News & Insights
Markets spent the week processing a combination of last week’s message from the Fed and this week’s economic data which favored a dovish Fed tone going forward. The delayed nonfarm payroll report for October showed the highest number of job losses since 2020 at 105,000. However, the trend reversed course for November with the economy adding 64,000 jobs.
As 2025 winds down, the Catalyst Asset Management team hosted its latest Insights & Outlooks webinar that took a hard look at an economy that’s holding up on the surface – but showing more cracks underneath.
The launch of the FedNow® Service in 2023 marked a watershed moment in the evolution of payments infrastructure in the United States.
As this year draws to a close it’s time to give thanks and reflect on the achievements and milestones of 2025. As Catalyst president and CEO, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your partnership throughout the year, and I hope you share in our excitement for what the future holds.
This week’s FOMC meeting went as expected with the committee cutting rates for the third time this year, putting the Fed Funds Rate into a 3.50-3.75% target range; a level last seen in 2022 prior to the fastest rate hiking cycle in Fed history.
At the recent Catalyst Strategic Summit, Kevin O’Leary, business leader and star of ABC’s Shark Tank, delivered a keynote packed with insights for institutions navigating rapid change.
Credit unions today face a challenging fixed-income market, shaped by shifting Fed policy, persistent fiscal deficits, heavy Treasury issuance and changing market expectations. Successfully navigating this landscape means understanding these forces to make smart investment decisions, manage liquidity and position balance sheets for near-term and long-term success. Against this backdrop, recent Treasury-market behavior reveals important signals about where yields are headed and how credit unions can adapt their portfolio strategy accordingly. Read on to learn more...
The monthly Market Overview & Data Report is a comprehensive summary of December's key economic and market metrics that are fundamental to credit union financial management. The report not only summarizes key economic and market data, but also explains how these metrics are relevant to credit unions. It further includes industry peer performance data and assessment, relative value evaluation, and an upcoming economic calendar. It is also an excellent report to include in credit union board and ALCO packets.
Markets grappled with a series of mixed signals that ultimately caused significant volatility over the course of the week. The seesawing was a reaction to delayed data releases, corporate earnings and Fed clues about future interest rate moves.
The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points (bps) on October 29 (new target: 3.75-4.00%), marking the second rate cut in 2025. Markets generally expect one more cut in 2025, but the 2026 path is hazier.