AM Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of ?bbb? to the USD 35 million, 9.5% senior unsecured notes, due 2046, issued by Maine Mutual Group. Management plans to restructure a portion of its existing bank debt in an attempt to improve the efficiency and flexibility of the group?s capital structure through the issuance of the senior unsecured notes.
* Dozens of firms have withdrawn guidance or signaled price hikes since war began. * AkzoNobel flagged cost pressures for raw materials. * Danone says baby formula shipments disrupted. * GE Aerospace CEO said forecast was held back by war-related uncertainty. By Dimitri Rhodes, Yadarisa Shabong and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi.
AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B++ from B and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to ?bbb? from ?bb+? of Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association and its subsidiaries: Germania Fire & Casualty Company, Germania Insurance Company and Germania Select Insurance Company.
VantageScore 4.0 for Mortgages Delivers Over $1 Billion in Savings for Consumers and Mortgage Lenders SAN FRANCISCO---- In a significant advancement for the U.S. mortgage market, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Housing Administration today announced the full implementation of the VantageScore 4.0 credit score across the government-sponsored mortgage sector.
Housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now accepting additional credit scores that take into account rent and utility payments, a U.S. government official overseeing the agencies announced on Wednesday. The move is aimed at boosting access to affordable mortgages, a goal of President Donald Trump's administration.
Blackstone's private credit fund launched an $850 million investment-grade bond sale, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. The five-year note is expected to yield 2.3 percentage points above US Treasuries, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Blackstone didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.
Financial stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index decreasing 0.3% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF down 0.2%. The Philadelphia Housing Index rose 1.1%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was down 0.8%. Bitcoin was increasing 4.1% to $78,952, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was slightly higher at 4.29%. In corporate n...
Following the Federal Housing and Finance Agency and the Federal Housing Administration?s move to support the expanded use of VantageScore 4.0 in mortgage origination, Experian (EXPGF) today reaffirmed its readiness to help lenders, investors and industry stakeholders evaluate and operationalize the shift.
The Bank of England and other financial services representatives on Wednesday said the sector was prepared for developments around Anthropic's Mythos artificial intelligence model and other emerging frontier AI models.
Housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now accepting additional credit scores that take into account rent and utility payments, a U.S. government official overseeing the agencies announced on Wednesday. The move is aimed at boosting access to affordable mortgages, a goal of President Donald Trump's administration.
Munivestor aims to help municipal governments by allowing them to raise capital directly from investors of all sizes in concert with advisors and regulated market partners.
Federal National Mortgage
Association (FNMA): * FANNIE MAE: UPDATES TO ITS SELLING GUIDE TO ALLOW FOR USE OF VANTAGESCORE? 4.0, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Source text: Further company coverage:
Freddie Mac : * FREDDIE MAC - TO BEGIN ACCEPTING MORTGAGE LOANS USING VANTAGESCORE 4.0. * FREDDIE MAC - APPROVED LENDERS MAY CHOOSE VANTAGESCORE 4.0 OR CLASSIC FICO FOR NEW MORTGAGE LOANS Source text: Further company coverage:
Financial stocks were Lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF each shedding about 0.3%. The Philadelphia Housing Index rose 1.1%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was down 0.8%. Bitcoin was increasing 3.3% to $78,849, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was slightly higher at 4.296%. In corporate n...
Fitch ratings: * FITCH RATINGS: US BDCS FACE PERSISTENT EARNINGS PRESSURE AND ASSET QUALITY RISKS. * FITCH: MAINTAINS SECTOR-WIDE 'DETERIORATING' OUTLOOK FOR BDCS Source text:
Mortgage housing giant Freddie Mac said on Wednesday it was now accepting mortgage loans assessed using VantageScore 4.0. VantageScore, a credit score modeling and analytics company, was founded in 2006 by Equifax (EFX), Experian and TransUnion (TRU), as a competitor to FICO score.
New credit score options reinforce competition and innovation while maintaining a measured, operationally ready approach WASHINGTON, April 22, 2026 Fannie Mae today announced upcoming updates to its Selling Guide to allow for the use of VantageScore? 4.0, effective immediately, and the future use of FICO? Score 10T credit scores for loans delivered to Fannie Mae, marking another important mil...
Freddie Mac today announced that the company will begin accepting mortgage loans assessed using VantageScore? 4.0. The move, which is in alignment with U.S. Federal Housing and Fannie Mae, will be initially implemented through a limited rollout with approved lenders to ensure operational readiness before broad availability.
KBRA assigns a long-term rating of AA with a Stable Outlook to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Revenue Bonds Series 2026. Key Credit Considerations The rating was assigned because of the following key credit considerations: Credit Positives. Credit Challenges. Rating Sensitivities For Upgrade. For Downgrade. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.
State-level data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Wednesday showed the unemployment rate in February rose in one steady and held steady in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point in Florida. The national unemployment rate was reported at 4.4% in February, up from 4.3% in January before falling back to 4.3% in March.
* Gold rose 1% earlier in the session. * Iran seizes two vessels in Strait of Hormuz. * Trump indefinitely extends ceasefire, says blockade of strait remains in effect. By Ishaan Arora.
* Iran seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions. * Fed among central banks expected to hold rates steady next week. * Trump's Fed chief nominee Warsh vows to maintain central bank's independence. * Warsh says he made no promises to Trump on rate cuts. By Karen Brettell and Sophie Kiderlin.
NVR on Wednesday posted a fall in first-quarter profit and revenue as rising costs, compounded by economic uncertainty, kept prospective buyers on the sidelines. Shares of the Reston, Virginia-based homebuilder fell 6% during morning trading.
The U.S. Federal Reserve will wait at least six months before cutting interest rates this year, according to a Reuters poll of economists, as war-driven energy shocks reignite already-elevated inflation. The nearly two-month war in the Middle East has led to soaring fuel prices, eroding consumer confidence to a record low and wiping out market pricing for rate cuts.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone in north China achieved a 6 percent year-on-year growth in gross domestic product, securing a solid start to the year.
'Shaping Canada's Longevity Advantage' challenge will invite innovators to deliver solutions that strengthen health, financial resilience and social connection across longer lives The challenge is an initiative of Manulife's Longevity Institute, driving Canadian solutions for a longer?living society TORONTO, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife, in partnership with UpLink, the World Economi...
Uncertain economic conditions and possible changes in interest rates could throw France's effort to trim its deficit to 3% of output by 2029 into doubt, France's fiscal watchdog said on Wednesday. The conflict in the Middle East has scrambled the outlook for France and the broader euro zone, as oil and gas costs have surged.
Societe Generale in its early Wednesday economic news summary pointed out: -- Risk mildly bid, Brent retraces to US$97.7/barrel from US$101.2/barrel after United States President Trump extends Iran ceasefire indefinitely. -- United Kingdom March consumer price index accelerates to 3.3% year over year from 3.0% in February on fuel, core dips to 3.1% year over year.
Emerging Asia equities fell on
Wednesday as investors looked past the U.S.-brokered Iran
ceasefire to risks of crude supply disruptions, while Indonesian
assets were largely unfazed after the central ...
The central banks of Australia and New Zealand said on Wednesday they were monitoring the release of Anthropic's advanced Mythos artificial intelligence model, joining authorities around the world in expressing concerns about the new cybersecurity risks it poses.
Kevin Warsh sees Federal Reserve success as having no one talking about inflation. Just over an hour before Warsh began his confirmation hearing in Congress on Tuesday, President Donald Trump made it clear once again where he stood on interest rates - telling CNBC he would be disappointed if the new Fed chair did not lower borrowing costs immediately on taking office.
The number of immigrants residing in the European Union climbed to a record high of 64.2 million in 2025, up about 2.1 million from a year earlier, according to a report published on Wednesday by the Centre for Research and Analysis on Migration at RFBerlin. The figure compares with 40 million in 2010, the report said, citing Eurostat and U.N. Refugee Agency data.
The European Central Bank has the "luxury" of not needing to rush to raise interest rates, one of its top policymakers, Martins Kazaks said, ahead of a crucial monetary policy meeting next week, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing an interview with him.
The dollar rose on Wednesday on lingering concerns about the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, after President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire to give Tehran more time to present a unified proposal for ending the conflict.
On Tuesday, Capital One Finl discussed first-quarter financial results during its earnings call. Benzinga APIs provide real-time access to earnings call transcripts and financial data.
Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to again hold short-term borrowing costs steady when they next meet April 29-30. Here is a look at Fed officials' recent comments, sorting them under the labels "dove" and "hawk" as shorthand for their monetary policy leanings. A graphic is also available. The designations are based on public comments and published remarks.
Oil and the dollar rose on Tuesday and U.S. stocks fell, as investors baulked at signals from Washington and Tehran that peace talks have not yet been confirmed. In my column today, I look at why China's exchange rate may not be as chronically undervalued as many analysts say.
In testimony Tuesday at the Senate Banking Committee, Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh never said if he agrees with President Donald Trump's view that the Fed's policy rate is too high and should be cut.
In testimony Tuesday at the Senate Banking Committee, Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh never said if he agrees with President Donald Trump's view that the Fed's policy rate is too high and should be cut.
* US president extends ceasefire in Iran war. * Trump nominee Warsh calls for Fed "regime change" * US retail sales data breezes past analyst expectations. By Stephen Culp. Wall Street stocks followed their global counterparts to a lower close on Tuesday and crude prices extended their gains amid concerns over the latest developments involving the Iran war.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Tuesday said he would "absolutely" oppose any effort to try to fire Fed regional bank presidents over disagreements on interest rate policy. "That's not the design of the system. "So you would be against that?"
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago today announced its preliminary and unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2026. ?In the first quarter, FHLBank Chicago continued to serve as a stable and reliable source of liquidity for our members,? said Michael Ericson, president and chief executive officer.
Amplify ETFs is doubling down on income-focused innovation with the launch of two new fixed income funds that blend bond exposure with options strategies. The Amplify LQD Investment Grade 12% Target Income ETF and the Amplify HYG High Yield 10% Target Income ETF , both designed to deliver elevated income by pairing corporate bonds with systematic weekly covered calls.
It's difficult to tell whether the markets were more affected by spiking oil prices, eroding peace talks between the United States and Iran, or Kevin Warsh's hawkish comments during his confirmation hearing to chair the Federal Reserve, said James Pruskowski, managing director at Hennion & Walsh.
Kevin Warsh, tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the Federal Reserve, told a Senate panel on Tuesday he would work with the Treasury Department to help achieve his goal of a smaller Fed balance sheet, in an effort observers say would represent a long-term project for the central bank.
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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