Investments

The Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds target again in December but signaled fewer cuts in 2025. There was some dissent. The markets are watching to see if the Federal Reserve pauses its easing cycle in January. Brian Rehling, head of global fixed-income strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, recaps and parses the previous day's FOMC meeting and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

Analysts are unsure what the Federal Open Market Committee will do with monetary policy in 2025. The panel projects two rate cuts, but some analysts expect more, and others see fewer.

The Louisiana-based bank reduced its dividend to a penny, the second reduction it has made this year as it tries to bring down expenses and generate more capital.

Members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. board of directors Tuesday debated Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra's proposal limiting capital distributions system-wide during times of stress, as well as penalties for institutions caught engaging in money laundering.

The Honolulu-based bank is taking a $19.7 million pretax loss to rid its balance sheet of low-yielding investments. It joined a parade of banks that have made similar moves.

The Green Bay, Wisconsin-based bank will record a fourth-quarter loss after agreeing to sell $3 billion of low-yield loans and mortgages. The moves leave the bank well-positioned for 2025, CEO Andy Harmening said.

Economic forecasts include the possibility of higher inflation and slower growth that could stall future cuts to the federal fund rates.

Citigroup now operates Grupo Financiero Citi México and Grupo Financiero Banamex in Mexico. The New York-based bank is planning an initial public offering of Banamex as soon as regulators and market conditions allow for the public offering.

Industry observers say the U.S. securities industry's migration to next-day settlement in May 2024 was a technology success story, which has encouraged the U.K. and the EU to follow suit.

Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe, and victims will always require support from their banks. A plan for delivering that support needs to be in place before disaster strikes.

Buy now/pay later popularity has been on the rise as more consumers are turning to short-term installment lending to finance everyday purchases. The Swedish financier will find out if that momentum will be a winner with investors in the U.S.

Donald Trump discussed various items related to the Fed and its independence and stated he would not nominate Jerome Powell for another term as chair. Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities, discusses what a Trump presidency may mean for the Fed.

Treasury yields rose the day after President-elect Donald Trump was picked. The short-term result: It's harder for commercial real estate lenders and borrowers to find common ground.

The Swedish payments company ends months of speculation about whether Klarna would list. Analysts valued the company last month at about $14.6 billion.

Investors brushed off a potentially prolonged week of U.S. election results and instead focused on fresh economic data.

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a major element of the IRA, provides a critical opportunity for banks to integrate green finance into their core strategies.

The Federal Reserve began cutting rates in September. The December meeting is its last of 2024. Will the cutting continue, or will there be a pause? Doug Peta, Chief Strategist, U.S. Investment Strategy, at BCA Research, discusses the meeting and future policy.

Shareholder Chrysalis Investments increased the value of its stake to £120.6 million.

McQuown is credited with kicking off a financial revolution with the creation of the first index fund.

Banks reporting their energy supply ratios, which compare rates of lending to fossil fuel projects and clean energy projects, should be required to do so in a way that allows easy comparisons across institutions.