Latest Federal Reserve System News

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts higher, marking 4th winning week for S&P 500

Jun. 09, 2023 17:37 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks inched higher Friday to close out a listless week for Wall Street, as investors wait for next week’s slate of potentially market-moving updates. The S&P 500 rose 4.93, or 0.1%, to 4,298.86 to cap its fourth straight winning week. The Dow Jones...

Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise, lifted by bull market on Wall Street

Jun. 09, 2023 00:18 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Friday, led by a jump on the Tokyo Stock Exchange where share prices got a boost of optimism from a new bull market on Wall Street. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 1.8% in morning trading to 32,217.76. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained...

Barely a bear: Wall Street exits what turned out to be a fairly tame bear market

Jun. 08, 2023 17:40 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — While it seemed scary and interminable, Wall Street's bear market last year was meeker than most. After the S&P 500 on Thursday closed at a level more than 20% above where it was in mid-October, Wall Street can give official dates for the birth and death of its...

The S&P 500 is in a bull market. Here's what that means and how long the bull might run

Jun. 08, 2023 17:32 PM EDT

The S&P 500 is now in what Wall Street refers to as a bull market, meaning the index has risen 20% or more from its most recent low. Here are some answers to questions about bull and bear markets: WHY IT IS CALLED A BULL MARKET? Wall Street’s...

Boost for homebuyers: Average long-term US mortgage rate eases from 7-month high to 6.71% this week

Jun. 08, 2023 12:25 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate eased back from a seven-month high this week, a welcome change for homebuyers navigating high borrowing costs and heightened competition for relatively few homes for sale. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the...

US applications for jobless benefits highest since October 2021

Jun. 08, 2023 09:10 AM EDT

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week rose to its highest level since October 2021, but the labor market remains one of the healthiest parts of the U.S. economy. The Labor Department reported Thursday that U.S. applications for jobless claims were...

Stock market today: Asian shares slip following technology selloff on Wall Street

Jun. 08, 2023 00:46 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares fell Thursday after heavy selling of big-name tech stocks pushed benchmarks lower on Wall Street. Markets declined across the region and U.S. futures also were lower. Oil prices retreated. The declines came despite a sharp upward revision...

Is it a 'skip' or a 'pause'? Federal Reserve won't likely raise rates next week but maybe next month

Jun. 07, 2023 11:21 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Don't call it a “pause.” When the Federal Reserve meets next week, it is widely expected to leave interest rates alone — after 10 straight meetings in which it has jacked up its key rate to fight inflation. But what might otherwise be seen as...

Stock market today: Asian stocks mixed as Wall St inches toward bull market

Jun. 07, 2023 01:12 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a day of listless trading on Wall Street in the absence of market-moving data. China reported its exports fell 7.5% from a year earlier in May and imports were down 4.5%, adding to signs of a slowing of its economic recovery...

Australian central bank boosts cash rate to 4.1% with 12th hike

Jun. 06, 2023 02:16 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia: (AP) — Australia’s central bank on Tuesday lifted its benchmark interest rate for a 12th consecutive time, to 4.1%, and warned further rises could follow. The Reserve Bank of Australia boosted the cash rate by a quarter of a percentage point at its latest...