USC just shattered its fundraising record by nearly $100 million—thanks partly to the billionaire family behind the Houston Texans

Several major universities had a record-breaking donor year in 2025, including the University of Oklahoma, Florida State University, and the University of Tennessee.

Current Refi Mortgage Rates Report for Aug. 19, 2026

The current average refinance rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate home loan is 6.760%, according to Mortgage Research Center data. If you’re a homeowner hoping to refinance your mortgage for a lower rate or perhaps to tap home equity, read on to see average refi interest rates for a variety of loan types and terms. You can also see the prior day’s report here.

Mortgage rates Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage loan in the U.S. is 6.714%, up from the day before, according to data from Mortgage Research Center.

Home equity loan and HELOC rates: Aug. 19, 2026

Homeowners can access the value they’ve built in their property, whether through steady mortgage payments or an all-cash purchase, by taking out either a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Since your house backs the debt, these loans often come with more favorable interest rates than unsecured borrowing. So what differentiates the two?

Top economist on Trump's 'deadly cocktail' for the bond market — and how the bond vigilantes have crossed Scott Bessent's 'red line'

The bond market is the only major asset class currently pricing risk correctly, according to Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke—and what it’s pricing in is ugly. In an interview with Fortune, Hanke argued that President Trump has inadvertently mixed what he called “a deadly cocktail” for Treasuries, and the result is a bond selloff that has already pushed yields past the informal threshold Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been trying to defend.

Strait of Hormuz chaos has incentivized China to use an alternative trade route: a 3,400 mile frozen Arctic channel dubbed the ‘Ice Silk Road’

The ongoing trade disruptions from the Iran war have enabled China to gain a trade edge, but it requires shipping vessels to brave the Arctic.

Nelson Peltz might take Wendy’s private following six straight quarterly sales declines as customers flee its poor franchise models and bad marketing

Wendy’s, the burger chain that asked “Where’s the beef?” and brought the Baconator to burger lovers worldwide, is getting grilled in its returns. The chain, which boasts a market cap of $1.62 billion, is losing customers, closing down stores, and seeing consecutive declining sales—so much so that billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz may be preparing to take Wendy’s private as it struggles to get customers through the door.

Revolut to let Nik Storonsky borrow up to $250mn against his stake

Change would allow billionaire founder to access more cash as fintech’s valuation soars

When Brands Lose Their Magic

From mayonnaise to toothpaste, household names in the US are being undercut by own labels and outshone by insurgents

Donald Trump says deal reached with Canada and pauses tariffs

Last-minute reprieve follows ‘intense’ talks with Mark Carney to avert 50% levies on billions of dollars in goods

Guide to Mortgage Preapproval

Mortgage preapproval can benefit you in multiple ways, from helping you to understand your purchasing power to showing sellers that you’re a serious buyer.

With the national debt nearing $40 trillion, Bank of America has a warning for bond investors

The U.S. national debt is hurtling toward $40 trillion, and Bank of America Research strategist Michael Hartnett’s “Anything but Bonds” framework is becoming ever more applicable. Boiled down, Hartnett warns the U.S. is accumulating too much debt, which causes the government to issue too many bonds. Investors want compensation for the fiscal risk, making long-duration Treasuries unattractive compared to other assets. Here’s why the climbing debt makes the advice worth a listen.