Ting Shen/Bloomberg Key Insight: Fed Gov. Lisa Cook highlighted her commitment to getting inflation to 2% and said she will “act forcefully” if signs emerge that point to cost pressures increasing. Expert quote: “Looking ahead, policy is not on a predetermined path.” — Fed Gov. Lisa Cook. What’s at stake: Cook’s remarks come amid a growing rift […]
Fed’s Cook strikes hawkish tone in rare appearance Read More »
Key Insight: The October Federal Open Market Committee cut interest rates by 25 basis points as expected, but comments from Chair Jerome Powell caught market watchers off guard, casting doubt on the likelihood of another rate cut in December. Expert Quote: “There were strongly differing views about how to proceed in December. A further reduction
Fed’s rate cut trajectory unclear as dueling dissents emerge Read More »
Key Insight: Market watchers expect the central bank to announce an end to its QT program soon, signaling the close of the Fed’s large-scale asset purchases during the pandemic. Economists have varying feelings about the program, with some urging the Fed to reconsider future purchases of mortgage-backed securities. Expert Quote: “You can argue about whether it’s
As Fed mulls the end of QT, what lessons have been learned? Read More »
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Wednesday that he’ll soon be giving President Donald Trump several candidates to serve as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. “Likely sometime after Thanksgiving, in December, we’ll present the president with three or four candidates for him to interview,” Bessent told CNBC’s Sara Eisen. Bessent disclosed that he’s trimmed the
Trump to receive Fed chair candidates in December Read More »
Total mortgage origination volume is projected to surpass $2 trillion by the end of the year for the first time since 2022, according to a recent forecast. The milestone is driven by a 48% jump in refinance dollars and 12% spike in purchase dollars, an overall 20% increase from last year, according to iEmergent’s 2025–2027
Forecast calls for originations to surpass $2 trillion this year Read More »
Key insight: Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr said in a speech Thursday that he fears the way tariff price increases are being passed on to consumers could result in an unmooring of inflation expectations, potentially leading to more inflation — and higher interest rates — down the road. Expert quote: “While, in principle, tariffs are
Fed’s Barr skeptical that inflation has been tamed Read More »
Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Jeff Schmid said Monday that inflation remains above the Fed’s goal and backed current interest rate policy — even as the labor market cools and housing costs remain a key driver of inflation. Speaking to the CFA Society Kansas City, Schmid said he voted in favor of the Fed’s
Kansas City Fed chair backs cautious approach on rates Read More »
With mortgage rates lingering above 6%, buyers with ready cash continue to dominate both the lowest and highest ends of the housing market. Roughly one-third of all home sales in the first half of 2025 were completed entirely with cash, according to a new report from Realtor.com. That figure represents only a 0.6% decline from
All-cash home sales hold strong as high mortgage rates persist Read More »
Bloomberg News Key Insight: Fed Gov. Stephen Miran said central bank independence in setting monetary policy is of “critical importance,” highlighting that the central bank’s decisions should be insulated from politics. Expert quote: “Monetary policy should be set for the goals that Congress has assigned the Fed — for price stability and full employment —
Miran cites ‘critical importance’ of Fed independence Read More »
U.S. banks earned an estimated $1 trillion in excess interest revenue during the Federal Reserve’s two-and-a-half-year period of elevated interest rates, an analysis of official data by the Financial Times shows. Lenders reportedly benefited from higher yields on deposits held at the Fed while paying relatively low rates to many savers — boosting profit margins
Banks earned $1 trillion windfall during Fed’s high-rate period Read More »