Strong US jobs growth dampens talk of rate cuts

Mortgage rates fell for the eighth consecutive week, giving cash-strapped home buyers some relief as the new year approaches. The average interest rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage clocked in at 6.67% for the week ended Dec. 20, down from 6.95% a week earlier, according to data released Thursday by mortgage giant Freddie Mac….

A sharp drop in mortgage interest rates in December may have kickstarted this year’s spring housing market early. Rates are about a full percentage point lower than they were in October, and consumers expect they will fall even more. Optimism about mortgage rates increased sharply in December, according to a monthly consumer survey by Fannie…

New questions for Boeing The trouble at Boeing is deepening after safety inspectors at Alaska Airlines and United Airlines found loose bolts on some grounded 737 Max jetliners, drawing scrutiny to the quality control process for one of the world’s best-selling aircraft models. The findings raise questions about whether regulators will call for broader safety…

Comment on this storyComment Add to your saved stories Save Now that regulators have cleared the way, regular investors will have easier access to the most mainstream — and valuable — cryptocurrency through bitcoin exchange-traded funds, or ETFs. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision Wednesday followed numerous setbacks for the digital assets sector, including several…

Updated Jan. 11, 2024 2:43 pm ET LONDON—Airbus, the world’s biggest plane maker, smashed its near-decade old record for the highest number of orders in a single year, as airlines scramble to secure the limited availability of new aircraft. The company said it had booked 2,319 gross orders last year, more than twice the number…

Food and drink giant Danone will cut the price of its baby formula range sold to UK retailers.