US Republican senators push back on Trump cuts to foreign aid and public media

Mortgage rates saw a slight decline this week, with Freddie Mac reporting the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropping to 6.81% as of April 24, 2025.

UK businesses are pushing back against further tax hikes, with Shell notably denying rumors of a bid for BP. Meanwhile, a new report from the Resolution Foundation paints a grim picture for living standards, predicting that disposable incomes will barely grow—just 1% over the next few years, amounting to a measly £300 increase for the average household. The report blames a mix of pandemic fallout and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis for the stagnation.

The UK government is stepping in to shield local businesses from a flood of cheap foreign imports, a move prompted by growing anxiety over how Trump’s trade policies might ripple across the Atlantic. Essentially, they’re trying to prevent UK companies from being undercut by cheaper goods, which could hurt domestic industries.

US stock futures are ticking up, fueled by strong gains in chip stocks after Micron's solid earnings report. Investors are also keeping an eye on upcoming GDP data, which could sway market sentiment further.

President Trump is reportedly thinking about announcing his pick for the next Federal Reserve Chair sooner than expected—a move seen as an attempt to sideline current Chair Jerome Powell. Meanwhile, the markets are reacting with Dow futures ticking up and the dollar losing some ground.