U.S. oil prices fall for first time in 2 weeks, providing a relief to stock investors

Mortgage application activity was little changed last week as higher mortgage rates continued to weigh on purchase demand. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 0.4% decrease in total application volume on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending August 14. Purchase applications decreased 2% from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis…

A pending merger between two Northeastern banks should increase borrowing opportunities for New England customers, thanks in part to the expansion of the company’s soon-to-be rebranded mortgage affiliate.  Processing Content Massachusetts-based Hometown Financial Group, the parent holding company of three individual brands, announced it had reached a deal to acquire Primary Bank, a publicly traded…

Mastercard and Visa are the dominant global payment networks. Their systems allow you to tap your card to buy a coffee virtually anywhere in the world, and two seconds later you are walking away. It feels effortless, but behind that two-second transaction lies a complex global relay. Your bank confirms funds, the merchant’s bank requests…

Fairstone Bank of Canada – which completed its merger with Home Trust Company in January 2025 to become Canada’s leading alternative lender – is buying the Laurentian corporate shell.    It will merge its commercial lending operations with Laurentian’s commercial specialisation. The combined entity will focus on commercial real estate, inventory financing, and equipment financing, with…

The U.S. manufacturing sector is larger than most people realize, with 17% of world manufacturing value added – more than Japan, Germany, Korea, Italy, and France combined.  Key Takeaways Recruitment and retention remain the top concern for U.S. manufacturers, with 481,000 job openings recorded in June alone. U.S. robot shipments are projected to expand from…