Business
Hottest housing markets shift to affordable Midwest, South cities
The Corcoran Group broker Noble Black joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to discuss homebuilder confidence, mortgage rates and Congress’ actions to address the housing crisis.
America’s hottest housing markets aren’t in flashy coastal cities — they’re in communities across the Midwest and South.
Even as the national market cools, areas in states like Missouri and Kentucky are seeing double-digit price growth while remaining within reach for middle-income buyers.
Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ranked the top five single-family metro areas with the highest home price appreciation last quarter.
Missouri’s Cape Girardeau held the top spot with a nearly 20% yearly increase and a $275,000 median home price, followed by Cumberland, Maryland, up 17.1% with a $174,900 median home price; Owensboro, Kentucky, up 15% with a $264,000 median home price; Anniston-Oxford, Alabama, with a 14.9% increase and $175,103 median home price; and Mobile, Alabama, which appreciated 13.7% at a median home price of $216,235.
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The numbers signal strength in smaller, more affordable pockets of American cities and that housing opportunities remain highest outside expensive urban cores. Migration toward lower-cost regions also continues to shape market dynamics.

A for sale sign sits in front of a vacant lot near completed homes in a Missouri subdivision. (Getty Images)
In contrast, the bottom five single-family metro areas that had the slowest price appreciation were Elmira, New York; Farmington, New Mexico; Boulder, Colorado; Pueblo, Colorado; and Cleveland, Tennessee, with NAR noting that some overheated markets are correcting and higher-cost Western markets show pressure.
Additionally, America’s national median home prices rose 1.2% year-over-year to $414,900, signaling market resilience despite economic headwinds, while monthly mortgage payments fell 5.7% – to $2,057 – from the previous year.
‘The Big Money Show’ panel discusses Congress’s plan to tackle the nation’s housing crisis.
The housing market has cooled this winter with the annual pace of home price growth easing to levels unseen since the nation was recovering from the Great Recession. While some areas continue to see strong price growth, others, like Hawaii, California, Texas and Florida, have seen notable declines.
As of last week, mortgage affordability was at a four-year high after rates fell in January, with the White House touting President Donald Trump’s economic policies and maintaining his promise to “unlock” the opportunity of homeownership for American families.
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PMG Affordable principal Dan Coakley speaks to Fox News Digital about what it may take to make housing affordable again across the country.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.09%, down from last week’s 6.11%, Freddie Mac reports. This time last year, the 30-year rate was at 6.87%.
“Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told Fox News Digital. “Thanks to the President’s successful economic policies, unnecessary red tape is being cut at a historic pace, borrowing costs are easing, and income growth is outpacing home price gains — finally making housing more affordable again.”
FOX Business’ Eric Revell and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Business
Glencore profit falls 6%, announces $2 billion shareholder return

Glencore profit falls 6%, announces $2 billion shareholder return
Business
Opinion: Systems change to unlock innovation
OPINION: Overcoming systemic challenges can help businesses unlock innovation.
Business
Lower fuel prices and airfares help drive inflation down
The rate at which prices are rising is slowing down, which could lead to lower interest rates.
Business
Thailand Futures Exchange announces TFEX Best Award 2025 for outstanding derivatives brokers
TFEX announced the “TFEX Best Award 2025” to recognize broker excellence. Awards went to MTSGF, PI, KGI, KKPS, YUANTA, CAF, and INVX for outstanding performance and market contributions.
KEY POINTS
- TFEX announced the “TFEX Best Award 2025”, recognizing member companies for excellence in the areas of investor base expansion, market maker performance and active trading.
- Seven awarded brokers were MTSGF, PI, KGI, KKPS, YUANTA, CAF, and INVX
BANGKOK, February 16, 2026 – Thailand Futures Exchange pcl (TFEX) announced the recipients of the TFEX Best Award 2025, an annual recognition program honoring member companies for their excellence and outstanding performance across key areas of the derivatives market. TFEX Managing Director Triwit Wangvorawudhi emphasized that the strong cooperation and continued support from all members have been instrumental in driving the development and growth of Thailand’s derivatives market.
The “TFEX Best Award of Honor 2025” was presented to brokers that have demonstrated exceptional and consistent excellence for at least three consecutive years. The following companies received this distinction:
- MTS Capital Co., Ltd. (MTSGF) – Market Maker Best Performance
- Pi Securities pcl (PI) – Active Agent
- KGI Securities (Thailand) pcl (KGI) – Most Active House and Active Prop-Trading
For the “Best of the Year Award 2025”, the following brokers were recognized for their outstanding achievements based on trading performance and investor base expansion in each category:
- Kiatnakin Phatra Securities pcl (KKPS) – Most Active House Award
- Yuanta Securities (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (YUANTA) – Active Agent Award
- Classic Ausiris Investment Advisory Securities Co., Ltd. (CAF) – Active Prop-Trading Award
- InnovestX Securities Co., Ltd. (INVX) – Popular Agent Award
- KGI Securities (Thailand) pcl (KGI) – Market Maker Best Performance Award
Source : Thailand Futures Exchange announces TFEX Best Award 2025 for outstanding derivatives brokers
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City of Perth policy limits councillor’s emails
The City of Perth has started to implement suggestions from the psychosocial risk assessment, including addressing a councillor’s “inappropriate communication to staff”.
Business
Dilip Buildcon shares rally 4% as lowest bidder for Rs 702 crore Gujarat flood control project
The company has been declared the L-1 bidder for a tender issued by the Narmada Water Resources, Water Supply & Kalpasar Department, Government of Gujarat. The project entails the construction of a flood protection embankment along the Narmada River in Bharuch district.
Execution will follow an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model, with a total project cost of Rs 702 crore, excluding GST. The project is expected to be completed over a 24-month period.
This initiative forms part of Gujarat’s broader efforts to enhance flood protection infrastructure. Being a domestic EPC contract, it is a standard engineering and construction project with no involvement of the company’s promoters or promoter group in the awarding authority, and no related-party transactions are associated with this order.
On Tuesday, Dilip Buildcon shares closed at Rs 434.95 on the NSE, registering a modest gain of 1.02% for the day.
In terms of valuation, the stock price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 5.01, a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.62, and the price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.34. These metrics suggest that the market is valuing the company at relatively low multiples compared to its earnings, sales, and book value.
From a technical perspective, the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) stood at 39.7. Since an RSI below 30 generally indicates that a stock is oversold and above 70 signals overbought conditions, the current level points to a neutral-to-slightly-oversold territory. Additionally, the stock is trading below all eight of its simple moving averages (SMAs), suggesting short-term bearish momentum and caution for traders relying on trend-following strategies.Looking at recent financial performance, Dilip Buildcon reported a revenue of Rs 2,308 crore in the December 2025 quarter, which represents a 12.4% decline year-on-year. However, the company’s net profit saw a substantial increase of 619.9% YoY, reaching Rs 830 crore, highlighting strong profitability improvements despite the dip in top-line revenue.
The company’s strong order wins and robust profitability in the last quarter could keep investor interest high, despite some short-term technical weakness in stock movement.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)
Business
Alcoa to pay "unprecedented" $55m enforceable undertaking
Alcoa Australia has made an unprecedented commitment to pay $55 million to support remediation of its mine sites as it strives for environmental approval for its South West operations.
Business
PSU banks and capex stocks leading market gains: Dipan Mehta
PSU Banks Gain Ground
“Plenty happening within Indian markets. PSU banks are doing very well for themselves. In fact, the Nifty Bank has outperformed in the last couple of days,” Mehta said in an interview to ET Now. He highlighted that PSU banks are closing a multi-decade gap with private sector banks in both valuations and performance.
“There was a time when private sector banks were gaining market share. Their growth rates were far superior, anywhere from double the growth rates of the industry, and the PSU banks’ NPA levels were well below. But now many PSU banks are giving private sector banks a run for their money, and investors recognize that. Balance sheet qualities are far better, they are back into growth mode, and that is reflected in the stock prices. Still, there is a lot of gap between the two segments within the banking industry,” he added.
Mehta believes the rerating of PSU banks is likely to continue, but cautions that sustaining current NIMs in an increasingly competitive banking sector will be challenging.
Capital Goods Sector on an Upward Trajectory
On capital goods companies like BHEL, Mehta emphasized the significance of execution. “Execution is the biggest risk in capital goods manufacturing companies, and sometimes execution is not only at their end but also at the customer end because sometimes the customer is not ready to let the project go ahead.”
Despite execution risks, Mehta sees strong potential due to robust order books and capex cycles. “We are in a nice upward cycle as far as capex is concerned, and across the board, capital goods, engineering, procurement, and construction companies are sitting on record order book positions, great earning visibility for the next two to three years, and reasonable valuations.” He also favors companies with overseas orders such as L&T and KEC International, which benefit from diversified revenue streams.
FMCG Leadership and Investment Caution
Mehta expressed caution on FMCG stocks like Dabur. “Frankly, Dabur has just gone off the grid, and so is the case with a lot of FMCG stocks. We just do not track them anymore because, for us, the benchmark to evaluate a company is at least it should grow more than the nominal GDP growth rate, which is 11% or thereabouts. If a business is not growing topline growth of more than 11%, it just kind of falls through our grid. I do not have any view on Dabur or FMCG for that matter, or rather I have a view, and that is negative. Investors who are there in this stock need to diversify out of FMCG.”Infrastructure and Engineering Opportunities
Mehta highlighted the enduring strength of companies with large and diversified order books. “You must have a large proportion of your portfolio in all these engineering, procurement, and construction companies, and the best bet still remains L&T. It is hitting an all-time high, and as I said earlier, we prefer companies which have a diversified order base. L&T has almost 40-50% revenues on order books from outside India, and those order books are at reasonable margins. Certain projects within India can only be executed by L&T, putting them in a different league altogether.”
Other firms of interest include VA Tech Wabag, focused on water projects, as well as various power equipment companies covering solar, wind, and electric distribution equipment.
Wires and Cable Sector
On the wires and cable space, Mehta noted strong quarterly performance despite rising copper prices. “The numbers coming from the cable industry certainly seem to surprise us quarter after quarter. Despite increases in copper prices, they have been able to pass on the price increases and improve their margins. A lot of these companies have built solid brands, which is difficult for new entrants to replicate. The industry is doing well because of investment in renewable energy, which requires more transmission and copper cables, and also due to industrialization and data centres, all of which improve demand for cables.”
However, he cautioned on valuations. “I would remain invested, only reason it is not a buy for us is because the valuations are very rich. They are trading anywhere from 40 to 60 times, which is expensive considering it is largely a B2B business and there is no real product differentiation over there.”
Business
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) Presents at Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference 2026 – Slideshow
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Business
The Timeless Lifestyle Icon Still Thriving at 84
At 84, Martha Stewart remains one of America’s most influential lifestyle authorities, blending timeless domestic expertise with modern ventures in gardening, skincare and media. From her early days as a stockbroker to her current role as Chief Gardening Officer for Scotts Miracle-Gro and her upcoming coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Stewart continues to captivate audiences with her perfectionist approach to living well.

Here are 10 key things to know about the entrepreneur, author and television personality whose brand has shaped generations of home cooks, gardeners and entertainers.
- Born to Build a Legacy Martha Helen Kostyra was born Aug. 3, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey, the second of six children in a Polish-American family. Raised in Nutley, New Jersey, she learned cooking, sewing, canning and gardening from her mother and father, skills that became the foundation of her empire. A straight-A student, she earned a partial scholarship to Barnard College, where she studied history and architectural history while modeling to cover expenses.
- From Wall Street to Homemaking After graduating, Stewart worked as a stockbroker on Wall Street, gaining sharp business acumen. In the 1970s, she shifted focus, launching a catering business in Westport, Connecticut, that emphasized fresh, elegant entertaining. Her first book, “Entertaining,” published in 1982, became a bestseller and launched her media career.
- America’s First Self-Made Female Billionaire Stewart built Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia into a powerhouse, encompassing magazines, television shows, books, merchandise and licensing deals. She became the first self-made female billionaire in the United States, though her net worth fluctuated after legal challenges. Her brand remains synonymous with aspirational domesticity.
- A Landmark Legal Battle and Comeback In 2004, Stewart served five months in federal prison following a conviction for obstruction of justice and lying to investigators in an insider trading case involving ImClone stock. She never wavered publicly, emerging stronger with new ventures and maintaining her audience’s loyalty through resilience and transparency.
- Enduring Media Presence Stewart hosted “Martha Stewart Living” and other programs, earning multiple Daytime Emmy Awards. She has authored dozens of bestselling books on cooking, crafts and holidays. Today, she remains active on social media, sharing glimpses of her daily life, from farm animals to travel, with millions of followers.
- Gardening as Lifelong Passion and New Role A dedicated gardener, Stewart tends extensive gardens at her Bedford, New York, estate and elsewhere. In 2025, Scotts Miracle-Gro named her Chief Gardening Officer. In a February 2026 interview with People, she revealed prizing dendrobium orchids more than 50 years old, calling gardening her ultimate self-care ritual. She recently announced plans for “Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook.”
- Skincare Venture and Ageless Appearance In recent years, Stewart launched Elm Biosciences, a science-backed skincare line with dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali. She frequently addresses rumors about her youthful look, emphasizing routines of fitness, diet and skincare. In February 2026 interviews, she detailed getting only 3-4 hours of sleep nightly yet maintaining energy through green juices, exercise and disciplined habits.
- Travel and Adventure at 84 Stewart embraces a “maximalist” travel style, recently sharing on Instagram her packing hack: clothes on hangers in plastic bags to prevent wrinkles during trips to Milan. Ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she serves as a special correspondent for NBC alongside Snoop Dogg, she joked about seeking an “Italian prince” while covering figure skating and other events.
- Advocacy and Personal Views Stewart has spoken on issues including immigration, expressing concern during Super Bowl weekend interviews in February 2026. An animal lover with horses, dogs and other pets, she shares winter enrichment activities for her stable animals on her blog. She also promotes philanthropy through the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai.
- Unstoppable at Every Age Defying expectations, Stewart appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at 81 in 2023. In 2026, she continues innovating — from hosting events for her skincare line to offering hosting tips at Pepsi-sponsored gatherings. Her Instagram and blog posts celebrate everything from Valentine’s Day crafts to silver polishing, proving her influence endures.
As Stewart prepares for more Olympic coverage and seasonal projects, her blend of tradition and reinvention keeps her relevant in an ever-changing world.
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