Economy

The conflict pushed oil price futures above $100 a barrel for a short time earlier this week, which affected bond investors and the 10-year Treasury yield.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman outlined upcoming changes to the bank regulatory capital framework in a speech Thursday, focusing on streamlining bank capital requirements through Basel III and global systemically important bank surcharge rules.

The conflict with Iran has thrown volatility into bank stock prices, which is often the currency of dealmaking. "Stability is important to be able to do deals," one analyst said.

At an industry conference Tuesday, bankers said that an extended war with Iran will result in adverse economic conditions, including inflation.

Visa is using AI agents to streamline payment disputes, while Mastercard launched "digital executives" for small businesses.

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency would continue to pursue its view on federal preemption of state banking policy in court and in Congress.

Chief economists at large and regional banks predicted ongoing inflation, in part because of the anticipated surge in oil prices as a result of the Iran war. The forecast from the American Bankers Association's Economic Advisory Committee did not account for the disappointing U.S. jobs report on Friday.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy lost 92,000 jobs in February while unemployment held steady at 4.4%, a development that could spur the Federal Reserve to question whether interest rates are truly in balance.

If we allow algorithms to inherit yesterday's incentives — maximizing return, minimizing empathy — then tomorrow's system will be flawlessly efficient at reproducing inequality.

While this only shows a 2-basis-point rise in the 30-year fixed since last week, the Lender Price product and pricing engine data is 30 basis points higher.

Morgan Stanley wants to get into crypto, and Kraken is getting inside the Fed. Plus Banco Santander faces a dilemma, and prediction markets make some questionable bets.

Key measurements of small businesses' health remained stable in 2025, according to a new study by the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks. But those firms' optimism about the future reached its lowest point since 2020.

Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., released new legislative language Monday night that includes a ban on institutional investors' purchase of single family homes and a temporary ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency.

The Block CEO said companies will need fundamentally fewer workers in the AI age. The question is, how many fewer?

Markets were bracing for the chaos of a regional war; banks may be the target of sophisticated cyberattacks, experts warn.

The financial advisory firm initially sought an industrial loan charter back in 2020. It's the third company to receive the necessary approvals this year, joining General Motors and Ford.

Preferred Bank moved a $115 million block of loans to nonaccrual status after the borrower, which is battling fraud charges leveled by other banks, began missing payments.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., moved to consider the housing package next week, but it's not clear what version of the bill senators will be voting on as the House, Senate and White House are still negotiating priorities.

The bill, offered by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Todd Young, R-Ind., would allow Federal Home Loan bank members to establish tax-exempt community infrastructure development bonds.

For the first time since early September 2022, the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey has the 30-year below 6%, but the 15-year gained this week.