• August 22, 2024

Aussie regulator wins case against Kraken crypto exchange operator on distribution flaws

Bit Trade Pty is the operator of the Kraken crypto exchange, one of world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, in Australia. In September 2023, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) initiated civil proceedings against Bit Trade alleging that Bit Trade, a subsidiary of U.S. Payward Incorporated, failed to make a target market determination for the product before offering it to customers, despite being notified of concerns.

  • August 22, 2024

If Jerome Powell Signals Rate Cuts On Friday, What Does That Mean For Crypto?

After more than two and a half years of aggressive monetary tightening, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is widely expected to indicate an impending shift towards easing monetary policy. What Happened: Powell's highly anticipated keynote address at the Kansas City Fed’s Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. ET, and this event has historically been used by Fed chairs, including Powell, to signal significant changes in central bank policy, Coindesk reported.

  • August 22, 2024

U.S. Mortgage Rates Drop Slightly, July Home Sales See Modest Increase

According to BlockBeats, on August 23, Freddie Mac announced that the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has decreased to 6.46%, down from 6.49% the previous week. This decline follows a significant drop from earlier this year when borrowing costs surpassed 7%, enhancing homebuyers' purchasing power and encouraging some potential buyers to re-enter the market. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported on Thursday that U.S. existing home sales rose in July for the first time in five months. Although there was a 1.3% month-over-month increase in July, it remains the slowest July growth rate since 2010, indicating that high home prices and a shortage of affordable housing continue to deter many Americans. Buyers and sellers may also be waiting for further declines in financing costs before making decisions.Freddie Mac's Chief Economist Sam Khater noted, 'Earlier this month, rates dropped significantly and are now hovering just below 6.5%. However, this is not enough to motivate potential homebuyers. We anticipate that rates may need to decrease by another percentage point to stimulate buyer demand.'