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% APY, with Marcus by Goldman Sachs providing the highest rate of 4% APY on its 1-year CD as of January 20, 2026 [2] - CD rates today are significantly higher than traditional savings accounts, indicating a favorable environment for investors seeking fixed returns [2] Group 2: Historical Context - CD rates experienced a decline during the 2000s due to economic slowdowns and the Federal Reserve's rate cuts, with average one-year CDs paying around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - 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 [4] - 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 in CD rates [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 steady decline 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]

Deposit account rates are on the decline. The good news: You can lock in a competitive return on a certificate of deposit (CD) today and preserve your earning power. In fact, the best CDs still pay rates above 4%. Read on for a snapshot of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Where are the best CD rates today? CDs today typically offer rates significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. Currently, the best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) generally offer rates around 4% to 4.5% AP ...

Deposit account rates are on the decline. The good news: You can lock in a competitive return on a certificate of deposit (CD) today and preserve your earning power. In fact, the best CDs still pay rates above 4%. Read on for a snapshot of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Where are the best CD rates today? CDs today typically offer rates significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. Currently, the best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) generally offer rates around 4% to 4.5% AP ...

Group 1 - The S&P 500 Index achieved a strong performance with a +16.39% return in 2025 despite widespread expectations of a recession [1] - Leading recession indicators, such as the Yield Curve Inversion, did not result in an actual recession [1] Group 2 - The article reflects a focus on fundamental analysis rather than technical trading strategies, emphasizing the evaluation of actual company results [1]

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 4.1% APY from Sallie Mae Bank and LendingClub Bank [2] - Historical trends show that CD rates were significantly higher in the early 2000s but fell to around 1% APY for one-year CDs by 2009 due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts [2][3] Group 2: Historical Context - 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] - The Federal Reserve's rate hikes between 2015 and 2018 led to a slight improvement in CD rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused emergency rate cuts, resulting in new record lows for CDs [4] Group 3: Recent Developments - Following the pandemic, the Federal Reserve increased rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, leading to higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [5] - As of September 2024, the Federal Reserve began cutting the federal funds rate, resulting in a steady decline in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [6] Group 4: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offer 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] - When choosing 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 4.15% APY from United Fidelity Bank for an 18-month CD [2] - Historical trends show that CD rates were significantly higher in the early 2000s but fell to around 1% APY for one-year CDs by 2009 due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts [2][3] Group 2: Historical Context - 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 as the Fed maintained low benchmark interest rates [3] - Between 2015 and 2018, CD rates improved slightly as the Fed began to increase rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows for CD rates [4] Group 3: Recent Developments - Following the pandemic, the Fed raised rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023 in response to rising inflation, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [5] - As of September 2024, the Fed has 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 offer 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] - When choosing 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 17, 2025 [2] - Historical trends show that CD rates were higher in the early 2000s but fell significantly after the 2008 financial crisis, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [2][3] Group 2: Historical Context - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s due to the Federal Reserve's policies, with average rates on 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [3] - Between 2015 and 2018, CD rates improved slightly as the Fed increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows in 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, CD rates are beginning to decline 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 [6][7] - When choosing a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to maximize returns [8]

Market Outlook & Economic Indicators - The yield curve, a leading economic indicator, inverted for 784 days, the longest in US history, signaling potential economic trouble ahead [2] - Historically, a market crash (recession) has occurred within 2-6 months after the yield curve normalization, but this cycle's inversion lasted much longer, suggesting a delayed but inevitable recession [2] - The analysis suggests a high-risk period for a recessionary crash extending through Q2 2026 [2][5] - Bond market conditions (10-year yield ~405%, 2-year yield ~347%) indicate high risk, mirroring pre-crash scenarios of 2001 and 2007 [2] Bitcoin (BTC) Analysis & Trading Strategy - Despite the recessionary outlook, the analysis maintains a 90,000-94,000 USD target for Bitcoin [1][3][4][5] - The firm has already executed 70% capital sits in USDT/shorts, and the remaining 30% spot is waiting for a retest of the short zone to unload and add even more shorts [3] - The strategy involves selling 10% of spot holdings daily into strength and loading shorts around the 115,000-125,000 USD distribution zone [3] - Post 90,000-94,000 USD target, the analysis anticipates either a move towards 140,000 USD before the recession crash or an immediate recession crash [4] - Any long positions taken after a potential 90,000 USD bounce will be treated as high-risk due to the high confidence in a crash occurring between now and Q2 2026 [5]

Market Trends & Economic Indicators - The yield curve inversion ended 9 months ago, prompting the question of potential delayed market reactions [1] - The industry is monitoring TradFi data points for insights [1]

Market Overview - The current stock market is characterized by increased volatility due to both fundamental and external factors, including recent trade tariffs imposed by the U.S. government [2][4] - Historical patterns indicate that a 20% decline from all-time highs often leads to significant market reactions, such as margin calls and potential capitulation [5][6][7] Technical Analysis - The S&P 500 index has recently tested a pivotal level, specifically a 20% decline from its all-time highs, which is a critical threshold for market behavior [5][8] - The current price level for S&P 500 futures is around $4,900, which is expected to be tested again, influencing investor decisions regarding margin calls and inventory management [8] Economic Indicators - The yield curve has steepened from negative territory, historically predicting recessions with 100% accuracy, suggesting a potential severe market downturn [9] - Consumer confidence indexes are at cyclical lows, and consumer discretionary stocks are reporting lower earnings guidance, indicating reduced spending and increased caution among consumers [10] Company-Specific Insights - Key stocks in the S&P 500, particularly Apple Inc. and NVIDIA Co., have fallen below their respective 20% discount levels, signaling a lack of market support for these leading companies [12][13] - Valuations for these stocks are at cyclical lows, which may reflect broader market bearish sentiment [13][14] Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to monitor the 20% discount level for the S&P 500, as its retesting will provide insights into potential market recovery or further declines [15] - Despite NVIDIA's current Moderate Buy rating, top analysts have identified other stocks as better investment opportunities at this time [16]