Federal Employees

Business

American Express Caps Strong 2025 with Record Revenues, Eyes Sustained Premium Growth in 2026

American Express reported record full-year revenues of $72 billion for 2025, driven by robust card member spending and a strategic shift towards premium products. The company forecasts continued momentum for 2026, targeting 9-10% revenue growth and a significant dividend hike, while navigating a competitive landscape and macroeconomic uncertainties.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

O'Leary's Warning to CEOs: Mandatory Office Returns Are Driving Away Top Talent

Investor Kevin O'Leary argues that rigid return-to-office policies are a competitive disadvantage, pushing high performers toward flexible employers and leaving companies with a diminished talent pool.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Precious Metals Rally Stalls: Gold Plunges to $5,000, Silver Crashes 14% in Sharp Reversal

A dramatic rally in gold and silver prices came to an abrupt halt on Friday, with futures tumbling sharply amid a broader market sell-off and warnings of unsustainable volatility.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Hilltop Holdings Navigates Shifting Rates to Deliver Strong 2025, Eyes Strategic Growth in 2026

Despite a challenging mortgage landscape and specific credit headwinds, Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) reported a 46% surge in annual net income for 2025, buoyed by a steepening yield curve and disciplined cost management across its banking, lending, and securities divisions.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Analysts Revise Target for Invesco Mortgage Capital, Signaling Shift in Market Sentiment

A revised price target for Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) is prompting investors to reassess the mortgage REIT's trajectory amid evolving interest rate expectations and housing market dynamics.

Jan 30, 2026

World

EU Commissioner Expresses Dismay Over Minneapolis Violence, Urges Transatlantic Unity Amid Strained T.S. Relations

European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera voices profound shock at the fatal shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis, contrasting with the EU's official cautious stance. Her remarks come as transatlantic tensions simmer over U.S. immigration policies and recent geopolitical threats.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Saks Off 5th Shutters Dozens of Stores in Bankruptcy-Driven Restructuring

Saks Global moves to close over 60 Off 5th locations as part of Chapter 11 proceedings, signaling a strategic retreat from the competitive off-price segment to focus on core luxury brands.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mortgage Math: What a $400K Home Really Costs at Today's 6.1% Rate

While mortgage rates have inched up slightly this week, homebuyers are still facing significantly lower borrowing costs compared to last year's peak. We break down the monthly and long-term savings on a typical home purchase.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Jones Trading Upgrades ARMOUR Residential REIT to Buy, Sees Value Gap Versus Peers

ARMOUR Residential REIT (ARR) received a bullish upgrade from Jones Trading, which moved the stock to Buy with a $20.50 target, citing a discounted valuation and expected book value growth compared to agency mortgage REIT rivals.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Piper Sandler Stays Bullish on AGNC Investment, Sees Opportunity in Narrowing MBS Spreads

Analyst firm Piper Sandler reiterates its Overweight rating on AGNC Investment Corp., highlighting a favorable shift in agency mortgage-backed securities spreads that could bolster the REIT's book value.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Regulators and Lawmakers Signal Major Shift Toward Crypto Framework

In a landmark day for digital asset policy, U.S. regulators unveiled a coordinated initiative while a key Senate committee advanced market structure legislation, signaling a potential end to years of regulatory uncertainty.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Why Gloomy Consumers Could Signal a Bullish Run for U.S. Stocks

Historical data reveals a counterintuitive trend: periods of extreme pessimism in consumer sentiment have often preceded strong stock market gains, aligning with Warren Buffett's famed contrarian advice.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Banking on a Traditionalist for an Unconventional Economic Moment

President Donald Trump announces his intent to nominate former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank, seeking a policy shift aligned with his economic vision amid debates over inflation and the Fed's independence.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Knowles CEO Offloads $1.2M in Stock Following Strong Rally; Investors Weigh Implications

Knowles Corporation's top executive has sold a significant portion of his holdings, a move that comes on the heels of a 24% annual gain for the audio components maker and ahead of its upcoming earnings report.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beyond the Family Home: How the Wealthy Actually Allocate Their Real Estate Investments

While homeownership is a common goal, the investment strategies of the affluent reveal a more nuanced picture. Analysis of wealth tiers shows real estate plays a varying, and often shrinking, role as net worth climbs into the millions.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Producer Prices Surge in December, Fueled by Rising Service Costs

U.S. producer prices rose more than anticipated in December, driven primarily by increasing costs in the services sector. The data suggests businesses are beginning to pass on tariff-related expenses to consumers, potentially signaling a reacceleration of inflationary pressures.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Wholesale Inflation Accelerates in December, Fueled by Surging Service Costs

Producer prices rose 0.5% last month, exceeding forecasts and marking the quickest pace in three months, as a sharp jump in services costs offset stable goods prices, signaling persistent inflationary pressures in the pipeline.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Deutsche Bank Posts Record Profit Amid Broad-Based Growth, Shadowed by Fresh Legal Scrutiny

Deutsche Bank's 2025 net profit nearly doubled to €7.1bn, fueled by revenue gains and cost cuts across all divisions, even as German prosecutors launch a money-laundering investigation linked to the lender.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Syrians Protest 'Impossible' Power Bills as Tariffs Soar Amid Economic Collapse

Damascus residents face electricity bills exceeding their monthly incomes after a massive government price hike, sparking rare public protests and deepening the crisis for a war-weary population.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Setting Stage for Clash Over Central Bank Independence

President Trump's nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank is seen as a pivotal test of its political independence, potentially aligning monetary policy more closely with White House objectives.

Jan 30, 2026