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8+ min ago (732+ words) The Swiss Franc (CHF) trades slightly firmer against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, with USD/CHF extending losses for a second consecutive day as the Greenback stays on the back foot ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate decision at 19:00 GMT. At the time of writing, the pair is trading around 0.8044, pressured by a softer USD and a cautious market mood ahead of the Fed decision. Markets remain convinced the central bank will deliver another 25 basis point (bps) rate cut, which would bring the Federal Funds Rate down to the 3.50%-3.75% range. With the rate cut almost fully priced in, attention will be squarely on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting press conference, along with the updated dot plot and economic projections, as speculation surrounding a hawkish cut builds. The Fed has already eased policy twice this year, delivering back-to-back…...

11+ min ago (536+ words) Claudia Sahm thinks investors should rethink what they're salivating for. "If the Powell Fed ends up doing a lot more cuts," she told Fortune ahead of the decision, "then we probably don't have a good economy. Be careful what you wish for." That framing cuts against the dominant mood on Wall Street, where rate cuts have recently been reflexively welcomed and futures markets are already pricing in a second roundof easing in 2026. But Sahm thinks investors should only want more cuts if they're prepared to cheer for a recession. Sahm expects the Fed's cut today'almost universally anticipated in futures markets'to be paired with language that raises the bar for any move in January. With the core inflation rate still sticky at 2.8%, higher than the Fed's preferred rate of 2%, and unemployment rising, the Fed is straddling both halves of its mandate....

11+ min ago (263+ words) TransUnion also projects delinquency expectations for other major credit products during the next year Credit card delinquency rates are forecast to remain virtually flat, with the percentage of consumers 90 or more days past due (90+ DPD) inching up by just one basis point to 2.57%. This stability reflects tighter underwriting and proactive risk management by card issuers'even as consumers contend with inflationary pressures and fluctuating interest rates. Credit Card Forecast: Small Balance Growth, Stable Delinquencies Year-End 90+ DPD DQ Rate The forecast reflects a complex backdrop: inflation remains above target at 2.45%, and unemployment is expected to rise slightly to 4.5% by late 2026, which could put strain on household budgets for certain borrowers. At the same time, multiple anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts over the next year should ease borrowing costs and provide some relief to consumers. Delinquency Trends Across Other Credit Products Auto Loans:…...

12+ min ago (297+ words) At a time when GST rates have been lowered and states don't receive GST compensation cess either, the own tax revenue (OTR) of states becomes more significant. businessline analysis of OTR data from CAG shows that the growth of this revenue has been sluggish for some of the top states in FY26. Analysts note that slower nominal GDP growth and low inflation could be among the key factors for sluggish tax revenue. The gross tax revenue of the Centre also slowed to 4 per cent growth in April to October 2025, compared to 10.8 per cent growth in the same period of FY25. With GST making up almost 45 per cent of the states' OTR, it could stress state finances in the rest of the year. "Since the GST implementation, states' GST revenue has averaged just 2.6 per cent of GDP, below the 2.8 per cent pre-GST yield…...

17+ min ago (510+ words) The US stock market remains largely quiet on Wednesday as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say in the afternoon about where interest rates may be heading. The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged and remains near its all-time high, which was set in October. The Dow Jones was up 198 points, or 0.4 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3 per cent lower. Wall Street is steady ahead of the decision from the Federal Reserve.Credit: AP The Australian sharemarket is set to advance, with futures at 4.53am AEST pointing to a rise of 46 points, or 0.5 per cent, at the open. The ASX dipped by less than 0.1 per cent on Wednesday. The Australian dollar was trading at US66.46" just after 5am AEDT. Among the market's big movers was GE Vernova, which flew 13.9 per cent higher after the energy company raised its…...

19+ min ago (420+ words) The reality is setting in that our trade relationship with the U.S. is altered durably and that many of the tenets of the economic strategy that we pursued since the days of the original Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the Washington Consensus no longer hold. Shifting geopolitics are forcing a re-assessment of the means to safeguard our national security and sovereignty. AI is emerging as a powerful disruptive force in every corner of the economy, from energy to finance....By: Bennett Jones LLP [Webinar] Economic Outlook 2026 | Adapting to a New World: From Ambition to Investment The reality is setting in that our trade relationship with the U.S. is altered durably and that many of the tenets of the economic strategy that we pursued since the days of the original Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the Washington Consensus no longer hold. Shifting geopolitics…...

23+ min ago (435+ words) It would be the third cut in a row and bring the Fed's key rate to about 3.6%, the lowest in nearly three years. For Americans struggling with high borrowing costs for homes, cars, and other large purchases, this year's rate cuts could reduce those costs over time " though it's not guaranteed. Mortgage rates in particular are also influenced by financial markets. In addition to a likely rate cut, the Fed could signal that the bar for another reduction when they next meet in late January will be higher than it has been this fall. A year ago, after implementing a third rate cut at its December meeting, the Fed indicated it would likely keep rates unchanged in the coming months. It didn't cut again until September. "They would love to take a pass (in January), push it off to March,…...

24+ min ago (980+ words) December 10, 2025 " 01:04 pm EST The'S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down by -0.06%,'the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI)'(DIA) is up by +0.26%, and the'Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down by -0.50%.' December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ25) are down -0.08%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ25) are down -0.58%. The markets are concerned that the FOMC will make a hawkish rate cut at the conclusion of today's 2-day FOMC meeting, where they cut interest rates by -25 bp but signal a "long hold" in rates thereafter.'Recent US economic news has shown the economy cooling while inflation remains above target, which may prompt the Fed to delay further rate cuts. Stocks found some support today amid signs of easing wage pressures, which are dovish for Fed policy, after the US Q3 employment cost index rose by +0.8% q/q, slightly weaker than the +0.9% q/q expected. US MBA…...

25+ min ago (500+ words) The U.S. Federal Reserve's upcoming policy announcement is the talk of the crypto world. Markets are pricing in a potential rate cut, which could inject fresh liquidity into risk assets like Bitcoin. Historically, Fed rate cuts have correlated with BTC bull runs'remember the post-2020 easing cycle that sent Bitcoin soaring past $60,000? Pro tip: Monitor the Fed funds futures market'it's currently betting on a 25-basis-point cut with more to come in 2025. From a charting perspective, Bitcoin price today forms a classic bullish flag pattern on the daily timeframe. The $94,253 level'once a major supply zone'now acts as the gateway to $100,000. A decisive close above it, backed by rising volume, could invalidate bearish setups and target $105,000 extension. Support levels to watch: RSI at 65 indicates room for upside without overbought conditions, while MACD shows bullish divergence. If volatility from the Fed decision catalyzes a breakout,…...

27+ min ago (38+ words) Belarus will increase the base rate for salaries of public-sector employees to Br297 on 1 January 2026, according to a corresponding resolution signed by the government. Belarus to increase base rate by 8.8% on 1 January 2026...