Warren Buffett’s next move: How Berkshire Hathaway is navigating falling rates, housing headwinds, and market uncertainty. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)Getty Images"As for the future, Berkshire will always hold a boatload of cash and U.S. Treasury bills along with a wide array of businesses." – Warren Buffett in his 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual LetterThe September rate cut from the Federal Reserve (Fed) likely marks the beginning of a new series of cuts, which could continue to send short-term bond yi ...

Core Viewpoint - A bipartisan group of former top US economic officials has filed a brief to the Supreme Court in support of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, emphasizing the importance of protecting Federal Reserve independence for the global economy [1][2][3] Group 1: Importance of Federal Reserve Independence - The document highlights the historical consequences of compromising central bank independence, which often leads to higher inflation and interest rates due to political interference [5][6] - Examples from history, such as the collaboration between Nixon and Arthur Burns, are cited to illustrate the detrimental effects of undermining Fed independence, resulting in double-digit inflation [6] Group 2: Current Economic Indicators - Recent economic data indicates cracks in the labor market, with payroll growth averaging under 30,000 per month, which is below break-even levels [13] - The unemployment rate is slowly nudging up to 4.3%, with the black unemployment rate increasing from 6% in May to 7.5% [14] Group 3: Rate Cut Considerations - There is a belief that an October rate cut is likely due to the weakening labor market, although caution is advised regarding a potential December cut due to persistent inflation and stronger-than-expected consumer spending [15]

ToplineAmericans appeared to slow down their spending last month amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to federal data released Friday, which showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge matched Wall Street’s projections for August. Fed Chair Jerome Powell earlier this week suggested the “near-term risks” of inflation had improved. Getty ImagesKey FactsAnnual inflation was 2.9% in August, matching July’s price increases, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Friday for core personal ...

Core Viewpoint - The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is expected to maintain its cash rate at 3.60% as the labor market remains tight and inflation shows signs of persistence [1][3]. Economic Indicators - Australia's monthly consumer price index (CPI) increased by 3.0% in August compared to the previous year, up from 2.8% in July, indicating rising inflation [2]. - Economic growth rebounded in the second quarter, and the unemployment rate has remained relatively stable, suggesting that the RBA can afford to slow its rate cuts [2][3]. Market Expectations - A consensus among economists indicates that the RBA will hold the cash rate at 3.60% during the upcoming policy meeting, with a year-end forecast of 3.35% [1][4]. - Over 80% of economists expect a 25 basis point cut to 3.35% by the end of 2025, while some predict no change, reflecting a shift in sentiment from previous polls [4]. Future Projections - Economists are divided on the likelihood of a rate cut in November, with some suggesting that strong labor market data and inflation could delay any cuts [5][6]. - Long-term forecasts show that 23 out of 38 economists anticipate one more rate cut in the first quarter of 2026, bringing the rate down to 3.10% [5].

Key Points Dogecoin and cryptos across the board are still seeing red. The Federal Reserve's 0.25% rate cut last week was smaller than many investors had hoped. Riskier investments like Dogecoin tend to outperform as interest rates fall. 10 stocks we like better than Dogecoin › Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) fell on Thursday, down 6.8% as of 5:09 p.m. ET, as measured from 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The move comes as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) both lost 0.5%. The ...

Key Points XRP is sliding alongside a broader crypto sell-off. The Federal Reserve's 0.25% rate cut last week was smaller than many investors had hoped. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) fell on Thursday, down 6.8% as of 4:59 p.m. ET, as measured from 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The move comes as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) both lost 0.5% on the day. The banking-focused crypto is falling along with much of the market as investors await Friday' ...

The board of governors voted 4-1 to lower the overnight interest-rate target to 7.50% from 7.75%. ...

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin expects the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut interest rates one more time this year, he said on Thursday in a CNBC interview. ...

Economic data has been stronger than expected and several voting members of Federal Reserve's interest-rate committee have expressed caution about easing. ...

Market Overview - Bitcoin is currently priced at $111,336, experiencing a decline of 1.8% in the last 24 hours and 5.4% over the past week [1] - There is skepticism among users of Myriad regarding Bitcoin reaching $125,000 soon, with 61% predicting a drop to $105,000 before hitting an all-time high [2] Economic Indicators - The upcoming PCE print is crucial as it serves as the Fed's inflation gauge, with expectations of a year-over-year reading between 2.7% and 2.9% [3] - Economists predict the core personal consumption expenditures will be on the higher end at 2.99% according to estimates from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland [4] Federal Reserve Expectations - Investors currently see an 83.4% chance of the Fed lowering interest rates at the next FOMC meeting, with the likelihood of rates remaining unchanged increasing from 8.1% to 16.6% in the past week [5] - The market anticipates a high inflation number, yet digital assets are under pressure, indicating a potential disconnect [5] Market Sentiment and Liquidations - Recent declines in crypto sentiment and prices have led to significant liquidations, totaling over $442 million, particularly affecting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana [5] - There is a noted selling pressure between $115,000 and $119,000, suggesting profit-taking among traders who believe the bull run may be concluding [6]