The personal loan market is growing, in part due to the high cost of living. About 14.5% of borrowers use personal loans for everyday expenses, a MarketWatch Guides survey found. The two more common reasons consumers use personal loans are debt consolidation and home improvements. Nearly 21.2% of personal loans are used to consolidate debt and 20.1% are used to make home improvements. Borrowers are dealing with increasing prices in every industry, from food to building materials to housing costs. To deal with the rising costs, these borrowers turn to personal loans.”Families have already cut back on nonessentials, and there…

A version of this story first appeared in Business’ Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here. You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link. New York    Despite overcoming a crisis in 2023, the pain isn’t over for America’s regional banks. The SPDR S&P Regional Banking exchange-traded fund has fallen roughly 13% this year. Shares of New York Community Bank have tumbled 71%, Bank OZK shares have slid 16% and Webster Financial shares have lost 11%. Regional banks reported wide losses on their profits during the first quarter.…

London    Thousands of Taylor Swift’s UK fans have been duped into buying fake tickets for her upcoming Eras Tour concerts, according to a major British bank. More than 600 customers have reported being scammed so far, losing on average £332 ($414) each, and in some cases more than £1,000 ($1,247), Lloyds Bank said in a statement Wednesday. “As these figures are based solely on Lloyds Bank’s own customer data, it estimates that across the UK there are likely to have been at least 3,000 victims since tickets went on sale, with over £1 million being lost to fraudsters so…

Vision problems can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom argue that a loss of visual sensitivity can predict Alzheimer’s disease 12 years before diagnosis. Scientists suggest combining visual processing tests with other neuropsychological tests to potentially improve the identification of future dementia risk.Vision issues that affect a person’s ability to read and write, drive, distinguish color, or judge distances can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia.Previous studies have shown that physical changes to the eyes, such as blood vessel damage, may help drive Alzheimer’s…

Several popular fruits and vegetables — including blueberries, bell peppers and green beans — have traces of harmful pesticides that could affect a person’s health, Consumer Reports warns in a new analysis released on Thursday.The nonprofit organization looked at seven years of pesticide residue testing results for 59 types of produce from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and concluded pesticides pose “significant risks” in 20% of the foods it reviewed. These risks are present for certain groups, like children and pregnant women, even when as little as half of or one serving is consumed.But everyone should limit their intake of…

Last updated: April 18, 2024 05:18 EDT | 3 min read Bitcoin Price Prediction As Bitcoin teeters around the $61,650 mark after a 4% drop, its behavior hints at potential volatility. With the dollar’s rise linked to paused rate cuts enhancing its appeal, Bitcoin faces an opposite effect—diminished attraction due to the anticipated long-term high rates. This positions Bitcoin at a precarious juncture, especially as the market braces for the April 20 halving, expected to slash mining rewards. This event and the dollar’s strength may heavily influence upcoming Bitcoin price prediction, pressing investors to closely monitor both market reactions and…

Now that spring is here, your dog wants to spend as much time outside as you do! Getting your dog the right gear will make walks, hikes or just hanging out outside much more enjoyable.From backpacks to paw cleaners to hands-free dog leashes, our list has products that’ll make life with a dog a lot easier. To get all your gear ASAP, consider signing up for an Amazon Prime membership.The benefits include fast, free delivery, access to invite-only deals and the option to Buy With Prime. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your pet shopping today!QUMY Dog Shoes…

Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, referred to as “Credible” below, is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we do promote products from our partner lenders who compensate us for our services, all opinions are our own. The interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.500% as of April 18, which is 0.125 percentage points lower than yesterday. Additionally, the interest rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.625%, which is unchanged from yesterday. With mortgage rates changing daily, it’s a good idea to check today’s rate…

Prince William returns to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife’s cancer diagnosis, bolstering the royal family’s ranks as health problems continue to sideline the princess and King Charles III.William visited a surplus food redistribution center and a youth club it serves, highlighting efforts to reduce food waste as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and feed people in need. The prince stepped away from public duties after Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced on March 22 that she was undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer.RELATED: Kate Middleton says she was diagnosed with…

London    Google has fired more than two dozen employees who protested this week against the company’s cloud computing contract with the Israeli government. The workers were dismissed after an investigation found that they had staged protests inside Google’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California. In Sunnyvale, they entered the office of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, according to a post on X by the group that organized the demonstration, No Tech For Apartheid. Protesters held banners that read “No More Genocide For Profit” and “We Stand with Palestinian, Arab and Muslim Googlers.” A Google spokesperson told Thursday that…

The Wiz officially opened on Broadway last night at the Marquis Theatre. Check out photos of the cast taking their bows below!Read the reviews for The Wiz here.This twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road.The Broadway cast features Nichelle Lewis as ‘Dorothy,’ Wayne Brady as ‘The Wiz,’ Deborah Cox as ‘Glinda’ and Melody A. Betts as ‘Aunt Em’ and ‘Evillene,’ Kyle Ramar Freeman as ‘Lion,’ Phillip Johnson Richardson as ‘Tinman,’ Avery…

Law enforcement agencies across four states were left scrambling following reports of major 911 outages that saw millions unable to contact authorities late Wednesday. Many of the outages — reported in Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Nevada — were restored by the late evening. While officials haven’t said precisely what caused the outages, they come on the heels of the Department of Homeland Security warning of heightened cyber attack risks on 911 services as they moved to internet-based systems.Local law enforcement agencies reported a full statewide in South Dakota shortly before 7 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET). Rapid City police offered…

Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. Sign up for the daily digest chronicling the evolving media landscape here. New York    It’s a woman’s world. The most defining musicians of the era are Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. The highest-grossing film in recent memory is Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” And the most-watched basketball star is Caitlin Clark. Female-created and focused entertainment is not just having a moment. It is proving that it is here to stay, with once-in-a-generation talents across various media facets redefining dated narratives that once relegated female-focused entertainment to second-class status. Look no further than the music business. Swift…

Last updated: April 18, 2024 05:48 EDT | 2 min read Blockchain analytics platform Santiment has suggested that the current bearish sentiment surrounding Bitcoin may soon be overturned.In a recent post, Santiment highlighted the historical tendency of prices to move in the opposite direction of mass traders’ expectations. According to the platform, the market could potentially bottom out right before or shortly after the highly anticipated halving event, expected to occur within the next two days.Santiment’s analysis is based on data gathered from various social media platforms such as Telegram, Reddit, X, and 4Chan. By tracking keywords and topics that generate interest within…

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