The Kansas City Federal Reserve's manufacturing index rose to 5 in February from 0 in the previous two months. The ISM's national manufacturing reading will be released on March 2. Initial jobless claims increased by 4,000 to 212,000 in the week ended Feb. 21, lifting the four-week moving average by 750 to 220,250.
The average rate on the popular U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped below 6% this week for the first time in nearly 3-1/2 years, which could help to improve housing affordability. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 5.98%, the lowest level since September 2022, from 6.01% last week, mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac said on Thursday.
The European stock markets were set to close mixed in Thursday trading as The Stoxx Europe was unchanged, Germany's DAX rose 0.4%, the FTSE 100 was up 0.4%, France's CAC gained 0.7%, and the Swiss Market Index was down 0.5%. The Economic Sentiment Indicator for February decreased in both the EU and the euro area, falling 1 point to 98.3 for each, according to the European Commission.
Alberta will release its 2026-27 budget at around 5:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, said Scotiabank. While the province recorded a sizeable surplus of $8.3 billion, or 1.8% of gross domestic product, in 2024-25, lower oil prices and higher spending on health and education have pushed the province into the red this year, noted the bank.
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey?, showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.98%. ?For the first time in three and a half years, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped into the 5% range, falling even lower than last week's milestone,? said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac?s Chief Economist.
Expected to provide over $500 million in financing capacity over its life. Avant, a leading financial technology company, today announced the successful close of its latest personal loan securitization, a $200 million transaction that marks its first-ever deal to receive AAA ratings from both Fitch Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
The Kansas City Fed monthly manufacturing index rose to a reading of 5 in February from 0 in January, higher than expectations for an increase to 2 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The increase follows expansion in readings for the other regional manufacturing data released so far.
Chemours (CC) said Thursday it plans to offer $600 million of senior unsecured notes due 2034. Net proceeds will be used to redeem its 5.375% senior notes due 2027 and a portion of its 5.750% senior notes due 2028, it said. Shares were down over 2% in recent trading. Price: 17.49, Change: -0.53, Percent Change: -2.94. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
Matador Resources (MTDR) said Thursday it plans to offer $750 million of senior unsecured notes due 2034 in a private placement. Separately, the company said it has commenced a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its $500 million outstanding 6.875% senior notes due 2028.
Botswana's central bank Thursday said its Monetary Policy Committee decided to maintain the Monetary policy Rate at 3.50%. "The economy is expected to continue to operate below full capacity in the short-to-medium term, therefore subdued demand-driven inflationary pressures," wrote the central bank in its policy statement."
* Weekly jobless claims increase 4,000 to 212,000. * Continuing claims decrease 31,000 to 1.833 million. * Chicago Fed forecasts unemployment rate steady at 4.28% in February. By Lucia Mutikani. The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased slightly last week and the unemployment rate appeared to hold steady in February amid a stable labor market.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said strong job growth in January was "a really good thing," but that the Fed should still cut a full percentage point from its policy rate this year because there were still risks to the labor market while inflation was no longer a problem.
Bank of Montreal on Thursday said an improving current account deficit over recent quarters reflects a recovery from peak trade uncertainty in Q2, while a return to net foreign direct investment inflows is welcome. BMO noted Canada's current account deficit narrowed to $700 million, $2.8 billion a.r., in Q4, following a shortfall of $5.3 billion, or $21.1 billion a.r., in Q3.
* US, Iran to hold talks in Geneva later in the day. * Mediator Oman hopes for progress in Iran-US nuclear talks. * US tariff rate for some countries will rise to 15%, says Greer. By Anmol Choubey.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Royal Bank of Canada (RY) beat Q1 FY 26 earnings with operating EPS of CAD4.08 vs. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Royal Bank of Canada (RY) beat Q1 FY 26 earnings with operating EPS of CAD4.08 vs. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of ?aa-? of Primerica Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, National Benefit Life Insurance Company and Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada, collectively referred to as Primerica Group.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Royal Bank of Canada (RY) beat Q1 FY 26 earnings with operating EPS of CAD4.08 vs. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Royal Bank of Canada (RY) beat Q1 FY 26 earnings with operating EPS of CAD4.08 vs. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
Ecuador will increase tariffs on Colombian imports to 50% from the current 30% from March 1, the government said in a statement on Thursday. A 30% tariff on Colombian imports had been in effect since early February, which Ecuador imposed citing a trade deficit with the neighboring country and a lack of cooperation in combating drug trafficking along their shared border.
US stocks looked set to open little changed Thursday as investors digested major earnings reports as well as the latest initial jobless claims report. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.2%, S&P 500 futures were off 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were marginally lower.
* Norwegian had been WEF president since 2017. * Brende has said he was unaware of Epstein's criminal past. * WEF's Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO. By Dave Graham.
Canada's current account deficit on a seasonally adjusted basis narrowed by $4.6 billion to $0.7 billion in Q4 2025, said the country's statistical agency on Thursday. Q4 marked the 14th consecutive quarter in which the current account balance was in a deficit position, noted Statistics Canada in a statement.
The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased slightly last week and the unemployment rate appeared to hold steady in February amid a stable labor market.
US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 212,000 in the week ended Feb. 21 from an upwardly revised 208,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a larger increase to 216,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average rose by 750 to 220,250 after decreasing by 500 to a level of 219,500 in the previous week.
The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased marginally last week and the unemployment rate appeared to hold steady in February amid a stable labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 4,000 to a seasonally 212,000 for the week ended February 21, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Launch of State Street? MyIncome High Yield Corporate Bond ETFs Enhances Bond Laddering Toolkit for Investors State Street Investment Management announced today the launch of five actively managed target maturity high yield corporate bond ETFs.
TD Securities raised its price target on National Bank of Canada (NTIOF) to $182 from $175 on Thursday. Analyst Mario Mendonca maintained a Hold rating on shares of the Canadian bank following its quarterly results on Wednesday. "NA beat our estimate on strong trading revenue & lower PCLs," Mendonca said in a note to clients.
The Republican governor and GOP leaders of the state House and Senate will negotiate over three budget visions and a plan to cut local property tax revenue.
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta announced today that it will allocate $120 million in 2026 to fund its affordable housing programs, which distribute grant funding for homebuyer downpayment assistance, housing development and rehabilitation, and legal assistance for property owners to protect their equity and build generational wealth.
Fitch Ratings released a draft of climate vulnerability in rating criteria for public finance issuers that earned a thumbs-up from Municipal Market Analytics.
Canada will release the current account deficit for Q4 at 8:30 a.m. ET, said Bank of Montreal. The bank looks for the Q4 current account deficit to narrow to $3.8 billion, or $15.0 billion a.r., in Q4. Meantime, the smaller services account is expected to deteriorate on a recovery in imports of travel services.
The US dollar rose against its major trading partners early Thursday, except for a decline versus the yen, ahead of the release of weekly jobless claims data at 8:30 am ET. Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is due to speak at 10:00 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks inventory data at 10:30 am ET.
Matador Resources Company (MTDR) today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of the $500 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 6.875% senior notes due 2028 with a portion of the net proceeds from Matador?s concurrent private placement of $750 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2034, which was also announced today by...
Matador Resources Company (MTDR) today announced that, subject to market conditions, it intends to offer $750 million of senior unsecured notes due 2034 in a private placement to eligible purchasers.
* Election in Gorton and Denton in spotlight. * Labour loss could increase pressure on Starmer. * Investors weigh rate outlook. By Niket Nishant. The British pound edged lower on Thursday ahead of a local election in Manchester that could offer an early read on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's political standing.
* Merz highlights overcapacity issues with Chinese exporters. * Germany plans regular consultations with China by next year. * German firms concerned over China's trade surplus and market access. By Andreas Rinke.
Copper dipped on Thursday after touching a two-week high in the previous session as rising inventories and a firmer dollar tempered optimism about a revival in demand from China, the world's top consumer of the metal. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.1% to $13,304 per metric ton as of 1036 GMT.
The president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, said on Thursday he was stepping down, a few weeks after the forum launched an independent investigation into his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sterling has strengthened at the start of this week, resulting in EUR/GBP falling back towards the 0.8700 level, after hitting a high last week of 0.8752, noted MUFG.
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) reported fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of 4.08 Canadian dollars per diluted share, up from CA$3.62 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected CA$3.85. Revenue for the quarter ended Jan. 31 was CA$17.96 billion, compared with CA$16.74 billion a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected CA$17.52 billion. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
The European Central Bank sold some of its dollar assets early last year and reduced the weight of the dollar in its foreign exchange reserves in what it said was a standard rebalancing of its portfolio. The bank played down the significance of the move, which came before the market turbulence generated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff announcement last April.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
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