Latest news with #NationalAverage
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best CD rates today, May 26, 2025 (Lock in up to 4.4% APY)
Today's CD rates still hover well above the national average. The Federal Reserve reduced its target interest rate three times in 2024. This had a ripple effect on deposit account rates, which means now could be your last chance to lock in today's high rates with a certificate of deposit (CD). Here's a look at today's best CD rates and where you can find the best offers. As of May 26, 2025, CD rates are still competitive, particularly for shorter terms. Today, the highest CD rate 4.4% APY, offered by NexBank on its 1-year CD. There is a $25,000 minimum opening deposit required. Here is a look at some of the best CD rates available today from our verified partners. This embedded content is not available in your region. If you're considering a CD, these rates are some of the highest available, especially when compared to the national average rates, which are significantly lower. It's also worth noting that online banks and credit unions generally offer more competitive rates compared to traditional brick-and-mortar banks. Read more: What is a good CD rate? Here's a look at the average CD rate by term as of April 2025 (the most recent data available from the FDIC): The highest national average interest rate for CDs stands at 1.77% for a 1-year term. However, in general, today's average CD rates represent some of the highest seen in nearly two decades, largely due to the Federal Reserve's efforts to combat inflation by keeping interest rates elevated. If you're thinking about opening a CD, it's important to choose one with a high APY and term length that matches your financial goals. Here are some tips for finding the best CD rates and accounts that match your needs: Shop around: It's a good idea to evaluate CD rates from a variety of financial institutions and compare your options before settling on an account. You can easily compare CD rates online. Consider online banks: Online banks tend to have lower overhead costs, which allows them to offer higher interest rates on CDs. In fact, online banks often have the most competitive rates available. Check minimum deposit requirements: Higher CD rates might come with higher minimum deposit requirements, so make sure the amount you plan to deposit aligns with the requirements to get the best rate. Review account terms and conditions: Beyond the CD's rate, look at terms for early withdrawal penalties and auto-renewal policies. Some CDs offer better terms for flexibility, such as no-penalty CDs, which allow you to withdraw your funds without a fee before the maturity date.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
‘SPM 2024 absentees down due to interventions'
PUTRAJAYA: There were fewer absentees for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 compared to the previous year, says Education Ministry director-general Datuk Azman Adnan. He said the decline was the result of various interventions carried out by the ministry to encourage students to attend and sit for the examination. He also said the number of candidates from educational institutions under the ministry dropped from 8,676 in 2023 to 6,246 this time around. Among the initiatives introduced, he added, were the activation of the Students at Risk Intervention Task Force, home visits (ziarah cakna), daily monitoring by schools, and early detection of students at risk of falling behind since Form Four. 'These measures have successfully raised candidates' awareness of the importance of sitting for the SPM examination and ensured that support from the surrounding community was also mobilised to encourage candidates to sit for their examination,' he said when announcing the SPM 2024 results analysis yesterday. Azman also said that 57.8% of those absent from educational institutions under the ministry were working. Another 35.5% were absent due to family-related issues, 4.7% due to health problems, and the remainder for other reasons, he added. The National Average Grade (GPN) improved to 4.49 in 2024, compared to 4.60 the previous year. A lower GPN score indicates better overall performance. The GPN for urban and rural candidates stood at 4.47 and 4.92, respectively, marking an improvement compared to the previous year's scores of 4.58 and 5.01. For the third consecutive year, candidates from the Integrity Schools – located in correctional centres – and the Henry Gurney Schools under the Prisons Department achieved a 100% pass rate. Azman said about 355,933 (94%) of the candidates qualified for the SPM certificate, an increase from 93.5% in 2022. 'This is the best result since 2013, when passing Bahasa Melayu and History became compulsory to qualify for the certificate,' he added. He also said the number of candidates scoring all As rose to 14,179 (3.7%), up from 11,713 (3.1%) in 2023. Additionally, 136,791 candidates (36.1%) obtained at least a pass (minimum grade E) in all subjects taken, an increase from 35.2% in 2023. Overall, he said that compared with SPM 2023, the SPM 2024 results showed that 59 subjects recorded improved performance, 30 showed a decline, and one subject remained unchanged. Meanwhile, in KAJANG, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek noted an increase in students scoring at least a grade E in their exams. 'We are very proud to see these results. 'We also hope this improvement will motivate teachers to focus even more on the quality of teaching,' she said when visiting SMK Convent Kajang yesterday. She added that the ministry would continue efforts to improve results, especially in areas closely linked to performance, which are already on its radar. I believe there are many segments for improvement, and we take these matters seriously to ensure future results are even better,' she said. She also said that since last year, the ministry has implemented interventions to ensure the pass rate continues to rise. Fadhlina also took a moment to share her child's SPM achievement. 'I'm also happy as my child achieved 8As. Alhamdulillah,' she said.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
SPM 2024: Best results since 2013, almost all states record improvement
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Average Grade (GPK) for the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination recorded its best performance since 2013 achieving 4.49 points compared to 4.60 in 2023 with almost all states recording improvement. Education director-general Datuk Azman Adnan said 14,179 out of the 402,918 candidates who sat for SPM last year achieved excellent results (grade A+, A, and A-) in all subjects, an increase of 0.6 per cent from 2023. In Putrajaya, its education director Ezaiddin Hussain reported a State Average Grade (GPN) of 3.44 compared to 3.43 in 2023, a slight increase of 0.01 points. He said 2,023 candidates, or 99.07 per cent of the 2,042 total candidates were eligible for certificates, with 175 students scoring straight As. Twelve candidates were absent. In Terengganu, state education deputy director (School Management Sector) Rosli Chik, reported an improved GPN of 4.31 in 2024 from 4.41 in the previous year. He said that 532 candidates, or 3.19 per cent of 18,783 SPM students obtained straight As, including 11 who scored A+ in all subjects. Melaka Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the state recorded a GPN of 4.43, up 0.16 points from 4.59 in 2023. He added that 10,532 of the 10,458 SPM 2024 candidates from Ministry of Education schools in Melaka were eligible for certificates, an increase of 0.61 per cent from 95.53 per cent in 2023. A total of 414 candidates achieved straight As, and 16 scored straight A+ in all subjects. Kedah education director Ismail Othman said that the GPN improved to 4.64 in 2024 compared to 4.77 in the previous year. He said 663 candidates, or 2.68 per cent of the 28,933 who sat for the exam scored As (A, A+ dan A-) in all subjects, an increase of 95 candidates (0.37 per cent). In Penang, state education director Wan Sajiri Wan Hassan reported an improved GPN of 4.39 compared to 4.49 previously. Out of 17,417 candidates, 819 (4.77 per cent) obtained excellent results (A+, A, A-) in all subjects. The top eleven schools in the state with excellent results include Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bukit Jambul, SMK (P) St George, SMK Chung Ling, SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi, SMK Datuk Onn, and SMK Tun Hussien Onn. Selangor education director Dr Jafri Abu said the GPN for SPM 2024 is 4.59, up by 0.08 points from 4.67 the previous year. He said out of 73,799 candidates, 2,368 (3.65 per cent) achieved straight As in all subjects, compared to 2,005 (3.15 per cent) in 2023. In Pahang, state education deputy director (Learning Sector) Ahmad Zamri Md Isa said 595 out of 16,942 candidates achieved excellent results (A+, A, A-) in all subjects, up from 517 the previous year. In Johor, state education director Mohd Hanafi Samad reported a GPN of 4.36, surpassing the national average of 4.49. 'Some 1,513 candidates scored straight As (A+, A, A-) in all subjects, compared to 1,247 candidates in the previous year,' he said. He added that 16 Special Education Needs (CBPK) students recorded excellent results, with four students scoring 8As, four achieved 7As, and eight students scoring 6As. Perlis education director Rose Aza Che Arifin said the state recorded its best GPN at 4.57, an improvement from 4.74 in 2023, with 89 candidates scoring straight As in all subjects. In Sabah, state education director Datuk Raisin Saidin reported a GPN improvement of 5.00 in SPM 2024, compared to 5.09 in SPM 2023. He said 905 candidates were absent in 2024, a reduction of 79 candidates from 984 in 2023. Kuala Lumpur education director Megat Affandi Ismail said a total of 14,494 candidates (92.82 per cent) qualified for the SPM certificate, up from 92.52 per cent in 2023, making SPM 2024 the best performance since 2013. Sarawak education director Omar Mahli said the state's GPN improved to 4.84, from 4.92 previously. He said 81 candidates achieved excellent results (grade A+, A and A-) in all subjects, and 30,341 candidates were eligible to receive the SPM certificate (passed Bahasa Melayu and History). In Negeri Sembilan, state education director Khalidah Omar said the GPN improved to 4.18 in 2024 from 4.33 previously, surpassing the national average of 4.49. She said a total of 804 out of 14,712 candidates scored straight As. Perak education director Safuan Raba'ai said the state recorded a better performance, with GPN improving to 4.63 from 4.75, and 937 of 27,459 candidates secured As (A+, A, A-) in all subjects. 'Nine candidates scored straight A+ in all subjects, and 25,774 candidates (93.86 per cent) qualified for the SPM certificate, up from 25,227 for SPM 2023,' he added. In Kelantan, state education deputy director (District Education Office Management and Planning Sector) Mat Lazim Mohammad said the state recorded a GPN of 4.62 for SPM 2024 compared to 4.72 the year before. He said a total of 436 candidates scored at least A- in all subjects, including eight who achieved straight A+.
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Kedah SPM results improve with more top scorers
ALOR STAR: A total of 663 candidates, or 2.68 per cent of the 28,933 who sat for the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in Kedah, obtained straight As, an increase from 568 candidates in the previous year. State Education Director, Ismail Othman, said Kedah also achieved a better National Average Grade (GPN) score of 4.64 this year, compared to 4.77 last year. A lower GPN score indicates better overall performance in the examination. "A total of 5,197 candidates, or 21 per cent, achieved at least a grade C in all subjects, while 9,384 candidates, or 37.92 per cent, passed all subjects," he said at a press conference at his office to announce the results today. Othman said 41 out of 65 subjects recorded improved performance, while 24 subjects showed a decline. He added that 77 out of 99 special needs candidates in Kedah passed the examination and qualified to receive the SPM certificate.
