Rising corporate earnings expectations are a bullish backdrop for stocks. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, more than 22% of companies in the S&P 500 provided guidance for their Q3 earnings results that are expected to beat analysts' expectations, the highest in a year. Also, S&P companies are expected to post +6.9% earnings growth in Q3, up from +6.7% as of the end of May.Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said, "Now that we have seen many months of deteriorating labor market conditions, it is time for the FO ...

LIVE Dow Set to Open Up Ahead of Powell's Fed Speech Last Updated: 14 min ago Gold Hits Yet Another Record Ahead of Powell Speech By George Glover Gold extended its record-breaking run on Tuesday as investors waited for a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Futures climbed 1.1% to a record high of $3,816 an ounce in early trading. The precious metal is on its best three-day run since March, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The Fed lowered interest rates for the first time since December on Thu ...

Summary of Hong Kong Property Sector Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the Hong Kong property market, particularly in light of recent interest rate cuts and their anticipated impact on home sales and mortgage costs [1][2][3]. Key Points and Arguments Interest Rate Cuts - The prime rate was reduced by 12.5 basis points to 5.125%, following a 25 basis point cut by the US Federal Reserve [1]. - The new residential mortgage rate is expected to decline to 3.375% from 3.5%, with projections suggesting it could further drop to around 2.7% by the end of 2026 [1][7]. - A cumulative 142 basis points cut by the Fed is anticipated through December 2026, which is expected to support residential transaction volumes [1]. Home Sales Projections - Historical data indicates that a 100 basis point cut in HIBOR correlates with an approximate 8% increase in home sales [2]. - With the expected decline in HIBOR to 2.2% by the end of 2025 and 1.6% by the end of 2026, home sales are projected to increase by an additional 14% over the next 12 months compared to the previous year [2]. Market Dynamics - Private residential transactions have increased by 13-15% year-to-date, with annualized volumes potentially reaching levels comparable to 2018-2019 [3]. - Despite the increase in transaction volumes, pricing remains subdued, with the CCL index largely flat due to high near-term supply [3]. - Buyers are hesitant to accept price increases, as evidenced by low sell-through rates for new projects launched at higher prices [3]. Developer Performance and Recommendations - Developers such as Sino, Henderson, and Kerry are expected to outperform peers like SHKP due to their favorable positions in the current market [4]. - Sino's price target has been raised by 14% to HK$11.20, supported by strong sales and a significant net cash position of HK$49.5 billion [4]. - The report suggests that property prices will likely remain stable in 2025, with a moderate recovery of 0-5% expected in 2026 as inventory clears [3]. Risks and Challenges - Key risks identified for the Hong Kong property sector include weakening macroeconomic conditions, an increase in new housing supply, and potential higher-than-expected US Fed rate hikes [30]. Additional Important Insights - The effective mortgage cost is projected to widen the positive carry from the current 20 basis points to approximately 100 basis points, based on the latest rental yield of 3.7% [1]. - Discounted projects are attracting strong interest, indicating a potential shift in buyer preferences towards more competitively priced offerings [3]. - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring macroeconomic indicators and housing supply trends as they could significantly impact future market dynamics [30].

Joining me now, Mark Zandandy, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. Mark, great to have you back. Thanks so much for joining us. >> Yeah, thanks for having me.I appreciate the opportunity. >> So, Mark, the Fed cut interest rates. We've been waiting for this.The big question now is now what. So, let's break it down. What does this mean for the housing market.Is now the time to buy a house. >> Well, it's still pretty unaffordable. uh despite the lower mortgage rates uh you know we got very high house prices ...

Core Viewpoint - Stephen Miran, a new appointee to the Federal Reserve's interest-rate-setting board, advocates for more aggressive interest rate cuts, suggesting rates should be below 3% by year-end [2][6]. Interest Rate Decisions - The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates by a quarter point, bringing them to a range of 4% to 4.25%, the lowest since early 2023. Miran was the only voting member to oppose this decision, advocating for a half-point cut instead [1]. Economic Analysis - Miran believes that concerns over inflation due to tariffs are overstated, arguing that small price changes in certain goods do not warrant significant worry. He predicts that exporters will lower prices, and he expects a cooling in the housing market due to a declining population influenced by immigration policies [2][4]. - In contrast, Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledges that higher tariffs have begun to increase prices in some categories, but the overall impact on economic activity and inflation remains uncertain [3]. Inflation Targeting - The Federal Reserve has maintained a target inflation rate of 2%, which has not been achieved since 2021. Miran views this target as overly restrictive and believes that precise inflation targets can lead to excessive micromanagement [5][6]. Role and Influence - Miran is positioned as an economic advocate for Trump within the Fed, being the first governor to serve on the board while also holding a role in the executive branch in nearly a century. He is currently on leave from his role as chair of Trump's Council of Economic Advisers [6]. - Miran emphasizes his independence in decision-making, stating that he will not conform to consensus for its own sake and will vote according to his beliefs [8].

Digital asset investment products recorded $1.9 billion in inflows last week following the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut of 2025, according to data from CoinShares. The inflows marked the second consecutive week of gains for the sector, lifting total assets under management (AuM) to a year-to-date high of $40.4 billion. Source: CoinShares Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead $1.9B Crypto Inflows Following Fed Move The Fed lowered its benchmark rate by 25 basis points on September 17, trimming the targe ...

This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran on Monday dismissed the risk of tariff-induced inflation and called for two, half-percentage-point cuts to the main interest rate next quarter to avert higher unemployment. Tariff revenues, tax policy and a crackdown on immigration have likely reduced the so-called neutral rate of interest — or the level that neither spur ...

Stephen Miran, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, following a television interview outside the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.Less than a week after taking his seat, Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran on Monday outlined the reasons why he thinks the central bank's benchmark interest rate is far too high and should be lowered aggressively.Changes in tax and immigration policy along with easing rental costs, deregulation and incoming revenue for tariffs are creatin ...

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) (SGX: C38U) is Singapore’s largest real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of prime retail and office assets in the commercial sector. Despite rising financing costs, CICT has continued to show resilience. With the Fed expected to cut rates in September 2025, could CICT be poised for a stronger run?Why CICT has held up wellCICT’s distribution per unit (DPU), a measure of the income investors make per unit invested, rose by 3.5% in the first half of ...

At BlackRock Inc., PGIM and other Wall Street firms, bond-fund managers are sticking to trades that will likely pay off even if the Federal Reserve’s path is again knocked off course by surprising turns in the economy. Most Read from Bloomberg The run-up to the Fed’s first interest rate cut in nine months has already supplied solid returns, driving the Treasury market to its biggest annual gains since the pandemic forced the central bank to drive its lending rate to the cusp of zero. But when Jerome P ...