Economic reports this past week hinted at a more subdued pace of inflation and prompted some pullback in rates; see inside for further color. The Mideast situation remains fluid, thereby leaving its potential impact on inflation still intact. However, at this stage, the market reaction function has decreased until and unless actual agreements take hold, and the effects from an ongoing stalemate appear largely “baked in.” The week ahead offers numerous survey-based reports, aka “soft data,” as well as a set of housing-related reports...

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion with Frank Farone, Managing Director at Darling Consulting Group, on how community financial institutions can evaluate the true cost of funds, challenge common misconceptions about wholesale funding, and develop a more effective approach to liquidity, profitability, and balance sheet management...

After years of anticipating a return to lower interest rates, many financial institutions have come to recognize that rates may remain elevated for longer than originally expected. While a higher-for-longer environment presents challenges—including deposit competition, funding pressures, slower loan demand, and margin compression—it also creates opportunities for well-positioned institutions to enhance earnings, strengthen liquidity, and support strategic growth...