New Data: Consumer Debt Crisis Drives Legal Stress to 5-Year High
LegalShield data offers early warning of household financial stress ahead of Federal Reserve's upcoming debt report.
Share
LegalShield's Consumer Stress Legal Index (CSLI) climbed 4.4% from March to June, driven by surging foreclosure and consumer finance legal inquiries, all rooted in increased debt.
'Debt is the common thread behind rising consumer stress,' said Matt Layton, senior vice president of consumer analytics at LegalShield. 'Whether it's missed mortgage payments, maxed-out credit cards, or mounting buy-now-pay-later balances, debt-fueled household spending is forcing people to ask a lawyer for help.'
Data analysis shows the Foreclosure Index jumped 13.3% during the quarter and is now nearly 28.9% higher than a year ago, marking the steepest annual increase in three years. The Consumer Finance Index also climbed 8.7% since March, as more consumers sought legal assistance for debt-related issues such as defaults and loan modifications.
Americans in Debt
LegalShield's CSLI report comes ahead of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's scheduled release of second quarter household debt numbers in early August. Household debt has steadily increased since 2013 following a period of decline after the 2008 recession. Household debt balances stood at a record $18.20 trillion in Q1 2025, a 0.9% rise from the end of 2024. In particular, mortgage balances grew by $199 billion and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) increased by $6 billion. More concerning is that overall debt delinquencies increased to 4.3% at the end of Q1, the highest level since 2020, including rising delinquencies for mortgages and HELOCs, as well as student loans that began reporting to credit agencies in Q1 following a nearly five-year pause due to the pandemic.
'LegalShield data tends to move ahead of official reports, and right now, it's signaling deeper trouble,' said Layton. 'In the coming weeks, we expect the next debt and foreclosure reports to reflect what calls to our provider lawyers are seeing — more households slipping into unsustainable financial territory.'
Consumers Take Action
LegalShield data tracks actions taken by consumers with more than 150,000 calls to provider lawyers each month. The LegalShield dataset is built on hard data based on American households' real-time legal needs that reflect financial pressures and opportunities. This stands in contrast with polling based on opinion and sentiment. The latest rise in consumer stress reveals sharp increases in foreclosure and consumer finance inquiries, and those findings suggest that more Americans are struggling with debt, housing costs, and financial obligations, even as overall spending remains strong; the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data shows consumer spending is up 6.9% year over year in May.
Key Research Findings:
Consumer Stress Legal Index (CSLI) Highest in More Than 5 Years
CSLI: 68.2 (up from 65.3 in March; up from 61.8 YoY)
+4.4% quarter-over-quarter | +10.4% year-over-year
The CSLI has increased four straight months, signaling intensifying economic stress for consumers despite a resilient stock market and stable employment figures.
Foreclosure Spike Signals Growing Housing Strain
Foreclosure Index: 46.8 (up from 41.3 in March; up from 36.3 YoY)
+13.3% quarter-over-quarter | +28.9% year-over-year
Rising insurance premiums, property tax reassessments, and adjustable-rate mortgage resets are pressuring homeowners. LegalShield's Foreclosure Index closely tracks foreclosure filings nationally.
Rising Debt Fuels Surge in Consumer Finance Legal Issues
Consumer Finance Index: 106.4 (up from 97.9 in March; up from 101.7 YoY)
+8.7% quarter-over-quarter | +4.6% year-over-year
Consumers are increasingly seeking legal assistance for a wide range of financial issues with a steep rise in the index in the second quarter. Analysis of the data indicates households are feeling the effects of delinquent debt, sustained interest rates and persistent inflation on everyday essentials.
Bankruptcy Dips in Q2 But Remains Elevated YoY
Index: 32.1 (down from 36.4 in March; up from 29.5 YoY)
–11.8% quarter-over-quarter | +8.8% year-over-year
Bankruptcy inquiries eased in the short term but remain significantly elevated compared to last year. The dip may reflect temporary stabilization due to seasonal factors, but high debt levels and consumer delinquencies still loom.
Study Methodology
LegalShield tracks an average of 150,000 monthly calls to provider lawyers based on more than 90 areas of law. That data comprises more than 35 million consumer requests for legal services dating to 2002. The CSLI is the flagship index reporting consumer stress, based on three subindices: Bankruptcy, Consumer Finance, and Foreclosure.
About the Research: LegalShield Consumer Stress Legal Index
As part of LegalShield's mission to ensure every person has equal access to justice, the company mines its data for insights policymakers can use to make a real, positive impact in their decision making. The LegalShield Consumer Stress Legal Index comprises three subindices that reflect the demand for various legal services. LegalShield's dataset includes more than 35 million consumer requests for legal assistance since 2002, averaging approximately 150,000 calls received monthly. The CSLI uncovers the daily challenges people are facing and provides actionable intelligence to help policymakers and industry leaders bridge those gaps. Released quarterly, view past reports on the CSLI page on LegalShield.com.
About LegalShield:
For more than 50 years, LegalShield has provided everyday Americans with easy and affordable access to legal advice, counsel, protection, and representation. Serving millions, LegalShield is one of the world's largest platforms for legal, identity, and reputation management services protecting individuals and businesses across North America. Founded in 1972, LegalShield, and its privacy management product, IDShield, has provided individuals, families, businesses, and employers with tools and services needed to affordably live a just and secure life. Through technology and innovation, LegalShield is disrupting the traditional legal system and transforming how and where people receive legal guidance and services, with access to hundreds of qualified, trusted attorneys and law firms. LegalShield and IDShield are products of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. To learn more about LegalShield and IDShield, visit LegalShield.com and IDShield.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stock market today: S&P 500 clears 5th-straight record, Nasdaq hits fresh high as earnings, trade hopes bolster stocks
US stocks rose Friday, pushing the S&P 500 to its fifth-straight record this week and lifting the Nasdaq to a new all-time high. Earnings and trade optimism boosted investor sentiment, while President Trump eased market nerves by downplaying talk of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose about 0.4%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) advanced nearly 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) jumped 0.5%. All three major gauges rose more than 1% for the week. Spirits on Wall Street got a lift this week from a US-Japan trade pact that boosted optimism for more deals, while blue-chip and Big Tech results underpinned a solid start to earnings season. But some on Wall Street are questioning whether FOMO — "fear of missing out" — is driving gains, rather than fundamentals. Investors may now be locking in profits ahead of a big week bringing the Fed's two-day policy meeting, the monthly US jobs report, and a flood of quarterly results highlighted by Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META). Most of all, it features the Aug. 1 deadline for countries to strike trade deals with the US or face "reciprocal" tariff hikes. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs But the pact with Japan may already be under pressure, even as the US reportedly closes in on a deal with the European Union. Reports suggest the two sides don't see eye-to-eye on how to share profits from a $550 billion fund for US investment planned as part of the deal. Meanwhile, at home, Trump has downplayed the risk of Powell being ousted as Fed chair, easing market concerns about upheaval at the central bank. The president visited the Fed's headquarters on Thursday to tour its $2.5 billion renovation project. During an awkward exchange, Trump criticized the project as too expensive, sparking speculation he might use it as a pretext to try to fire Powell. However, Trump indicated he wasn't considering firing the Fed chair. Read more: Full earnings coverage in our live blog S&P 500 notches 5th consecutive record, Nasdaq closes at all-time high Stocks notched fresh records on Friday as trade optimism grew, and Trump once again backed off the threat of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell after an awkward exchange at the Fed headquarters. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.4% to close at a record high for a fifth consecutive session. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also advanced nearly 0.3% to notch a fresh record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose about 0.5%, just about 100 points shy of its own record high. Big Tech players will continue to report earnings next week, including Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META). On the trade front, President Trump put the odds of a deal with the EU at a 50-50 chance after clinching an agreement with Japan earlier this week. Trump's deadline for US trade partners to strike trade deals or else face a hike in tariff rates lands next Friday, Aug. 1. Investors will be watching the Fed's two-day policy meeting next week after Trump and Powell had an awkward exchange during the president's visit of the central banks $2.5 billion renovation site on Thursday. Crypto takes a breather, pulls back following massive rally Bitcoin (BTC-USD) sank 2% to hover above $116,000 per token on Friday, taking a breather from a massive recent rally. Ethereum (ETH-USD) also declined following a massive rally in the world's second-largest cryptocurrency. This rally followed the President's signing of the Genius Act a week ago, legislation aimed at regulating stablecoins, or digital tokens backed by assets like the US dollar and short-term treasuries. Is AI taking new grads' jobs? Not so fast. Yahoo Finances Emma Ockerman: Read more here. Speculative frenzy raises risk of stock market downturn: Goldman Sachs Investors beware. With the S&P 500 (^GSPC) at all-time highs, some on Wall Street are warning that a rise in speculative trades could increase the risk of a market pullback. Goldman Sachs analysts said their Speculative Trading Indicator has risen sharply during the past few months. The gauge now sits at its highest level on record, outside of the 1998-2001 dot-com bubble era and 2020-2021 during COVID, though it still remains well below those peaks. The indicator shows an elevated recent share of trading volumes in unprofitable stocks, penny stocks, and stocks with rich valuations compared to revenue. Apart from "Magnificent Seven" heavyweights Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA), some of the stocks with the highest trading volumes over the past month include speculative plays like (BBAI), Lucid (LCID), and Plug Power (PLUG). "The recent rise in speculative trading activity signals near-term upside risk for the broad equity market but also increases the risk of an eventual downturn," Goldman's Ben Snider and his team wrote on Thursday. Read more here. Oil slides on potential supply increase as US allows Chevron to pump in Venezuela Oil declined on Friday after reports that the US restored permission for oil giant Chevron (CVX) to pump in Venezuela. West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) declined about 1% while Brent (BZ=F) futures slid 0.7% to hover above $68 per barrel. The permission to operate in the sanctioned country appears to be a U-turn from the Trump administration's prior license revocation, aimed at applying pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The reinstatement allowing Chevron to resume limited oil production — first reported by Reuters and Bloomberg — followed a deal between Washington and Caracas to release 10 detained Americans in exchange for the repatriation of 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador. President Trump has expressed his desire to lower energy prices, and Chevron's ability to pump oil there will bring additional supply into the market. For Chevron, the 'development helps remove another uncertainty from what was a long list to start the year,' Rob Thummel, senior portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital, told Yahoo Finance. The recent arbitration ruling in favor of Chevron's right to Hess's oil stake in Guyana as part of a broader acquisition has been a positive catalyst for the company. 'While this latest issue is less material, it still matters — it will generate additional cash flow for investors,' Thummel said. Volkswagen sales show tariff sting German auto giant Volkswagen (VWAGY) is feeling the effects of President Trump's tariff policy, Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports. Subramanian writes: Read the full story here. Broadcom on track for fresh record as it outperforms 'Magnificent Seven' stocks Broadcom (AVGO) stock was on track to hit another high Friday after closing at a record $288.71 on Thursday, up fractionally to just over $289. Broadcom has largely outperformed the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks over the past year, with shares up more than 25% in 2025 and 94% over the last 12 months. Shares also hit an all-time intraday high above $291 on Thursday. So far this year, the only Magnificent Seven stock to outperform Broadcom is Nvidia (NVDA), which is up 30% after a wild turnaround in the first half of the year. On a 12-month basis, Broadcom still takes the lead, with Nvidia shares up 55% in that time frame. While Broadcom's market capitalization still trails most of the Magnificent Seven, its $1.36 trillion market cap is higher than Tesla's (TSLA) roughly $1 trillion market value, as the EV maker has struggled amid CEO Elon Musk's string of controversies and challenged vehicle sales. Charter Communications plummets most in history after Q2 earnings miss Charter Communications stock plummeted as much as 18.5% Friday after the telecom giant — which offers cable TV and internet services through its Spectrum brand — reported second quarter earnings below expectations. That's the biggest drop in the stock's history. The company Friday reported adjusted earnings per share of $9.18, below the $9.82 expected, while revenue of $13.766 billion was marginally below the $13.768 billion expected. The company said in an earnings call Friday morning that it lost 117,000 residential and small business Internet customers in the quarter, compared to about 100,000 in the year ago period. Wall Street weighs Intel earnings: The 'road to recovery is long & uncertain' Wall Street remained skeptical of Intel (INTC) after the company left the future of its manufacturing business unclear during an earnings call late Thursday. Intel stock dropped Friday despite its financial results beating expectations. 'While the headline numbers look decent vs expectations, we don't think the numbers really mattered all that much,' Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to clients Friday, saying instead that investors are focused on Intel's manufacturing roadmap. Intel, once a leading global chipmaker, has fallen behind its rivals, both with its own products and in its attempt to manufacture chips for outside customers. Truist analyst William Stein said, 'The road to recovery is long & uncertain' for Intel. That's because Intel had promised that its new manufacturing process, 18A, would bring in external customers to its cash-bleeding manufacturing business, which its former CEO Pat Gelsinger launched in 2021. Now, Intel says it will use 18A only for internal products, reaching peak production at the beginning of the next decade, and that it could 'potentially' get 'external customers at some point,' as CFO David Zinsner put it. Meanwhile, Intel also left the future of its successor to 18A, the manufacturing process it calls 14A, unclear and contingent upon it getting an external customer on board. Analysts and former Intel executives said it's crucial for the company to prove it can execute 18A to draw in outside customers to use its manufacturing business in what's known as a foundry. 'We raise concern on future competitiveness of both Products and Foundry, driven by constant roadmap changes, employee churn, as well as reduced investments in future products/nodes — pivotal in l-t [long term] market share and positioning,' Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya wrote. Crypto stocks fall as dollar moves higher Crypto stocks fell Friday — save for Robinhood (HOOD) and PayPal (PYPL). The largest corporate holder of bitcoin, Strategy (MSTR), dropped 2.5%, while crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) fell 2% and bitcoin miner MARA Holdings (MARA) dipped 2.6%. Riot Platforms (RIOT) declined 3.6%. The moves come as the US Dollar ( strengthens amid news surrounding US trade deals and as President Trump backed off from firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell after an unusual visit to the Federal Reserve. Stocks crawl higher at the open US stocks inched higher, near all-time highs, at the open on Friday after a week of major earnings and trade deals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) ticked up around 0.15%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose just over 0.1%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) traded just above the flat line. Dollar gains steam after Trump downplays clash with Fed Chair Powell The US dollar ( strengthened on Friday morning after President Trump downplayed a clash with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday that was part of an unusual visit to survey the Fed's building renovations. The visit came after several weeks of Trump criticizing Powell and, at one point, threatening to fire him. Trump told reporters on Friday, "I don't want to be personal" and said that the Fed visit was about helping finish the project. Later, Trump said of firing Powell: "To do that is a big move, and I just don't think it's necessary." Meanwhile, gold futures (GC=F) declined about 1% to trade at $3,341.90 per ounce as concerns about Fed independence eased. Phillips 66 stock rises after beating profit estimates on higher refining margins Phillips 66 (PSX) stock rose about 2.7% in premarket trading after the US refiner reported an adjusted profit of $2.38 per share, beating Wall Street EPS estimates of about $1.71. During the quarter, Phillips 66 returned $906 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Reuters reports that fuelmakers have seen an unexpected boost in profit from key products in recent months, offering relief as earnings retreated from 2022 highs, driven by a post-pandemic demand rebound and supply disruptions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company's realized margin per barrel rose 12.4% to $11.25 in the quarter from a year ago. Its crude capacity utilization was 98%, while adjusted earnings from its refining segment rose about 30% at $392 million. Health insurer Centene reports surprise quarterly loss Centene's (CNC) stock fell 12% before the bell on Friday after the health insurance company reported a quarterly loss and warned of a revenue slump from government-backed plans. Read more here. Google Search is readying the next generation for AI Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) not only posted a stellar quarter, it succeeded in advancing another urgent mission: convincing investors it can transition its search empire into an AI-infused one. Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban lays it out in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Durable goods orders (June preliminary) Earnings: Charter Communications (CHTR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Intel stock falls as chipmaker cuts jobs, drops factory plans Google Search is readying the next generation for AI Trump: Australia has agreed to accept American beef Who benefits if Trump drops capital gains tax on home sales Americans are struggling to pay bills and feeling anxious about it Japan pushes back against US view of trade-deal profit split Trump and Powell clash in public — then Trump takes softer tone Amazon scraps plans for $350M cloud facility in Ireland Health insurer Centene's stock falls after surprise Q2 loss Trending tickers: Deckers, Strategy and centene Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Deckers Outdoor corporation (DECK) stock rose 12% before the bell after reporting that its earnings had been boosted by Ugg boots and Hoka running shoes. Net sales for both brands surpassed analysts' estimates in the fiscal first quarter ended June 30. Strategy (MSTR) stock fell over 1% premarket today. Bloomberg reported on Friday how the company launched a new kind of preferred stock and upsized the deal from $500 million to $2.8 billion, according to a person familiar with the transaction who asked not to be identified. Centene (CNC) stock fell 10% in premarket trading after the health insurance company reported a quarterly loss. Intel stock slides amid plans to cut 15% of workforce, cancel factories Intel (INTC) shares slid almost 6% in premarket after the struggling chipmaker said it will cut its workforce and drop plans for factories in Europe as it pursues a comeback. While the company posted a second quarter revenue beat late Thursday, its earnings fell short. Its profit forecast for the current quarter was also more downbeat than hoped: It expects to break even, rather than deliver the $0.04 earnings per share estimated. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports: Read more here. Oil steady as investors weigh trade optimism against potential Venezuelan supply increase Oil prices climbed overnight Thursday, driven by renewed optimism over global trade negotiations, which bolstered confidence in economic growth and energy demand. The wave of positivity managing to overshadow concerns about a possible increase in Venezuelan oil supply. Reuters reports: Read more here. S&P 500 notches 5th consecutive record, Nasdaq closes at all-time high Stocks notched fresh records on Friday as trade optimism grew, and Trump once again backed off the threat of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell after an awkward exchange at the Fed headquarters. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.4% to close at a record high for a fifth consecutive session. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also advanced nearly 0.3% to notch a fresh record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose about 0.5%, just about 100 points shy of its own record high. Big Tech players will continue to report earnings next week, including Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META). On the trade front, President Trump put the odds of a deal with the EU at a 50-50 chance after clinching an agreement with Japan earlier this week. Trump's deadline for US trade partners to strike trade deals or else face a hike in tariff rates lands next Friday, Aug. 1. Investors will be watching the Fed's two-day policy meeting next week after Trump and Powell had an awkward exchange during the president's visit of the central banks $2.5 billion renovation site on Thursday. Stocks notched fresh records on Friday as trade optimism grew, and Trump once again backed off the threat of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell after an awkward exchange at the Fed headquarters. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.4% to close at a record high for a fifth consecutive session. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also advanced nearly 0.3% to notch a fresh record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose about 0.5%, just about 100 points shy of its own record high. Big Tech players will continue to report earnings next week, including Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META). On the trade front, President Trump put the odds of a deal with the EU at a 50-50 chance after clinching an agreement with Japan earlier this week. Trump's deadline for US trade partners to strike trade deals or else face a hike in tariff rates lands next Friday, Aug. 1. Investors will be watching the Fed's two-day policy meeting next week after Trump and Powell had an awkward exchange during the president's visit of the central banks $2.5 billion renovation site on Thursday. Crypto takes a breather, pulls back following massive rally Bitcoin (BTC-USD) sank 2% to hover above $116,000 per token on Friday, taking a breather from a massive recent rally. Ethereum (ETH-USD) also declined following a massive rally in the world's second-largest cryptocurrency. This rally followed the President's signing of the Genius Act a week ago, legislation aimed at regulating stablecoins, or digital tokens backed by assets like the US dollar and short-term treasuries. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) sank 2% to hover above $116,000 per token on Friday, taking a breather from a massive recent rally. Ethereum (ETH-USD) also declined following a massive rally in the world's second-largest cryptocurrency. This rally followed the President's signing of the Genius Act a week ago, legislation aimed at regulating stablecoins, or digital tokens backed by assets like the US dollar and short-term treasuries. Is AI taking new grads' jobs? Not so fast. Yahoo Finances Emma Ockerman: Read more here. Yahoo Finances Emma Ockerman: Read more here. Speculative frenzy raises risk of stock market downturn: Goldman Sachs Investors beware. With the S&P 500 (^GSPC) at all-time highs, some on Wall Street are warning that a rise in speculative trades could increase the risk of a market pullback. Goldman Sachs analysts said their Speculative Trading Indicator has risen sharply during the past few months. The gauge now sits at its highest level on record, outside of the 1998-2001 dot-com bubble era and 2020-2021 during COVID, though it still remains well below those peaks. The indicator shows an elevated recent share of trading volumes in unprofitable stocks, penny stocks, and stocks with rich valuations compared to revenue. Apart from "Magnificent Seven" heavyweights Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA), some of the stocks with the highest trading volumes over the past month include speculative plays like (BBAI), Lucid (LCID), and Plug Power (PLUG). "The recent rise in speculative trading activity signals near-term upside risk for the broad equity market but also increases the risk of an eventual downturn," Goldman's Ben Snider and his team wrote on Thursday. Read more here. Investors beware. With the S&P 500 (^GSPC) at all-time highs, some on Wall Street are warning that a rise in speculative trades could increase the risk of a market pullback. Goldman Sachs analysts said their Speculative Trading Indicator has risen sharply during the past few months. The gauge now sits at its highest level on record, outside of the 1998-2001 dot-com bubble era and 2020-2021 during COVID, though it still remains well below those peaks. The indicator shows an elevated recent share of trading volumes in unprofitable stocks, penny stocks, and stocks with rich valuations compared to revenue. Apart from "Magnificent Seven" heavyweights Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA), some of the stocks with the highest trading volumes over the past month include speculative plays like (BBAI), Lucid (LCID), and Plug Power (PLUG). "The recent rise in speculative trading activity signals near-term upside risk for the broad equity market but also increases the risk of an eventual downturn," Goldman's Ben Snider and his team wrote on Thursday. Read more here. Oil slides on potential supply increase as US allows Chevron to pump in Venezuela Oil declined on Friday after reports that the US restored permission for oil giant Chevron (CVX) to pump in Venezuela. West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) declined about 1% while Brent (BZ=F) futures slid 0.7% to hover above $68 per barrel. The permission to operate in the sanctioned country appears to be a U-turn from the Trump administration's prior license revocation, aimed at applying pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The reinstatement allowing Chevron to resume limited oil production — first reported by Reuters and Bloomberg — followed a deal between Washington and Caracas to release 10 detained Americans in exchange for the repatriation of 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador. President Trump has expressed his desire to lower energy prices, and Chevron's ability to pump oil there will bring additional supply into the market. For Chevron, the 'development helps remove another uncertainty from what was a long list to start the year,' Rob Thummel, senior portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital, told Yahoo Finance. The recent arbitration ruling in favor of Chevron's right to Hess's oil stake in Guyana as part of a broader acquisition has been a positive catalyst for the company. 'While this latest issue is less material, it still matters — it will generate additional cash flow for investors,' Thummel said. Oil declined on Friday after reports that the US restored permission for oil giant Chevron (CVX) to pump in Venezuela. West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) declined about 1% while Brent (BZ=F) futures slid 0.7% to hover above $68 per barrel. The permission to operate in the sanctioned country appears to be a U-turn from the Trump administration's prior license revocation, aimed at applying pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The reinstatement allowing Chevron to resume limited oil production — first reported by Reuters and Bloomberg — followed a deal between Washington and Caracas to release 10 detained Americans in exchange for the repatriation of 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador. President Trump has expressed his desire to lower energy prices, and Chevron's ability to pump oil there will bring additional supply into the market. For Chevron, the 'development helps remove another uncertainty from what was a long list to start the year,' Rob Thummel, senior portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital, told Yahoo Finance. The recent arbitration ruling in favor of Chevron's right to Hess's oil stake in Guyana as part of a broader acquisition has been a positive catalyst for the company. 'While this latest issue is less material, it still matters — it will generate additional cash flow for investors,' Thummel said. Volkswagen sales show tariff sting German auto giant Volkswagen (VWAGY) is feeling the effects of President Trump's tariff policy, Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports. Subramanian writes: Read the full story here. German auto giant Volkswagen (VWAGY) is feeling the effects of President Trump's tariff policy, Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports. Subramanian writes: Read the full story here. Broadcom on track for fresh record as it outperforms 'Magnificent Seven' stocks Broadcom (AVGO) stock was on track to hit another high Friday after closing at a record $288.71 on Thursday, up fractionally to just over $289. Broadcom has largely outperformed the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks over the past year, with shares up more than 25% in 2025 and 94% over the last 12 months. Shares also hit an all-time intraday high above $291 on Thursday. So far this year, the only Magnificent Seven stock to outperform Broadcom is Nvidia (NVDA), which is up 30% after a wild turnaround in the first half of the year. On a 12-month basis, Broadcom still takes the lead, with Nvidia shares up 55% in that time frame. While Broadcom's market capitalization still trails most of the Magnificent Seven, its $1.36 trillion market cap is higher than Tesla's (TSLA) roughly $1 trillion market value, as the EV maker has struggled amid CEO Elon Musk's string of controversies and challenged vehicle sales. Broadcom (AVGO) stock was on track to hit another high Friday after closing at a record $288.71 on Thursday, up fractionally to just over $289. Broadcom has largely outperformed the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks over the past year, with shares up more than 25% in 2025 and 94% over the last 12 months. Shares also hit an all-time intraday high above $291 on Thursday. So far this year, the only Magnificent Seven stock to outperform Broadcom is Nvidia (NVDA), which is up 30% after a wild turnaround in the first half of the year. On a 12-month basis, Broadcom still takes the lead, with Nvidia shares up 55% in that time frame. While Broadcom's market capitalization still trails most of the Magnificent Seven, its $1.36 trillion market cap is higher than Tesla's (TSLA) roughly $1 trillion market value, as the EV maker has struggled amid CEO Elon Musk's string of controversies and challenged vehicle sales. Charter Communications plummets most in history after Q2 earnings miss Charter Communications stock plummeted as much as 18.5% Friday after the telecom giant — which offers cable TV and internet services through its Spectrum brand — reported second quarter earnings below expectations. That's the biggest drop in the stock's history. The company Friday reported adjusted earnings per share of $9.18, below the $9.82 expected, while revenue of $13.766 billion was marginally below the $13.768 billion expected. The company said in an earnings call Friday morning that it lost 117,000 residential and small business Internet customers in the quarter, compared to about 100,000 in the year ago period. Charter Communications stock plummeted as much as 18.5% Friday after the telecom giant — which offers cable TV and internet services through its Spectrum brand — reported second quarter earnings below expectations. That's the biggest drop in the stock's history. The company Friday reported adjusted earnings per share of $9.18, below the $9.82 expected, while revenue of $13.766 billion was marginally below the $13.768 billion expected. The company said in an earnings call Friday morning that it lost 117,000 residential and small business Internet customers in the quarter, compared to about 100,000 in the year ago period. Wall Street weighs Intel earnings: The 'road to recovery is long & uncertain' Wall Street remained skeptical of Intel (INTC) after the company left the future of its manufacturing business unclear during an earnings call late Thursday. Intel stock dropped Friday despite its financial results beating expectations. 'While the headline numbers look decent vs expectations, we don't think the numbers really mattered all that much,' Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to clients Friday, saying instead that investors are focused on Intel's manufacturing roadmap. Intel, once a leading global chipmaker, has fallen behind its rivals, both with its own products and in its attempt to manufacture chips for outside customers. Truist analyst William Stein said, 'The road to recovery is long & uncertain' for Intel. That's because Intel had promised that its new manufacturing process, 18A, would bring in external customers to its cash-bleeding manufacturing business, which its former CEO Pat Gelsinger launched in 2021. Now, Intel says it will use 18A only for internal products, reaching peak production at the beginning of the next decade, and that it could 'potentially' get 'external customers at some point,' as CFO David Zinsner put it. Meanwhile, Intel also left the future of its successor to 18A, the manufacturing process it calls 14A, unclear and contingent upon it getting an external customer on board. Analysts and former Intel executives said it's crucial for the company to prove it can execute 18A to draw in outside customers to use its manufacturing business in what's known as a foundry. 'We raise concern on future competitiveness of both Products and Foundry, driven by constant roadmap changes, employee churn, as well as reduced investments in future products/nodes — pivotal in l-t [long term] market share and positioning,' Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya wrote. Wall Street remained skeptical of Intel (INTC) after the company left the future of its manufacturing business unclear during an earnings call late Thursday. Intel stock dropped Friday despite its financial results beating expectations. 'While the headline numbers look decent vs expectations, we don't think the numbers really mattered all that much,' Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to clients Friday, saying instead that investors are focused on Intel's manufacturing roadmap. Intel, once a leading global chipmaker, has fallen behind its rivals, both with its own products and in its attempt to manufacture chips for outside customers. Truist analyst William Stein said, 'The road to recovery is long & uncertain' for Intel. That's because Intel had promised that its new manufacturing process, 18A, would bring in external customers to its cash-bleeding manufacturing business, which its former CEO Pat Gelsinger launched in 2021. Now, Intel says it will use 18A only for internal products, reaching peak production at the beginning of the next decade, and that it could 'potentially' get 'external customers at some point,' as CFO David Zinsner put it. Meanwhile, Intel also left the future of its successor to 18A, the manufacturing process it calls 14A, unclear and contingent upon it getting an external customer on board. Analysts and former Intel executives said it's crucial for the company to prove it can execute 18A to draw in outside customers to use its manufacturing business in what's known as a foundry. 'We raise concern on future competitiveness of both Products and Foundry, driven by constant roadmap changes, employee churn, as well as reduced investments in future products/nodes — pivotal in l-t [long term] market share and positioning,' Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya wrote. Crypto stocks fall as dollar moves higher Crypto stocks fell Friday — save for Robinhood (HOOD) and PayPal (PYPL). The largest corporate holder of bitcoin, Strategy (MSTR), dropped 2.5%, while crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) fell 2% and bitcoin miner MARA Holdings (MARA) dipped 2.6%. Riot Platforms (RIOT) declined 3.6%. The moves come as the US Dollar ( strengthens amid news surrounding US trade deals and as President Trump backed off from firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell after an unusual visit to the Federal Reserve. Crypto stocks fell Friday — save for Robinhood (HOOD) and PayPal (PYPL). The largest corporate holder of bitcoin, Strategy (MSTR), dropped 2.5%, while crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) fell 2% and bitcoin miner MARA Holdings (MARA) dipped 2.6%. Riot Platforms (RIOT) declined 3.6%. The moves come as the US Dollar ( strengthens amid news surrounding US trade deals and as President Trump backed off from firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell after an unusual visit to the Federal Reserve. Stocks crawl higher at the open US stocks inched higher, near all-time highs, at the open on Friday after a week of major earnings and trade deals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) ticked up around 0.15%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose just over 0.1%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) traded just above the flat line. US stocks inched higher, near all-time highs, at the open on Friday after a week of major earnings and trade deals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) ticked up around 0.15%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose just over 0.1%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) traded just above the flat line. Dollar gains steam after Trump downplays clash with Fed Chair Powell The US dollar ( strengthened on Friday morning after President Trump downplayed a clash with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday that was part of an unusual visit to survey the Fed's building renovations. The visit came after several weeks of Trump criticizing Powell and, at one point, threatening to fire him. Trump told reporters on Friday, "I don't want to be personal" and said that the Fed visit was about helping finish the project. Later, Trump said of firing Powell: "To do that is a big move, and I just don't think it's necessary." Meanwhile, gold futures (GC=F) declined about 1% to trade at $3,341.90 per ounce as concerns about Fed independence eased. The US dollar ( strengthened on Friday morning after President Trump downplayed a clash with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday that was part of an unusual visit to survey the Fed's building renovations. The visit came after several weeks of Trump criticizing Powell and, at one point, threatening to fire him. Trump told reporters on Friday, "I don't want to be personal" and said that the Fed visit was about helping finish the project. Later, Trump said of firing Powell: "To do that is a big move, and I just don't think it's necessary." Meanwhile, gold futures (GC=F) declined about 1% to trade at $3,341.90 per ounce as concerns about Fed independence eased. Phillips 66 stock rises after beating profit estimates on higher refining margins Phillips 66 (PSX) stock rose about 2.7% in premarket trading after the US refiner reported an adjusted profit of $2.38 per share, beating Wall Street EPS estimates of about $1.71. During the quarter, Phillips 66 returned $906 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Reuters reports that fuelmakers have seen an unexpected boost in profit from key products in recent months, offering relief as earnings retreated from 2022 highs, driven by a post-pandemic demand rebound and supply disruptions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company's realized margin per barrel rose 12.4% to $11.25 in the quarter from a year ago. Its crude capacity utilization was 98%, while adjusted earnings from its refining segment rose about 30% at $392 million. Phillips 66 (PSX) stock rose about 2.7% in premarket trading after the US refiner reported an adjusted profit of $2.38 per share, beating Wall Street EPS estimates of about $1.71. During the quarter, Phillips 66 returned $906 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Reuters reports that fuelmakers have seen an unexpected boost in profit from key products in recent months, offering relief as earnings retreated from 2022 highs, driven by a post-pandemic demand rebound and supply disruptions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company's realized margin per barrel rose 12.4% to $11.25 in the quarter from a year ago. Its crude capacity utilization was 98%, while adjusted earnings from its refining segment rose about 30% at $392 million. Health insurer Centene reports surprise quarterly loss Centene's (CNC) stock fell 12% before the bell on Friday after the health insurance company reported a quarterly loss and warned of a revenue slump from government-backed plans. Read more here. Centene's (CNC) stock fell 12% before the bell on Friday after the health insurance company reported a quarterly loss and warned of a revenue slump from government-backed plans. Read more here. Google Search is readying the next generation for AI Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) not only posted a stellar quarter, it succeeded in advancing another urgent mission: convincing investors it can transition its search empire into an AI-infused one. Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban lays it out in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) not only posted a stellar quarter, it succeeded in advancing another urgent mission: convincing investors it can transition its search empire into an AI-infused one. Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban lays it out in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Durable goods orders (June preliminary) Earnings: Charter Communications (CHTR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Intel stock falls as chipmaker cuts jobs, drops factory plans Google Search is readying the next generation for AI Trump: Australia has agreed to accept American beef Who benefits if Trump drops capital gains tax on home sales Americans are struggling to pay bills and feeling anxious about it Japan pushes back against US view of trade-deal profit split Trump and Powell clash in public — then Trump takes softer tone Amazon scraps plans for $350M cloud facility in Ireland Health insurer Centene's stock falls after surprise Q2 loss Economic data: Durable goods orders (June preliminary) Earnings: Charter Communications (CHTR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Intel stock falls as chipmaker cuts jobs, drops factory plans Google Search is readying the next generation for AI Trump: Australia has agreed to accept American beef Who benefits if Trump drops capital gains tax on home sales Americans are struggling to pay bills and feeling anxious about it Japan pushes back against US view of trade-deal profit split Trump and Powell clash in public — then Trump takes softer tone Amazon scraps plans for $350M cloud facility in Ireland Health insurer Centene's stock falls after surprise Q2 loss Trending tickers: Deckers, Strategy and centene Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Deckers Outdoor corporation (DECK) stock rose 12% before the bell after reporting that its earnings had been boosted by Ugg boots and Hoka running shoes. Net sales for both brands surpassed analysts' estimates in the fiscal first quarter ended June 30. Strategy (MSTR) stock fell over 1% premarket today. Bloomberg reported on Friday how the company launched a new kind of preferred stock and upsized the deal from $500 million to $2.8 billion, according to a person familiar with the transaction who asked not to be identified. Centene (CNC) stock fell 10% in premarket trading after the health insurance company reported a quarterly loss. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Deckers Outdoor corporation (DECK) stock rose 12% before the bell after reporting that its earnings had been boosted by Ugg boots and Hoka running shoes. Net sales for both brands surpassed analysts' estimates in the fiscal first quarter ended June 30. Strategy (MSTR) stock fell over 1% premarket today. Bloomberg reported on Friday how the company launched a new kind of preferred stock and upsized the deal from $500 million to $2.8 billion, according to a person familiar with the transaction who asked not to be identified. Centene (CNC) stock fell 10% in premarket trading after the health insurance company reported a quarterly loss. Intel stock slides amid plans to cut 15% of workforce, cancel factories Intel (INTC) shares slid almost 6% in premarket after the struggling chipmaker said it will cut its workforce and drop plans for factories in Europe as it pursues a comeback. While the company posted a second quarter revenue beat late Thursday, its earnings fell short. Its profit forecast for the current quarter was also more downbeat than hoped: It expects to break even, rather than deliver the $0.04 earnings per share estimated. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports: Read more here. Intel (INTC) shares slid almost 6% in premarket after the struggling chipmaker said it will cut its workforce and drop plans for factories in Europe as it pursues a comeback. While the company posted a second quarter revenue beat late Thursday, its earnings fell short. Its profit forecast for the current quarter was also more downbeat than hoped: It expects to break even, rather than deliver the $0.04 earnings per share estimated. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports: Read more here. Oil steady as investors weigh trade optimism against potential Venezuelan supply increase Oil prices climbed overnight Thursday, driven by renewed optimism over global trade negotiations, which bolstered confidence in economic growth and energy demand. The wave of positivity managing to overshadow concerns about a possible increase in Venezuelan oil supply. Reuters reports: Read more here. Oil prices climbed overnight Thursday, driven by renewed optimism over global trade negotiations, which bolstered confidence in economic growth and energy demand. The wave of positivity managing to overshadow concerns about a possible increase in Venezuelan oil supply. Reuters reports: Read more here. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump rips Powell again: 'Too late.. is my worst appointments'
Trump rips Powell again: 'Too late.. is my worst appointments' originally appeared on TheStreet. Donald Trump is once again turning up the heat on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, this time calling him 'truly one of my worst appointments' and blaming him directly for freezing out young homebuyers with high interest rates. 'Too Late,' and the Fed, are choking out the housing market with their high rate, making it difficult for people, especially the young, to buy a house,' Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday. 'He is truly one of my worst appointments. Sleepy Joe saw how bad he was and reappointed him anyway.' Trump didn't stop there, taking aim at the entire Fed Board: 'And the Fed Board has done nothing to stop this 'numbskull' from hurting so many people. In many ways the Board is equally to blame!'Trump has been vocal for months about his belief that interest rates should already be slashed. He doubled down on that view: 'The USA is Rockin', there is VERY LOW INFLATION, and we deserve to be at 1%, saving One Trillion Dollars a year on Interest Costs. I can't tell you how dumb Too Late is - So bad for our Country!' Why it matters for crypto Trump's renewed attacks on the Fed come just as Bitcoin trades near $119,000 and Ethereum crosses $3,600, according to Kraken. With altcoins like DOGE and ADA surging 11% and 6% respectively, traders are increasingly viewing political volatility as fuel for crypto's comeback — especially if it results in lower interest rates. Trump has been openly questioning whether Powell should remain in his role. Just last month, he reportedly asked GOP lawmakers in the Oval Office if he should fire the Fed Chair. And while he later told reporters it's 'highly unlikely' he'll do so, he admitted, 'Almost all of them said I should.'The Fed, under Powell, has held rates steady throughout 2025 despite inflation cooling below 3%, arguing that premature cuts could reignite price pressures. Powell has also flagged concerns about Trump's planned tariffs potentially pushing inflation back up. High interest rates reduce investor appetite for risk. When rates are high, investors prefer safer assets like Treasuries — not volatile ones like Bitcoin or altcoins. That's why crypto prices soared during the 2020–2021 low-rate era, and struggled once the Fed began hiking. If the inflation slash rates to 1%, it could revive the easy-money conditions that previously supercharged the crypto bull market. Trump rips Powell again: 'Too late.. is my worst appointments' first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Trump-ally says he is ‘proud to sue' Powell
Exclusive: Trump-ally says he is 'proud to sue' Powell originally appeared on TheStreet. Azoria Capital, a Miami-based investment firm, has filed a federal lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, alleging that the Fed's closed-door policy meetings violate federal 'transparency laws' — and that the decision not to lower interest rates is politically motivated. The lawsuit, filed on July 24 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) practice of holding private deliberations. Azoria argues these violate the Government in the Sunshine Act, a 1976 law requiring transparency in federal decision-making. 'Azoria is proud to bring this federal lawsuit against Jerome Powell,' CEO James Fishback said in a statement to TheStreet Roundtable. 'We are not going to sit idly by and allow Jerome Powell's Federal Reserve to undermine the duly elected President of the United States and hurt millions of Americans with artificially high interest rates.' Crypto markets watching closely Fed policy shifts ripple across the economy — and crypto markets. Rate cuts tend to boost liquidity and risk appetite, lifting risk assets like Bitcoin. Currently, Bitcoin trades near $119,137.96, up 13% in the past month, per Kraken. Though Powell has called Bitcoin 'digital gold,' he's emphasized it's not a rival to the dollar — and that the Fed is barred from holding it directly. As a result, traders closely monitor every Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting for clues that could impact pricing, leverage, stablecoins, and valuations across the global crypto CEO takes a dig at Powell's leadership "Inflation is now at a four-year low under President Trump's leadership," Azoria CEO James Fishback told FOX Business on July 24. "Yet Jerome Powell refuses to lower interest rates from a 20-year high. That is a life-altering decision that affects Americans all over the country—from families unable to secure a mortgage to small businesses delaying growth." James Fishback has also emerged as a vocal advocate for crypto. In a recent interview, he stated that 'the rising economy of crypto lifts all boats,' emphasizing that greater access to digital assets enables Americans to 'avoid being debanked' or financially penalized by traditional financial institutions. Fishback also warned over the broader economic effects of prolonged high interest rates. "Every percentage point above the natural rate is costing American taxpayers $315 billion a year,' he said. "That's nearly $3 trillion over the next decade — or $31,000 for every U.S. taxpaying household." The Federal Reserve declined to comment when reached by TheStreet anti-DEI ETF strategy Azoria Capital has also drawn attention for its ETF, the Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF (SPXM). The fund tracks companies within the S&P 500 but excludes those with explicit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring mandates. "We start with the full S&P 500, then kick out companies like Nike, which mandates that 35% of its U.S. corporate workforce must be ethnically diverse,' Fishback added. 'Ethnic diversity has nothing to do with selling a pair of running shoes at a profit.' Fishback, an ardent Trump supporter, also had previously floated the idea of mailing taxpayers $5,000 "DOGE dividend" checks to symbolize the supposed savings from the Department of Governmental Efficiency, briefly led by Elon Musk. He has also formed the Full Support for Donald, a Political Action Committee to support President Trump. Exclusive: Trump-ally says he is 'proud to sue' Powell first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 24, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
