2 days ago
By Michael S. Derby
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials expect one more interest rate increase this year after raising rates on Wednesday and expect to hold them steady in 2027, quarterly projections released after their latest policy meeting showed.
At the same time, policymakers also marked up their near-term inflation outlook.
The forecasts were released as policymakers raised the target rate for fed funds by a quarter of a percentage point to 3.75%-4.00%, which was widely expected. Their new forecasts see rates coming back down in 2028 and for the federal funds rate to stand at between 3.50% and 3.75% in 2029.
In June, Fed officials in their projections had penciled in one quarter-percentage-point rate rise this year and a cut of the same amount in 2027.
#federal
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials expect one more interest rate increase this year after raising rates on Wednesday and expect to hold them steady in 2027, quarterly projections released after their latest policy meeting showed.
At the same time, policymakers also marked up their near-term inflation outlook.
The forecasts were released as policymakers raised the target rate for fed funds by a quarter of a percentage point to 3.75%-4.00%, which was widely expected. Their new forecasts see rates coming back down in 2028 and for the federal funds rate to stand at between 3.50% and 3.75% in 2029.
In June, Fed officials in their projections had penciled in one quarter-percentage-point rate rise this year and a cut of the same amount in 2027.
#federal
3 days ago
In some markets, it costs less to rent than to buy — by a lot. And it could be a great way to save a ton of money during your retirement years.
Mortgage and financial consultant Cody Schuiteboer of Best Interest Financial said many retirees never even consider renting as a serious option.
"There is an unshakeable mentality that buying is always the right choice, but the opposite is often true in retirement," he said. "If renting is actually cheaper in that market, renting lets retirees stretch their nest egg further."
MoneyLion ran the rent-versus-ownership numbers in the top retirement destinations along the East Coast and found the cities offering the greatest savings to renters. The homeownership numbers ****** umed a 10% down payment and a 6.53% interest rate, using average home price and rent numbers from Zillow.
Best of all, the following retirement hubs all have a total monthly expenditure cost under $4,000 according to BLS data, and adults over 65 make up at least 20% of the population.
#rent
Mortgage and financial consultant Cody Schuiteboer of Best Interest Financial said many retirees never even consider renting as a serious option.
"There is an unshakeable mentality that buying is always the right choice, but the opposite is often true in retirement," he said. "If renting is actually cheaper in that market, renting lets retirees stretch their nest egg further."
MoneyLion ran the rent-versus-ownership numbers in the top retirement destinations along the East Coast and found the cities offering the greatest savings to renters. The homeownership numbers ****** umed a 10% down payment and a 6.53% interest rate, using average home price and rent numbers from Zillow.
Best of all, the following retirement hubs all have a total monthly expenditure cost under $4,000 according to BLS data, and adults over 65 make up at least 20% of the population.
#rent
17 days ago
John Ternus has officially taken over as CEO of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), succeeding Tim Cook after his successful 15-year run. With Apple's next major iPhone launch scheduled for September 9, it seems the new CEO has only eight days till his first big test.
On September 1, Rosenblatt **** yst Barton Crockett raised the price target on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to $303.00 (from $300.00) while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The price target hike implies roughly 4% downside from current levels.
Rosenblatt's note **** umes successful navigation of supply chain constraints under the new CEO. Price hikes and premium priced products, in particular, are likely to offset margin pressure.
Ternus's test isn't that Apple can generate cash. The tech giant is already strong, with Cook having transformed the company from a $350 billion company to a $4.5 trillion behemoth. His test is instead to prove that there is enough new growth and product innovation to sustain Apple's valuation.
The tech giant has already had a record June quarter. Revenue for the company rose 16% year-over-year to $109.4 billion, whereas diluted EPS increased 29% to $2.02. IPhone and Mac revenue reached June-quarter records, while the installed base surpassed 2.5 billion active devices.
#NASDAQ #aapl
On September 1, Rosenblatt **** yst Barton Crockett raised the price target on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to $303.00 (from $300.00) while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The price target hike implies roughly 4% downside from current levels.
Rosenblatt's note **** umes successful navigation of supply chain constraints under the new CEO. Price hikes and premium priced products, in particular, are likely to offset margin pressure.
Ternus's test isn't that Apple can generate cash. The tech giant is already strong, with Cook having transformed the company from a $350 billion company to a $4.5 trillion behemoth. His test is instead to prove that there is enough new growth and product innovation to sustain Apple's valuation.
The tech giant has already had a record June quarter. Revenue for the company rose 16% year-over-year to $109.4 billion, whereas diluted EPS increased 29% to $2.02. IPhone and Mac revenue reached June-quarter records, while the installed base surpassed 2.5 billion active devices.
#NASDAQ #aapl
20 days ago
With roughly two-thirds of 2026 now in the books, investors have plenty of reasons to smile. The iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI), broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC), and innovation-inspired Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) have all catapulted to several record highs this year. We've also witnessed the largest-ever initial public offering take shape.
But despite all three stock indexes climbing to fresh highs, things are far from perfect on Wall Street. Specifically, the bond market is sending investors a warning sign that simply can't be swept under the rug.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Since the start of the year, long-duration Treasury bond yields (10-, 20-, and 30-year bonds) have noticeably risen. The 30-year yield recently hit a 19-year high, while the 10-year yield has approached levels last seen during the financial crisis.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent aims to tackle rapidly rising long-duration bond yields. Image source: Official White House Photo by Abe McNatt.
#year #treasury
But despite all three stock indexes climbing to fresh highs, things are far from perfect on Wall Street. Specifically, the bond market is sending investors a warning sign that simply can't be swept under the rug.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Since the start of the year, long-duration Treasury bond yields (10-, 20-, and 30-year bonds) have noticeably risen. The 30-year yield recently hit a 19-year high, while the 10-year yield has approached levels last seen during the financial crisis.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent aims to tackle rapidly rising long-duration bond yields. Image source: Official White House Photo by Abe McNatt.
#year #treasury
24 days ago
GDX sits 22% below its peak despite gold at record $4,270, while GDXJ's junior miners deliver the operational leverage the seniors are missing.
GLDM tracks bullion at a lower cost than GDX, making it the cleaner choice for investors seeking a pure hedge over mining equity exposure.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
Gold trading near $4,270 should have been a coronation for VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX). Instead, GDX holders own a fund that has gained 76.34% over the past year, yet still sits roughly 22% below its 52-week high of $117.16. The gap between the metal and the miners is the core reason to own GDX, and that gap remains wide. A related VanEck product has historically closed it, and most GDX holders already know its name without owning it.
GDX is the default vehicle for gold-mining equity exposure. It holds the majors, with Newmont at 10.37%, Agnico Eagle at 10.12%, and Barrick at 6.01%, and the top 10 positions account for 56.30% of **** ets. Investors buy it because it turns a directional view on bullion into equity beta without picking a single miner. Fees are reasonable at 0.51%, and the fund carries a beta of 0.67 against the broader market, which is why it slots into diversification buckets. Those are the reasons GDX sits in so many portfolios.
#Gold #vaneck #bullion #mining
GLDM tracks bullion at a lower cost than GDX, making it the cleaner choice for investors seeking a pure hedge over mining equity exposure.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
Gold trading near $4,270 should have been a coronation for VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX). Instead, GDX holders own a fund that has gained 76.34% over the past year, yet still sits roughly 22% below its 52-week high of $117.16. The gap between the metal and the miners is the core reason to own GDX, and that gap remains wide. A related VanEck product has historically closed it, and most GDX holders already know its name without owning it.
GDX is the default vehicle for gold-mining equity exposure. It holds the majors, with Newmont at 10.37%, Agnico Eagle at 10.12%, and Barrick at 6.01%, and the top 10 positions account for 56.30% of **** ets. Investors buy it because it turns a directional view on bullion into equity beta without picking a single miner. Fees are reasonable at 0.51%, and the fund carries a beta of 0.67 against the broader market, which is why it slots into diversification buckets. Those are the reasons GDX sits in so many portfolios.
#Gold #vaneck #bullion #mining
26 days ago
A Harvard working paper tracking 62 million workers across 285,000 U.S. firms found that companies adopting generative AI reduced junior employment by about 9% within six quarters.
This is based on the updated May 2026 version of the paper, while senior employment held steady. Seyed Mahdi Hosseini Maasoum and Guy Lichtinger, the paper's authors, describe the pattern as "seniority-biased technological change."
Morgan Housel, bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, raised this concern on The Tetr Podcast, telling host Pratham Mittal he would "move mountains" to send his children to a good college.
But Housel also flagged a problem that no tuition check can solve: AI is eliminating the junior positions where graduates have always learned how to work.
For parents investing in college savings plans, that gap between the diploma and the career it used to unlock is widening.
#housel #maasoum
This is based on the updated May 2026 version of the paper, while senior employment held steady. Seyed Mahdi Hosseini Maasoum and Guy Lichtinger, the paper's authors, describe the pattern as "seniority-biased technological change."
Morgan Housel, bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, raised this concern on The Tetr Podcast, telling host Pratham Mittal he would "move mountains" to send his children to a good college.
But Housel also flagged a problem that no tuition check can solve: AI is eliminating the junior positions where graduates have always learned how to work.
For parents investing in college savings plans, that gap between the diploma and the career it used to unlock is widening.
#housel #maasoum
27 days ago
The U.S. Treasury is weighing whether to use its roughly $1 trillion General Account to help pay for its expanded bond buyback program, according to CNBC, citing two Treasury officials. The officials did not say how much of the account would be used.
Monday's report pushed the 10-year Treasury note yield down 4 basis points to 4.7%. The 30-year yield, which last week reached its highest point since 2007, retreated 4 basis points to 5.23%.
The Treasury General Account functions as the federal government's primary operating account at the Federal Reserve. The account stood near $950 billion — well above the $550 to $600 billion level the prior administration had aimed to maintain — and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent built the balance using existing tax collections. The prevailing market expectation had been that buyback purchases would be funded through new short-term bill sales, an approach Bessent described as a "Treasury Twist." The senior officials did not rule out that approach but indicated the General Account represents an additional potential funding source.
Officials said they do not view a partial drawdown of the account as creating a near-term cash management problem, with the next debt-ceiling constraint not expected until sometime between next winter and early spring, according to CNBC.
The report follows Treasury's announcement last week that it would at least double the maximum size of its per-operation bond purchases for longer-dated securities, raising the ceiling from $2 billion to at least $4 billion for the 10-to-20-year and 20-to-30-year portions of the market. Treasury set the window for those larger operations to begin September 9 and close November 4. Yields dropped after the announcement before rebounding, with the 30-year yield giving back most of Wednesday's decline by Thursday, as ******* ysts questioned whether the program was large enough to alter the balance of supply and demand in a $32 trillion market.
#year #billion #market #cnbc
Monday's report pushed the 10-year Treasury note yield down 4 basis points to 4.7%. The 30-year yield, which last week reached its highest point since 2007, retreated 4 basis points to 5.23%.
The Treasury General Account functions as the federal government's primary operating account at the Federal Reserve. The account stood near $950 billion — well above the $550 to $600 billion level the prior administration had aimed to maintain — and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent built the balance using existing tax collections. The prevailing market expectation had been that buyback purchases would be funded through new short-term bill sales, an approach Bessent described as a "Treasury Twist." The senior officials did not rule out that approach but indicated the General Account represents an additional potential funding source.
Officials said they do not view a partial drawdown of the account as creating a near-term cash management problem, with the next debt-ceiling constraint not expected until sometime between next winter and early spring, according to CNBC.
The report follows Treasury's announcement last week that it would at least double the maximum size of its per-operation bond purchases for longer-dated securities, raising the ceiling from $2 billion to at least $4 billion for the 10-to-20-year and 20-to-30-year portions of the market. Treasury set the window for those larger operations to begin September 9 and close November 4. Yields dropped after the announcement before rebounding, with the 30-year yield giving back most of Wednesday's decline by Thursday, as ******* ysts questioned whether the program was large enough to alter the balance of supply and demand in a $32 trillion market.
#year #billion #market #cnbc
30 days ago
If you haven't seen by now, Bitcoin made a violent move today, lurching roughly 6% to above $68K at time of writing, blowing out more than $1 billion of shorts along the way.
Most of crypto moved alongside it (most notably ETH), while gold and silver ripped as well. Meanwhile, long-term Treasury yields fell, the dollar weakened, and stocks barely moved.
All in all, it's behavior that heralds the return of the beloved debasement trade: buying hard ***** ets when investors believe policymakers will ultimately tolerate inflation or currency weakness to keep the economic machine running.
This move didn't come out of nowhere. The catalyst was an announcement from the Treasury that it will at least double how much it can buy back in each operation for certain 10- to 30-year Treasuries, from $2 billion to at least $4 billion beginning September 9.
Why are they doing this? Officially, Treasury wants to make these longer-dated bonds easier to buy and sell and reduce the risk of turbulence in that part of the market. The broader reason traders care is that long-term yields have remained high as inflation persists, government borrowing grows, and investors demand more compensation to lend the government money for decades. In fact, the 30-year yield hit its highest level since 2007 just yesterday.
#moved
Most of crypto moved alongside it (most notably ETH), while gold and silver ripped as well. Meanwhile, long-term Treasury yields fell, the dollar weakened, and stocks barely moved.
All in all, it's behavior that heralds the return of the beloved debasement trade: buying hard ***** ets when investors believe policymakers will ultimately tolerate inflation or currency weakness to keep the economic machine running.
This move didn't come out of nowhere. The catalyst was an announcement from the Treasury that it will at least double how much it can buy back in each operation for certain 10- to 30-year Treasuries, from $2 billion to at least $4 billion beginning September 9.
Why are they doing this? Officially, Treasury wants to make these longer-dated bonds easier to buy and sell and reduce the risk of turbulence in that part of the market. The broader reason traders care is that long-term yields have remained high as inflation persists, government borrowing grows, and investors demand more compensation to lend the government money for decades. In fact, the 30-year yield hit its highest level since 2007 just yesterday.
#moved
1 month ago
Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) just proved it can build a nuclear reactor as fast as it promised. On August 6, the company announced its Groves Isotope Test Reactor in Lockhart, Texas, achieved first criticality, a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, less than a year after groundbreaking. It's the first project under the US Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program to reach criticality on private land from a greenfield site, and Oklo says it may be the fastest privately funded, privately sited reactor build in history.
CEO Jacob DeWitte called it "an incredible milestone for our team," noting Oklo built Groves from raw land, handled the civil excavation and construction itself, and manufactured or procured every component, including fuel, in-house. On the company's August 7 earnings call, management put the timeline at under 11 months from greenfield to criticality. Groves is meant to anchor Oklo's isotope business, supplying materials for healthcare, industry, research, ******* e, and national security, with revenue expected to begin in the first half of 2027 out of a commercial Idaho radiochemistry lab.
Management says the engineering practices, training programs, and commissioning experience from Groves should reduce execution risk across the company's future isotope, powerhouse, and fuel cycle projects. The balance sheet backs that ambition, with $3 billion in cash and marketable securities on hand after Oklo raised $1.9 billion in 2026 through its at-the-market programs. The broader pipeline kept moving too, with Aurora-INL site excavation nearly complete and a Kiewit memorandum of understanding advancing the 1.2-gigawatt Ohio Power Campus that will supply Meta. Shares jumped more than 10% on August 7, the day after the update, coinciding with the earnings report.
The milestone came alongside a bigger bill. Oklo reported a net loss of $81.6 million for the quarter, with an operating loss of $124.2 million, and the company still has no forward price-to-earnings ratio because it isn't yet profitable. Management raised its 2026 operating cash flow guidance to $120 million to $150 million, up from $80 million to $100 million, and lifted capital expenditure guidance to $400 million to $500 million from $350 million to $450 million, both tied to accelerated procurement for Aurora-INL and opportunistic fuel purchases. Groves itself is also a test reactor for isotopes, not Oklo's commercial power business. The Aurora-INL project that would validate the company's powerhouse platform isn't targeted to start up until 2028, and the first phase of the Aurora-Ohio powerhouse meant to supply Meta's data centers isn't expected until early 2030.
#aurora #first #isotope
CEO Jacob DeWitte called it "an incredible milestone for our team," noting Oklo built Groves from raw land, handled the civil excavation and construction itself, and manufactured or procured every component, including fuel, in-house. On the company's August 7 earnings call, management put the timeline at under 11 months from greenfield to criticality. Groves is meant to anchor Oklo's isotope business, supplying materials for healthcare, industry, research, ******* e, and national security, with revenue expected to begin in the first half of 2027 out of a commercial Idaho radiochemistry lab.
Management says the engineering practices, training programs, and commissioning experience from Groves should reduce execution risk across the company's future isotope, powerhouse, and fuel cycle projects. The balance sheet backs that ambition, with $3 billion in cash and marketable securities on hand after Oklo raised $1.9 billion in 2026 through its at-the-market programs. The broader pipeline kept moving too, with Aurora-INL site excavation nearly complete and a Kiewit memorandum of understanding advancing the 1.2-gigawatt Ohio Power Campus that will supply Meta. Shares jumped more than 10% on August 7, the day after the update, coinciding with the earnings report.
The milestone came alongside a bigger bill. Oklo reported a net loss of $81.6 million for the quarter, with an operating loss of $124.2 million, and the company still has no forward price-to-earnings ratio because it isn't yet profitable. Management raised its 2026 operating cash flow guidance to $120 million to $150 million, up from $80 million to $100 million, and lifted capital expenditure guidance to $400 million to $500 million from $350 million to $450 million, both tied to accelerated procurement for Aurora-INL and opportunistic fuel purchases. Groves itself is also a test reactor for isotopes, not Oklo's commercial power business. The Aurora-INL project that would validate the company's powerhouse platform isn't targeted to start up until 2028, and the first phase of the Aurora-Ohio powerhouse meant to supply Meta's data centers isn't expected until early 2030.
#aurora #first #isotope
2 months ago
Fears are percolating again about circular financing in the AI race, and Wall Street's focus is landing on Nvidia (Nasdaq:NVDA), which is fast becoming a chipmaking behemoth in the AI development race. In late July, the company announced a $500 billion partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group to power AI infrastructure including factories and memory supply. It's also in negotiations with OpenAI for a $250 billion backstop designed to enable a new data center project in southern Ohio, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The massive sums of cash moving from lender to buyer in AI's ecosystem are stirring renewed fears among investors about arrangements in which Nvidia and other AI companies finance firms or projects that artificially boost demand for its products. If the transactions fail to generate profits, this strategy runs the risk of amplifying losses for companies staking their future on AI.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going
#race #billion #NASDAQ #nvda
The massive sums of cash moving from lender to buyer in AI's ecosystem are stirring renewed fears among investors about arrangements in which Nvidia and other AI companies finance firms or projects that artificially boost demand for its products. If the transactions fail to generate profits, this strategy runs the risk of amplifying losses for companies staking their future on AI.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going
#race #billion #NASDAQ #nvda
2 months ago
By Michael S. Derby
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson said on Tuesday she was keeping an "open mind" about what lies ahead for monetary policy in an outlook that could call for higher rates.
"The recent improvement in some inflation data is welcome" and "it is a step in the right direction, but it is only one step," the official said in a statement from her bank.
When it comes to what the central bank will do next with monetary policy in the current environment, Paulson said: "I am committed to keeping an open mind as I ***** s the evidence and determine the appropriate path for policy."
"My highest priority is delivering 2% inflation while sustaining full employment," she added.
#bank #paulson #step #michael
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson said on Tuesday she was keeping an "open mind" about what lies ahead for monetary policy in an outlook that could call for higher rates.
"The recent improvement in some inflation data is welcome" and "it is a step in the right direction, but it is only one step," the official said in a statement from her bank.
When it comes to what the central bank will do next with monetary policy in the current environment, Paulson said: "I am committed to keeping an open mind as I ***** s the evidence and determine the appropriate path for policy."
"My highest priority is delivering 2% inflation while sustaining full employment," she added.
#bank #paulson #step #michael
