Corporate News - Apple (AAPL) shares reached an eight-month high, rising 2.1% after Wedbush set a price target of $310 [3][8] - Intel (INTC) had its ratings affirmed by Fitch, which stated that the ratings were unaffected by Intel's recent partnership announcement with NVIDIA (NVDA) [3][8] - NVIDIA is investing $5 billion in Intel's common stock to jointly develop custom data center and PC products [3] Market Overview - U.S. equity markets opened in negative territory, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by 156.50 points, or 0.34%, to 46,158.77 [2][8] - The S&P 500 dropped 14.15 points, or 0.21%, to 6,650.21, and the Nasdaq fell 32.45 points, or 0.14%, to 22,599.03 after market open [2][8] Commodity and Cryptocurrency Markets - Spot Palladium prices saw a significant jump, climbing 3% to $1,183.69 per ounce [4][8] - Ether faced challenges, struggling to maintain the $4,000 support level after recent price action [4][8] Central Bank Commentary - FED Musalem indicated there is limited room for further interest rate cuts, suggesting a cautious approach to monetary policy moving forward [4][8] Geopolitical Developments - Cathay Pacific (0293.HK) announced the cancellation of all Hong Kong flights from Tuesday 6 PM to Thursday 6 AM due to an approaching super typhoon [5][8] - Projections indicate that Israeli war costs are expected to increase by $7.5 billion due to the ongoing assault on Gaza City [5][8]

Core Viewpoint - The President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Alberto Musalem, supports the recent interest rate cut but expresses caution about further reductions due to inflation concerns [1][2]. Monetary Policy Stance - The recent interest rate cut of a quarter percentage point was characterized as a precautionary measure to support the labor market and prevent further weakening [2]. - Musalem views the current monetary policy stance as being between modestly restrictive and neutral, which he considers appropriate [2]. - He believes there is limited room for further easing without making policy overly accommodative, advocating for caution in future rate cuts [2][4]. FOMC Insights - The Federal Open Market Committee's "dot plot" indicates mixed opinions among officials regarding future rate cuts, with some advocating for no cuts and others suggesting at least two more cuts this year [3]. - Musalem is a voting member of the FOMC this year, which adds weight to his views on monetary policy [3]. Financial Conditions and Inflation Concerns - Musalem perceives current financial conditions as supportive but remains concerned about the inflationary effects of tariffs [4]. - The federal funds rate is currently targeted between 4% and 4.25%, which Musalem considers close to neutral, neither stimulating nor restricting economic growth [4]. - He emphasizes the importance of balancing goals related to the labor market and inflation to avoid undesirable outcomes [4]. Other Fed Officials' Views - Other Federal Reserve officials, such as Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, also show reluctance to support additional rate cuts this year [5].

U.S. stock futures are trending lower this Monday, September 22nd, 2025, signaling a cautious start to the trading week after major indexes closed at record highs on Friday. Investors are digesting a mix of premarket movements, geopolitical headlines, and anticipating crucial economic data releases later in the week. The dip in futures suggests a "risk-off" sentiment prevailing in early trading, particularly impacting the technology sector.Premarket Trading and Index FuturesAs the trading day commences, U.S ...

Core Insights - Current savings account rates are above the national average, but are declining due to recent Federal Reserve rate cuts [1][5] - High-yield savings accounts offer significantly better interest rates, with some reaching up to 4% APY [2][3] - Online banks typically provide the best savings rates due to lower overhead costs [4] Savings Account Rates - As of September 22, 2025, the highest savings account rate available is 4.25% APY from Poppy Bank [3] - The national average savings account rate is only 0.40%, while 1-year CDs average 1.70% [5] Importance of Comparison - It is crucial for consumers to compare rates across financial institutions to secure the best savings account [6] - Factors beyond interest rates, such as minimum balance requirements and customer service, should also be considered [7]

09/22 update below. This post was originally published on September 20Bitcoin and crypto have exploded back this year, largely thanks to BlackRock-led Wall Street adoption and U.S. president Donald Trump’s support (though fears have emerged of a bitcoin price “death spiral”).Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free crypto newsletter that will get you ahead of the marketThe bitcoin price topped $124,000 per bitcoin last month, though its early 2025 rally has stalled in recent months, just as Tesla billionaire Elon ...

Core Viewpoint - The easyJet share price has been stagnant since the pandemic, with a significant decline of 18.4% this year, yet there remains potential for upside in the future [3]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The recent weakness in easyJet's share price is largely due to competitor Jet2's announcement of later customer bookings for summer, raising concerns about cooling travel demand and reduced visibility for capacity and yields [4][5]. - Jet2 plans to cut its winter seat capacity by 3.4% to approximately 5.6 million seats, which has heightened fears among easyJet investors regarding potential impacts on profitability [5]. - Operational disruptions, including air traffic control strikes, are expected to negatively affect easyJet's FY25 pre-tax profit by £15 million, further complicating the operational landscape [6]. Group 2: Travel Trends - Despite some negative trends, there is evidence suggesting that travelers may be shifting their plans to shoulder seasons and winter, which could alleviate fears of declining travel demand [9]. - Data indicates that searches for autumn stays among young travelers have increased by over 25%, and one-third of travel agents report a rise in shoulder-season bookings [10]. Group 3: Financial Outlook - Forward sales for easyJet are reportedly up 1.0% for Q4'25 and Q1'26 compared to the previous year, indicating some resilience in demand [11]. - The macroeconomic outlook remains mixed, but consumer confidence has shown improvements, which could positively influence easyJet's performance in FY26 [14]. - The company's EPS CAGR projection has been revised down to 7.5% from 11.9% through FY27, reflecting a more cautious sentiment, while its EV/EBITDA remains undervalued at 1.3 compared to the sector's average of 2.4 [17].

US stocks turned higher on Monday as Wall Street looked ahead to a parade of Federal Reserve speakers and a key inflation print for clues to the chances of further US interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was roughly flat, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose about 0.2% after the indexes opened in the red. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) added 0.3% on the heels of a strong week for stocks as investors welcomed the Fed’s return to easing. Gold (GC=F) rose to a fresh all-time high ...

Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in 2025, signaling a shift in monetary policy [1][2][8] - Fed officials will be closely monitoring economic indicators before making further rate decisions, with several speaking engagements scheduled this week [3][8][6] Group 2: Economic Data and Market Reactions - Key economic data releases this week include the final revision of second-quarter GDP, home sales, jobless claims, and consumer sentiment, which will provide insights into the economy's health [4][9][6] - The stock market reacted positively to the Fed's rate cut, with all three major U.S. indexes reaching record highs [2][5] Group 3: Corporate Earnings Reports - Micron Technology is set to report earnings, with analysts optimistic due to strong demand for memory chips driven by data center clients [10][11] - Costco is expected to report quarterly results, having previously seen an 8% increase in sales, indicating robust consumer spending [11][10] - CarMax's earnings report will shed light on the used car market, while AutoZone and other firms will also report this week [11][10]

Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images The small-cap Russell 2000 index was recently at a record high. Key Takeaways The Russell 2000, the benchmark index of small-cap stocks, this week closed at a record high for the first time in years as the Federal Reserve moved into a rate-cutting regime. Some analysts expect the category to outperform in the near term, given relatively low valuations compared to historical averages and large-cap peers. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF has outpaced the iShares Russell 1 ...

Key Takeaways Pre-market Futures Add to Yesterday's All-Time Closing HighsThe Outlook for an Accommodative Fed Is Set, Even with Higher Inflation on the HorizonStruggles for the Labor Market, Looking AheadFriday, September 19, 2025It’s the last Friday of trading for the summer of 2025, a week and a half from the end of calendar Q3, the major economic reports of the week have already been released and the Fed has made its monetary policy decision. Feels like a good time to put our feet up for a minute — espe ...