Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - The best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) currently offer rates around 4% to 4.5% APY, with the highest rate at 4.4% APY for an 8-month CD from LendingClub as of October 7, 2025 [2] - CD rates are significantly higher than traditional savings accounts, indicating a favorable environment for investors seeking fixed returns [2] Group 2: Historical Context - CD rates were relatively high in the early 2000s but began to decline due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [4] - A slight recovery in CD rates occurred between 2015 and 2018 as the Fed gradually increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows [5] Group 3: Recent Developments - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [6] - As of September 2024, the Fed began cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a decrease in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [7] Group 4: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but the current highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [8] - Factors to consider when choosing a CD include goals for locking away funds, type of financial institution, account terms, and the impact of inflation on returns [9]

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] CD Rates Overview - Current best short-term CDs (6 to 12 months) offer rates around 4% to 4.5% APY, with the highest rate at 4.45% APY for an 8-month CD from LendingClub as of October 1, 2025 [2] - Historical context shows that CD rates were higher in the early 2000s but fell significantly after the 2008 financial crisis, with one-year CDs averaging around 1% APY by 2009 [2] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [3] Economic Impact on CD Rates - The Federal Reserve's policies, particularly the decision to keep benchmark interest rates near zero, contributed to low CD rates during the Great Recession [3] - A slight improvement in CD rates occurred between 2015 and 2018 as the Fed gradually increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows for CD rates [4] - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher rates on loans and savings products, including CDs [5] Current Trends and Future Expectations - As of September 2024, the Fed began cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a decrease in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [6] - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but currently, the highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [6][7] Choosing the Best CD - When selecting a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to ensure the best fit for individual needs [8]

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - The best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) currently offer rates around 4% to 4.5% APY, with the highest rate at 4.45% APY for an 8-month CD from LendingClub as of September 24, 2025 [2] - Historical trends show that average one-year CDs paid around 1% APY by 2009, with five-year CDs at less than 2% APY following the 2008 financial crisis [2] Group 2: Historical Context - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates on 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [3] - The Federal Reserve's policies, particularly keeping the benchmark interest rate near zero, led to very low CD rates during this period [3] - Between 2015 and 2018, CD rates improved slightly as the Fed began to increase rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused emergency rate cuts, leading to new record lows for CD rates [4] Group 3: Recent Developments - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [5] - As of September 2024, the Fed started cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a decrease in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [6] Group 4: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but currently, the highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [7] - Factors to consider when choosing a CD include goals for locking away funds, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation [8]

Overview of Bitcoin-Backed Fixed Income - Strategy has established the first comprehensive Bitcoin-backed yield curve [1] - The report aims to dissect STRC, STRD, STRK, and STRF, detailing ownership suitability and collateral mathematics underpinning double-digit coupons [1] - The analysis serves as a blueprint for understanding the integration of fixed-income instruments with hard-capped digital collateral [1] Focus on Bitcoin Credit - The report intends to decode the future of Bitcoin credit [2]

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] - The highest CD rate currently available is 4.45% APY for an 8-month CD from LendingClub as of September 23, 2025 [2] Historical Trends - CD rates were relatively high in the early 2000s but began to decline due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [4] - A slight recovery in CD rates occurred between 2015 and 2018 as the Fed gradually increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows [5] - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [6] - As of September 2024, the Fed began cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a decrease in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [7] Current Market Dynamics - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but currently, the highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [8] - When selecting a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to ensure the best fit for individual needs [9]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut is seen as a response to economic uncertainties, balancing job market weaknesses against inflation risks [2][6] - Bond fund managers at firms like BlackRock and PGIM are focusing on middle-maturity Treasuries, which are less affected by economic volatility and have provided solid returns [3][7] Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The Fed's quarter-point rate cut is characterized as a "risk management cut," with future decisions to be made on a meeting-by-meeting basis [6] - The Fed's forecasts suggest two more rate reductions are likely this year, despite recent comments causing bond yields to rise [6] Group 2: Economic Conditions - A significant slowdown in hiring has been noted, influenced by external factors such as trade tensions, while other economic elements remain resilient [5] - The potential for renewed inflation due to tariff hikes poses a challenge to the Fed's target of 2% inflation [5] Group 3: Investment Strategies - The strategy of investing in the "belly" of the yield curve, particularly 5- to 7-year Treasuries, has proven successful, with returns of approximately 7% compared to the broader market's 5.4% [7]

Market Outlook - The market is expected to experience a reaceleration in job growth and GDP, with projections indicating potential surprises to the upside for Q3 and Q4 [3][10] - The Dow is projected to reach 50,000 and the S&P 500 to 7,000 by Q1 of 2026, driven by earnings reaceleration and economic growth [12] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve is anticipated to cut rates again, with expectations of one or two more cuts, although this is not seen as the beginning of a grand rate-cutting cycle [9][10] - The Fed is perceived to be behind the curve in its decision-making, with suggestions that they should have cut rates earlier in the year [8] Inflation Trends - Inflation is expected to stabilize in the upper twos to low threes, with a long-term trend towards lower inflation rates [5][4] - The current inflation battle is viewed as misdirected, with a belief that the focus should shift to other economic indicators [4][5] Sector Performance - Small caps are favored, with recommendations to buy on pullbacks, as they are expected to perform well despite high valuations in larger stocks [20][21] - Financials and biotech sectors are also viewed positively, with potential opportunities in energy stocks as crude oil prices stabilize [21][22] Market Sentiment - There is a belief that panic selling has occurred, leading to minor pullbacks and a strong performance chase among fund managers [13][15] - The current market rally is seen as a result of significant cash positions held by managers who are now seeking to catch up with benchmarks [15]

Hey everyone and thanks for jumping back into the cryptoverse. Today we're going to talk about Bitcoin post FOMC. If you guys like the content, make sure you subscribe to the channel, give the video a thumbs up, and also check out the sale on into the cryptoverse premium at into the cryptoverse.com. Let's go ahead and jump in. So, Bitcoin is still doing what it needs to do, right.It's still holding above the bull market support band. Remember that's the big test for September is to just hold that 20we SMA. ...

Now, let's turn to financials. They initially popped on the back of the Fed's rate cut, but then came off those gains. Still, financials have been gaining in the past three months, up more than 7%.The gains continue now that we got one rate cut with potentially more on the way. Joining us now is McCrae Sykes, portfolio portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds. Mac, welcome.Um, you know, the KRE up there near 65. Can it keep moving higher if we get as many cuts as the Fed governors expect. Well, it was pretty exci ...

Group 1: Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The Federal Reserve announced a 25 basis point reduction in its benchmark interest rate, setting the new federal funds rate target range at 4.00% to 4.25%, marking the first rate cut since December 2024 [2][9] - JPMorgan Chase & Co. will cut its prime lending rate to 7.25%, effective September 18, reflecting the immediate impact of the Fed's monetary policy shift on commercial lending rates [3][9] - Jeffrey Gundlach of DoubleLine Capital supported the Fed's rate cut but warned of potential higher inflation risks if the Fed continues to ease excessively, anticipating a steepening yield curve and a decline in the U.S. dollar [4][9] Group 2: Corporate Partnerships - PayPal and Google Cloud announced a multiyear strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing commerce, integrating PayPal's payment solutions across various Google products [5][9] - The partnership will see PayPal leveraging Google Cloud to modernize its technology infrastructure and collaborate on new AI-driven shopping experiences [5][9] Group 3: Geopolitical Developments - The European Union presented a new strategic agenda to deepen relations with India, aiming to enhance cooperation in defense, trade, technology, and connectivity, with a commitment to finalize a bilateral free trade agreement by year-end [6][9] - EU officials acknowledged challenges due to India's "problematic" relations with Russia, which may hinder deeper partnerships [6][9]