Author: Jordan

While much of the attention surrounding the sweeping overhaul of the federal student loan system has focused on parents with college-bound kids, some of the biggest and most controversial changes affect graduate students. Beginning July 1, 2026, new borrowers can no longer take out federal Graduate PLUS Loans, and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are subject to new annual and aggregate borrowing limits.Because Grad PLUS Loans allowed students to borrow up to their school’s full cost of attendance, many graduate programs, especially those with high tuition or living costs, were designed with that funding option in mind.For students who can no longer…

This firm just raised one of the largest AI funds at $49 billion, topping its target Pensions & Investments Source link

CHL Mortgages, a specialist buy-to-let lender, has unveiled a new light refurbishment range, opening the door for landlords looking to carry out non-structural or modernisation works to maximise the rental yield and value of a property. The range is aimed at investors wanting to make improvements such as installing a new bathroom or kitchen, replacing fixtures and fittings, windows and doors, and roof coverings, undertaking a full rewiring, or converting a C3 dwelling to a C4 HMO property. It offers an alternative way to fund the purchase and refurbishment of a property. Rather than following the traditional two-step…

Within its new-build range, two-year fixed rates at 75% LTV fell by 14bps to 4.56% with a £999 fee, or 4.81% with no fee. Remortgage two-year fixed rates now start at 4.38% at 60% LTV, 4.48% at 75% LTV and 4.78% at 85% LTV. In addition, the lender revised its fee structure. New two- and five-year fixed rate products now carry fees of £499 or £1,499. Its separate £1,999 and £2,999 large loan fees have been combined into a single flat £1,999 fee, applicable to loans up to £5 million. Earlier this week, NatWest dropped rates by up to 31bps, with…

On the 1st, the World Gold Council released the “Mid-year Outlook for the Global Gold Market in 2026” (hereinafter referred to as the report). The report shows that after experiencing fluctuations since the beginning of the year, gold will enter a critical juncture in the second half of the year, and its performance will be jointly affected by multiple uncertain factors such as geopolitics, the interest rate environment, and investor sentiment. The report shows that in late January, the gold price refreshed its historical peak more than 12 times, reaching a record high of $5,405 per ounce (LBMA afternoon fixing…

US stock futures mostly rise with investors eyeing Thursday’s release of the June jobs report. Futures attached to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) slipped 0.1% while contacts on the S&P 500 (ES=F), and the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) climbed 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. Stocks fell during the day on Wednesday as the chip sector slumped. Investors also assessed comments on the state of inflation from Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh and signs that US-Iran talks may be hitting yet another rough patch. The June jobs report is set to land on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Investors will scrutinize the data…

Credit cards linked to airlines and hotel brands—offering airline miles, hotel points, airport lounge access and other travel-related perks—have become increasingly popular over the past two decades. For banks and card issuers, these partnerships are part of their growth strategy as premium and travel cards help acquire and maintain affluent customers.   According to Morgan Stanley Research, revenue generated by co-branded travel credit cards could grow from approximately $24 billion today to as much as $100 billion by 2035. The market’s trajectory will depend on several factors, including travel demand, spending patterns among higher-income consumers and the evolution of partnerships…

The Timberwolves reportedly reached out to LeBron James’ camp on Tuesday — and why not? It’s undoubtedly a major long shot that one of the two greatest basketball players ever winds up in Minnesota, but the Wolves do check quite a few of the boxes LeBron is believed to be seeking as he leaves the Lakers and heads into his record 24th NBA season at 41 years old.Everything that’s been reported indicates James is prioritizing happiness and playing competitive basketball over making a financial decision. Having made well over half a billion dollars in NBA earnings alone, James may be…

Kmart has been called out for its plastic load on the environment. Retail giants Kmart, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have been slammed over a common move that’s swamping Aussie homes, with even neighbourhood takeaways in the firing line. Just weeks after the inaugural Unpackit Awards – Australia’s first national campaign to name and shame, and celebrate, the country’s best and worst packaging – handed down their verdicts, a new survey has found Australians want things to change. Anko’s plastic packaging was slammed, including wrapping weights in plastic and then placing them in hard plastic. Source: Unpackit Awards Aussies across the…

Paul Garland of Pinsent Masons highlighted the role AI can play in surfacing IP after a UK government minister made the case for IP-backed lending at a recent industry event. Speaking at the International Trademark Association’s (INTA’s) annual meeting in London on 5 May – an event attended by IP experts at Pinsent Masons – the UK’s minister for IP, Kanishka Narayan, sought to position the UK as being at the forefront of enabling IP-backed lending. As also reported by MLex (registration required), Narayan suggested the UK government could take steps to develop policy that helps improve understanding of…