WEATHER ALERT
UK economy unexpectedly shrinks in January, in blow to Treasury chief ahead of key statement
Read full article: UK economy unexpectedly shrinks in January, in blow to Treasury chief ahead of key statementThe British economy unexpectedly shrank during January, piling pressure on Treasury chief Rachel Reeves before a key statement about the state of the public finances later this month.
A judge in the nation's capital declines to block DOGE from Treasury systems
Read full article: A judge in the nation's capital declines to block DOGE from Treasury systemsA federal judge in the nationโs capital is refusing to block employees of Elon Muskโs Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury systems containing sensitive personal data for millions of Americans.
Treasury watchdog begins audit of Musk DOGE team's access to the US government's payment system
Read full article: Treasury watchdog begins audit of Musk DOGE team's access to the US government's payment systemThe Treasury Departmentโs Office of Inspector General says it's launching an audit of the security controls for the federal governmentโs payment system.
Elon Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sources
Read full article: Elon Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sourcesThe Department of Government Efficiency, run by President Donald Trumpโs billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems.
UK government backs contentious third runway at London's Heathrow Airport
Read full article: UK government backs contentious third runway at London's Heathrow AirportU.K. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves says that the new Labour government is backing the construction of third runway at Londonโs Heathrow Airport.
Stock market today: Netflix and AI excitement send Wall Street to the brink of an all-time high
Read full article: Stock market today: Netflix and AI excitement send Wall Street to the brink of an all-time highNetflix, Oracle and other technology stocks lifted U.S. indexes as their profits pile higher and excitement builds around the moneymaking prospects of artificial intelligence.
CBO projects US debt to grow $23.9 trillion in 10 years, not including costs of extending tax cuts
Read full article: CBO projects US debt to grow $23.9 trillion in 10 years, not including costs of extending tax cutsThe national debt is slated to rise by $23.9 trillion over the next decade, a sum that does not include trillions of dollars in additional tax cuts being championed by President-elect Donald Trump.
US recovers $31 million in federal payments to dead people
Read full article: US recovers $31 million in federal payments to dead peopleEver since the U.S. Social Security Administration opened its books to the Department of the Treasuryโs Bureau of Fiscal Service, it has been able to stop and recover more than $31 million in improper federal payments to dead people.
Stock market today: Wall Street recoils after good news on the economy raises inflation worries
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street recoils after good news on the economy raises inflation worriesU.S. stocks dropped on worries that good news on the job market may prove to be bad for Wall Street by keeping inflation and interest rates high.
US imposes sanctions on Russian and Iranian groups over disinformation targeting American voters
Read full article: US imposes sanctions on Russian and Iranian groups over disinformation targeting American votersThe U.S. has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Russian and Iranian disinformation campaigns targeting this year's election.
Treasury says Chinese hackers remotely accessed workstations, documents in 'major' cyber incident
Read full article: Treasury says Chinese hackers remotely accessed workstations, documents in 'major' cyber incidentThe Treasury Department said Chinese hackers remotely accessed several employee workstations and unclassified documents after compromising a third-party software service provider.
Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January
Read full article: Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-JanuaryTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen says her agency will need to start taking โextraordinary measures,โ or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as January 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon.
Trump's treasury pick could give an indication of what he plans to do about tariffs
Read full article: Trump's treasury pick could give an indication of what he plans to do about tariffsOne of the top remaining vacancies in President-elect Donald Trumpโs proposed Cabinet is his treasury secretary โ and the views of his top contenders there reflect broader questions about how the president-elect might wield tariffs in his new administration.
UK Treasury chief says she's not satisfied by paltry third-quarter economic growth
Read full article: UK Treasury chief says she's not satisfied by paltry third-quarter economic growthThe British economyโs rebound from recession slowed down sharply in the third quarter of the year with most sectors stagnating.
Stock market today: Wall Street tumbles as the โTrump bumpโ fades and vaccine makers sink
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street tumbles as the โTrump bumpโ fades and vaccine makers sinkU.S. stocks fell to their worst loss since Election Day as the boost that Wall Street got from last weekโs victory for Donald Trump and a cut to interest rates by the Federal Reserve kept fading.
Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed finish after an inflation update
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed finish after an inflation updateU.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish after the latest inflation update boosted hopes that more help for the economy will arrive next month from another cut to interest rates.
Stock market today: Amazon leads Wall Street higher
Read full article: Stock market today: Amazon leads Wall Street higherAmazon led U.S. stock indexes higher, while a surprisingly weak jobs report marred by some unusual occurrences cemented bets on Wall Street for another cut to interest rates next week.
US imposes sanctions on top members of the armed wing of a Mexican fentanyl-trafficking cartel
Read full article: US imposes sanctions on top members of the armed wing of a Mexican fentanyl-trafficking cartelThe U.S. on Thursday imposed sanctions on senior members of the armed wing of a Mexican drug cartel that operates on border territories in and around Chihuahua, Mexico.
US sanctions 398 firms in more than a dozen countries, accusing them of helping Russia's war effort
Read full article: US sanctions 398 firms in more than a dozen countries, accusing them of helping Russia's war effortThe U.S. on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 398 firms across Russia, India, China, and more than a dozen other nations โ accusing them of providing products and services that enable Russiaโs war effort and aid its ability to evade sanctions.
Stock market today: Wall Street slides after Treasury yields climb back above 4% and oil rises
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street slides after Treasury yields climb back above 4% and oil risesU.S. stocks slid after Treasury yields hit their highest levels since the summer and oil prices continued to climb.
Stock market today: Wall Street rallies near its record heights as 'time has come' for cuts to rates
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street rallies near its record heights as 'time has come' for cuts to ratesU.S. stocks rallied closer to their records after the head of the Federal Reserve finally said out loud what Wall Street has been expecting for a while: Cuts to interest rates are coming soon to help the economy.
Stock market today: Wall Street rolls to the edge of records as hopes remain for cuts to rates
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street rolls to the edge of records as hopes remain for cuts to ratesU.S. stocks rose after some mixed signals on big banksโ profits and inflation did little to dent Wall Streetโs belief that easier interest rates are on the way.
IRS collects milestone $1 billion in back taxes from high-wealth taxpayers
Read full article: IRS collects milestone $1 billion in back taxes from high-wealth taxpayersThe IRS has collected $1 billion in back taxes from high-wealth tax cheats โ a milestone meant to showcase how the agency is making use of the money it received as part of the Biden administrationโs signature climate, health care and tax package signed into law in 2022.
U.S. to expand control of land sales to foreigners near 56 additional military sites
Read full article: U.S. to expand control of land sales to foreigners near 56 additional military sitesNew Treasury rulemaking would expand the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United Statesโ jurisdiction to review land sales near 56 additional military sites, bringing the overall number to 227.
Stock market today: Wall Street's scorching rally sets more records as hopes rise for rate cuts
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street's scorching rally sets more records as hopes rise for rate cutsU.S. stocks rose to more records after a report on the job market bolstered hopes that interest rates may soon get easier.
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise ahead of U.S. inflation report
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise ahead of U.S. inflation reportAsian shares are rising as traders looked ahead to a key report on inflation that could influence the Federal Reserveโs next move on interest rates.
Investors pushing for fatter yields on mortgage-backed securities may undercut easing mortgage rates
Read full article: Investors pushing for fatter yields on mortgage-backed securities may undercut easing mortgage ratesMortgage rates are expected to come down later this year, but any benefit to homebuyers could be muted by developments in the market for financial instruments tied to mortgages.
Stock market today: Asian shares rise after Wall Street rallies to records
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares rise after Wall Street rallies to recordsAsian benchmarks are mostly higher after U.S. stocks rallied to records following the Federal Reserve's indication that it expects to deliver interest rate cuts later this year.
US and UK hit Iranian deputy commander and Houthi member with sanctions
Read full article: US and UK hit Iranian deputy commander and Houthi member with sanctionsThe U.S. and United Kingdom sanctioned a deputy commander of Iranโs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a Houthi militant member, Tuesday.
U.S. sanctions Iran Central Bank subsidiary for U.S. tech procurement and violating export rules
Read full article: U.S. sanctions Iran Central Bank subsidiary for U.S. tech procurement and violating export rulesThe U.S. has imposed sanctions on three people and four firms โ across Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey โ for allegedly helping to export goods and technology purchased from U.S. companies to Iran and the nationโs central bank.
Stock market today: Asian shares trade mixed after Wall Street dips amid dimming rate cut hopes
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares trade mixed after Wall Street dips amid dimming rate cut hopesAsian shares are trading mixed as pessimism spreads among investors about any imminent interest rate cut in the U.S. Japanโs benchmark Nikkei finished little changed Thursday, inching down less than 0.1%.
Yellen says 100,000 firms have joined a business database aimed at unmasking shell company owners
Read full article: Yellen says 100,000 firms have joined a business database aimed at unmasking shell company ownersTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen has announced that 100,000 businesses have signed up for a new database of that collects ownership information intended to help unmask shell company owners.
US sanctions money lending network to Yemen's Houthi rebels, looks to boost maritime protections
Read full article: US sanctions money lending network to Yemen's Houthi rebels, looks to boost maritime protectionsThe White House is encouraging Mideast allies to join the Combined Maritime Forces, a partnership that exists to counter malign action by non-state actors in international waters.
Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly up as weak jobs data back hopes for an end to rate hikes
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly up as weak jobs data back hopes for an end to rate hikesAsian shares have advanced after most stocks slipped on Wall Street following a mixed set of reports on the U.S. economy.
Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed in half-day session, marks fourth straight winning week
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed in half-day session, marks fourth straight winning weekStocks drifted to a mixed finish after a half-day trading session capped a holiday shortened week that left the major indexes with their fourth straight winning week.
Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly higher after Wall Street rally led by Microsoft gains
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly higher after Wall Street rally led by Microsoft gainsAsian shares are mostly higher after a rally on Wall Street led by gains in Microsoft after it announced it was hiring Sam Altman, former CEO of OpenAI, the ChatGPT maker.
US sanctions Iran-backed militia members in Iraq conducting strikes against American forces
Read full article: US sanctions Iran-backed militia members in Iraq conducting strikes against American forcesThe U.S. has imposed sanctions on six people affiliated with the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataeb Hezbollah, which is accused of being behind a spate of recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel.
Federal Reserve leaves its key rate unchanged but keeps open possibility of a future hike
Read full article: Federal Reserve leaves its key rate unchanged but keeps open possibility of a future hikeThe Federal Reserve kept its key short-term interest rate unchanged for a second straight time but left the door open to further rate hikes if inflation pressures should accelerate in the months ahead.
Stock market today: Asian shares follow Wall Street lower, and Japan reports September exports rose
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares follow Wall Street lower, and Japan reports September exports roseShares have tumbled in Asia following a retreat on Wall Street after big U.S. companies delivered mixed profit reports and Treasury yields added pressure on stocks.
Stock market today: Wall Street struggles as war worries collide with hope for stronger profits
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street struggles as war worries collide with hope for stronger profitsU.S. stocks mostly fell after getting pulled in opposite directions by competing waves of optimism and fear.
Stock market today: Wall Street ticks higher after the first of 2 big updates on inflation this week
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street ticks higher after the first of 2 big updates on inflation this weekMost U.S. stocks ticked higher amid mixed yields in the bond market, which has been the main driver of Wall Streetโs moves recently.
Stock market today: Asian shares rise after eased pressure on bonds pushes Wall Street higher
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares rise after eased pressure on bonds pushes Wall Street higherShares are higher in Asia, tracking Wall Street gains following an easing of pressure from the bond market.
Stock market today: Wall Street leaps after eventually finding things to like in nuanced jobs report
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street leaps after eventually finding things to like in nuanced jobs reportWall Street rallied in a whipsaw Friday and erased its morning losses after looking deeper into the nuances of a surprisingly strong report on the U.S. job market.
Stock market today: Asian benchmarks mostly rise in subdued trading on US jobs worries
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian benchmarks mostly rise in subdued trading on US jobs worriesAsian shares are mostly higher in cautious trading after Wall Street drifted to a quiet close on worries about a too-hot U.S. job market.
How a strong start to 2023 for Wall Street got knocked off course by soaring bond yields
Read full article: How a strong start to 2023 for Wall Street got knocked off course by soaring bond yieldsTreasury yields surged in September and sapped the energy from a strong stock market as investors came to terms with the likelihood that interest rates will remain high well into next year.
The average long-term US mortgage rate reaches highest point in nearly 23 years, hitting 7.31%
Read full article: The average long-term US mortgage rate reaches highest point in nearly 23 years, hitting 7.31%Home loan borrowing costs climbed again this week, pushing the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its highest level in nearly 23 years, another blow to prospective homebuyers facing an increasingly less affordable housing market.
US issues more sanctions over Iran drone program after nation's president denies supplying Russia
Read full article: US issues more sanctions over Iran drone program after nation's president denies supplying RussiaThe U.S. has imposed sanctions on seven people and four companies in China, Russia and Turkey who officials allege are connected with the development of Iranโs drone program.
US names former commerce secretary, big Democrat donor to coordinate private sector aid for Ukraine
Read full article: US names former commerce secretary, big Democrat donor to coordinate private sector aid for UkraineThe Biden administration has tapped former Commerce Secretary and major Democratic donor Penny Pritzker to coordinate U.S. efforts to channel private sector reconstruction assistance to Ukraine.
New Zealand economy to remain sluggish for 2 years, although doing better than feared, figures show
Read full article: New Zealand economy to remain sluggish for 2 years, although doing better than feared, figures showNew Zealandโs economy is expected to remain sluggish for another two years, although the overall picture is rosier than many observers had feared, new figures indicate.
Stock market today: Asian shares fall, tracking a decline on Wall St on fears rates may stay high
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares fall, tracking a decline on Wall St on fears rates may stay highShares are lower in Asia after a decline on Wall Street, where strong economic data revived worries that the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates high for longer than hoped.
US hits North Korean and Russian accused of supporting North Korea's ballistics missile program
Read full article: US hits North Korean and Russian accused of supporting North Korea's ballistics missile programIn response to North Koreaโs failed launch of a spy satellite last week, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on two men and a Moscow-registered firm accused of supporting North Koreaโs ballistic missile program.
US sanctions Russian operatives accused in the poisoning of Putin critic Alexei Navalny
Read full article: US sanctions Russian operatives accused in the poisoning of Putin critic Alexei NavalnyThe U.S. has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on four Russian intelligence operatives accused of direct involvement in the 2020 poisoning of Alexei Navalny, a Russian politician and corruption investigator who is one of President Vladimir Putinโs fiercest critics.
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly decline after Wall Street drop on higher bond yields
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares mostly decline after Wall Street drop on higher bond yieldsAsian shares have slipped as rising yields in the bond market on Wall Street set off expectations that high interest rates would continue in the U.S. Benchmarks fell in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul, while rising slightly in Sydney.
Stock market today: Wall Street returns to rallying following reports on profits and inflation
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street returns to rallying following reports on profits and inflationWall Street got back to climbing following more encouraging profit reports and the latest signal that inflation is loosening its chokehold on the economy.
Public funding for King Charles III and royals has been recalculated due to windfarm deal profits
Read full article: Public funding for King Charles III and royals has been recalculated due to windfarm deal profitsThe U.K. Treasury says the amount of public funding for King Charles III and the royal familyโs official duties has been recalculated for next year because of an unexpected profit boost from offshore wind farms on the monarchโs Crown Estate.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China as part of efforts to soothe strained relations
Read full article: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China as part of efforts to soothe strained relationsTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to tell Chinese officials that Washington wants healthy economic competition but will defend trade curbs imposed by the U.S. on security grounds.
UK's Treasury chief accepts that recession may be necessary to get inflation down
Read full article: UK's Treasury chief accepts that recession may be necessary to get inflation downBritainโs Treasury chief says he would be prepared to see the British economy slip back into recession if further interest rate hikes are necessary to bring down inflation.
Threat of US credit downgrade looms over debt ceiling talks
Read full article: Threat of US credit downgrade looms over debt ceiling talksWith one of three major rating agencies warning that Americaโs AAA credit is at risk, the stakes are growing in the standoff in Washington over raising the nationโs debt limit.
What it would mean for the global economy if the US defaults on its debt
Read full article: What it would mean for the global economy if the US defaults on its debtIf the debt crisis roiling Washington were eventually to send the United States crashing into recession, Americaโs economy would hardly sink alone.
New Zealand budget plan offers modest financial relief ahead of election
Read full article: New Zealand budget plan offers modest financial relief ahead of electionMonths before an election, New Zealandโs government is offering some modest financial relief to many people by making most prescription medicines free and increasing subsidies for childcare and public transportation.
Treasury's Yellen says US could default as soon as June 1
Read full article: Treasury's Yellen says US could default as soon as June 1Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has notified Congress that the U.S. could default on its debt as early as June 1, if legislators do not raise or suspend the nationโs borrowing authority before then and avert what could potentially become a global financial crisis.
More sanctions for deadly fentanyl if bill becomes law
Read full article: More sanctions for deadly fentanyl if bill becomes lawOver the course of a year, the U.S. Treasury Department has used the hammer of its sanctions powers to impose wide-ranging financial restrictions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, turning Russia into the most sanctioned country in the world.
Average long-term US mortgage rate drops a 5th straight week
Read full article: Average long-term US mortgage rate drops a 5th straight weekThe average long-term U.S. mortgage rate inched down for the fifth straight week, positive news for potential home buyers and a real estate market thatโs been chilled by the Federal Reserveโs series of interest rate hikes the past year.
US sanction officials plan missions to clamp down on Russia
Read full article: US sanction officials plan missions to clamp down on RussiaTop sanctions officials from the U.S. Treasury Department are set to make a series of international trips as part of a new campaign to pressure firms and countries that continue to do business with the Kremlin to cut off financial ties because of Russia's war on Ukraine.
Average 30-year mortgage rate dips as spring season opens
Read full article: Average 30-year mortgage rate dips as spring season opensThe average long-term U.S. mortgage rate dipped for the fourth straight week, a good sign for potential home buyers and a real estate market that has been mostly cold since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates more than a year ago.
Mortgage rates' rise has led to wide gap with US bond yields
Read full article: Mortgage rates' rise has led to wide gap with US bond yieldsEconomists are baffled by a wider-than-usual divergence between long-term mortgage rates and the yield on the benchmark U.S. government bond that is driving a sharp rise in borrowing costs and helping to torpedo the U.S. housing market this year.
Relief meets fear as UK budget calms economy but brings pain
Read full article: Relief meets fear as UK budget calms economy but brings painBritainโs Conservative government is defending its decision to hike taxes for millions of working people in the โsqueezed middleโ class as it tries to shore up an economy battered by double-digit inflation.
China lashes out at visit by UK trade minister to Taiwan
Read full article: China lashes out at visit by UK trade minister to TaiwanChina has lashed out over a visit to Taiwan by British Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands, the latest foreign official to defy Beijing's warnings over contacts with the self-governing island republic.
Harris, Yellen focus on community finance at Freedman Forum
Read full article: Harris, Yellen focus on community finance at Freedman ForumVice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will host a forum to highlight how coronavirus pandemic relief dollars have helped support Black- and minority-owned businesses.
Bank of England fails to reassure markets after pound plunge
Read full article: Bank of England fails to reassure markets after pound plungeThe Bank of England has sought to reassure financial markets after the British pound touched an all-time low against the U.S. dollar, but its entreaty has fallen flat for investors concerned about the government's sweeping package of tax cuts.
Stocks stumble, yields rise as Fed raises key rate to fight inflation
Read full article: Stocks stumble, yields rise as Fed raises key rate to fight inflationWall Street closed sharply lower after the Federal Reserve stepped up its fight against inflation with another big interest rate increase and signaled more were on the way.
New Zealand hands out extra cash to fight 'inflation storm'
Read full article: New Zealand hands out extra cash to fight 'inflation storm'New Zealandโs government says it will hand out an extra few hundred dollars to more than 2 million lower-income adults to help them navigate what it describes as โthe peak of the global inflation storm.โ.
Yellen calls for crypto regulation to reduce risks, fraud
Read full article: Yellen calls for crypto regulation to reduce risks, fraudTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen says more government regulation is needed to police the proliferation of cryptocurrency and other digital assets and to ward off fraudulent and illicit transactions.
Stocks edge higher, Treasury yields soar after jobs data
Read full article: Stocks edge higher, Treasury yields soar after jobs dataStock indexes ended a bumpy day higher on Wall Street Friday while Treasury yields soared, after a healthy report on the U.S. job market strengthened expectations for coming interest rate hikes.
Treasury: Most COVID rental aid went to low-income residents
Read full article: Treasury: Most COVID rental aid went to low-income residentsThe U.S. Treasury Department has concluded that more than 80% of the billions of dollars in federal rental assistance during the pandemic went to low-income tenants.
Stocks, bond yields sink as Ukraine worries shake markets
Read full article: Stocks, bond yields sink as Ukraine worries shake marketsStocks sank Friday as worries about an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine piled onto Wall Streetโs already heavy list of concerns about inflation and interest rates.
How Fed hikes could affect mortgages, car loans, card rates
Read full article: How Fed hikes could affect mortgages, car loans, card ratesWith the Federal Reserve signaling it will begin raising its benchmark interest rate as soon as March โ and probably a few additional times this year โ consumers and businesses will eventually feel it.