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☆ Apple releases first preview of its long-awaited iPhone AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple on Monday released the first version of Apple Intelligence, its suite of artificial intelligence features that will improve Siri, automatically generate emails and images and sort notifications. The new software called Apple Intelligence was released in the developer beta of iOS 18.1. Apple Intelligence is an important initiative for Apple. Investors hope the tight integration of AI with Apple's operating system can spur a big wave of upgrades in the coming years, especially since the system will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and newer. "We expect this iPhone cycle to remain strong for longer as AI feature sets (software and possibly hardware) improve in the 2025 iPhone," Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in a note on Monday.

Persons: Siri, It's, Wamsi Mohan Organizations: Apple, Apple Intelligence, iOS, . Apple Intelligence, Max, " Bank of America

Less than an hour after a gunman in Butler, Pa., tried to assassinate Donald J. Trump this month, David Sacks, a venture capitalist based in San Francisco, directed his anger about the incident toward a former colleague. “The Left normalized this,” Mr. Sacks wrote on X, linking to a post about Reid Hoffman, a technology investor and major Democratic donor. Mr. Sacks implied that Mr. Hoffman, a critic of Mr. Trump who had funded a lawsuit accusing the former president of rape and defamation, had helped cause the shooting. Elon Musk, who leads SpaceX and Tesla and previously worked with Mr. Sacks and Mr. Hoffman, then weighed in on X, name-checking Mr. Hoffman and saying people like him “got their dearest wish.”In Silicon Valley, the spectacle of tech billionaire attacking tech billionaire has suddenly exploded, as pro-Trump executives and their Democratic counterparts have openly turned on each other. The brawling has spilled into public view online, at conferences and on podcasts, as debates about the country’s future have turned into personal broadsides.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, David Sacks, “, Mr, Sacks, Reid Hoffman, Hoffman, Elon Musk Organizations: Democratic, SpaceX, Tesla, Trump Locations: Butler, Pa, San Francisco, Silicon Valley

☆ 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

☆ I tried the signature burgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. I found the Big Mac underwhelming.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I tried the signature burgers from three fast-food chains: McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. I liked the smoky flavor of Burger King's Whopper, even though it was the priciest burger. AdvertisementAs a fast-food reporter, I've tried and tested many fast-food burgers over the years. USA Today reported in 2013 that McDonald's sold roughly 75 burgers every second, or 4,500 burgers every minute. Among those burgers, many of them are Big Macs — the chain's signature burger and arguably its most famous menu item.

Persons: Burger King, Mac, —, I've, McDonald's Organizations: Service, USA, Business Locations: America

☆ Stevie Nicks says she postponed 2 shows after an infection 'went crazy' and landed her in hospital
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Stevie Nicks said she was hospitalized for two days after getting a "crazy" infection. Speaking onstage in Glasgow, she said that was what caused her to postpone two tour dates. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementStevie Nicks has opened up about the health issue that caused her to reschedule two shows on her UK tour and left her in the hospital for two days. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Stevie Nicks, Nicks, —, Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Glasgow

☆ Defining a buyer's market 'is always a bit tricky,' real estate expert says: 4 signs to monitor
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Despite those headwinds, some indicators show the housing market is shifting away from a seller's market. That doesn't mean it's a buyer's market — yet: "The term buyer's market is always a bit tricky to work with," said Chen Zhao, the economic research lead at Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm. There are "rules of thumb" to define a buyer's market, like having more than four months of supply, she said. "We're still nationwide somewhat in a seller's market, not a buyer's market yet," he said. Here are four signs that can help you recognize if the housing market in your area is more in buyers' favor: 1.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Chen Zhao, Zhao, they're, We're, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin, Julie Zubiate, Selma Hepp, Sellers Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Federal, Zillow, CNBC, Finance, Sdi, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: U.S, Redfin, San Francisco Bay

The summer is usually a peak time for the housing market, but rising prices and still-high mortgage rates have kept demand relatively low. 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 interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesLast week's average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.78%, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates increased dramatically over the last two years, but they're expected to go down at some point this year.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, you'll, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Zillow Locations: Chevron

The 48 states also include the 15 states where former President Donald Trump, the Republicans’ 2024 nominee, had his highest share of the vote in 2020. Since Biden was never the official nominee, states say there’s no problem for HarrisThe election authorities in 48 states and the District of Columbia offered highly similar comments explaining why Harris does not face any hurdles getting on the ballot there. Chelsea Carattini, spokesperson for Republican Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, said in an interview: “There’s no issue. It’s impossible to say for certain whether a particular court in a particular state might rule that the state’s elections authority was wrong. Any challenges after the convention would be challenges to a nominee who received the support of the convention delegates under convention rules.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, CNN Harris, Harris, Johnson, they’re, ”, Biden, Donald Trump, Patrick Gannon, ” Gabriel Sterling, Brad Raffensperger, it’s, haven’t, ’, Chelsea Carattini, Phil McGrane, “, ” Michon Lindstrom, Michael Adams, Kamala, ” Rachel Soulek, Monae Johnson, ” Landon Palmer, State Mac Warner, ” Laney Rawls, Wes Allen, Rawls, CNN’s Tierney Sneed, Derek Muller, ” CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Ethan Cohen Organizations: Washington CNN, Democrats, Democratic, CNN, ABC, of Columbia, Republicans, District of Columbia, North, North Carolina State Board, State Board, Democratic Party, Republican Georgia, Republican, Trump, Chelsea, Republican Idaho, Republican Kentucky, Republican West, State, Republican Alabama, ”, University of Notre Dame Locations: Florida, Montana, Georgia, Arizona , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania, North Carolina , Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, South Dakota, Alabama

☆ This options strategy can profit off an Apple earnings surprise, Goldman says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The upcoming earnings report for Apple could create a big market move that options traders can take advantage of, according to Goldman Sachs. John Marshall, head of derivatives research at Goldman, said in a note to clients that the tech giant's earnings report after the bell on Aug. 1 could deliver a positive surprise. "[Goldman] Hardware analyst Michael Ng expects Apple (AAPL) to deliver an EPS beat at upcoming quarterly earnings driven by solid growth expectations for iPad/Mac and Services. A straddle is a type of options strategy involving a call and put option on a stock with the same expiration date and strike price. The Goldman note was written before Wednesday's tech sell-off, in which Apple fell 2.9%, so investors may want to consider other strike prices as well.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, John Marshall, Goldman, Michael Ng, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Apple, Goldman, Services

Average 30-year mortgage rates continue to hover in the mid-6% range after dropping earlier this month, according to Zillow data. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.77% last week, according to Freddie Mac. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesLast week, average 15-year mortgage rates were 6.05%, a 12-basis-point decrease from the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data. Once the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: homebuyers, myFICO, you'll, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow Locations: Chevron

Mortgage rates haven't moved much in recent days, with average 30-year mortgage rates sticking around 6.51% so far this week, according to Zillow data. 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. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates were 6.05% this week, according to Freddie Mac data, which is a 12-basis-point decrease from the previous week. As inflation comes down and the Federal Reserve is able to start cutting the federal funds rate, mortgage rates should fall further as well. Now that the Fed has paused hiking rates, mortgage rates have come down a bit.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Zillow, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Chevron

☆ My wife makes $500,000 a year and I'm a stay-at-home dad. It's been difficult to fit in with the mom crowd.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ken Mac, a 43-year-old stay-at-home dad in the Chicago area. AdvertisementWhen I told my coworkers I was resigning to become a stay-at-home dad, they were shocked that I'd leave such a well-paying job. Related storiesHowever, I feel the impact and reward of my job as a stay-at-home dad more than I did as an engineer. It also underscores the demands of being a stay-at-home parent — there are no breaks, no sick days, and no PTO. This always prompts a pause before I reveal I'm a stay-at-home dad.

Persons: —, Ken Mac, It's, Andrea, I've, I'd, wasn't, Ken, isn't, aren't, would've, Lauryn Haas Organizations: Service, Business, lhaas@businessinsider.com Locations: Chicago

☆ CrowdStrike outage: We finally know what caused it - and how much it cost
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Insurers have begun calculating the financial damage caused by last week’s devastating CrowdStrike software glitch that crashed computers, canceled flights and disrupted hospitals all around the globe — and the picture isn’t pretty. The estimates come the same day that CrowdStrike issued a preliminary report on how it inadvertently caused the widespread IT meltdown. Numerous Fortune 500 companies use CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software to detect and block hacking threats. Only a small portion, around 10% to 20%, may be covered by cybersecurity insurance policies, Parametrix added. The company routinely tests its software updates before pushing them out to customers, CrowdStrike said in the report.

Persons: What’s, CrowdStrike, Parametrix, ” Fitch, —, Asia “, ” CrowdStrike, “, Sean Lyngaas Organizations: CNN, Fortune, Delta Air Lines, The Department of Transportation, Microsoft, Windows, United, Fitch, CrowdStrike Locations: Europe, Asia

☆ Read the memo from CrowdStrike explaining how its update broke the world's computers
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The issue on Friday involved a Rapid Response Content update with an undetected error. Rapid Response Content Testing and DeploymentRapid Response Content is delivered as content configuration updates to the Falcon sensor. This release followed all Sensor Content testing procedures outlined above in the Sensor Content section. Software Resiliency and TestingImprove Rapid Response Content testing by using testing types such as: Local developer testing Content update and rollback testing Stress testing, fuzzing and fault injection Stability testing Content interface testingAdd additional validation checks to the Content Validator for Rapid Response Content. Rapid Response Content DeploymentImplement a staggered deployment strategy for Rapid Response Content in which updates are gradually deployed to larger portions of the sensor base, starting with a canary deployment.

Persons: —, CrowdStrike Organizations: Delta Air Lines, Windows, Linux, IPC

☆ He Was an Online Drug Lord. Now He’s a Crypto Entrepreneur.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Ryan Mac | Kashmir Hill | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At a cryptocurrency convention in Austin in May, Blake Emerson Benthall hustled for investor money alongside scores of other entrepreneurs. But none of them, it is safe to say, could pitch their experience as the leader of a multimillion-dollar criminal drug enterprise. In the convention’s “Deal Flow Zone,” Mr. Benthall, 5-foot-4, cleanshaven and wearing a gray tee with his start-up’s logo, turned his laptop around at a lunch table and began giving his spiel to a bespectacled potential investor. “I’m a lifelong entrepreneur,” Mr. Benthall said as he clicked through a presentation that detailed how he had run Silk Road 2.0, the second iteration of the infamous online bazaar where 1.7 million anonymous customers signed up and used Bitcoin to buy methamphetamine, heroin and other illegal substances. and the years he spent in the punitive employ of the federal government.

Persons: Blake Emerson Benthall hustled, Mr, Benthall, “ I’m, ” Mr Locations: Austin

Major purchases and loansLenders often require between one month and a year's worth of bank statements for loan applications. If you're short on computer storage, consider storing your digital bank statements in an encrypted manner on Google Drive or iCloud. Keeping bank statements FAQsWhy is it important to keep bank statements? You should keep bank statements for at least seven years, in case the IRS needs to verify transactions during an audit. Keeping digital copies of your bank statements is increasingly preferred to keeping physical copies.

Persons: Patrina Dixon, Dixon Organizations: Google

☆ CrowdStrike outage: What we know 4 days after a software update brought down computer systems around the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Four days after a faulty software update from a cybersecurity company unexpectedly brought down computers and technical systems across the world, airlines and some other companies are still experiencing delays and other technical problems. The outage was related to a software update rolled out by CrowdStrike, a major US cybersecurity firm. The issue is specific to Falcon, one of CrowdStrike’s main software products, and is not impacting Mac or Linux operating systems, according to the advisory. US-based carriers American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Airlines, SunCountry and Frontier Airlines all reported issues on Friday. More than 1,200 Delta flights were canceled on Sunday, after the carrier canceled 1,208 flights on Saturday, according to FlightAware.

Persons: ” –, Patrick Anderson, —, CrowdStrike, “, George Kurtz, Kurtz, Crowdstrike, United, Delta, Pete Buttigieg, Ed Bastian, ” Buttigieg, Bastian, it’s, David Kennedy, “ It’s, ” Kennedy, “ There’s, Buttigieg, Brigham, Dana Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Anderson Economic Group, Fortune, Travelers, Marriott International, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Delta Airlines, Delta, Delta Air, Department, Turkish Airlines, Jetstar, Hong Kong Express, Cebu Pacific, Binary Defense, Mass, Penn Medicine, Mount, Mount Sinai Health, Emory Healthcare, Farber Cancer Institute, New, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Government, Social Security, Department of Motor Vehicles, UPS, FedEx Locations: Delta, FlightAware, Jetstar Japan, Hong, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Mount Sinai, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Arizona, Alaska, Washington ,

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

You can find foreclosed properties for sale on online listing sites or in your local newspaper. Often, you can browse foreclosed properties in your area using the same methods you would to buy a regular home, such as online listing sites like Zillow. Foreclosed properties owned by the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can also be found online. Fannie Mae's program for Fannie-owned foreclosed properties is called HomePath, while Freddie Mac's is called HomeSteps. Just be prepared for repair costs, as many foreclosed properties need significant updates before they're habitable.

Persons: they're, they'd, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae's, Freddie Mac's, you'd, Kofi Nartey, it's Organizations: Fannie, HUD, REO 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

To show proof of disability income, you'll need to provide some verification that you're currently receiving benefits and that they aren't set to expire within the next three years. Benefits of home loans for disabled individualsMany loan programs allow you to use disability income to qualify. Disabled individuals can use FHA loans, VA loans, USDA loans, and special programs from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Yes, disability income is considered as part of your total income, which can help qualify for various home loan options. What are the benefits of FHA loans for disabled individuals?

Persons: Fannie Mae HomeReady, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, you'll, Brian Quigley, Quigley, you've Organizations: Federal Housing Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Social Security Disability Insurance, Social Security Administration, SSI, SSA, Department of Veterans Affairs, Beacon Lending, USDA, Social Security, Chevron Locations: Chevron

☆ She felt lost when she became a widow in her 20s. Then she signed up to grief camp
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

“Being a widow in my 20s, I don’t have as many people around me who relate to that grief experience. Six months since she’d signed up for grief camp. Being a widow in my 20s, I don’t have as many people around me who relate to that grief experience. She wrote a piece called “Grief Camp is My Happy Place,” for her Substack, describing her experiences. “I think a lot of people hear ‘grief camp’ and think it’s going to be sad all the time.

Persons: Mackenzie Galloway, Cole, ”, ” Galloway, Megan, Cole’s, Camps, ’, Cole scrolled, Galloway, Cole wasn’t, Lindsay Lohan, – Galloway, She’d, “, she’d, –, ‘, ’ ”, Equinunk, “ Mac ”, “ Mackenzie, they’ve, they’d, doesn’t, I’ll, who’d, she’s, Megan –, “ Joy, Jesse Moss, Moss, you’re, Michelle Cove, won’t, Chappell, Chappell Roan, Megan isn’t, Cole didn’t, It’s, that’s Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, New Yorker, New, Galloway, Experience Camps Locations: Galloway, New, US, Kansas, ”, New York City, Equinunk , Pennsylvania, Cole, New York, Pennsylvania, Equinunk, Blue, Mackenzie

☆ The housing market is close to a rare buying opportunity with prices set to drop in pandemic boom towns, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewProspective homebuyers may be better off staying on the sidelines: the housing market is on its way to a rare buying opportunity, with steep home price declines bound for key areas of the real-estate market in the coming years, according to one analyst. That's an additional ingredient on the top, which just makes it more likely that prices fall," Gerli told BI. AdvertisementThe situation in the South's housing market also bears some similarities to previous housing bubbles, Gerli noted. In key boom towns, home prices have shot up 50%-70% since the pandemic, though incomes have only risen 10%-20%, he said, citing municipal data. It'll take a long time for housing to become more affordable overall, given how overvalued the market is, Gerli said.

Persons: —, Nick Gerli, Gerli, Freddie Mac, That's, Southern homebuilders, we've, it's, Redfin, Homebuyers, It's Organizations: Service, Business, National Association of Realtors, Builders Locations: Florida, Southern, Texas

Mortgage rates have been trending down this month, and they could fall further throughout the remainder of 2024. This should remove some of the upward pressure off of mortgage rates and allow them to decrease. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates fell to 6.05% last week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates increased dramatically over the last two years, but they're expected to go down at some point this year.

Persons: you'll, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Federal, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

In America's 20 biggest cities, a 20% down payment ranges from $39,127 in Oklahoma City to $263,392 in San Jose, California. On a $200,000 home, a 3% down payment means you'll need $6,000. FHA mortgage: 3.5%To get an FHA mortgage, you'll need at least a 3.5% down payment. The exact amount you'll pay depends on your down payment and whether you've gotten a VA loan previously. PMI protects lenders on mortgages with high loan-to-value ratios, and it's added to the borrower's monthly mortgage payment.

Persons: you'll, Insider's, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, you've, You'll, it's Organizations: Phoenix, Fort, Oklahoma, PMI, Opportunity, National Association of Realtors, Chevron, USDA Locations: Oklahoma City, San Jose , California, Government, York City, NY, Angeles, LA, Chicago, Houston, AZ, Philadelphia, Antonio, Diego, Dallas, Austin, Jacksonville, Jose, Fort Worth , TX, Columbus, Charlotte, NC, Indianapolis, Francisco, Seattle, WA, Denver, homeownership, Chevron

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