed as energy drink on its website was a 'crude stunt'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Oobah Butler says he was able to list and sell Amazon drivers' urine on the marketplace. An Amazon spokesperson called it a "crude stunt" and said no "genuine customer" bought the product. Insider has previously reported that urinating in bottles has become a common part of the job for Amazon delivery drivers. In the past, the company has denied its delivery drivers pee in bottles, but later admitted some of its drivers do urinate in bottles on the job. On Monday, an Amazon spokesperson told Insider that drivers are given reminders to take breaks throughout the day.

Persons: Oobah Butler, Butler, —, WIRED, he'd, they've, they'd, – Organizations: Amazon, Service, Energy Locations: Coventry

☆ A recession will hit next year, hammering stock prices and home values, Wall Street veteran predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Wall Street veteran expects stocks and house prices to fall once unemployment and mortgage defaults rise. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA recession will strike the US economy next year, pummeling stocks and house prices, a Wall Street veteran has warned. So, I predict that's going to happen not until sometime, at best, mid next year." 'Sell everything, you're going bankrupt.'

Persons: Harley Bassman, Bassman, Steve Eisman, —, Rosenberg, Merrill Lunch, it's, I've, Steve Carrell, Mark Baum Organizations: Wall Street, Service, Management, Credit Suisse, Merrill

Mortgage rates spiked dramatically this week, though they've calmed a bit over the past couple of days. Average 30-year mortgage rates are holding steady below 8%, but it's unclear if they could climb further and finally spike above this long-feared milestone. If it is, we could see mortgage rates recede a bit. But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: they've, you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve, Fed, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

☆ Why now is actually a good time to buy a house
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

And yet, there's an argument to be made for getting in now if you can find something, even amid 20-year high mortgage rates and stubbornly high prices. Mortgage rates at 8% have sidelined a good portion of the competition. High mortgage rates are the new normalThat message doesn't appear to be getting through to prospective homebuyers, who have made themselves scarce as mortgage rates have continued their steady rise in 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisementFairweather sees mortgage rates staying where they are until the Fed begins to cut rates in mid-2024. That could cause mortgage rates to ease around 100 basis-points next year, dropping as low as 7%.

Persons: —, Barbara Corcoran, don't, Lawrence Yun, Daryl Fairweather, Fairweather Organizations: Service, Corcoran, National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve

☆ The housing market was already painful, ugly and anxious. Now the 8% mortgage rate is back
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowToday's housing market is a toxic mix of high mortgage rates, high prices, tight supply and strangely strong pent-up demand — and it's scaring off buyers and sellers alike. Now the popular 30-year fixed mortgage rate is at 8%, the highest in decades, making things even tougher. The result was record-low mortgage rates for two solid years. That, ironically, made the housing market even more expensive. They have little desire to trade the 3% rate they currently have for an 8% mortgage rate on a new purchase.

Persons: Matthew Graham, MND's Graham, He's, Lisa Resch, What's, Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: Mortgage News, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Compass, Washington , D.C, NAR, Buyers Locations: Washington ,, Florida, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Houston , Texas, Memphis , Tennessee, homebuilders, Horton

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