U.S. Stocks Slip, Oil Prices Rise
The early good vibes faded a bit in afternoon trading, with major U.S. stock indexes slipping.
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U.S. Fires on Ship Breaking Its Blockade of Iran
A U.S. military helicopter fired at a Panama-flagged ship after its crew ignored warnings to abide by the blockade of Iranian ports.
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July Home Sales Fell After Higher Mortgage Rates Scared Off Buyers
Existing home sales were down 1.7% over the previous month, and the median home price rose to $434,100, a near record high.
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U.S. Small Business Confidence Rose Last Month
The National Federation of Independent Business said that its small-business optimism index rose to 99.8, its highest level since August 2025.
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Behind High Credit-Card Delinquencies: Stale, Charged-Off Loans
The share of loans transitioning into serious delinquency has been stabilizing even though the overall pile has been growing, the New York Fed said.
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Private-Credit Firms Clamp Down on Loan Sweeteners in Fear of 'Shadow Defaults'
Borrowers have delayed interest payments on billions of dollars of loans, raising concerns that defaults are higher than reported.
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Anthropic Tries to Shore Up Investor Confidence Ahead of Blockbuster IPO
The AI giant is racing to public markets this fall and has fielded tough investor questions on Chinese rivals, Trump-era tensions, and the artificial-intelligence infrastructure boom.
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China's Auto Market Weakens Further on Subdued Domestic Demand
China's auto sales fell in July, as higher oil prices and a weak macro environment weighed on demand.
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Global Bond Yields Climb Due to Inflation Fears
Market focus is on the U.S. CPI data due to be released on Wednesday as investors assess the impact of the Middle East conflict on the economy.
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Why the Real Oil Squeeze Is Happening in Refineries
The Iran war, Ukrainian attacks on Russia and China's fuel export restrictions have taken millions of barrels of refined products off global markets and left customers scrambling to locate alternative supplies.
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Insurance Risks Remain High as Wildfire Threat Rises, Swiss Re Institute Says
Wildfire risk is the fastest-growing weather peril globally, according to the insurer, which added that estimated natural-catastrophe losses fell sharply in the first half of the year.
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Healthcare Investing Is Now an AI Short in Disguise
Big healthcare companies are increasingly trading opposite to tech.
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RBA Governor's Hawkish Tone Could Be a Slow Burn for Markets
Gov. Michele Bullock appeared determined to challenge the view in money markets that the Australian central bank is done raising rates after three increases earlier this year.
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Reserve Bank of Australia Holds Rates Steady but Remains Worried About Inflation
Australia's central bank continued to warn that inflation remains too high, especially against the backdrop of war in the Middle East.
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Inflation Reports Could Test Warsh's Tough Talk
The Fed chairman has promised to bring inflation down. Upcoming data could determine whether he has to raise rates soon to do it.