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☆ S&P 500 futures are little changed as Wall Street awaits Fed decision: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

S&P 500 futures are near flat Tuesday night as investors parsed the latest earnings reports and readied for the Federal Reserve monetary policy decision coming Wednesday afternoon. Futures tied to the broad index lost 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures ticked higher by 0.2%. Fed funds futures are pricing in a strong likelihood that central bankers will keep rates steady at the 5.25% to 5.5% range, according to CME's FedWatch Tool. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are tracking to end July down 0.4% and 3.3%, respectively. The Dow and Russell 2000 are slated to finish the month higher by more than 4% and 9%, respectively.

Persons: Dow, Russell, Jerome Powell, CME's, Powell, Bryce Doty Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Microsoft, Sit Investment, Fed, Boeing, Albemarle, Qualcomm, Etsy

☆ Dollar, yen hold tight ranges ahead of BOJ, Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar and yen kept within close ranges on Tuesday as traders awaited a barrage of key central bank decisions, kicking off with midweek monetary policy meetings from the Bank of Japan and Federal Reserve. The dollar and yen kept within close ranges on Tuesday as traders awaited a barrage of key central bank decisions, kicking off with midweek monetary policy meetings from the Bank of Japan and Federal Reserve. The Japanese currency was taking a breather from its recent rally as the BOJ began its two-day meeting on Tuesday, having surged over 2% against the dollar last week. The Fed is widely expected to stand pat this week, but markets are betting the U.S. central bank will begin cutting rates at the following meeting in September. Investors will be listening for any hints that Fed Chair Jerome Powell may drop on how soon policymakers are prepared to cut rates at his press conference.

Persons: Matt Simpson, Jerome Powell, Powell, Jackson, Index's Simpson, Sterling, bitcoin Organizations: Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Index, Fed, Treasury, Bank of England's Locations: U.S

☆ Is the Labor Market About to Crack? It’s the Key Question for the Fed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

David Gurley Jr.’s bank account benefited from a hot pandemic labor market. Mr. Gurley, a video game programmer, switched jobs twice in quick succession, boosting his salary and nabbing a fully remote position. But when it comes to the outlook now, “it seems like things are more or less OK,” Mr. Gurley, 35, said. Mr. Gurley’s experience — a rip-roaring labor market, then a wobbly one and now some semblance of normality — is the kind of postpandemic roller-coaster ride that many Americans have encountered. Now economic officials are trying to figure out whether the labor market is settling into a new holding pattern or is poised to take a turn for the worse.

Persons: David Gurley Jr, Gurley, Mr Organizations: Federal Reserve

☆ 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

☆ Why Global Investors Are Watching What Japan Does Next
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Joe Rennison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Japan’s central bankers meet this week, and what they decide has the potential to move markets around the world. While policymakers in the United States and elsewhere either are preparing to cut interest rates or have already done so, the Bank of Japan is only just beginning to raise them. “Japan is in a different world,” said Kei Okamura, a portfolio manager based in Japan at the investment firm Neuberger Berman. The Bank of Japan cut interest rates below zero in 2016 and kept them there until March, when it announced the first rate increase in 17 years, as the economy showed signs of recovery from anemic growth and low inflation. Economists believe the central bank might raise rates again at its upcoming meeting, which concludes on Wednesday.

Persons: ”, Kei Okamura, Neuberger Berman Organizations: Bank of Japan, The Bank of Japan Locations: Japan, United States

☆ Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti says Wall Street's 'next big wave' in AI will come down to culture, not just technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In as soon as three years, there probably won't be an employee at Goldman Sachs who isn't touched by AI, predicted Goldman Sachs' chief information officer, Marco Argenti. The hypothesis (which Argenti conceded is "completely not scientific") goes to show the incredible momentum of generative AI on Wall Street. Goldman, like its peers up and down the Street, put generative AI tools in the hands of their software engineers to help them write and document code faster. Now, Argenti is looking ahead to "the next big wave" in Goldman's AI journey: front-office workers. What do you think will be different about how Goldman adopts generative AI versus your competition?

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Marco Argenti, Argenti, Goldman, copilot, We're, We've Organizations: Service, Business, Wall

☆ The first Fed interest rate cut in years is on the horizon. Here's what homeowners, buyers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve is poised to make the first interest rate cut in years this fall, which can influence mortgage rates to go down. To that point, people in the market to buy a home have been eagerly waiting for the Fed to cut rates. The Fed is meeting this week, but experts say it seems more likely that the first rate cut will come in September. That would be the first rate cut since 2020 in the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While mortgage rates are fixed and mostly tied to Treasury yields and the economy, they are partly influenced by the Fed's policy.

Persons: Chen Zhao, Freddie Mac, Refinance, it's, Zhao, Selma Hepp, Hepp, Jacob Channel, there's Organizations: Fed, Treasury, Mortgage, Association, Finance Locations: Redfin

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

☆ 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

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

☆ 31-year-old once played guitar for $3 in tips—now he brings in up to $70,000 a month between music and real estate
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Lin pours earnings from his day job into real estate. Managing rental properties: 'It's so minimal that I don't even consider it work'The majority of Lin's $1 million net worth is tied up in real estate. He chose to buy in Little Rock, where real estate prices are lower and rent is stable, he says. Lin bought a portfolio of three houses in March 2023, then another building in February 2024. Real estate takes up a lot of Lin's time when he's actively searching for a new place to buy, or when he's dealing with tenant turnover.

Persons: Moses Lin, Lin, Lin customizes, Sophie Epton, influencers, he'll, I'm, — I'm, I've, It's, he's, who's, we're Organizations: CNBC Locations: Southern California, Little Rock , Arkansas, California, Italy, Lake Como, Milan, Ireland, Dubai, Singapore, Chicago , New York, Little Rock

☆ It may already be too late for the Fed to stop a recession, former central bank president says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"Although it might already be too late to fend off a recession by cutting rates, dawdling now unnecessarily increases the risk," the former New York Federal Reserve President said. But to Dudley, even this is too late, and central bankers would do better to pivot rates at next week's policy meeting. AdvertisementAccording to Dudley, this slowdown points to fewer jobs down the road, and an uptick in unemployment could set off a near-certain recession indicator: the Sahm Rule. Despite this, Dudley suggested that the Fed might not be as concerned about breaching the Sahm Rule as it should be. According to Dudley, there are two other reasons the Fed may be waiting for September to cut rates.

Persons: —, Bill Dudley, dawdling, Dudley, Jerome Powell, Claudia Sahm, I'm Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, New York Federal, Business, Fed Locations: Dudley

☆ U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace in the second quarter, much more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Real gross domestic product , a measure of all the goods and services produced during the April-through-June period, increased at a 2.8% annualized pace adjusted for seasonality and inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for growth of 2.1% following a 1.4% increase in the first quarter. Economic activity in the U.S. was considerably stronger than expected during the second quarter, according to an initial estimate Thursday from the Commerce Department. The so-called chain-weighted price index, which takes into account changes in consumer behavior, increased 2.3% for the quarter, below the 2.6% estimate. There also is pressure in the housing market: Sales are declining while home prices continue to climb, putting pressure on first-time homebuyers.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Commerce Department, Stock, Federal Reserve, Fed, Philadelphia Federal Locations: U.S

AdvertisementSpeed and ease — that's how generative AI is changing the game for finance professionals. In a survey of 780 banking and capital-markets employees by Accenture Research, 62% of respondents expect generative AI to increase people's stress and burnout. "Employees with AI skills will replace people without AI skills," Andrew Chin, the chief AI officer at the $759 billion money manager AllianceBernstein, told BI. AdvertisementA data scientist at a midsize hedge fund told BI that generative AI models are a "superpower for coders." The firm's ultimate aim is to use generative AI to replicate the success of its best bankers for all advisors.

Persons: Christina Melas, Rowe Price's Sébastien, Eric Burl, Alyssa Powell, Thomas H, Lee, Keri Smith, Smith, Ken Griffin, They've, Goldman Sachs, Marco Argenti, Argenti, It's, I've, drudge, Andrew Chin, AllianceBernstein, Lisa Donahue, Donahue, Jobs, who's, He's, he'd, ChatGPT, Accenture's Smith Organizations: Bain Capital Ventures, Management, Business, Bain Capital, Man Group, Accenture Research, Finance, Wall Street, Blackstone, Sigma, Citadel, Milken Institute Global Conference, Excel, Accenture, Northern Trust, Citibank, Citi, JPMorgan Locations: New York City, New York

☆ Mortgage demand drops, as homebuyers wait for lower rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage interest rates eased very slightly last week, but not enough to get today's potential homebuyers off the fence. Homebuyers are also likely waiting for interest rates to drop further. While mortgage rates don't follow the Fed exactly (they follow loosely the yield on the 10-year Treasury), rates will come down if investors believe inflation is easing. "We'd probably want to see mortgage rates come down 100 basis points, so I think if we had a five handle, even in the high fives, I think the market could see more momentum." Rates today are very slightly lower than they were last year at this time.

Persons: Joel Kan, Ivy Zelman, Kan Organizations: Mortgage, Association, Federal Reserve Locations: Hawthorn Woods , Illinois

☆ Tesla keeps touting future plans. But without specific details, investors aren't buying it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at another Tesla earnings report that was light on details about big future plans . The approach worked well last quarter when Tesla's earnings report was even worse than expected . However, big-picture plans without concrete details fell flat for investors this time around. It's Tesla's silver lining amid the EV market slowdown. But as beneficial as competitors were to Tesla this quarter, others seem to be gearing up for battle.

Persons: Jordan Strauss, Chelsea Jia Feng, Elon, Katherine Tangalakis, Hannah Getahun, that's, —, Musk, Toby Melville, BI's Nora Naughton, It's, BI's Jordan Hart, Sundar Pichai, Waymo, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Wall, Keith Lerner, Ed Yardeni, Michael M, Tyler Le, Jensen Huang, Rebecca Zisser, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Annie Smith, Amanda Yen Organizations: Business, Chelsea, AP, Tesla, Getty, BI Supply, Nvidia, Big Tech, Hollywood, AWS, Microsoft, Paramount, Digital, Google, IBM, Ford Motors, Samsung, Galaxy, The Locations: Waymo, San Francisco, Phoenix, New York, Paris, London

☆ Wall Street is hooked on Zyn. Here's how it is handling the shortage.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Over on Wall Street, the shortage — dubbed the "Zynpocalypse" — has not always been easy, according to finance-industry workers who spoke to BI about their love of Zyn. The sidewalk kiosk sells everything from gum to magazines to the latest New York City tabloid newspapers and is frequented by Wall Street workers, he said. Mark MoranAs Business Insider reported in January, the product has been hot across Wall Street, with sell-side traders ordering it in bulk, so it's always around. Alex NicollMoran quit Wall Street in 2021 and currently runs investor relations firm Equity Animal. "Some of these kids are just doing it because it's become a staple of Wall Street," Moran said of junior bankers in their early 20s.

Persons: —, Philip Morris, Emmanuel Babeau, Phillip Morris, I'm, Morgan Stanley, Nihal, Zyn, Alex Nicoll, Mark Moran, it's, Moran, Lazard, Alex Nicoll Moran, I'd Organizations: Service, Phillip Morris International, Wall Street, Business, BI, Barclays, Sixth, Velo, Lazard, North America, Washington, Equity Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Washington ,, Kentucky, Colorado, Swedish

☆ The Fed is only going to cut rates once in 2024 as shelter inflation is too high and the job market is hot, Vanguard says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Fed will only cut interest rates 25 basis-points this year, Vanguard predicted. Central bankers will be held back by high shelter costs and a strong job market, the firm said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates just once this year, as housing costs are too high and the job market is still too hot, Vanguard said. That's a lot less than more ambitious rate cut scenarios see for the rest of this year, with investors expecting as many as three rate cuts by December, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Persons: — Organizations: Vanguard, Service, Business

Mortgage rates are up slightly today but they remain below their early-July highs. Mortgage rates are expected to trend down throughout the remainder of 2024 as long as inflation continues to slow. As mortgage rates drop, borrowers with rates in the 7% or 8% range should be able to save money by refinancing. 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: Fannie Mae Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, ARM Locations: Chevron

Understanding the Federal Reserve's role in mortgage ratesThe Federal Reserve's actions are a big influencer in where mortgage rates head. In the time since the Fed began raising rates, mortgage rates have climbed steadily. The Fed's impact on mortgage rates FAQsHow does the Federal Reserve affect mortgage rates? The Federal Reserve influences mortgage rates by setting the federal funds rate, which impacts borrowing costs, investor activity, and market conditions. When the Fed raises interest rates, mortgage rates often increase as well, making borrowing more expensive.

Persons: Michael Gifford, Fannie Mae's Organizations: Federal, Federal Reserve, Fed, Treasury, it's, Mortgage Bankers Association, Reserve, Chevron Locations: lockstep

Mortgage rates have steadily been decreasing for several months now. Mortgage rates are determined by a variety of factors, including economic trends, Fed policy, investor demand, and more. 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: they've, Freddie Mac, you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

Like other consumer rates, mortgage rates are impacted in large part by what's going on in the economy. This allowed mortgage rates to drop as low as they did, with 30-year mortgage rates reaching an all-time low of 2.65% in January 2021, according to Freddie Mac. Because mortgage rates are still so high, some hopeful homebuyers have decided to wait for lower rates to start shopping for homes. Mortgage rates in 2024: FAQsWill mortgage rates go down in 2024? All consumer interest rates, including mortgage rates, should start to ease as soon as inflation slows further.

Persons: Homebuyers, homebuyers, what's, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, that's Organizations: Fed, Bureau of Labor Statistics, NAR, National Association of Realtors, CNBC, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Veterans United, Loans, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association Locations: Chevron

☆ President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid. What's next?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid . The president ended his reelection campaign on Sunday, the culmination of mounting pressure from his party after a disastrous debate last month. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that "Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President." Biden's reelection campaign has quickly pivoted to serve Harris, making it an uphill battle for any Democrat looking to challenge her , writes Business Insider's Brent D. Griffiths. Many have made comparisons to the 1968 Democratic convention , which was a contested convention after President Lyndon B. Johnson ended his reelection campaign earlier that year.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, Alyssa Powell, BI Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Jared Siskin, Biden's, Insider's Brent D, Griffiths, Hillary Clinton, BI's Bryan Metzger, Lyndon B, Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Humphrey, Richard Nixon, Brent, Here's, Sieg, Merrill Lynch, Abanti Chowdhury, Andy Sieg, Warren Buffett's, Buffett, Paul Chinn, Andrew Caballero Reynolds, Marc Andreessen, he'd, Andreessen, Trump, BI's Adam Rogers, OpenAI, Sam Altman's, slowdowns, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Annie Smith, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, Business, BI, Democratic, Madison, Park Conservancy, Citi Wealth, BI Citi Wealth, Bank of Montreal, Buffett Locations: Park, Plenty, Washington, Chicago, Southern, New York, London

☆ Stock investors are staring down a bearish trifecta that could spark a 12% market drop by October, strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He's steering clear of Big Tech stocks, and for now he's only bullish on "dull, boring, and predictable" names. Tech stocks now account for highest portion of the S&P 500 since the early 2000s, according to an analysis from Société Générale. AdvertisementAnother risk to stocks lies in interest rates, Blain said, as borrowing costs look poised to stay higher for longer. "There is an awful lot of people in the financial markets who just don't understand that zero interest rates and ultra-low interest rates are not normal," Blain added. AdvertisementThe final risk Blain is eyeing is the upcoming presidential election, which contains a handful of uncertainties that could batter stocks, Blain said.

Persons: Bill Blain, Blain isn't, —, that's, Blain, Biden, he's, Générale, John Hussman, I've, eyeing, We've, Morgan Stanley, Stifel, Richard Bernstein Organizations: Big Tech, Service, China, Nasdaq, Tech, stoke, Richard Bernstein Advisors

☆ The death of the personal check: As retailers move toward 'check zero,' here's what that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nadya Lukic | E+ | Getty ImagesMost Americans may not even remember the last time they wrote a check. Only 15% of adults said they wrote a few checks a month in 2023, according to a recent report by GoBankingRates. In fact, in the years since the Covid pandemic, Americans have fully embraced contactless and digital payment methods, while check writing has steadily declined into near-oblivion. Some retailers rule out paper checksAs of July 15, Target joined a growing list of retailers, including the Aldi supermarket chain, Whole Foods, Old Navy and Lululemon, that no longer accept personal checks as payment. So, if personal checks are heading toward extinction, who, if anyone, is affected?

Persons: Nadya Lukic, Target, Scott Anchin, Anchin Organizations: Getty, GoBankingRates, Aldi, Foods, Navy, Independent Community Bankers of America

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