Updates - The Trust Company of Kansas

The Markets (as of market close June 13, 2025)

Unrest in the Middle East dragged stock values lower last week, while pushing gold and crude oil prices higher. For much of the week, investors focused on trade talks between the U.S. and China, which ultimately did not result in a significant breakthrough in trade relations and left tariffs at relatively elevated levels. However, favorable […]

Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans Drop Slightly for 2025-2026

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 additional fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to decrease slightly for the 2025-2026 […]

The Markets (as of market close June 6, 2025)

Wall Street ended last week on a positive note, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here closing higher. The S&P 500 rose to its highest level since February, boosted by guarded optimism around U.S.-China trade talks and a better-than-expected jobs report (see below). However, unemployment claims rose to their highest level in eight months, […]

The Markets (as of market close May 30, 2025)

Despite a dip at the end of the week, stocks closed last week higher as investors digested renewed trade tensions with China, while inflation showed signs of cooling. Each of the benchmark indexes ended the week higher, riding solid gains in tech shares. All of the market sectors closed the week with gains, with notable […]

Moody’s Downgraded U.S. Debt: Does It Matter?

On Friday, May 16, 2025, Moody’s Ratings downgraded its rating on U.S. government long-term debt from its highest rating of Aaa to the next highest rating of Aa1. The move was particularly significant because Moody’s was the last of the Big Three credit rating agencies to maintain the triple-A rating for U.S. debt. S&P Global […]

The Markets (as of market close May 23, 2025)

Stocks tumbled last week as traders contemplated the potential impact of new legislation and increased trade tensions following President Trump’s threat of new tariffs against the European Union and Apple. While stocks declined, long-term bond yields rose, with 10-year Treasuries reaching a three-month high of 4.64% last Thursday before settling at 4.51% by the end […]

The Markets (as of market close May 16, 2025)

Wall Street enjoyed one of its best weeks in quite some time as stocks moved higher by the close of trading last Friday. Each of the benchmark indexes posted solid weekly gains on the heels of easing U.S.-China trade tensions. The 90-day tariff truce helped drive the S&P 500 back into positive territory for the […]

Infographic: The Cost of Building a New Home in the U.S.

This infographic breaks down the average cost of building a new single-family home in the United States in 2024 by stages of construction. The data is based on a survey of 4,000 U.S. home builders by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home construction breakdown: what costs the most? Building a new home is […]

The Trust Company of Kansas is Hiring

We are excited to share a new career opportunity opening at The Trust Company of Kansas. Interested in joining our team? Qualified candidates may send a resume and letter to mlinsner@tckansas.com. Trust Administrator Job Summary: Assist one or more Account Officers with the day-to-day administration of trust clientrelationships and new business development. Must be interested […]

The Markets (as of market close May 9, 2025)

Stocks closed mostly lower last week as investors looked ahead to trade negotiations between the United States and China over the weekend. Despite the announcement of a trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom, investors remained unsure of the extent of that deal and, more particularly, whether any meaningful progress would be […]