Federal Reserve officials are determined to hold interest rates steady a little while longer, though an increasingly contentious debate at this week’s policy meeting may bolster expectations for rate cuts in the fall.

Most Americans are managing their cards well right now, so slashing the cost of using them could unleash spending.

President Donald Trump is once again floating the idea of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, ostensibly in objection to excessively high interest rates. But this debate is not about monetary policy.

Explore how the U-shaped yield curve, Treasury rates, and inflation trends align with Trump's rate cut call, offering insights for short-term investments.

For the past several months, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has sat between 6.5% and 7%. Prospective homebuyers shouldn't hold their breath for that to change anytime soon. On July 30, the Federal Reserve is expected to keep borrowing rates the same at its fifth monetary policy meeting this year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased. The average rate dropped to 5.87% from 5.92% last week. A year ago, it was 6.07%, Freddie Mac said.

Rates on a 15-year mortgage stand at an average 6.12% for purchase and 6.18% for refinance — up 6 basis points from 6.06% for purchase and no change from 6.18% for refinance this time last week.

Airline sector shows resilience with strong demand and positive earnings, indicating robust consumer and corporate spending despite earlier geopolitical concerns. Netflix reporting after close, remains a streaming leader, but valuation concerns persist; overall, stocks continue mild melt-up with benign retail and jobless data supporting stability.