Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Reserve has the capacity to lower interest rates due to increasing weakness in the job market [1] Group 1 - Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller highlighted the potential for interest rate cuts in response to labor market conditions [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut has led to an increase in mortgage rates, resulting in a decline in demand for home loans and refinances. Group 1: Mortgage Rate Changes - The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 6.38% from 6.33%, with points increasing to 0.62 from 0.60 for loans with a 20% down payment [2] - Following the FOMC meeting, mortgage rates increased as investors interpreted the comments to indicate the nearing end of the rate-cutting cycle [3] Group 2: Mortgage Application Volume - Total mortgage application volume decreased by 3.8% last week compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index [1] - Applications to refinance a home loan fell by 4% for the week, although they were 86% higher than the same week one year ago [4]

Market Performance - Hong Kong stocks rebounded from a three-week low, with the Hang Seng Index rising 0.9% to 25,468.78, while the Hang Seng Tech Index gained 1% [1] - The CSI 300 Index on the mainland climbed 1.8%, and the Shanghai Composite Index added 1.2% [1] Company Movements - China Life Insurance increased by 4.3% to HK$28.56, and Li Ning also rose by 4.3% to HK$19.07 [3] - Pop Mart International Group saw a gain of 3.4% to HK$195.70 [3] - ENN Energy declined by 2.4% to HK$69.90, and Techtronic Industries retreated by 2% to HK$89.80 [3] Economic Indicators - The US added 64,000 jobs in November, improving from a loss of 105,000 jobs in the previous month, but the unemployment rate rose to 4.56% from 4.44% in September [5] - Analysts suggest that the US jobs market is cooling but on track for a soft landing, indicating limited urgency for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in January [5] - Investors are looking forward to the November US inflation data, with core consumer prices expected to rise by 2.9% year-on-year, down from a 3.02% increase in September [6]

Core Viewpoint - The President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Susan Collins, indicated that a changing inflation outlook influenced her support for the recent interest rate cut by the central bank [1] Group 1 - Susan Collins expressed that the current inflation outlook is a significant factor in her decision-making regarding interest rates [1]

Core Viewpoint - Mortgage rates are stable, with the 30-year fixed rate at 6.13% and the 15-year fixed rate at 5.53%, despite a recent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve [1][17]. Current Mortgage Rates - The national average for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.13% [1][17]. - The 15-year fixed mortgage rate stands at 5.53% [1][17]. - Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) such as the 5/1 ARM are currently at 6.24% [1][17]. Refinance Rates - Refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, but specific current refinance rates were not detailed in the provided content [3]. Monthly Payment Implications - For a $300,000 mortgage at a 30-year term with a 6.13% rate, the monthly payment would be approximately $1,824, resulting in $356,569 in interest over the loan's life [7]. - A $300,000 mortgage at a 15-year term with a 5.53% rate would lead to a monthly payment of $2,456, with total interest paid being $142,085 [9]. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages - ARMs typically start with lower rates than fixed-rate mortgages but can increase after the initial fixed period [10][11]. - The 5/1 ARM locks in the rate for the first five years before adjusting annually [10]. Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates - Lenders offer lower rates to borrowers with higher down payments, excellent credit scores, and low debt-to-income ratios [13]. - Options for reducing interest rates include paying for discount points at closing or temporary buydowns [14][15]. Future Rate Predictions - The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) forecasts the 30-year mortgage rate to remain around 6.4% through 2026, while Fannie Mae predicts rates above 6% next year, potentially dropping to 5.9% in Q4 2026 [19].

Group 1 - The Home Depot, Inc. is highlighted as a stock that is significantly undervalued, with Jim Cramer suggesting it is 100 points below its potential value [1] - Cramer noted that Home Depot's performance has been affected by high interest rates, but a potential Fed rate cut could improve the stock's outlook [1][2] - Home Depot is identified as particularly sensitive to interest rate changes, with the upcoming Fed meeting being a critical factor for its stock performance [2] Group 2 - The company operates as a home improvement retailer, offering tools, building materials, decor, installation, and equipment rental services [2] - Despite the potential of Home Depot, there are suggestions that certain AI stocks may present greater upside potential and lower downside risk [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points, prompting major banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI), to lower their lending rates to ease borrowing costs for customers [3]. Group 1: Lending Rate Adjustments - SBI has cut its Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR) across various tenors, effective from December 15, 2023 [2][3]. - The External Benchmark Lending Rate (EBLR) has been reduced from 8.15% + Credit Risk Premium (CRP) + Bank Spread (BSP) to 7.90% + CRP + BSP, a decrease of 25 basis points [2][3]. - The Repo Linked Lending Rate (RLLR) has been adjusted from 7.75% + CRP to 7.50% + CRP, reflecting a 25-basis point cut [2][3]. - The Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR) has been revised to 14.65% per annum [2][3]. - The base rate has been cut to 9.90%, effective from December 15, 2025 [2][3]. Group 2: MCLR Specifics - Overnight and one-month MCLR rates have been reduced from 7.90% to 7.85% each [4]. - The three-month MCLR has been cut from 8.30% to 8.25% [4]. - The six-month MCLR is now at 8.60%, down from 8.65% [4]. - The one-year MCLR has been lowered from 8.75% to 8.70%, which is widely used for retail loans [4]. - The two-year MCLR has been reduced from 8.80% to 8.75% [4]. - The three-year MCLR is now at 8.80%, down from 8.85% [4].

Core Viewpoint - Hecla Mining Co. has reached its highest stock price in nearly four decades, driven by the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut, which has positively influenced investor sentiment [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Hecla Mining's stock surged to a peak of $19.67 during intra-day trading, ultimately closing at $19.35, reflecting a 12.57% increase [2]. - The last time the stock reached a similar level was in September 1987, when it closed at $19.63 [2]. Group 2: Impact of Interest Rate Cut - The Federal Reserve's decision to cut the benchmark interest rates by 25 basis points is the third cut of the year, which typically weakens the US dollar, making precious metals like silver more affordable for foreign investors [2][3]. - As one of the largest silver producers in North America, Hecla Mining stands to benefit from this environment [3]. Group 3: Index Inclusion - Hecla Mining has been added to the S&P MidCap 400 Index, effective December 22, 2025, which will enhance its visibility and exposure to the investing community [3][4]. - The S&P MidCap 400 Index includes US equities with market capitalizations between $8 billion and $22.7 billion, positioning Hecla Mining favorably within this segment [4].

Core Viewpoint - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the policy repo rate by 25 basis points, prompting State Bank of India (SBI) to adjust its deposit and lending rates accordingly [1][2]. Group 1: Deposit Rate Adjustments - SBI has decided to selectively reduce deposit rates, specifically lowering the term deposit rate for the 2-year to less than 3-year maturity bucket by 5 basis points from 6.45% to 6.40% [1]. - The interest rate for the specific tenor scheme of "444 days" (Amrit Vrishti) has been cut by 15 basis points from 6.60% to 6.45% [2]. Group 2: Lending Rate Adjustments - SBI has reduced the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) by 5 basis points across the board, with the one-year MCLR now at 8.70% compared to the previous 8.75% [2]. - The External Benchmark Linked Rate (EBLR) has been cut from 8.15% to 7.90%, affecting all retail and MSME loans priced against this benchmark [3].

Core Viewpoint - Federal Reserve officials expressed their disagreement with the decision to reduce interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point this week [1] Group 1 - The central bank's decision to cut interest rates was met with opposition from several Fed officials [1] - The reduction in interest rates is seen as a controversial move among policymakers [1] - Officials provided explanations for their stance against the rate cut, indicating concerns about potential economic implications [1]