In March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached a landmark $418 million settlement after losing an antitrust lawsuit filed by a group of home sellers. As many as 50 million people who paid commissions on homes sold in recent years could receive a small amount from the class-action settlement. The powerful industry group […]
Read MoreAuthor: Nicole Easton
The Markets (as of market close July 19, 2024)
The market saw stocks come in with mixed returns. The Dow and the Russell 2000 advanced, while the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Global Dow lost value. The Dow reached three new records during the week, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 posted their worst week since April. AI stocks led a downturn […]
Read More2025 Key Numbers for Health Savings Accounts
The IRS recently released the 2025 contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs), as well as the 2025 minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket amounts for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). What is an HSA? An HSA is a tax-advantaged account that enables you to save money to cover health-care and medical costs that your insurance doesn’t […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close July 12, 2024)
Investors were encouraged by the most recent inflation data, raising expectations of an interest rate cut in September. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed the week in the black, led by the Russell 2000. The small-cap index recorded its best weekly performance since October 2023, while reaching its highest level since January 2022. […]
Read MoreThe Economic Impact of an Aging World
During the week of June 10, 2024, French markets were rocked by a government bond sell-off after a strong showing by the far-right National Rally party in the European Union election. With polls suggesting the party might win a plurality of seats in the upcoming French parliamentary election, investors feared a promised social spending program, […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close July 5, 2024)
The stock market fared quite nicely during the Fourth of July week. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted gains, with the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 reaching record highs a few times during the week. Only the small caps of the Russell 2000 slid lower. The June jobs report (see below) gave investors […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close June 28, 2024)
Stocks closed generally higher for the week, with the Russell 2000, the Nasdaq, and the Global Dow posting gains, while the large caps of the Dow and the S&P 500 declined. Ten-year Treasury yields rose as bond prices fell. Crude oil prices gained about $1.00 per barrel. The dollar and gold prices inched higher. Investors […]
Read MoreInterest Rates on Federal Student Loans Jump to Decade Highs for 2024-2025 Year
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an extra fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to increase for the 2024-2025 school […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close June 21, 2024)
Wall Street rode a rally in tech and AI stocks for most of last week. The end of the week saw a bit of a downturn, but not enough to keep the benchmark indexes listed here from closing the week higher. The large caps of the Dow led the indexes, followed by the Russell 2000, […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close June 14, 2024)
U.S. stocks outpaced the rest of the world last week as global investors sought relief from the turmoil caused by European elections. Tech stocks carried the market as investors digested a pair of cooling inflation reports. The Nasdaq closed at record highs every day last week, and the S&P 500 also posted a solid gain, […]
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