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The downsides of low interest rates

Aug 21, 2018
President Donald Trump has long favored low interest rates, which are typically a boon for real estate developers. And he has criticized the Federal Reserve and the chairman he appointed, Jerome Powell, for pursuing a policy of gradual rate hikes initiated under former Fed Chair Janet Yellen. But maintaining a loose monetary policy could be […]

Turkey’s new debt problem

Aug 13, 2018
Because of the country’s falling currency, its foreign debt just got a lot more expensive.
A teller holds Turkish lira banknotes at a currency exchange office in Istanbul on August 13, 2018.
YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images

Is the yield curve talking to us?

Jun 28, 2018
A lot of attention is being paid right now to what’s known as the yield curve. And if you don’t know what that is, it’s essentially the difference between interest rates on short-term and long-term government bonds. In a growing economy, you typically see higher rates on the 10-year Treasury note than you do on […]

The Fed is getting interest rates closer to "just right"

What you need to know about yesterday's rate hike announcement.
A view of the Federal Reserve building.
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

Fed raises interest rates, with more hikes to come

Jun 13, 2018
The Fed now foresees four rate hikes this year, up from the three it had previously forecast.
Federal Chair Jerome Powell testifying on Capitol Hill last year.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Fed expected to boost rates to fight creeping inflation

Jun 13, 2018
The Fed is expected to raise interest rates today at the conclusion of a two-day meeting. The expected move comes as inflation inches up. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Turkey raises interest rates to stem currency crisis

May 23, 2018
The Turkish lira has been on a wild slide recently. It dropped 5 percent against the dollar Wednesday, its biggest loss in nearly a decade, before the country’s Central Bank stepped in with an emergency meeting that reversed some of those losses. The bank finally did something it’d been resisting. Something its president had been […]

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U.S. automakers could be headed down a rocky road

Apr 25, 2018
For years, low gas prices fueled sales of SUVs and pickup trucks, and low interest rates made it easier for car buyers to trade up every time some shiny new technology came along. But with gas prices and interest rates rising, and tariffs on imported aluminum and steel driving up costs, automakers are facing an […]

According to experts, consumers should give gas station credit cards a pass

Apr 11, 2018
Compared to other credit cards, a new report out this morning from creditcards.com suggests gas station credit cards often carry higher interest rates and fewer rewards. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Fed raises key rate and foresees 2 more hikes this year

Mar 21, 2018
The Fed also increased its estimate for rate hikes in 2019 from two to three, reflecting an expectation of faster growth and lower unemployment.
Jerome Powell arrives to takes the oath of office as he is sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Federal Reserve (FED) at the Federal Reserve Building in Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2018.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images