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30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop to 6.84% as Inflation Slows

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6 months ago

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Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans have reduced to 6. 84%, the lowest level in seven weeks, which is a bit of relief for those who are looking to buy homes. This decline, reported on Wednesday, is the consequence of a drop from the last rate that was 7. 09%.

Freddie Mac says this is the fifth week in a row that rates have been over 7%, although the current decrease gives a little hope for those who are trying to get financing.

The decrease in rates was triggered by the hope that central interest rates might be cut by early summer. The major lenders such as Barclays, HSBC and TSB have already announced the cuts in fixed-rate mortgage deals which has made it clear that other lenders will do so too.

Anticipated Mortgage Rate Cuts and Market Reactions

Financial professionals believe that there will be more cuts in the mortgage rates due to the recent decrease in swap rates which are a significant indicator for mortgage pricing. Mark Harris from SPF Private Clients said that these rate cuts are inspiring for the borrowers and are probably going to boost housing market activity.

Adrian Anderson of Anderson Harris also stressed that the absence of buyers who have been waiting for cheaper mortgage rates will result in a burst of the market activity.

The Bank of England, in the beginning of this month, did not change interest rates and they remained at 5. 25% but he suggested a possible rate cut in the summer.

Governor Andrew Bailey was positive about the economic future, but he emphasized that more evidence of declining inflation is needed before any rate cuts will be made.

Inflation and Its Impact on Mortgage Rates

In the US, inflation decelerated more than expected in April which led to a lot of speculations that the Federal Reserve will cut rates sooner than it was thought. The traders now are forecasting a potential rate cut in September.

This view has had a positive impact on the UK market, which is now starting to consider the possibility of rate cuts.

Although these changes have taken place, mortgage rates are still high in comparison to early 2022 when they were about half of the present levels. This continuous increase in the rates of interest is still affecting the housing market and it can be seen from a recent Redfin Corp. measure of homebuyer demand which reached its lowest level in two months.

Housing Market Dynamics and Buyer Behavior

The recent drop in mortgage rates is a kind of budgetary relief for people who are thinking about buying their first home. Nevertheless, the rates are still about 7% which means that affordability is a problem for many buyers. Lisa Sturtevant, the main economist at Bright MLS pointed out that high home prices and competition with cash buyers are still major obstacles.

The market responses to the previous dips which were below 7% have been different. For example, in November 2022, a dip led to the growth of mortgage applications by 4%, while in July 2023 similar decrease caused only a rise of about 1.3% drop in applications. This inconsistency highlights the fact that we still face tough times in the housing market, where there is a low inventory and high prices.

Economists such as Sam Khater from Freddie Mac indicate that the little decrease in rates could give some leeway to the homebuyers’ budgets. Nevertheless, the continuous proof of inflation getting closer to the target of 2% is needed in order for the rates to fall more.

Read Also: Bitcoin Versus Ethereum War: Which Crypto Is Winning?

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Kelvin is a distinguished writer specializing in crypto and finance, backed by a Bachelor’s in Actuarial Science. Recognized for incisive analysis and insightful content, he has an adept command of English and excels at thorough research and timely delivery.

The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Polymarket Faces French Ban After Massive Bets On US Election Results

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4 hours ago

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November 7, 2024

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Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, is likely to be prohibited by France’s gambling regulator, the ANJ, after a huge amount of bets were placed on the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Since the global audience engaged in prediction platforms, Polymarket experienced a record jump, with $450 million expected to be distributed to users following the victory of Donald Trump.

This increase of betting volume and large stakes has become a matter of concern for the French regulator because the platform offers unlicensed gambling services.

$450 Million in Payouts Expected After U.S. Election Bets

Prediction markets, which are expected to increase their payout to election bettors to around $450m following Donald Trump’s projected win, are attracting increasing attention. 

Although conventional polls pointed to a closer contest, prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi recorded a steep rise in Trump’s chances in the last few days, indicating a strong divergence with poll-based expectations.

Among the active users of Polymarket, a French trader called “Theo” made a $26 million bet on Trump’s win and won $49 million. This big bet made Polymarket popular, as the French authorities paid attention to the platform and its popularity among French residents, which led to concerns about the compliance of the platform with French gambling legislation.

France’s ANJ Considers Blocking Access to Polymarket

The ANJ has claimed that Polymarket is involved in gambling which is only allowed in France by licensed operators. According to local media, the regulator has the power to ban access to unlicensed gambling sites and is expected to restrict access to Polymarket soon. 

An ANJ insider said: “Polymarket is just betting on something that is completely uncertain, which is exactly what gambling is.”

If put in place, the ban would prevent the usage of the application in France, despite the fact that users can still try to avoid the restriction by connecting to VPN. The ANJ could also try to influence media outlets and directories to stop advertising or linking to Polymarket and, thus, limit its audiences even more.

Regulatory Concerns Over Market Manipulation

The high level of activity on Polymarket has led to speculations that the platform may be used for market manipulation. Two blockchain analysis firms, Chaos Labs and Inca Digital, recently revealed that there was potential wash trading within Polymarket’s U.S. presidential betting market where the same assets are bought and sold to simply create a fake market. This type of trading is rather manipulative and can lead to the distortion of signals on the market and mislead other participants.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission also has concerns about prediction markets and put forward a rule in May aiming at stricter regulation of such markets due to the potential for manipulation.

Although no final decision has been reached, regulatory actions could impact Polymarket’s ability to operate freely in other markets, including the U.S.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi

Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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FTX Co Founder Gary Wang Appeals For No Jail Time, Here’s Why

Published

6 hours ago

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November 7, 2024

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FTX co-founder Gary Wang has requested a federal judge not to send him to prison. He noted that he is testifying against the former business partner, Sam Bankman-Fried, someone he has known for a long time in a fraud case.

The lawyer for Wang submitted a sentencing memo in Manhattan federal court wherein he claimed that his client should not be incarcerated as he provided assistance to the prosecutors as well as his role in the scheme was comparatively less.

Wang, who pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy when FTX went bankrupt in 2022, is to receive his sentencing on the 20th of November.

FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang Appeals for No Jail Time

The defense counsel for FTX co-founder Gary Wang highlighted his client’s early cooperation with the federal prosecutors as one of the key reasons why the court should consider him for mercy. According to Graff, Wang was one of the first FTX executives to meet with the authorities and share information on the FTX and Alameda Research. Wang gave a testimony in the trial that led to the recent conviction of Bankman-Fried who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Speaking at the trial, Wang described how he was ordered to change the code of FTX in order to enable Alameda Research to use the assets of the company’s clients, which is one of the key points of Bankman-Fried’s fraud.

FTX co-founder’s lawyer noted that his involvement in the fraud was less than some of the other former executives, including Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Nishad Singh, FTX’s former head of engineering. Wang, his lawyer said, did not start or operate the scheme and was not personally involved in the provision of false information to the investors.

“Gary was not involved in the scheme at its inception, was never provided with details of the scheme, and, in contrast to Bankman-Fried, Ellison and Singh, never engaged in any affirmative action of deception,” Graff wrote.

Sentencing Comparisons to Other Executives

Wang’s attorney argued that a prison sentence would create an “unwarranted sentencing disparity” with Nishad Singh, who avoided jail time after pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. Singh, who faced potential decades-long sentences, was ultimately sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release. 

Ellison, another major cooperator, received a two-year prison sentence. FTX co-founder Gary Wang contended that Wang’s level of involvement was even lower than Singh’s, supporting a non-custodial sentence for Wang as well.

Graff also noted Wang’s personal circumstances, stating that Wang is expecting the birth of his first child shortly after his sentencing date. Wang’s attorney suggested that allowing him to remain with his family would align with the court’s treatment of other cooperators in the case.

“Gary wants nothing more than to be a good husband and father and to continue his work to facilitate FTX victims’ recovery,” Graff wrote.

Separately, the U.S. government is working to reclaim approximately $13.25 million in political donations made by FTX executives, including Bankman-Fried and Singh.  Judge Lewis Kaplan however granted the government additional time to negotiate the return of these funds, extending discussions with the PACs until January 15, 2025.

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Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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US SEC Files Motion for Judgment Against Kraken, Challenges Key Defenses

Published

9 hours ago

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November 6, 2024

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a motion seeking judgment in its case against cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, focusing on defenses such as “fair notice” and the “major questions doctrine.”

This move, led by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s team, aims to limit further discovery into the agency’s regulatory policies, particularly those affecting the crypto sector. The timing of the filing has drawn attention, as some in the industry view it as a strategic attempt to shield the SEC’s methods from closer examination.

US SEC Files Motion for Judgment Against Kraken

The SEC’s motion seeks to dismiss defenses put forward by Kraken that include the fair notice defense and the major questions doctrine. The fair notice defense argues that Kraken did not receive adequate regulatory guidance regarding its crypto-related activities. 

Meanwhile, the major questions doctrine suggests that regulatory agencies, such as the SEC, should not make major policy decisions without clear direction from Congress.

Subsequently, the US SEC’s motion appears intended to prevent further discovery into its policies, which Kraken and other crypto advocates have criticized as inconsistent and unclear. A similar motion was filed in Ripple case, where the US SEC failed to secure a judgment. Michael O’Connor, an attorney representing Kraken expects a similar outcome in the Kraken case, though Kraken has indicated that it has additional defenses should this motion proceed.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi

Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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