Credit News Insider

ACA Subsidy End May Raise Health Insurance Costs for All

Enhanced ACA subsidies expire in 2025, threatening to cause millions to lose coverage and premiums to skyrocket, destabilizing the entire insurance market.

• ▸WASHINGTON – The expiration of enhanced federal subsidies at the end of 2025 has sent a shockwave through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, causing insurance premiums to skyrocket for millions of Americans and raising fears of a mass exodus from coverage. The sudden affordability crisis threatens to destabilize the individual insurance market, potentially driving up costs for everyone who remains and prompting experts to warn of a potential "death spiral."
• ▸Soaring Premiums: The average monthly premium for a subsidy recipient more than doubled, jumping from $888 in 2025 to an estimated $1,904 in 2026, according to analysis by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group.

Fortune 500 DEI Participation Drops 65% in Corporate Index

A leading corporate DEI index reports a 65% drop in participation from Fortune 500 companies, signaling a significant shift in corporate diversity strategies.

Bitcoin Price Drops Below $73K, Nears $72,000 Support

Bitcoin continues its sharp slide for a second day, falling over 5% to near $72,000 due to macroeconomic anxiety and institutional investor retreat.

• ▸By A Senior Financial Correspondent
• ▸Feb. 12, 2025

Hedge Funds Make $24B Shorting Software Stocks in 2026

Hedge funds earned $24 billion in early 2026 by shorting software stocks, betting that the rise of artificial intelligence will disrupt the entire sector.

• ▸CNBC Top News | By a Senior Financial Correspondent
• ▸Jan. 28, 2026

Welsh Signs in Cornish Tesco Spark Localisation Debate

A Tesco in Helston, Cornwall, displayed Welsh signs, sparking debate on the challenges and costs of corporate regional marketing and engaging local identities.

• ▸LONDON – An apparently minor logistical error at a Tesco supermarket in Helston, Cornwall, has inadvertently cast a sharp spotlight on the complex, multi-million-pound strategies of corporate hyper-localisation. The appearance of Welsh-language signs in the Cornish store has sparked public debate, not merely over a simple mistake, but over the nuanced and often costly business of engaging with the UK's distinct national identities.
• ▸Building Brand Loyalty: By acknowledging and using a local language, corporations aim to position themselves as part of the community, not just a faceless national chain. This can translate into a significant competitive advantage.

Lost 401(k)s? New Tool Helps Find Retirement Savings

A new federal 'lost and found' database helps retirees find trillions in forgotten 401(k)s and pensions. Learn how this new government tool works.

• ▸WASHINGTON – A staggering $2.1 trillion in retirement savings sits dormant in accounts left behind by workers who have switched jobs, creating a massive blind spot in the financial plans of millions of Americans. Now, a new federal tool is beginning to illuminate this murky landscape, helping thousands of retirees reconnect with their hard-earned nest eggs.
• ▸The Scale of the Problem: An estimated 31.9 million 401(k) accounts, holding approximately $2.1 trillion, remain with former employers, according to 2025 research from Capitalize, a firm specializing in account rollovers.

Democrats Detail Demands in High-Stakes DHS Funding Fight

Democrats threaten a partial government shutdown over DHS funding, demanding major reforms to immigration enforcement and civil liberties to increase accountabi

• ▸FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
• ▸WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats have drawn a firm line in the sand over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, transforming a routine appropriations process into a high-stakes battle over immigration enforcement and civil liberties. With just under two weeks until DHS funding expires, top Democrats are leveraging their power in the Senate to demand significant reforms, setting the stage for a potential partial government shutdown that could impact everything from border security to airport screening.

Delayed Jan. Jobs Report Confirmed for Feb. 11 Release

The BLS has set a new release date of Feb. 11 for the January jobs report after a delay caused by the government shutdown. See the revised economic data schedul

• ▸WASHINGTON – The financial world will finally get its first major reading on the 2026 U.S. economy next week, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirmed Wednesday that the delayed January jobs report will be released on Feb. 11. The five-day postponement, a direct consequence of the brief government shutdown, has left markets, policymakers, and the Federal Reserve waiting for crucial data to gauge the nation's economic trajectory.
• ▸January Jobs Report: The Employment Situation report, the government's official measure of nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate, is now scheduled for Feb. 11, five days after its original date.

Oil Prices Jump as Trump Warns Iran's Supreme Leader

Oil prices surged on escalating US-Iran tensions after President Trump's warning. Learn how geopolitical risk in the Strait of Hormuz is impacting WTI and Brent

• ▸NEW YORK – Oil prices surged on Wednesday as the fragile prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran appeared to shatter, replaced by sharp rhetoric from President Donald Trump and fresh reports of military friction in the Middle East. The escalating tensions immediately injected a significant risk premium back into the market, pushing global benchmarks to multi-week highs.
• ▸U.S. Benchmark: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for future delivery jumped $1.82, or 2.88%, settling at $65.08 a barrel by late afternoon trading in New York.

Supreme Court OKs California's Democratic Congressional Map

The Supreme Court allows California to use its new Democratic-leaning congressional map, rejecting a GOP appeal and handing Democrats a key victory in the battl

• ▸WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has cleared the way for California to use a new, Democratic-leaning congressional map in this year's pivotal midterm elections, handing a significant procedural victory to Democrats in the escalating nationwide battle over redistricting. The decision effectively preserves a key component of the party's strategy to counteract Republican-drawn maps in other states as both sides vie for a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• ▸The Court's Observation: In its December order concerning the Texas case, the court noted, "With an eye on the upcoming...midterm elections, several States have in recent months redrawn their congressional districts in ways that are predicted to favor the State's dominant political party. Texas adopted the first new map, then California responded with its own map for the stated purpose of counteracting what Texas had done."

Sen. Tim Scott Says Fed Chair Powell Committed No Crime

Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott says he doesn't believe Fed Chair Jerome Powell committed a crime in his testimony, despite a DOJ probe. Scott calls Powell inept

• ▸WASHINGTON – Senator Tim Scott, the chairman of the powerful Senate Banking Committee, said Wednesday he does not believe Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell committed a crime during his testimony before Congress last year. The statement offers a crucial, albeit critical, defense of the central bank chief even as a Department of Justice investigation into that very testimony continues to unfold.
• ▸On Powell's Performance: Scott stated, "I believe what he did was made a gross error in judgment. He was not prepared for that hearing." This reflects a deep dissatisfaction with Powell's leadership and communication with Congress.

AMD's Lisa Su: AI Chip Demand Strong Despite Weak Guidance

AMD CEO Lisa Su addresses investor concerns after a weak Q1 forecast caused a stock drop, asserting that demand for advanced AI chips is accelerating rapidly.

• ▸NEW YORK – Advanced Micro Devices CEO Dr. Lisa Su mounted a vigorous defense of the company's growth trajectory on Wednesday, asserting that underlying demand for its most advanced artificial intelligence chips is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, even as a tepid financial forecast sent the company's stock tumbling.
• ▸Q4 Performance: AMD reported fourth-quarter revenue of $6.17 billion, slightly ahead of the $6.12 billion analysts had projected. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.77, matching expectations.

Stocks Stabilise After AI Fears Trigger Wall St Sell-Off

Global stocks attempt to recover after an AI-fuelled sell-off hit the tech sector. Investor fears over AI's disruptive power cause a market rotation.

• ▸NEW YORK – Global stock markets found a tentative footing on Wednesday, attempting to recover from a sharp, technology-driven sell-off triggered by fresh anxieties over the disruptive power of artificial intelligence. While major European and Asian indices posted modest gains, Wall Street remained divided, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq continuing to feel the pressure of a significant sentiment shift among investors.
• ▸Immediate Impact: The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.4% on Tuesday, with significant losses in software-as-a-service (SaaS), financial services, and asset management companies.

US Equity Futures Muted as Government Shutdown Ends

US equity futures see muted premarket action as traders remain cautious despite the end of the partial government shutdown. Investors weigh uncertainty.

Car Finance Compensation: Find Out If You Are Owed Money

The FCA has launched a major investigation into car finance commission. Millions of UK drivers may have been overcharged and could be due compensation.

• ▸By a Senior Financial Correspondent, BBC Business (Finance)
• ▸The Historical Practice: For years, until 2021, DCAs were a common feature of the motor finance market. Lenders allowed brokers the discretion to set customer interest rates within a certain range.