Unusual Whales

Banks are pocketing real money by borrowing money from the Fed's newest backstop facility, which charges a lower rate, & then parking it at another unit of the Fed, which pays higher interest

Banks are pocketing real money by borrowing money from the Fed's newest backstop facility, which charges a lower rate, & then parking it at another unit of the Fed, which pays higher interest, per Lisa Abramowicz. Read more: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/demand-for-fed-s-bank-term-

Pornhub owner admits to profiting from sex trafficking, agrees to pay $1.8 million in settlement

Pornhub owner admits to profiting from sex trafficking, agrees to pay $1.8 million in settlement. per MW. Aylo Holdings, the parent company of a website involved in hosting videos and accepting payments from GirlsDoPorn, has reached a deferred prosecution agreement to settle charges related to engaging in unlawful monetary

About 40% of federal student loan borrowers missed their first monthly payment this fall as the freeze on student debt expired

As the pandemic-related pause on student loan payments ended this fall, nearly 9 million borrowers, representing around 40% of the 22 million borrowers with bills due in October, missed their first payment, according to the Department of Education. This marks a significant increase compared to October 2019 when less

Pizza Hut franchisees lay off more than 1,200 delivery drivers in California as restaurants brace for $20 fast-food wage

Pizza Hut franchisees lay off more than 1,200 delivery drivers in California as restaurants brace for $20 fast-food wage, per BI. McDonald’s, $MCD, and Chipotle are increasing menu prices after California raises fast-food minimum wage, per CNBC. McDonald’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill are preparing to

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump claimed, “If Biden wins, you’re gonna have a stock market collapse the likes of which you’ve never had"

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump claimed, “If Biden wins, you’re gonna have a stock market collapse the likes of which you’ve never had.” President Joe Biden has trolled Trump with a new campaign video touting the stock market remaining at near all time highs. The U.S.

People born in the 1990s have the worst mental health of any generation before them — and the millennials are not recovering as they age

People born in the 1990s have the worst mental health of any generation before them — and the millennials are not recovering as they age, per NYP. A research team at the University of Sydney has identified a noticeable decline in the mental well-being of successive generations since the 1950s,

Bank of Canada has diverged from the Fed, and says rates not coming down soon

Bank of Canada has diverged from the Fed, and says rates not coming down soon, per Reuters. The Bank of Canada, having raised rates in June and July to a 22-year high, has maintained a hold in its three subsequent policy-setting meetings. Inflation, which peaked at over 8%

Homelessness in the U.S. jumped to record level in 2023

Homelessness in the U.S. jumped to record level in 2023, per Axios. Homelessness has seen a nationwide increase of approximately 12% since the previous year, affecting various household types, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The annual count conducted in January revealed that around

Elder millennials are stuck in a lifestyle they can't afford

Elder millennials are stuck in a lifestyle they can't afford, per BI. 62% of Millennials say they’re willing to pay $7 for a daily coffee because of the joy it brings, per Empower. 67% of Americans say their income isn’t keeping up with inflation, and 42%

Harvard College received 17% fewer applications for early admission from high school seniors this year

Harvard College received 17% fewer applications for early admission from high school seniors this year, per Bloomberg. The drop comes after incidents of antisemitism on campus in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Applications were due Nov. 1, before university President Claudine Gay gave widely

74% of Americans say they are stressed about finances, per CNBC

74% of Americans say they are stressed about finances, per CNBC. Meanwhile, 1 in 2 Americans say their overall financial situation is worse now than it was before Biden was elected, per Bankrate. Since the November 2020 presidential election, Americans have encountered numerous challenges in recovering from the economic impacts

Jeff Bezos said he would “love the idea” of forging a friendship with Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos said he would “love the idea” of forging a friendship with Elon Musk, per NYP. Bezos shared his perspective on Musk, responding to Musk's previous comments about Bezos needing to work harder and spend less time in the hot tub. During an interview with podcaster Lex

Nvidia's, $NVDA, employees are suddenly so rich and happy that the company's got a 'semi retirement' problem

Nvidia's, $NVDA, employees are suddenly so rich and happy that the company's got a 'semi retirement' problem. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently addressed concerns during an internal meeting regarding some long-term employees appearing to be in a "semi-retirement" mode. Responding

The more student debt you have, the greater the odds you own a home — because higher debt tends to mean more education, which boosts earnings

The more student debt you have, the greater the odds you own a home — because higher debt tends to mean more education, which boosts earnings, per Bloomberg. The resumption of federal student loan payments this fall marked the end of a year-long hiatus. President Biden chose not to extend

President Joe Biden has announced he's issuing a federal pardon to every American who has used marijuana in the past

President Joe Biden has announced he's issuing a federal pardon to every American who has used marijuana in the past, including those who were never arrested or prosecuted, per CBS. The broad amnesty extends to all U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who possess marijuana for personal

Rudy Giuliani has filed for bankruptcy, after being losing his court case and being ordered to pay $148 million to two 2020 Georgia election workers "immediately"

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has filed for bankruptcy following a court order to pay $148 million to two ex-Georgia election workers he wrongfully accused of fraud after the 2020 presidential election. Once celebrated as "America's mayor" for his role post-

US Mortgage rates have fallen to a six-month low this week of 6.67% on average.

Mortgage rates in the United States have recently seen a significant decline, reaching their lowest level since June. This decrease has brought some relief to the housing market, which was struggling due to increased borrowing costs. According to a lender survey released by Freddie Mac, the average rate for a

China will halt the export of a range of rare-earth technologies, potentially making it harder for the US and other western nations to bolster supplies of strategic raw materials

China has recently announced a significant change in its rare-earth policies, aiming to halt the export of certain rare-earth technologies. This move could impact the ability of the US and other Western countries to increase their supplies of these strategic raw materials. Rare earths, a group of 17

Xi straight-up told Biden that China is going to take over Taiwan, per BI.

During a face-to-face meeting last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly informed President Joe Biden of China's intentions to assert control over Taiwan, as per a report by NBC News. This revelation comes from three sources, a mix of former and current US officials. The conversation

California has approved new regulations to allow wastewater from showers and toilets to be purified into drinking water, as the nation’s most populous state braces for years of drought-induced shortages, per NYT.

California has taken a significant step forward in water conservation by authorizing the widespread implementation of advanced filtration and treatment facilities. These facilities are designed to transform sewage waste into clean drinking water, which can be directly supplied to millions of homes. This move, once criticized as "toilet to

The housing market has hit 'rock bottom' and the sales slump will last a long time, Redfin CEO

The housing market has hit 'rock bottom' and the sales slump will last a long time, Redfin CEO has said. The only good thing right now about the US housing market is that it can't get much worse from here, according to Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman.

57% of people tip 15% or less for a sit-down meal at a restaurant, according to a Pew Research Center poll

57% of people tip 15% or less for a sit-down meal at a restaurant, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Tipping has become a commonplace, especially in the food and hospitality industry, and although it's a culture, a recent survey by Bankrate found that 30% of

The electric scooter company Bird has filed for bankruptcy protection

The electric scooter company Bird has filed for bankruptcy protection. The company has engaged in a "stalking horse" agreement, establishing a minimum value for Bird, with its existing lenders, as stated in a press release. Bird plans to utilize the bankruptcy process to facilitate the sale of its

Warner Bros, $WBD, in talks to merge with Paramount, $PARA

Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global have engaged in discussions regarding a potential merger, as confirmed by Variety. CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav, had a lunch meeting with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish in New York, where they explored the possibility of merging the two media companies. Zaslav

Colorado court rules that Trump is disqualified from 2024 ballot

The Colorado Supreme Court has declared that Donald J. Trump is barred from running for office again. On Tuesday, the court upheld the contention that the 14th Amendment renders him ineligible, a verdict that might significantly impact the 2024 election. In a detailed judgment, the court instructed Colorado's