Ideas for how to squeeze the country’s interest bill, ideally without cutting spending or raising taxes, are at a premium. One has recently raised hopes. But taking advantage of it will be very difficult https://t.co/Gua6MS9Lqe ...

or President Trump told reporters this week he plans to write to global leaders outlining a blanket unilateral tariff rate which he said could be 10 to 15%. The president already has sent about two dozen letters to trading partners including the EU, Japan and South Korea laying out tariff rates that will kick in August first. Joe.All right, drum roll please. With us now, author and journalist Dylan Ratigan, Money Party. He's anchored shows on MSNBC and CNBC.He's now the CEO of Euphoria Sneakers and owner of ...

You know what it's like being inside the Fed. You understand the independence of the Fed. But what have you made of this scenario as somebody that's now left the Fed behind and works principally as a private markets investor.Yeah, look, I think the most direct relationship between Fed policy and technology investing and venture capital investing is the path of interest rates. And in particular, what that means is, you know, interest rates have such a huge impact on valuations and returns in the private mark ...

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said policymakers should cut interest rates this month to boost a job market that looks to be weakening. https://t.co/5rgJ4rxJ5D ...

.@SteveForbesCEO calls out Fed Chair Jerome Powell for "playing politics" on refusing to cut interest rates, which not only damages the economy but hurts the U.S. dollar. #WhatsAhead https://t.co/g6cQsEs1Df ...

SchoolsInside Track For Argo Board Member?She left the board and took a school job. A watchdog weighs in. Last August, Lauren Vasquez left her post as an Argo Community High School board member and took a job as the athletic department's secretary a few days later. (Shutterstock)SUMMIT, IL – Lauren Vasquez was on the Argo Community High School board last August when she got a job opportunity. It was at the school.Through a public records request, Patch obtained documents about Vasquez's situation. On Aug. ...

Core Insights - Regions Financial Corporation (RF) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 60 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents and up from 53 cents in the same quarter last year [1][9] - The stock price of RF increased by 5.1% in early market trading following the earnings announcement [1] Financial Performance - Total quarterly revenues reached $1.9 billion, which was 2.9% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate but represented a 10.1% increase year over year [3] - Net interest income (NII) was $1.25 billion, reflecting a 6.2% year-over-year increase, while the net interest margin improved by 14 basis points to 3.65% [3] - Non-interest income surged by 18.5% year over year to $646 million [3] - Non-interest expenses rose by 6.9% year over year to $1.07 billion, with adjusted non-interest expenses also increasing by 4% [4] Loan and Deposit Trends - Total loans slightly decreased to $96.1 billion as of June 30, 2025, while total deposits increased by 1.4% to $129.4 billion [5] Credit Quality - Non-performing assets as a percentage of loans decreased to 0.84% from 0.88% year over year, and non-performing loans as a percentage of net loans fell to 0.80% from 0.87% [6] - A provision for credit losses of $126 million was recorded, marking a 23.5% increase from the previous year [6] Capital Position - As of June 30, 2025, the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.7% and the Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.8%, both showing improvement from the previous year [8] - The company repurchased 7 million shares for $144 million during the quarter [10] Outlook - The company's core business and revenue diversification strategies are expected to drive strong earnings in the future, although declining loans and rising expenses present challenges [11]

Core Insights - Bank7 Corp. reported strong second-quarter 2025 results, highlighting significant loan and deposit growth, a net interest margin (NIM) at the high end of its historical range, and a low efficiency ratio, indicating one of its best quarters ever [1][2] Operational Efficiency and Loan Growth - The core efficiency ratio remained between 36% and 38%, with robust quarterly loan growth, particularly in commercial and energy sectors, driven by the bank's focus on Oklahoma and Texas [2][3] - Management's ability to maintain a low efficiency ratio alongside strong loan growth reflects effective cost control and profitability, positioning the bank favorably against regional peers [3] Loan Book Diversification - Energy production loans increased by $3.035 million, but energy portfolio exposure is now about half of what it was seven to eight years ago, with growth in commercial and hospitality segments, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area [4][5] - The strategic shift in the loan portfolio enhances credit resilience and positions the balance sheet for growth in more diversified sectors [5] Margin Management and Rate Environment - Loan yields averaged 7.6% in Q2 2025, with management expecting some NIM pressure in Q3 2025 but projecting it to remain within historical ranges due to asset sensitivity and interest rate management strategies [6][7] - The bank's rate positioning provides downside protection for profitability, allowing it to better withstand margin compression compared to less asset-sensitive peers [7] Future Outlook - Guidance for Q3 2025 includes projected total expenses of $10 million, with $1 million related to oil and gas, and an expectation of $2 million in fee income [8] - Management anticipates a full recovery of oil and gas cash outlays by mid-2026, with a strong origination pipeline and cautious optimism for continued performance [9]

Bring in show music, please. Today on SquawkPod, late night votes in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson.What I wanted everybody to know about the one big beautiful bill is it it it wasn't a magic trick. This was I think it was Vince Lombardi that said victory loves preparation. And his comments on the Epstein files, freeze the rent.An affordability focus boosted New York mayoral candidate Zoron Mandani, but the soaring cost of living hits beyond the big apple. Former New York housing commissioner and former HU ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Western Alliance Bancorporation reported strong financial results in Q2 2025, with net interest income of nearly $700 million, growing 7.2% quarter over quarter and approximately 29% annualized [11][15] - The bank generated over $1 billion in sequential loan growth for the second consecutive quarter, funded by nearly $2 billion in quarterly deposit growth [11] - Net interest margin increased by six basis points sequentially to above 3.5%, driven by robust average earning asset growth and lower interest-bearing deposit costs [11][18] - Return on average tangible common equity reached 14.9%, and return on average assets was 1.1%, both significantly higher than Q1 [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - HFI loans grew by $1.2 billion quarterly, with C&I loans contributing over two-thirds of the growth, particularly from regional banking and innovation sectors [20] - Non-interest income rose 16.4% quarter over quarter to $148 million, with mortgage loan production volume increasing by 25% year over year [15] - The bank's mortgage banking revenue was approximately $78 million, with core mortgage banking revenue tracking flat year over year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by $1.8 billion in Q2, with significant growth in non-interest bearing and savings products, while wholesale brokered deposits declined by $300 million [21] - Regional banking deposits rose nearly $800 million, reflecting strong relationship momentum with commercial clients [22] - The digital asset banking program contributed $400 million in quarterly growth, indicating a positive trend in this market segment [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to unify six legacy division bank brands under the Western Bank brand by year-end, enhancing its marketing presence [13] - Management remains focused on achieving organic growth up to the $100 billion large financial institution level over the next 18 months [37] - The bank is optimistic about future deposit growth driven by regulatory changes and new deposit strategies under the new CFO [84] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of asset quality, expecting criticized assets to decline in the coming quarters [12][32] - The bank anticipates net interest income growth of 8% to 10% for the year, supported by strong loan growth and delayed rate cuts [30] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong capital base, with a CET1 ratio expected to remain above 11% [29] Other Important Information - The bank's total assets increased to $86.7 billion, reflecting strong loan and deposit growth [19] - The transition of CFO responsibilities to Vishal is set for early Q4, with a thorough transition period planned [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: CFO Transition and Focus Areas - Dale Gibbons expressed excitement about the transition, emphasizing the opportunity to focus on deposit services and growth initiatives [35] - Kenneth Vecchione confirmed that the transition does not signal a change in the bank's strategic direction [37] Question: Deposit Growth Outlook - Dale Gibbons provided insights on the expected cadence of deposit flows, indicating confidence in reaching the $8 billion target despite seasonal trends [38] Question: Fee Income Growth - Management anticipates an increase in fee income driven by commercial banking activities, while mortgage-related revenue is expected to remain flat [45][46] Question: Expense Guidance - Kenneth Vecchione explained that the increase in expenses is primarily due to deposit-related costs, with a focus on maintaining efficiency [47] Question: Margin and Deposit Rates - Management indicated that net interest margin is expected to continue improving, with a focus on managing deposit costs effectively [52][54] Question: Allowance for Credit Losses - Management reassured that the allowance for credit losses is adequate, with a focus on conservative valuations of assets [70][73]