Breaking News

Business

U.S. stocks rise after the Fed cuts rates and hopes build for more

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rose to the edge of its record on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate to bolster the job market, and hopes strengthened for more cuts to come in 2026. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% and finished just shy of its all-time high, which was set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 497 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they can boost the economy and send prices for investments higher, even if they potentially make inflation worse. Wednesday’s cut ...

Wall Street is flat as Exxon Mobil climbs and JPMorgan Chase drops

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting on Tuesday as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say on Wednesday about where interest rates are heading. The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged and remained near its all-time high, which was set in October. The Dow Jones ...

U.S. job openings barely budged in October, coming in just below 7.7M

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings barely budged in October, coming in at 7.7 million with ongoing uncertainty over the direction of the American economy. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that employers posted 7.67 million vacancies in October, close to September’s 7.66 million. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which was delayed by the extended government shutdown, also showed that the layoffs rose to almost 1.9 million, most since January 2023. And the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in the labor market — fell in October, ...

Wall Street pulls back from its record heights

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks pulled away from their record heights on Monday. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% for just its second loss in the last 11 days, but it remains within 0.6% of its all-time high set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 215 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq ...

Wall Street quietly inches closer to its all-time high

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market held near its records in a quiet day of trading on Thursday, continuing its relatively calm run following weeks of sharp and scary swings. The S&P 500 inched up by 0.1% and is just 0.5% below its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped ...

Average U.S. long-term mortgage rate falls to 6.19%, near its low for the year

(AP) — The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell again this week, slipping close to its low point so far this year. The decline brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.19% from 6.23% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.69%. This is the second straight weekly drop in the average rate after three straight increases. It’s now at the lowest level since Oct. 30, when it was at 6.17%, the lowest level in more than a year. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home ...