So the Federal Reserve has now cut rates again. Third meeting in a row, a 25 basis point cut this time. This is there were three dissents to this cut.Uh the first time there were three descents in about six years. So September of 2019. In this meeting, Steven Myron desented because he would like to see a half a percent cut.And then on the other side of this, Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid as well as Chicago President President Austin Goulby wanted to keep the things keep pause rate cuts where we are ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Reserve is concluding 2025 with a significant rate cut for consumers, reflecting the economic uncertainty of the year [1] Group 1 - The Federal Reserve's decision to implement another rate cut indicates a proactive approach to stimulate consumer spending [1] - This rate cut is part of a broader strategy to navigate the challenges posed by an uncertain economic environment [1] - The move is expected to have implications for various sectors, particularly those sensitive to interest rates, such as housing and consumer finance [1]

LIVE Fed Meeting Today: FOMC Expected to Cut Rates. Pay Attention to the 'Dot Plot.' Last Updated: 15 min ago Fed May Be Prepping an Extra Move, Alongside Rate Cut Topics Memberships Subscribe to Barron's Tools Customer Service Cryptocurrencies Data Magazine Markets Stock Picks Barron's Live Roundtable Barron's Stock Screen Personal Finance Streetwise Advisor Directory Saved Articles Watchlist Newsletters Video Center By Karishma Vanjani The Fed is widely expected to take interest rates a notch lower today, ...

It's time now for the big picture. Let's welcome in Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist, Schwab Center for Financial Research. Very good morning to you, Kathy.Great day to have you on ahead of this FOMC decision. Why has the 10ear been up around 420. >> Well, I think what you're seeing is the market isn't buying the need for rate cuts.Um, there are a number of things that go into the 10-year. there's, you know, big term premium, that risk premium people demand to hold longerterm bonds. And I think th ...

Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Finance Week on 10 December 2025, Michael Saylor said that Bitcoin is indeed digital gold and that once everyone understands it for what it is, the global credit is will be built on it. According to Saylor, Strategy is currently acquiring nearly $500 million to $1 billion worth of Bitcoin per week and has managed $60 billion worth of equities in the past 14 months, becoming the fifth largest treasury in the S&P universe, well on its way to becoming the largest in about four to ei ...

The rate-cut scenario has become the prime focus of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting on Wednesday. And, while the markets are already pricing in a quarter-point rate cut, the traders are more interested in the future guidance and the dynamics of policy rates in 2026. ...

Group 1 - The U.S. stock market is experiencing minimal movement, with the S&P 500 down 0.1%, the Dow also down similarly, and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.3% [1] - The significant activity is occurring in the bond market, where a sell-off is causing notable pain for investors [1] Group 2 - Investors are hesitant to engage in the stock market ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with expectations of a rate decrease today [2] - There is uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's leadership for the next year, which adds to the unpredictability of future interest rate movements [2]

Core Viewpoint - Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, believes that Bitcoin's traditional four-year cycle will be disrupted due to increased institutional investment, leading to reduced volatility and potentially preventing significant price declines [1][4]. Group 1: Bitcoin's Market Dynamics - Historically, Bitcoin experienced price drops of 75-90% in its early days, but recent trends indicate that volatility is decreasing as institutional interest grows [1]. - The last Bitcoin halving occurred on April 20, 2024, reducing the mining reward to 3.125 bitcoins, which has historically led to bull runs by limiting new supply [1][2]. - Wood posits that Bitcoin is transitioning to a "risk-on asset," aligning more closely with the performance of stocks and real estate, contrasting with its previous role as a "risk-off asset" during times of economic distress [2][3]. Group 2: Institutional Influence and Predictions - Wood's investment strategy includes increasing positions in crypto-related companies such as Coinbase and Circle, as well as in the Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, indicating a strong belief in the future of cryptocurrencies [4]. - Standard Chartered has also suggested that the traditional halving cycle may no longer be a relevant price driver due to the impact of ETF buying, challenging previous market logic [4][5]. - The prediction market Myriad indicates a mere 4% chance of Bitcoin outperforming gold by 2025, reflecting skepticism about Bitcoin's future performance compared to traditional safe-haven assets [3].

Core Insights - The article highlights the increasing threat of payment fraud, particularly through phony bank account change requests, which have seen a 43% increase in attacks over two years, with individual losses often reaching six or seven figures [1][8]. Group 1: Types of Fraud - Phony bank account change requests involve fraudsters posing as legitimate suppliers to reroute payments to criminal accounts, exploiting the lack of independent verification [1][9]. - AI-generated fraud techniques, such as deep-fake voice calls and synthetic invoices, complicate detection efforts, leveraging the natural trust in familiar voices and document formats [2]. - Duplicate and altered invoices are resubmitted by fraudsters with minor changes, relying on overworked staff to overlook discrepancies [3]. Group 2: Vulnerabilities in Accounts Payable (AP) - The AP landscape is dominated by schemes that exploit weaknesses in manual processes and human oversight, leading to a daily struggle between efficiency and vigilance [4][8]. - Limited staff training contributes to the problem, with fewer than one in three finance employees receiving regular anti-fraud education [4]. - Weak or inconsistent controls, such as reliance on manual verification and decentralized onboarding, increase vulnerability to fraud [5]. Group 3: Impact of Payment Fraud - The FBI reported over $3 billion in business email compromise (BEC) losses in 2024, marking a nearly 20% increase from the previous year, indicating a growing risk of payment fraud [6]. - The average loss per incident of payment fraud is estimated at $125,000, with recovery rates below 20% [10]. - The ripple effects of fraud incidents include reputational damage, operational disruption, regulatory exposure, and negative impacts on employee morale [23]. Group 4: Best Practices for Prevention - Standardizing the bank change process and independently verifying bank account ownership are critical steps to mitigate fraud risks [22]. - Implementing a formal, documented workflow for supplier bank account change requests and using secure online portals instead of email can enhance security [24]. - Automation of the verification process can significantly reduce fraud attempts by over 60%, creating a permanent audit trail that enhances accountability [28][30]. Group 5: Challenges in Verification - Traditional supplier onboarding processes are often inadequate, with only about 40% of global banking systems providing real-time verification, complicating the verification of bank accounts [14]. - Manual processes introduce errors and delays, making it difficult to detect fraudulent activities [15][17]. - High transaction volumes overwhelm staff, leading to missed verification steps and increased susceptibility to fraud [20]. Group 6: Conclusion - Phony bank account change requests represent a preventable yet costly type of payment fraud, necessitating a shift from manual controls to standardized, automated processes to keep pace with evolving threats [30][32].

ICYMI:BSCN (@BSCNews):PNC BANK BECOMES FIRST MAJOR US BANK TO ALLOW SPOT BITCOIN TRADING WITH COINBASE- Coinbase and PNC Bank have launched a feature that lets PNC Private Bank clients trade Bitcoin inside their regular banking accounts. This is the first time a major US bank has allowed direct spot https://t.co/VopVpsmLeE ...