interest rate

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Housing Starts Plummet to 14-Year Low

But modest consumer price hike soothes inflation fears

(Newser) - New homes starts fell to their lowest level in 14 years last month, plunging 10%—to an annualized rate of 1.191 million—after expectations of a 4.2% decline. The number followed a 3.2% drop in August, the Wall Street Journal reports. A homebuilders' confidence gauge registered its...

Housing Still a Drag: Fed Chief
Housing Still a Drag: Fed Chief
Oct 16, 2007 5:38 AM CDT

Housing Still a Drag: Fed Chief

Setbacks likely, says Bernanke, who offers no hints on interest rate status

(Newser) - The real estate slump will continue to be a "significant drag" on US economic growth well into next year, said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in his first speech on the economy since August. Recovery from the credit crisis will take time, and setbacks are likely, Bernanke told the...

Economy Slows, Stocks Surge: What Gives?

'Teflon investors' are relying on the good news

(Newser) - Stocks are surging while classic indicators are signaling slump — so what gives? The answer, reports the Washington Post, lies in a bright jobs report and spiking Standard & Poor's 500-stock index. Backers are dissing the bad news as fast as they can finance, says the Post: "Call them...

Stocks Climb on Rate-Cut Hype
Stocks Climb on Rate-Cut Hype
Sep 27, 2007 3:51 PM CDT

Stocks Climb on Rate-Cut Hype

S&P surging on last, next Fed slashes

(Newser) - The stock market rose for a second day as a weak new-home-sales report added energy to speculation that the Fed will slash rates again next month; Bloomberg puts the odds of a quarter-point cut at 88%. The S&P added 5.96 to reach 1,531.38, climbing within 1....

Bernanke Sees More Housing Pain, ‘Relatively Strong’ System

Foreclosures continue, but market OK overall

(Newser) - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke went before Congress today, two days after trimming the benchmark lending rate, and said new foreclosures will come as more subprime mortgages run out clocks on initial interest rates. Markets “do tend to self-correct” in crises, the economic guru said, and the global system...

Investors Might Reap Rewards of Dollar's Slide

Currency's record lows against euro cause "to cheer," analyst says

(Newser) - The dollar may be continuing its slow, steady decline against the euro, but many analysts are looking on the bright side, Business Week reports. American stocks, companies, investors, and workers can all benefit from the decreasing value of their currency, economists say, with one calling the dollar’s decline “...

Demand for Mortgages Rises as Rates Fall

Interest charge lowest since May, with Fed likely to cut further

(Newser) - Applications for home loans increased for the second week in a row as interest rates on both fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages fell, according to a survey by the Mortgage Banker's Association. Indices tracking applications for both purchases and refinancing showed a 5.5% increase over last week and a 12....

Soaring Inflation Rocks China
Soaring Inflation Rocks China
Sep 11, 2007 3:36 AM CDT

Soaring Inflation Rocks China

Food prices feeding public unrest

(Newser) - China's soaring inflation rate is the highest in a decade, putting pressure on the central bank to hike interest rates for the fifth time in six months to cool China's superheated economy. Food prices have jumped 18%, raising fears of public unrest., Bloomberg reports. Consumer prices rose across the board...

Energy, Techs Give Stocks a Jolt
Energy, Techs Give Stocks a Jolt
Sep 4, 2007 4:25 PM CDT

Energy, Techs Give Stocks a Jolt

Traders still confident that Bernanke will cut rates; GM leads upward trend

(Newser) - Tech and energy stocks led a rally at the end of today's session on Wall Street, as rumors of an interest-rate cut multiplied and traders examined indications that earnings would outpace prices in the two sectors. GM was up 6.1% as the Dow jumped 91.12 to 13448.86,...

Fed Could Take Credit Crunch Fix to the Bank

Interest rates may drop, but deposit rates could go with them

(Newser) - If you have CDs or a savings account, you may be contributing, soon enough, to the solution to the credit market upheaval, the LA Times reports. Some investors expect the Federal Reserve to cut short-term interest rates next month, a move that could inspire banks to raise money elsewhere by...

Recession Risk Seen in Mortgage Misery

Top economist urges immediate rate cuts to avoid catstrophe

(Newser) - Mortgage woes could spark a serious recession, a prominent economist said yesterday. National Bureau of Economic Research President Martin Feldstein said that interest rates must be slashed heavily and quickly, or declining prices and weakening home equity withdrawal could hobble the economy, Reuters reports.

Wall Street Up, Up, and Away for Holiday Weekend

Investors thank Bush, Bernanke for gains

(Newser) - On the eve of the holiday weekend, the major markets jumped today, riding encouraging comments by President Bush and Ben Bernanke to broad advances that pushed their monthly gains above 1%. The Dow, which saw 28 of 30 stocks rise, finished up 119.01 points, closing at 13,357.74....

Bernanke Vows to Combat Mortgage Mess

Fed ready to step in; Wall Street holds out hope for rate cuts

(Newser) - In his first comments on the subprime mortgage meltdown, Ben Bernanke today vowed the Federal Reserve “will act as needed” to contain the turmoil, preventing it from weakening the broader economy. The Fed chief pledged the central bank would “take additional actions” if necessary. “It is clear...

Stocks Shake Before Fed Speech
Stocks Shake Before Fed Speech
Aug 30, 2007 4:31 PM CDT

Stocks Shake Before Fed Speech

Wall Street awaits Bernanke's priorities in Friday address

(Newser) - Technology shares are still on the rebound, but the credit market continues to shake other stocks as traders await Ben Bernanke's speech on Friday. The tech-heavy NASDAQ gained 2.14 today, to close at 2565.30. But the Dow slipped 50.56 to 13238.73, and the S&P 500...

Fed Chief to Address Market Uproar
Fed Chief to Address
Market Uproar
Aug 30, 2007 5:02 AM CDT

Fed Chief to Address Market Uproar

Wall Street will be craining for clues on possible rate cut

(Newser) - Tomorrow, Ben Bernanke will make his first speech since turmoil erupted in the world's financial markets early this month. As Wall Street listens for clues about whether interest rates will be cut next month, the Fed chief be walking a tightrope, the Washington Post observes. If he appears indifferent, panic...

New-Home Sales Grow, Spur Wall St.
New-Home Sales Grow, Spur Wall St.
Aug 24, 2007 11:21 AM CDT

New-Home Sales Grow, Spur Wall St.

But new figures don't fully reflect credit market's impact, analysts say

(Newser) - New-home sales grew 2.8% last month, delivering an unexpected bit of good news to investors still reeling from the credit crunch. But the housing market, which had been rebounding in recent months from a slump, will likely show renewed weakness after he mortgage crisis dust settles, Bloomberg reports.

Stocks Stall Amid Continued Anxiety
Stocks Stall Amid Continued Anxiety
Aug 23, 2007 4:33 PM CDT

Stocks Stall Amid Continued Anxiety

Traders watch, wait as Fed weighs interest rate cut

(Newser) - The Dow dipped a quarter-point to close at 13,235.88 today as investors continue to fret over the possibility of a Fed interest rate cut. The S&P 500 dropped 1.57 to 1,462.5, and the Nasdaq fell 11.10 to 2,541.70. Home Depot led...

Consumer Confidence Plummets
Consumer Confidence Plummets
Aug 17, 2007 5:37 PM CDT

Consumer Confidence Plummets

Wall Street woes might be spreading to Main Street

(Newser) - Consumer confidence dropped dramatically in August, according to the latest index released by Reuters and the University of Michigan. The metric places consumer sentiment at 83.3, the lowest reading of the year, and well below the predicted 88.0. It may be a sign that chaos on Wall Street...

Market Opens Sharply Down
Market Opens Sharply Down
Aug 16, 2007 10:18 AM CDT

Market Opens Sharply Down

(Newser) - US stocks dipped this morning, following steep declines in Europe and Asia as distress over the expanding credit crisis heightened. The Dow Jones sank over 100 points this morning, and the S&P was off nearly 0.8% after erasing its entire year's gains yesterday. "Everyone is waiting for...

Inflation Eases, Trade Deficit Narrows

New data is mostly positive, and unlikely to influence interest rates

(Newser) - With the exception of energy and food, inflation at the wholesale level rose less than expected last month, while the US trade deficit got slimmer, thanks to an increase in exports. Still, a rise in energy costs in July led to an unexpected .06% uptick in the producer price index...

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