The average long-term US mortgage rate fell for the fifth week in a row, benefiting prospective homebuyers in an unaffordable housing market. According to Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage decreased to 7.22%, the lowest in 10 weeks. The decline in rates is encouraging for potential buyers, with purchase application activity rising. However, rates remain significantly higher than two years ago, limiting affordability for many Americans.from Business News: Latest News on Business, Stock Markets, Financial News, India Business & World Business News https://ift.tt/p0jheBJ
The Union cabinet has recommended setting up of the 16th Finance Commission to decide on sharing of taxes between the Centre and the states, setting off speculation on the chairman and members of the Constitutionally mandated panel, whose award would be effective for five years, starting April 2026. The panel, which will be constituted by the President over the next few days, is proposed to be given a simple mandate, instead of expanding it to include issues, such as, GST or ease of doing business, as was the case in the past.
The unemployment rate in urban areas for 15 years and above slowed in the July-September quarter compared to the same year ago period but remained at the same level as in the previous April-June quarter, data showed on Wednesday. Data released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation showed the joblessness rate slowed to 6.6% in the three months to July-September, lower than the 7.2% recorded in the same year earlier period. In the April-June quarter of the current fiscal year it was at 6.6%
The government is considering deploying a series of measures to curb the growing menace of cyber frauds in the financial sector, including blocking the IMEI, the unique number of mobile devices, and restricting withdrawals from suspicious accounts to prevent its use in future incidents. Besides, a proposal to "whitelist" digital lending apps was among options discussed at a meeting in the finance ministry, amid an unprecedented rise in cyber frauds.
Top level exits at troubled edtech startup Byju's continue. The firm's chief technology officer (CTO) Anil Goel is leaving the company after three years, amid a broad restructuring process that India CEO Arjun Mohan is spearheading. In a statement on Monday, the firm said Jiny Thattil has been elevated as the new CTO. Thattil had been serving as the senior vice-president, engineering at Byju's and has also worked with companies like Amazon, InMobi and GE Healthcare in the past.