Finance
G7 finance chiefs say excessive forex moves bad for global economy
Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven countries on Wednesday reaffirmed their view that excessive movements in foreign exchange rates can have adverse effects on economic stability.
A joint statement released after their meeting in Washington also said they will “ensure close coordination of any future measure to diminish Iran’s ability to acquire, produce, or transfer weapons to support its destabilizing regional activities.”
The finance ministers and central bank governors of the world’s major industrial democracies, including Japan, Germany and the United States, condemned Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend in retaliation for a strike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1.
The ministers and governors held talks on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings.
They reconfirmed the group’s 2017 exchange rate commitments, at a time when the Japanese yen and many other currencies have fallen sharply against the U.S. dollar on the back of robust growth in the world’s largest economy and receding expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in the near future.
The G7 members reaffirmed in Italy in May 2017 their “commitments to market determined exchange rates” and agreed to “consult closely in regard to actions in foreign exchange markets.”
They also recognized at the time that “excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic and financial stability.”
The meeting on Wednesday, chaired again by Italy which holds the G7 presidency this year, was dominated by geopolitical risks to the global economic outlook, mainly from Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
They said the seven countries, as well as the European Union, will continue to assist Ukraine in meeting its urgent short-term financing needs.
To ensure Moscow pays for the damage it has inflicted on Ukraine, they said the G7 countries will continue to explore “all possible avenues” for using frozen Russian sovereign assets to help the war-torn country.
They suggested reaching a conclusion by the group’s summit in June on how best to use the assets in line with their respective legal systems and international law.
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Finance
Al-Ahly Mortgage Finance aims to grow portfolio to EGP 4bn by 2024-end – Dailynewsegypt
Hatem Amer, Managing Director of Al-Ahly Mortgage Finance, a subsidiary of the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), announced that the company aims to achieve exceptional growth in its financing portfolio, targeting a total of EGP 4bn by the end of 2024.
According to Amer, the company successfully issued over EGP 2bn in new mortgage finance in 2024. This was achieved through a variety of Programmes designed to finance residential, administrative, and commercial units, catering to the diverse needs of mortgage finance customers in Egypt.
He explained that these specialized Programmes were key to attracting new customer segments, including Egyptians working abroad, residents in Egypt with foreign income sources, and regional and multinational companies seeking to acquire administrative properties. These successes were driven by thorough studies of the real estate market and its evolving demands.
Al-Ahly Mortgage Finance was also recognized with the “Most Innovative Company in Egypt for 2024” award by International Business Magazine, a prestigious institution specializing in market analysis and financial sector evaluations.
Amer emphasized that this award is a reflection of the company’s leadership and position in Egypt’s mortgage finance sector, as well as its dedication to providing the best possible experience for its customers.
He further highlighted that the company achieved these results despite significant challenges in the Egyptian market, including ongoing fluctuations in exchange rates, high inflation, and rising real estate prices across various sectors. The company’s resilience, he said, was key to its success, enabling it to launch innovative solutions that addressed these challenges, with full support from NBE, the largest Egyptian bank.
Finance
Savings interest rates today, December 28, 2024 (best account provides 4.30% APY)
The Federal Reserve cut its target rate three times in late 2024, which means savings interest rates are falling. So it’s important to be sure you’re getting the best rate possible when shopping around for a savings account. The following is a breakdown of savings interest rates today and where to find the best offers.
The national average savings account rate stands at 0.42%, according to the FDIC. This might not seem like much, but consider that three years ago, it was just 0.06%.
Although the national average savings interest rate is fairly low compared to other types of accounts (such as CDs) and investments, the best savings rates on the market today are much higher. In fact, some of the top accounts are currently offering 4% APY and higher.
Today, the highest savings account rate available from our partners today is 4.30% APY. This rate is offered by BMO Alto and there is no minimum opening deposit required.
Here is a look at some of the best savings rates available today from our verified partners:
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Related: 10 best high-yield savings accounts today>>
The amount of interest you can earn from a savings account depends on the annual percentage rate (APY). This is a measure of your total earnings after one year when considering the base interest rate and how often interest compounds (savings account interest typically compounds daily).
Say you put $1,000 in a savings account at the average interest rate of 0.42% with daily compounding. At the end of one year, your balance would grow to $1,004.21 — your initial $1,000 deposit, plus just $4.21 in interest.
Now let’s say you choose a high-yield savings account that offers 4% APY instead. In this case, your balance would grow to $1,040.81 over the same period, which includes $40.81 in interest.
The more you deposit in a savings account, the more you stand to earn. If we took our same example of a high-yield savings account at 4% APY, but deposit $10,000, your total balance after one year would be $10,408.08, meaning you’d earn $408.08 in interest.
Read more: What is a good savings account rate?
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