Find out which banks are offering the best MMA rates right now. The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate three times in 2024 and recently made its third rate cut in 2025. As a result, deposit interest rates — including money market account rates — have been falling. It’s more important than ever to compare MMA rates and ensure you earn as much as possible on your balance. A look at the best money market account rates today Although money market account rates are elevated by historical standards, t ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve has reduced its target interest rate three times in 2024 and announced a third rate cut for 2025, impacting deposit account rates and presenting a potential opportunity to secure high certificate of deposit (CD) rates [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - As of December 22, 2025, the highest CD rate available is 4.1% APY, offered by Sallie Mae Bank for a 15-month CD and LendingClub Bank for an 8-month CD [2] - Today's average CD rates are among the highest seen in nearly two decades, largely due to the Federal Reserve's actions to combat inflation by maintaining elevated interest rates [3] Group 2: National Average CD Rates - The highest national average interest rate for CDs is 1.63% for a 1-year term, significantly lower than the best available rates [3] - Online banks and credit unions typically provide more competitive rates compared to traditional banks, contributing to the higher average rates observed [3] Group 3: Finding the Best CD Rates - It is advisable for consumers to shop around and compare CD rates from various financial institutions to find the best options [4] - Online banks often offer higher interest rates on CDs due to lower overhead costs, making them a preferred choice for consumers seeking competitive rates [4] - Consumers should check minimum deposit requirements and review account terms, including early withdrawal penalties and auto-renewal policies, to ensure alignment with their financial goals [4]

The economic narrative last week was shaped by a highly anticipated Federal Reserve rate cut, which came against a backdrop of conflicting signals in the labor market. While the latest JOLTS report in... ...

Is the U.S. jobs market even worse than it looks? Most top officials at the Federal Reserve sure seem to think so. ...

Group 1 - Global equity funds saw significant inflows of $12.9 billion in the week to December 10, marking the highest weekly net additions since early November [1] - European equity funds led the inflows with $6.4 billion, following a previous week's inflow of $6.47 billion, while U.S. and Asian funds attracted $3.3 billion and $1.3 billion respectively [2] - Sectoral funds experienced a net inflow of $2.13 billion, with notable investments in metals and mining ($889 million), utility ($824 million), and industrial sector funds ($405 million) [3] Group 2 - Money market funds faced outflows of $12.99 billion after a previous week's inflow of $110.4 billion, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [3] - Global bond funds continued to attract interest for the 34th consecutive week, with net inflows of $8.23 billion [3] - Short-term bond funds recorded approximately $2 billion in inflows for the sixth consecutive week, while euro-denominated bond funds attracted $1.9 billion [4] Group 3 - Emerging markets equity funds received $2.78 billion in inflows, extending a buying streak to seven weeks, while bond funds saw a modest inflow of $68 million [5]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates by 25 basis points is perceived as "not as bad as it could've been" according to Bob Michele, the global head of fixed income at JPMorgan Asset Management [1] Summary by Relevant Sections - The Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-3 to lower the rate, indicating a divided opinion among members regarding the policy direction [1] - There were dissents on both ends of the policy spectrum, highlighting differing views on the appropriateness of the rate cut [1]

Group 1 - After over a decade of ultra-low yields, retirees are finding comfort in Treasuries yielding sub-5% interest rates, leading many investors to lock in that rate [1] - Stocks have a historical tendency to outperform Treasuries in the long term and provide better protection against inflation [1] - Futures markets are anticipating one more Federal Reserve rate cut in December 2025, which may lead to a rotation back into income equities [2][6] Group 2 - Monthly dividend ETFs are highlighted as a suitable investment during economic slowdowns, as they are anchored by reliable cash flow from real businesses [2] - The Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (DIVO) offers exposure to high-quality dividend stocks with a low beta and generates a yield of 4.63% through covered calls [4][6] - DIVO's top holdings include blue-chip companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Apple, with a strategy that caps individual stock exposure at around 8% and sector exposure at no more than 25% [5][6] Group 3 - DIVO has a 0.56% expense ratio, reflecting the active management involved in its covered-call strategy, which is justified by the safety and yield it provides [7] - PFF, another investment option, offers a higher yield of 6.36% and trades at a 20% discount, focusing on preferred shares from financials and REITs [6]

Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin (BTC) has risen above $94,000, but strategists are cautious about a potential year-end rally due to expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut and a possible pause in future policy easing [1][2]. Group 1: Federal Reserve Impact - Markets anticipate a 25-basis-point rate reduction from the Federal Reserve at the end of its two-day policy meeting [2]. - There are increasing bets that Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks post-meeting may indicate a pause in January, as policymakers aim to balance inflation control with a cooling labor market [2]. Group 2: Analyst Perspectives - Investment analyst Nic Puckrin suggests that if Powell delivers a hawkish speech, the chances of a year-end rally for Bitcoin will decrease [3]. - Puckrin also notes that Bitcoin's momentum has not been favorable recently, and it may end 2025 below $100,000 despite recent purchases by Michael Saylor's Strategy [3]. - Puckrin expects a rebound in the crypto market once President Trump announces a replacement for Powell, with Kevin Hassett being a leading candidate viewed as industry-friendly [4]. Group 3: Market Performance - Bitcoin has struggled to recover after a significant drop from its October high of approximately $126,000 [4][9]. - Analysts from Compass Point express caution regarding chasing breakouts as Bitcoin trades near the high end of its recent $81,000 to $94,000 range [5]. - Buyers who purchased Bitcoin in the last six months did so at an average cost basis of around $103,000 per token, leading to a tendency to "sell the rip" when prices fall below this level [6]. Group 4: Yearly Performance - Bitcoin has declined by 2% so far this year, positioning it for its worst annual performance since the 2022 crypto winter, which saw a loss of over 64% in value [7]. - The token is diverging sharply from stock performance for the first time since 2014, as the S&P 500 has gained 16% [8].

Market Overview - The crypto market experienced a positive shift on Monday, driven by expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, with Bitcoin (BTC) rising to nearly $92,000, marking a 3% increase over the last 24 hours, while the CoinDesk 20 and CoinDesk 80 indexes saw gains of approximately 3.5% [1] Cautionary Signals - Despite the bullish sentiment, there are concerns as the anticipated rate cut is largely considered a certainty, leading to a focus on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's guidance regarding potential future cuts in 2026. Some market observers are skeptical about aggressive easing, as indicated by the rising 10-year yield, suggesting a hawkish outlook from bond traders [2] - Momentum indicators are also showing bearish trends, with the CoinDesk Bitcoin Trend Index indicating a strong downtrend, which began in mid-November, coinciding with a price decline. Additionally, U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs experienced a net outflow of $87.77 million last week, while spot ether ETFs saw outflows of $65.59 million [3] Underlying Market Dynamics - There are signs of accumulation beneath the surface, with large wallets increasing their holdings and exchange supply being historically low. However, the market remains sensitive to political and macroeconomic factors this week, with potential risks from a hawkish Fed stance, significant ETF outflows, or renewed exchange inflows that could undermine rate-cut expectations [4] Upcoming Market Events - Anticipate volatility in the broader market due to scheduled token unlocks for several cryptocurrencies, each valued over $5 million, within the next week. Additionally, traditional markets have seen a pause in gold's rally around $4,200 per ounce [5]

Market Overview - US stock futures showed little movement as Wall Street anticipates the Federal Reserve's final policy meeting of 2025, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures slightly above flatline and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures unchanged [1] - The market has been supported by a tame PCE consumer inflation reading for September, leading to consecutive weeks of gains for major indices [2] Federal Reserve Expectations - There is an 88% probability of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve, a significant increase from 67% a month ago, as traders prepare for the upcoming meeting [3] - The labor market data, particularly the postponed October JOLTS report, will be closely monitored for insights on hiring, layoffs, and worker turnover [3] Earnings Reports - Key earnings reports to watch include Oracle and Adobe on Wednesday, followed by Broadcom and Costco on Thursday [4] Bond Market Dynamics - The bond market's reaction to the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts has been unusual, with Treasury yields rising despite rate cuts, a phenomenon not seen since the 1990s [4][5] - This divergence in bond market behavior has sparked debate, with opinions ranging from bullish confidence in avoiding recession to concerns over national debt [5][6] Federal Reserve Policy and Market Impact - The Federal Reserve has reduced its benchmark rate by 1.5 percentage points since September 2024, currently ranging from 3.75% to 4%, with expectations of further cuts [8] - Despite these cuts, key Treasury yields have increased, with ten-year yields rising to 4.1% and 30-year yields up over 0.8 percentage points since the easing began [9]