While the fate of borrowers and the housing market are concerns for the future, there are already people suffering today as
a result of low interest rates: savers and retirees.
As
a result of the low interest rate environment, bonds today are primarily a portfolio diversifier.
The last point is important — borrowers who refinance credit cards are typically improving their financial standing almost immediately as
a result of lowering their interest rates, reducing their monthly payment, and converting revolving debt into an installment loan.
A reduction on your monthly payments can be
the result of a lower interest rate, lower administrative costs and insurance costs, longer repayment programs or a combination of all the above.
This is certainly one
result of low interest rates that are meant to encourage borrowing, spending and inflation.
A number of insurance companies were trading below book value with limited sight to growth as
a result of low interest rates.
Allyn Hughes wrote this summer that, «as
a result of the low interest rates and investment returns, insurance companies are likely to earn less on their portfolios,» which, naturally, leads to insurance companies raising prices in order to recoup those losses.
As
a result of the low interest rates and investment returns, insurance companies are likely to earn less on their portfolios, which in turn leads to premium increases for whole and term life policies.
The result of low interest rate mortgages.
Not exact matches
That might be a sign
of fiscal prudence, but it's also the
result of record
low interest rates that ease debt - carrying costs.
I would encourage you to remember that the current
low levels
of interest rates, while in the first instance a reflection
of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, are in a larger sense the
result of the recent financial crisis, the worst shock to this nation's financial system since the 1930s.
Borrowers should keep in mind that
lower interest rates at the beginning
of a loan
result in more actual savings than
lower interest rates towards the end
of a loan since the principal is
lower as time goes by (
interest charged is a percentage
of the current loan balance).
The efforts
of central banks to stimulate activity through monetary measures has succeeded in keeping
interest rates very
low, but have not
resulted in any significant uptick in real economic activity.
While the
interest rates it advertises online tend to be
lower than most banks or direct lenders, a quick look at the underlying assumptions shows that these
rates are the
result of factoring in mortgage discount points, which must be paid for upfront as an extra item in your mortgage closing costs.
In addition, based on the relatively unusual combination
of overbought, overbullish conditions, inflation pressures, and the like, I once again staggered our put option strikes, which
results in a
lower «implied
interest rate» earned on our hedges, in return for tighter protection in the event
of an abrupt market selloff.
Profile # 2: Consumer with 621 to 699 Credit Score, Home Value
of $ 198,000 and 10 % Down Payment
Lowering the credit score in the second profile
resulted in higher
interest rates and APRs.
Having your loan tied to a part
of your home's value usually
results in
lower interest rates, Drake says, but someone with a good income and a high credit score may be able to get a
low rate on a personal loan or peer - to - peer loan.
The European Central Bank's ultra-
low key
interest rate, while appropriate for the ailing PIIGS nations, is too
low for faster - growing Germany
resulting in negative real
interest rates and fears
of inflation.
In addition, terms and conditions in the leveraged - loan market, which provides credit to
lower -
rated companies, have eased significantly, reportedly as a
result of a «reach for yield» in the face
of persistently
low interest rates.
An end
of QE would likely
result in higher long - term
interest rates, which have been pushed to historic
lows on account
of the Fed's massive bond - buying program.
The
resulting high level
of interest rates in the wholesale money market, the main source
of funds for lenders such as mortgage managers, made it difficult for potential new lenders to compete with banks, who had access to
low - cost retail funding.
Third, on - going (and possibly higher) structural deficits are acceptable provided they are the
result of investments to strengthen economic growth, financed by long - term
interest rates low enough to make them affordable.
The effects on the US share market, on the other hand, have been mixed: there have been some benefits from
lower interest rates but the profit
results of US companies are increasingly showing signs
of adverse impacts from Asian competition.
As a
result, we believe the Fed's ultimate target for
interest rates when normalizing monetary policy could remain relatively
low, unless pricing pressures that are more typical
of previous late - cycle economic expansions start to emerge.
One
interesting idea raised in the paper is the proposal that night owls have a higher morbidity
rate due to greater exposure to artificial light and, as a
result,
lower levels
of melatonin.
These
results are especially
interesting as soy proponents often claim that Asians have
lower rates of colorectal cancer because they eat more soy.
TIFIA
interest rates are
lower, which will
result in financing cost savings
of approximately $ 100 million, and TIFIA - secured loans have allowed LACMTA to maximize debt capacity.
Such statements reflect the current views
of Barnes & Noble with respect to future events, the outcome
of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns, decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble's products,
low growth or declining sales and net income due to various factors, possible disruptions in Barnes & Noble's computer systems, telephone systems or supply chain, possible risks associated with data privacy, information security and intellectual property, possible work stoppages or increases in labor costs, possible increases in shipping
rates or interruptions in shipping service, effects
of competition, possible risks that inventory in channels
of distribution may be larger than able to be sold, possible risks associated with changes in the strategic direction
of the device business, including possible reduction in sales
of content, accessories and other merchandise and other adverse financial impacts, possible risk that component parts will be rendered obsolete or otherwise not be able to be effectively utilized in devices to be sold, possible risk that financial and operational forecasts and projections are not achieved, possible risk that returns from consumers or channels
of distribution may be greater than estimated, the risk that digital sales growth is less than expectations and the risk that it does not exceed the
rate of investment spend, higher - than - anticipated store closing or relocation costs, higher
interest rates, the performance
of Barnes & Noble's online, digital and other initiatives, the success
of Barnes & Noble's strategic investments, unanticipated increases in merchandise, component or occupancy costs, unanticipated adverse litigation
results or effects, product and component shortages, the potential adverse impact on the Company's businesses
resulting from the Company's prior reviews
of strategic alternatives and the potential separation
of the Company's businesses, the risk that the transactions with Microsoft and Pearson do not achieve the expected benefits for the parties or impose costs on the Company in excess
of what the Company anticipates, including the risk that NOOK Media's applications are not commercially successful or that the expected distribution
of those applications is not achieved, risks associated with the international expansion contemplated by the relationship with Microsoft, including that it is not successful or is delayed, the risk that NOOK Media is not able to perform its obligations under the Microsoft and Pearson commercial agreements and the consequences thereof, risks associated with the restatement contained in, the delayed filing
of, and the material weakness in internal controls described in Barnes & Noble's Annual Report on Form 10 - K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2013, risks associated with the SEC investigation disclosed in the quarterly report on Form 10 - Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 26, 2013, risks associated with the ongoing efforts to rationalize the NOOK business and the expected costs and benefits
of such efforts and associated risks and other factors which may be outside
of Barnes & Noble's control, including those factors discussed in detail in Item 1A, «Risk Factors,» in Barnes & Noble's Annual Report on Form 10 - K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2013, and in Barnes & Noble's other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC.
Such statements reflect the current views
of Barnes & Noble with respect to future events, the outcome
of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, the effect
of the proposed separation
of NOOK Media, the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns, decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble's products,
low growth or declining sales and net income due to various factors, possible disruptions in Barnes & Noble's computer systems, telephone systems or supply chain, possible risks associated with data privacy, information security and intellectual property, possible work stoppages or increases in labor costs, possible increases in shipping
rates or interruptions in shipping service, effects
of competition, possible risks that inventory in channels
of distribution may be larger than able to be sold, possible risks associated with changes in the strategic direction
of the device business, including possible reduction in sales
of content, accessories and other merchandise and other adverse financial impacts, possible risk that component parts will be rendered obsolete or otherwise not be able to be effectively utilized in devices to be sold, possible risk that financial and operational forecasts and projections are not achieved, possible risk that returns from consumers or channels
of distribution may be greater than estimated, the risk that digital sales growth is less than expectations and the risk that it does not exceed the
rate of investment spend, higher - than - anticipated store closing or relocation costs, higher
interest rates, the performance
of Barnes & Noble's online, digital and other initiatives, the success
of Barnes & Noble's strategic investments, unanticipated increases in merchandise, component or occupancy costs, unanticipated adverse litigation
results or effects, product and component shortages, risks associated with the commercial agreement with Samsung, the potential adverse impact on the Company's businesses
resulting from the Company's prior reviews
of strategic alternatives and the potential separation
of the Company's businesses (including with respect to the timing
of the completion thereof), the risk that the transactions with Pearson and Samsung do not achieve the expected benefits for the parties or impose costs on the Company in excess
of what the Company anticipates, including the risk that NOOK Media's applications are not commercially successful or that the expected distribution
of those applications is not achieved, risks associated with the international expansion previously undertaken, including any risks associated with a reduction
of international operations following termination
of the Microsoft commercial agreement, the risk that NOOK Media is not able to perform its obligations under the Pearson and Samsung commercial agreements and the consequences thereof, the risks associated with the termination
of Microsoft commercial agreement, including potential customer losses, risks associated with the restatement contained in, the delayed filing
of, and the material weakness in internal controls described in Barnes & Noble's Annual Report on Form 10 - K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2013, risks associated with the SEC investigation disclosed in the quarterly report on Form 10 - Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 26, 2013, risks associated with the ongoing efforts to rationalize the NOOK business and the expected costs and benefits
of such efforts and associated risks and other factors which may be outside
of Barnes & Noble's control, including those factors discussed in detail in Item 1A, «Risk Factors,» in Barnes & Noble's Annual Report on Form 10 - K for the fiscal year ended May 3, 2014, and in Barnes & Noble's other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC.
After 20 years have passed, Mary and Joe will have preserved an extra $ 75,577 in home equity as a
result of lower MIP and
interest rates.
The refinance
results in a
lowering of the borrower's monthly principal and
interest payments, or, under certain circumstances, the conversion
of an adjustable
rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed -
rate mortgage.
By combining several private student loans from a number
of creditors, a private student loan consolidation plan can
lower interest rates, extend payment terms and
result in
lower monthly payments.
The
interest rate reduction for authorizing our servicer to automatically deduct monthly payments from a savings or checking account will not reduce the monthly payment, but will reduce the monthly finance charge,
resulting in a
lower total cost
of loan.
«However, for
low - to - moderate UPB borrowers taking out larger amounts
of equity — again narrowing the scope to borrowers that will continue to itemize — the post-tax math may now favor cash - out refinances instead, even if it
results in a slight increase to first - lien
interest rates.»
Auto loan
rates are at historically
low levels as a
result of an overall
low interest rate environment.
When you pay extra on an adjustable -
rate mortgage, you trim the loan balance faster than scheduled, and that should
result in
lower monthly payments when your
rate next adjusts — unless the
interest rate adjusts higher and that swamps the impact
of your extra principal payments.
As a
result,
interest rates are rather
low and the borrowers have the advantage
of shopping for the best
rates, terms, and conditions.
In most cases, an VA streamline refinance must
result in a
lower interest rate — that's a fundamental rule (and benefit)
of these types
of VA loans.
As a
result, scores
of 760 and above are considered to be in the best range from a mortgage lender's perspective — meaning you'd qualify for the best (meaning
lowest)
interest rates, says Richard Redmond, mortgage broker at All California Mortgage in Larkspur and author
of «Mortgages: The Insider's Guide.»
In order to improve the overall economy, the government believes that these
lower interest rates will
result in a larger number
of young college grads, which will then lead to more jobs and an improved economy.
A
lower interest rate will
result in a higher calculation
of the principal limit at the beginning
of the loan.
As a
result of events around the globe,
interest rates have been
low over the last few years.
This type
of loan gives you the benefit
of paying
lower interest rate on balloon loans than 30 - and 15 - year fixed mortgages,
resulting in
lower monthly payments, asking for very little capital outlay during the life
of the loan.
This is a
result of the ultra-
low interest rate and quantitative easing (QE) policies that have spread
low interest rates across the curve.
Apartment renters also moved out to take advantage
of the first - time home buyers» credit,
lower interest rates and better housing deals that came as a
result of the recession, according to The Columbus Dispatch website.
If you have a great deal
of high
interest rate debt, increasing the size
of your fixed
rate mortgage with a refinancing (even if you end up with a slightly higher mortgage
rate than what you currently have) may
result in
lower overall
interest costs.
If the Germans had decided to issue bonds to striking workers instead
of money, bond prices would have been driven to ridiculously
low levels, driving
interest rates to extremely high levels, creating an unwillingness to hold currency (which does not bear
interest),
resulting in a rapid deterioration in the value
of money, and hyperinflation just the same.
While the
interest rates it advertises online tend to be
lower than most banks or direct lenders, a quick look at the underlying assumptions shows that these
rates are the
result of factoring in mortgage discount points, which must be paid for upfront as an extra item in your mortgage closing costs.
However, the extra
interest paid could be considered an investment in building a great credit history, and paying the loan off will usually
result in
lower rates of interest on subsequent loans that you might take out from the same lender.
As a rule
of thumb, higher FICO scores
result in
lower interest rates and more favorable terms.