#What would a debt ceiling failure mean for Americans?

#What would a debt ceiling failure mean for Americans?

Lawmakers are bracing for what could shape up to be a dramatic few weeks for both parties, as they brace for a high-stakes battle over the nation’s borrowing limit.  The Treasury Department said this week that the nation could have until as soon as the start of June before it exhausts the “extraordinary measures” implemented…

Read More
#Fed hikes rates despite recession fears

#Fed hikes rates despite recession fears

The Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates Wednesday by another 0.25 percentage points, brushing aside concerns about the financial sector and an expected recession later this year. The Fed’s rate-setting committee voted unanimously Wednesday to boost its baseline interest rate to a range of 5 to 5.25 percent, the point at which Fed officials…

Read More
#What crisis? Big bank profits soar despite banking troubles 

#What crisis? Big bank profits soar despite banking troubles 

Large U.S. banks reported massive earnings Friday, signaling that the biggest institutions largely shrugged off the banking crisis stemming from Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse.  JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the nation, posted $12.6 billion in first-quarter profits, a whopping 52 percent increase from the same period last year.  Wells Fargo’s quarterly profits rose 32…

Read More