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☆ U.S. leading indicator falls for sixth consecutive month in August
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Sarah SilbigerWASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A gauge of future U.S. economic activity declined for a sixth straight month in August, potentially signaling a recession amid large interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve. The Conference Board said on Thursday its Leading Economic Index fell 0.3% last month after decreasing 0.5% in July. "Economic activity will continue slowing more broadly throughout the U.S. economy and is likely to contract," said Ataman Ozyildirim, senior economics director at the Conference Board in Washington. The Conference Board projects a recession in the coming quarters." It signaled more large increases to come this year.

☆ Central banks raise rates again as Fed drives global inflation fight
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Francesco Canepa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We have got to get inflation behind us," Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told reporters after Fed policymakers unanimously agreed to raise the central bank's benchmark overnight interest rate to a range of 3.00%-3.25%. Market participants have also pushed up their rate expectations for the European Central Bank, which is all but certain to hike again on Oct. 23. It is now seen taking its own interest rate to almost 3% next year from 0.75% now. We won't be raising interest rates for some time," Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said after the policy decision. Meanwhile, Turkey's central bank continued with its unorthodox policy on Thursday by delivering another surprise interest rate cut despite inflation running at more than 80%, sending the lira to an all-time low against the dollar.

☆ Millennials and Gen Z want to stop a climate catastrophe. But first they have to get elected.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +24 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, told young climate activists in 2019, "You didn't vote for me." AP Photo/Gemunu AmarasingheBut most policy debates aren't genuinely existential in the way climate change is. "Younger Democrats tend to have a much more friendly relationship and response to the party's activist class than older Democrats do." Fossil-fuel interests have played a central role in stymieing progress on climate change for decades. Nearly a decade later, Trump ran for and won the presidency — with Gingrich's early and staunch support — while calling climate change a "hoax."

☆ U.S. mortgage interest rates reach 6.25%, highest level since October 2008
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File PhotoSept 21 (Reuters) - The average interest rate on the most popular U.S. home loan climbed to its highest level since October 2008, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) data showed on Wednesday. Rising mortgage rates are increasingly weighing on the interest-rate-sensitive housing sector as the Federal Reserve pushes on with aggressively lifting borrowing costs in order to tame high inflation. The central bank is set to raise interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point for a third straight time later on Wednesday. The yield on the 10-year note acts as a benchmark for mortgage rates. The MBA also said its Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 3.8 percent from a week earlier, but remained well below last year's levels.

The rate hikes are the sharpest since the last time the Fed, under Paul Volcker's leadership, battled super-high inflation in the 1980s. But the projections do show Americans are in for some pain ahead as the Fed works to end inflation and prevent what Powell says would otherwise be even worse outcomes. By the end of 2024 policymakers see inflation at 2.3%, and easing to its 2% target by the end of 2025. Historically once the unemployment rate rises by half a percentage point, it continues to rise another point or two, if not more. Wednesday's projections show Fed policymakers have also become more pessimistic about the outlook for economic growth.

Fed policymakers expect it to rise to 4.4% by the end of next year, projections released Wednesday show. The availability of nearly two job openings for every job seeker reflects that, and Fed policymakers hope businesses will respond to interest rate hikes mostly by trimming hiring rather than with outright layoffs. Fed policymakers see inflation, now at 6.3% by their preferred measure, falling to 2.8% by the end of next year, projections released on Wednesday show. But in general, banks are slow to pass on the Fed's rate increases to savers and do so at levels typically far below the central bank's policy rate and, currently, inflation. With the rise in rates, monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced existing home have jumped nearly 60% to $1,940 this year.

☆ Washington Monument vandalized, one man taken into custody
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCars pass by the Washington Monument at night in Washington, U.S., October 24, 2021. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A man has been taken into custody after the Washington Monument was vandalized late on Tuesday, police said, adding that the area around the base of the monument has been temporarily closed. "Area around base of the Washington Monument temporarily closed. NPS (National Park Service) conservators will work on restoration process," the United States Park Police (USPP) said on Twitter. Images posted on Twitter by local media showed red paint smeared on the west side of the monument's base.

☆ Here comes the main course
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The lead-up to the U.S. central bank event has been bumpy and could spell more volatility for Asian markets in the hours before the Fed's statement. Ahead of the rate decision, rates continued their ascent. The 2-year Treasury yield , which tracks Fed rates closely, approached 4%, the highest since 2007. Reuters GraphicsOn Tuesday, Sweden provided the appetizer for the feast of central bank action to follow the rest of the week. The country's central bank caught markets off-guard in hiking interest rates by a larger-than-expected full percentage point.

According to travel insurance agency Squaremouth, the average travel insurance premium is currently $267.47. Travel insurance weekly rates at a glance:Average premium: $267.47Average trip cost: $5,695.14Average trip length: 16 daysAverage cost of travel insurance by most popular destinationsIt's worth noting that some countries are naturally more expensive with flight and lodging costs, which could ultimately increase your travel insurance costs. Policy type Average days between purchase to trip Average Trip length (days) Average trip cost Average cost of travel insurance Cancellation 53 14 $5,949.67 $362.86 Non-cancellation 16 21 N/A $97.48Source: SquareMouthInsider's Featured Travel Insurance Companies World Nomads Travel InsuranceAllianz Travel InsuranceTravelex travel insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. When calculating your travel insurance premium, travel insurance providers consider the likelihood of a medical emergency. Before getting a travel insurance policy, it's essential to make sure that the terms match your needs or concerns.

Beats headphones are currently discounted on Amazon as part of a limited-time sale. The Beats Flex, Beats Studio3, and Beats Fit Pro are included, matching deals we've seen in the past. The promotion includes $40 off the Beats Flex (two-pack), $150 off the Beats Studio3, and a free $25 Amazon gift card with the Beats Fit Pro. Deal Beats Fit Pro plus $25 Amazon Gift Card The Beats Fit Pro can be used in the gym with active noise-canceling technology and on the trails with transparency mode. Deal Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds 2-Pack The new Beats Flex wireless earbuds offer the AirPods' most basic features — like quick pairing and automatic pausing — for an affordable price.

☆ Poll: GOP is winning on the economy, immigration; Democrats are ahead on abortion and health care
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Chuck-Todd-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Chuck Todd | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

... And Joe O’Dea pitches himself as pro-abortion rights in Colorado Senate while Democrats push back. The Republican Party holds all-time high advantages on the economy, crime and border security, while the Democrats have an all-time high on abortion and a double-digit edge on health care. Midterm roundup: Trump hits the trail in OhioFormer President Donald Trump traveled to Ohio over the weekend to boost GOP Senate hopeful J.D. Not every GOP Senate candidate is eager to campaign with Trump. It’s a position on abortion that is different from that of his fellow Republican Senate candidates, many of whom favor stricter bans with few exceptions.

☆ My work is closing on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, and now I can't afford to eat
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Monday is a public holiday for the Queen's funeral, so many workplaces are closed for the day. Three people told Insider how this is adding to their struggle to afford food and electricity bills. Syd, 29, works full-time at a cinema and is losing a day of work on Monday as their workplace in Kent shuts down. It's offensive," they told Insider. He told Insider, "I don't have any savings, and I'm worried about rapidly falling into poverty due to the insane cost of living and lack of opportunity."

☆ Senator Ted Cruz says that transporting migrants is illegal, but commends GOP governors for it anyway
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ted Cruz praised GOP governors for transporting migrants to Democratic areas. The legality of governors transporting migrants is murky, legal experts have said. Greg Abbott transporting migrants to Democratic areas such as Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts and Washington DC. Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference held at the Cox Science Center & Aquarium on June 08, 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The law is unclear on the legality of governors' transporting migrants, The Washington Post said, with legal experts saying not enough information is known to draw conclusions.

☆ Why deleting something from the internet is 'almost impossible'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

In his testimony and whistleblower disclosure, Zatko alleged Twitter does not reliably delete users' data, in some cases because it has lost track of the information. Twitter has broadly defended itself against Zatko's allegations, saying his disclosure paints a "false narrative" of the company. In response to questions from CNN, Twitter has previously said it has workflows in place to "begin a deletion process" but has not said whether it typically completes that process. Photo by Sarah Silbiger for CNNWhile Zatko's allegations are stunning, it also served as just another reminder to Sandra Matz of "how oftentimes mindless we are" in sharing our data online. "Retracting something from the internet, hitting the reset button — is almost impossible."

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightBottom line: Ally Invest Robo Portfolios is ideal for hands-off investors in search of automated ETF portfolios without fees. Ally Invest Robo Portfolios: Overall RatingFeature Insider rating (out of 5) Fees 5.00 Investment selection 4.25 Access 4.03 Ethics 4.50 Customer service 5.00 Overall score 4.56Is Ally Invest Robo Portfolios right for you? Ally Invest Robo Portfolios is an Ally Financial-affiliated automated account offering investing without fees for US residents. Ally Invest Advisors, Inc. manages the account and is in turn a subsidiary of Ally Invest Group, Inc. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightAlly Invest Robo Portfolios vs. FidelityAlly Invest Fidelity Investments Min.

"Thor: Love and Thunder" hit Disney Plus on September 8 as part of the service's Disney Plus Day event. "Thor: Love and Thunder" is also directed by Waititi, making it the second Thor film he's helmed, following "Thor: Ragnarok." How to watch 'Thor: Love and Thunder'"Thor: Love and Thunder" is now available to watch with a Disney Plus subscription. Disney Plus can be streamed via web browser or the Disney Plus app on most smart TVs, streaming players, or mobile devices. (L-R): Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor and Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios' "Thor: Love and Thunder."

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are two of the best rewards credit cards with annual fees at the $95 level. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is a better pick if you prefer using rewards for cash back. See Business Insider's list of the best rewards credit cards you can get »Compare the Premium Rewards and Sapphire Preferred Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardBank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Earning rate on purchasesWhile both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card give you 2x points on travel (not purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®), the Bank of America Premium Rewards card comes out way ahead in terms of ongoing earnings. Potential for 25% to 75% more rewards with the Bank of America Premium Rewards cardThe Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card also comes with a really unique perk for Bank of America customers.

Compare the Quicksilver Cash Rewards and Freedom Unlimited Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardChase Freedom Unlimited® Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the winner here, offering up 5% cash back in more categories than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has a similar extended warranty benefit but does not have purchase protection. Both the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can be a great choice. For benefits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a little better for purchase protections but the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers no foreign transaction fee compared to a 3% fee with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

☆ Is Twitter ready for the midterms?
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-26 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

The disclosure alleges that Twitter is rife with security and privacy vulnerabilities that put users, investors and even US national security at risk, and that Twitter executives have misled its board and regulators about its shortcomings. Members of the US House Committee on Homeland Security on Thursday sent Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal a letter demanding that he address Zatko’s allegations and explain Twitter’s readiness for the 2022 midterms. In 2020, hackers tricked Twitter employees into handing over internal access that allowed them to take over the accounts of prominent figures such as former President Barack Obama and then-Presidential candidate Joe Biden. “Twitter employees were repeatedly found to be intentionally installing spyware on their work computers at the request of external organizations,” the disclosure states. Twitter’s employees use devices overseen by other IT and security teams with the power to prevent a device from connecting to sensitive internal systems if it is running outdated software, Twitter added.

☆ How BlackRock is angling to get it on the boom in renewable natural gas, a controversial energy source
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-25 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

BlackRock's acquisition of Vanguard Renewables underscores the rise of renewable natural gas. It is also where the world's largest asset manager went and found its latest target: An eight-year-old energy company with 160 employees called Vanguard Renewables. Last month BlackRock said one of its funds would acquire Vanguard (no relation to its asset management rival), which produces what the industry calls renewable natural gas, or biomethane. "The gas industry has done a great job in branding both natural gas and renewable natural gas. RNG projects capture methane, which has a far greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide, and turn that into a renewable energy.

The sixth and final season of "Better Call Saul" concluded on August 15. You can stream the last half of the final season on AMC Plus, and catch up on older seasons with a Netflix subscription. How to watch 'Better Call Saul' season 6You can watch the final six episodes of "Better Call Saul" season six with a subscription to the AMC Plus streaming service. Keep in mind, however, that "Better Call Saul" episodes only remain available on AMC Plus for a limited time. The show has received 46 Emmy nominations over its run, including seven for its sixth and final season.

☆ Attention Gmail users: Your inboxes are about to get way more spammy with political email thanks to a new ruling by federal regulators
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-11 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Google asked federal regulators to OK a plan for easing spam filters on political emails. Even a commissioner who wasn't thrilled with the notion of unleashing more political emails on an overloaded electorate concluded Google's program proposal is legal. "If people want political spam, let them sign up for it. Before the final vote Thursday, Weintraub motioned to approve a alternate ruling that would have effectively prevented Google from launching its pilot program. Gmail users will retain the right to opt-out of receiving political emails, but this will require more vigilance on their part.

Mortgage rates are more directly impacted by investor demand for mortgage-backed securities. If the Fed can tame inflation, mortgage rates may trend down in the coming years. But while the Fed does often have some impact on whether mortgage rates go up or down, the central bank's rate and mortgage rates aren't as closely tied together as some might think. What the Fed rate hike means for mortgage ratesWhen the federal funds rate goes up, short-term consumer rates typically trend up, too. So if investors believe that the Fed won't be able to tame inflation, mortgage rates might trend up.

Persons: —, Shashank Shekhar, it's, Shekhar Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Fed, Investors, Mortgage Bankers Association

☆ The new Instacart Mastercard earns up to to 5% cash back, and new cardholders get $100 in Instacart credit and a year of Instacart+
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-22 | by ( Tessa Campbell | Sarah Silbert | Junior Investing Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Earn $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval, plus a free year of Instacart+ membershipRead Insider's guide to the best credit cards for buying groceries. Instacart and Chase just launched the first-ever co-branded card by a food delivery service: the Instacart Mastercard® Credit Card. Product Details Get a free year of Instacart+ and a $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval. AdvertisementOne year of free Instacart+ membershipWhen you're approved for the Instacart Mastercard®, you'll get a free year of Instacart+ (previously named Instacart Express). If you're already an Instacart shopper, the Instacart Mastercard® Credit Card could be a great fit.

Persons: Chase, —, you'll, We're, cardholders, You'll, there's Organizations: Mastercard, Service, Chase Travel, Aldi, CVS, Chase Travel Center, Elite Mastercard, American Express, U.S, Walmart, Target Locations: Instacart.com, U.S

☆ Marriott's business credit cards just got even more valuable thanks to an increased welcome bonus, Gold elite status, and a room rate discount
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-21 | by ( Sarah Silbert | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is adding three new benefits and launching an increased welcome bonus. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Now, when you book a standard guest room with cash directly through Marriott using your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business card, you'll get a 7% discount. Plus, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (and the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business card) gives you 15 elite night credits toward Marriott status each calendar year, which means you'd have 30 night credits toward Platinum elite status, which is even more valuable than Gold. Personal Finance Insider values Marriott Bonvoy® points at 0.7 cents apiece, so the new welcome offer could get you $700 in value.

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