On March 26, Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), finding that the weekly 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.38%. “The housing market continues to show gradual improvements compared to a year ago amid recent rate volatility,” said Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater. “Purchase and refinance applications are up
We are currently facing a market that feels increasingly unstable. And honestly, in all my years of trading and watching the markets, this trading environment is something else. But why? And why now? Rising geopolitical tensions, a steady pullback in equities, and surging oil prices have created a wave of uncertainty across Wall Street. The
After weeks of war with no end in sight, and gas prices rising faster than they have in decades, U.S. consumers are becoming more worried about the state of the economy than they have been in three months, according to the latest University of Michigan Survey of Consumers. UM’s Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 53.3%
Bank of America technical analyst Paul Ciana is warning that the second quarter looks challenging for equities, bonds, and gold. His March 27 report sees the US dollar and oil as the two assets best positioned to hold strength into mid-year. Most everything else faces downside risk. Recent market moves have reinforced earlier BofA forecasts.
For years, workplace culture was treated as a background issue. Leadership teams talked about it in surveys and performance reviews, but it rarely carried the same weight as revenue targets or market expansion. That mindset is beginning to change. Across industries, executives are starting to look at workplace dynamics through a more strategic lens. Culture,
With the retail sector continuing to see serious strain from growing operational costs and the rise of e-commerce, both shopping complex operators and brands that were once considered untouchable mall staples have all had to file for bankruptcy over the last year. Between the two of them, jewelry and accessories retailer Claire’s and fast-fashion brand
Verizon Communications has quietly been rebuilding its investment case. New CEO Dan Schulman took the reins in October 2025 and wasted no time making big moves. He slashed$9 billion in combined operating and capital expenses, closed the $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, and authorized a $25 billion share buyback program. That’s a lot of
The bond market is showing unusual activity right now, prompting investors across the country to nervously check their portfolios each morning. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note has been climbing steadily, pushing mortgage rates higher and sending stock prices into periodic tailspins that dominate headlines. You have probably seen the relentless coverage on
Gold was supposed to shine when everything else got messy. However, over the past three weeks, the opposite has occurred, and Morgan Stanley believes that’s a major bullish signal for stocks. Since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, gold prices have taken a dive, falling an incredible 18% and slipping into bear-market territory, Business
The AI trade has been one of the market’s biggest winners. But is now really the time to jump in? Jim Cramer, one of Wall Street’s most recognizable voices thanks to CNBC and co-founder of TheStreet, says investors should think twice before rushing into Nvidia (NVDA). The longtime host of Mad Money has seen market