Mortgage rates moved slightly higher this week but have remained relatively steady in recent weeks, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said on Thursday.

Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average interest rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.49%, up from last week’s reading of 6.43%.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.72% a year ago.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY TO IMPROVE AS HOME PRICE GROWTH COOLS, REALTOR.COM FORECASTS

Mortgage rates ticked slightly higher over the last week, Freddie Mac reported. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.49% this week,” said Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater.

“Mortgage rates have not changed much recently, but economic growth and housing affordability continue to improve for homebuyers as they shop for homes in today’s market,” Khater added.

The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage also moved slightly higher to 5.82%. That’s an increase from 5.79% last week, though it remains below the average rate of 5.86% from a year ago.

RECORD DECLINE IN HOME ASKING PRICES OFFERS BUYERS AN AFFORDABILITY BOOST

Mortgage rates are affected by several factors, including the Federal Reserve and geopolitics. Although mortgage rates aren’t directly affected by the Fed’s interest rate decisions, they closely track the 10-year Treasury yield. The 10-year yield hovered around 4.5% as of Thursday afternoon.

The latest mortgage data comes as conditions in the housing market have improved somewhat for buyers, many of whom have been on the sidelines as tight inventory has supported higher home prices and mortgage rates have held relatively steady.

Realtor.com this week released a midyear update to its 2026 housing market forecast that estimates home price growth will slow to 1.2% this year, a rate that’s slower than the original forecast for the year and is below the current pace of inflation. That means home prices would be effectively declining in real, inflation-adjusted terms.

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ADD NEARLY $132K TO COST OF NEW HOME, BUILDERS SAY

Would-be homebuyers have seen some improvements in affordability this year. (Getty Images)

“Against a backdrop of both familiar and new challenges, the economy has proved resilient. As a result, the first half of 2026 delivered stability more than momentum in the housing market,” said Realtor.com senior economist Danielle Hale.

“The housing market is inching forward as sellers reset expectations, price growth cools, and buyers gain more negotiating power,” Hale said. “Looking ahead, we expect momentum to build through the second half of the year as more sidelined buyers and sellers find terms that will work for both sides.”

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Mortgage rates are projected to hold steady at 6.3%, the same level they were at when 2025 ended, as a resurgence of inflation caused by the Iran war undercut the prospects of interest cuts in the first of the year that could’ve helped mortgage rates decline.

More than 2.5 million bottles of a prescription steroid eye medication are being recalled nationwide after the Food and Drug Administration classified the action as a Class II recall over concerns about foreign material found in the product.

Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. voluntarily recalled 2,530,182 bottles of prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension USP, 1%, after the presence of a foreign substance was identified in certain lots, according to an FDA enforcement report.

The affected prescription eye drops were manufactured by Lupin Limited in Pithampur, India, and distributed nationwide. The recall includes 5 mL, 10 mL and 15 mL bottles sold under National Drug Codes 70748-332-02, 70748-332-03 and 70748-332-04.

KIA ISSUES NEW RECALL OF 460,000 VEHICLES AFTER PREVIOUS FIX TO FIRE RISK FAILED

Three generic eye drop bottles are shown in this illustration. The FDA classified a nationwide recall of more than 2.5 million bottles of prescription steroid eye drops as a Class II recall. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

The FDA classified the recall as a Class II recall on June 30. According to the agency, a Class II recall is issued when use of a product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or when the probability of serious adverse health consequences is considered remote. Class I recalls involve products that could cause serious injury or death, while Class III recalls involve products that are unlikely to cause adverse health consequences.

The recall covers dozens of lot numbers with expiration dates beginning in July 2026 and extending beyond October 2026. According to the FDA, the products were distributed nationwide. Consumers and healthcare providers can compare affected lot numbers with the FDA’s published enforcement report to determine whether their medication is included in the recall.

Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension is a prescription corticosteroid eye drop used to treat inflammation after eye surgery, eye injuries and certain inflammatory eye conditions.

MORE THAN 1.7M GRILL BRUSHES RECALLED OVER BRISTLE HAZARD, RISK OF ‘SERIOUS INTERNAL INJURIES’

A man administers eye drops in this illustration. Lupin Pharmaceuticals has recalled more than 2.5 million bottles of prescription steroid eye drops after foreign material was found in certain lots. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Patients who believe they have an affected bottle should contact a pharmacist or healthcare provider to determine whether the medication is included in the recall and discuss replacement medication or other treatment options. Patients should not stop using a prescribed medication without consulting a healthcare provider.

A sign for the Food And Drug Administration outside the headquarters on July 20, 2020, in White Oak, Md. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images / Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

Lupin initiated the recall June 4 and notified customers by letter. The FDA said no press release has been issued for the recall, which remains ongoing.

FOX Business has reached out to Lupin for additional information, including the nature of the foreign material found in the recalled products, whether any adverse events have been reported and what guidance the company is providing to patients. The company had not responded by publication time.

This is the forum for daily political discussion on Seeking Alpha. A new version is published every market day.

Please don’t leave political comments on other articles or posts on the site.

The comments below are not regulated with the same rigor as the rest of the site, and this is an ‘enter at your own risk’ area as discussion can get very heated. If you can’t stand the heat… you know what they say…

More on Today’s Markets:

Moderation Guidelines:

We remove comments under the following categories:

• Personal attacks on another user account
• Anti-Vaxxer or covid related misinformation
• Stereotyping, prejudiced or racist language about individuals or the topic under discussion.
• Inciting violence messages, encouraging hate groups and political violence.

Regardless of which side of the political divide you find yourself, please be courteous and don’t direct abuse at other users.

For any issue with regards to comments please email us at : moderation@seekingalpha.com.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

With the MLB trade deadline set for August 3 at 6 p.m. Eastern time, the sport’s rumor mill has shifted into high gear as contending teams look to add reinforcements and struggling clubs weigh how aggressively to sell off veteran talent. Here is a roundup of five of the most notable trade storylines currently circulating around the league.

1. Tarik Skubal remains the deadline’s biggest domino

Detroit Tigers ace and reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal continues to headline trade speculation as free agency looms for the left-hander. Skubal reminded the league of his ceiling with a dominant recent start against the New York Yankees, striking out nine batters without a walk while allowing just two runs, one earned, over six innings, his best outing since undergoing left elbow surgery in May. According to FanSided, the Los Angeles Dodgers are considered a logical fit for Skubal, though the Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers have also been mentioned as teams that could pursue a package to keep him away from Los Angeles. Skubal isn’t Detroit’s only starter drawing interest, as right-hander Casey Mize, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, has also generated buzz after striking out 10 Yankees over seven scoreless, one-hit innings in a recent outing.

2. Mets appear headed toward a broader sell-off

The New York Mets, sitting 15 games under .500 and ranked among the five worst teams in baseball over the past calendar year, have already made one notable move this summer, trading left-hander David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs for first base prospect Cole Mathis. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Mets said that deal did not represent the start of a broader sell-off, but the team has gone just 2-5 since completing the trade, and with limited high-end trade chips remaining on the roster, further moves before the deadline appear increasingly likely. Owner Steve Cohen has said he has no plans to overhaul the front office despite the disappointing season, which already resulted in a managerial change earlier this year.

3. Giants signal Logan Webb isn’t going anywhere, but others could move

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey firmly shut down speculation about trading ace Logan Webb, giving a direct “no” when asked about the possibility, according to the San Francisco Standard. Webb is signed affordably through 2028. Despite that declaration, Posey said the team will “leave all options on the table” at the deadline for other players. The Athletic has reported that the Giants, sitting well out of playoff position at 32-46 with a run differential of negative 51, fifth-worst in the sport, are open to moving their other highest-paid players, including Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee. Chapman and Devers have both improved considerably in recent weeks, while Lee is having a strong overall season, complicating the calculus for a team that FanGraphs currently projects to have just a 1.9 percent chance of reaching the playoffs.

4. Twins deny any plans to trade Byron Buxton

Speculation surrounding Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton has circulated throughout the early trade season, but both the team and the player have pushed back firmly against the rumors. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters, including The Athletic, “We have no plans to trade Byron Buxton.” Buxton addressed the speculation himself as well, saying, “I ain’t said nothing about leaving, nor will I.” Despite those denials, Buxton’s name is expected to remain part of the broader trade conversation given his performance and contract situation as the deadline approaches.

5. Angels appear likely to stay buyers rather than sell

The Los Angeles Angels have continued to signal they do not intend to rebuild at this year’s deadline, despite external speculation connecting several of their players to potential trades. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that the team has the resources to remain competitive, saying, “No. I don’t think in this market you need to do that. This team has resources. Now it’s just making sure we deploy them correctly.” Left-hander Reid Detmers, who turned 27 on July 8 and is controllable through 2028, has been viewed as a significant trade asset given his recent dominant stretch, a 2.42 ERA with 51 strikeouts over his past seven starts. Right-hander José Soriano and outfielder Jo Adell have also drawn trade interest, though earlier reporting from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale indicated that Angels owner Arte Moreno did not want to trade any of the three players, a stance that predates the club’s recent front-office change and appears consistent with Mozeliak’s more recent comments about the team’s direction.

Beyond these five storylines, several other situations remain in motion around the league. The Tampa Bay Rays have emerged as one of the summer’s biggest surprises, entering July atop the American League East with the sport’s longest active winning streak at five games following a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pittsburgh Pirates, meanwhile, face mounting pressure to turn their season around quickly or risk an uncomfortable set of deadline conversations about their long-term direction. Reliever Aroldis Chapman has emerged as one of the most likely Boston Red Sox players to be moved, given the demand for bullpen help across the league, while the Baltimore Orioles could look to sell low on left-hander Trevor Rogers’ expiring contract as his season winds down.

With the amateur draft scheduled for July 11 and 12 expected to shift front-office attention back toward the trade market immediately afterward, league executives anticipate that the pace of significant trades will accelerate considerably in the weeks following the draft, as contenders finalize their targets and rebuilding clubs determine which veterans they are willing to move before the August 3 deadline arrives.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ENVX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I own a Registered Investment Advisor, however, publish separately for self-directed investors. Please read all the related disclaimers and terms at BluemoundAM.com

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

More than 2.5 million bottles of a widely used prescription eye drop medication have been recalled nationwide after the manufacturer identified the potential presence of a foreign substance in the product, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall affects Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension, USP, 1%, manufactured by Lupin Limited at a facility in Pithampur, India, and distributed in the United States by Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. According to the FDA’s enforcement report, the recall covers a total of 2,530,182 bottles across three package sizes: 5-milliliter bottles with NDC 70748-332-02, 10-milliliter bottles with NDC 70748-332-03, and 15-milliliter bottles with NDC 70748-332-04. The recall, designated D-0655-2026, spans dozens of individual lot numbers with expiration dates ranging from July 2026 through March 2028.

Prednisolone acetate is a corticosteroid eye drop commonly prescribed to manage inflammation, redness, itching and swelling associated with eye infections and other inflammatory conditions. According to a description of the medication from the Mayo Clinic, prednisolone is a steroid medicine used to relieve symptoms caused by eye infections and related conditions, and it is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

Lupin Pharmaceuticals initiated the voluntary recall on June 4, 2026, though the FDA did not formally classify the action as a Class II recall until June 30. Under the FDA’s classification system, a Class II recall indicates that use of or exposure to the affected product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, a designation less severe than a Class I recall, which involves products that could cause serious harm or death, but more serious than a Class III recall, which applies to products unlikely to cause any adverse health consequences.

The recall notice does not specify additional details about the nature of the foreign substance identified in the affected bottles, and the FDA’s enforcement report had not published further specifics as of the most recent update. Lupin Limited received FDA approval for its prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension in August 2024, and the company maintains a broad portfolio of generic pharmaceutical products, including several other ophthalmic medications. According to Optometry Advisor, the company’s other recent ophthalmic-related FDA approvals include a ranibizumab biosimilar marketed as Ranluspec, a generic version of the allergy eye drop Pataday, and a generic version of the glaucoma medication Alphagan P.

Patients currently using prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension are advised to check the specific National Drug Code, lot number and expiration date printed on their prescription bottle against the information listed in the FDA’s enforcement report to determine whether their medication is affected. Individuals who discover they have an affected bottle are encouraged to contact their prescribing ophthalmologist, optometrist, pharmacist or other healthcare provider for further guidance on how to proceed, rather than discontinuing use of the medication without professional advice, given that abruptly stopping certain steroid eye treatments can carry its own risks depending on the underlying condition being treated.

This recall comes on the heels of a separate, smaller recall affecting a different prednisolone-based eye medication. In late May, AbbVie Inc. issued a voluntary recall of its Pred Mild eye drops, a product manufactured in France, due to what the company described as failed stability specifications that could affect the drug’s effectiveness and shelf life over time. That recall, classified by the FDA as a Class III action given its lower health risk profile, affected a considerably smaller batch of 2,736 bottles across two lot numbers, both with an expiration date of August 2026.

The Lupin recall adds to a broader pattern of pharmaceutical recalls the FDA has processed in recent weeks across a range of prescription medications. According to MedShadow Foundation, other recent recalls have included the heart medication Corlanor, the parathyroid disorder treatment Sensipar, the antipsychotic medication aripiprazole, the antidepressant duloxetine, the attention-deficit medication Focalin XR, the anti-seizure drug lacosamide, and nicotine transdermal patches, among others. Most of those recalls, like the prednisolone acetate action, were classified as Class II recalls, with the notable exceptions of the nicotine patch and Pred Mild recalls, both of which received the less severe Class III classification.

Nexstar’s WPIX, which first reported on the recall, said it reached out to Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. for comment but did not receive an immediate response. As of this report, the company has not issued additional public statements detailing the specific nature of the foreign substance found in the affected bottles beyond what has been disclosed in the formal FDA recall notice.

Consumers concerned about whether their specific prescription is affected by the recall can check their bottle’s National Drug Code and lot number against the FDA’s publicly available enforcement report database. The agency maintains detailed listings of all active drug recalls, including the specific lot numbers, expiration dates and distribution details associated with each action, allowing patients and pharmacists to verify whether a particular bottle falls within the scope of the recall.

Given the significant scale of the recall, spanning more than 2.5 million individual bottles distributed across the country, healthcare providers have generally recommended that patients using prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension take a proactive approach to checking their medication rather than waiting for direct notification, since recall communications do not always reach every individual patient promptly through standard pharmacy channels. Patients who are unsure whether their eye drops are affected, or who do not have easy access to the packaging information needed to verify the lot number, are encouraged to contact the pharmacy where the prescription was filled for assistance confirming whether their specific product falls within the recall’s scope.

As the recall continues to be processed through the pharmaceutical supply chain, the FDA is expected to continue monitoring the situation and may release additional details about the underlying cause of the contamination as more information becomes available from Lupin Pharmaceuticals and its manufacturing facility in India.

Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily, publicly addressed his contentious legal battle with actress Blake Lively for the first time in nearly two years, sharing an emotional Instagram video Wednesday in which they spoke about enduring what they described as significant pain and trauma while largely staying silent throughout the dispute.

“We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say, because Lord knows we have,” Justin Baldoni, 42, said at the outset of the roughly five-minute video. “But it just felt like every time we went to make a video like this, we wanted to speak, something was telling us not to. It just didn’t feel like the right time, and we were talking about it and feeling into it and praying about it.”

Emily Baldoni, 41, echoed her husband’s sentiment, indicating the couple felt the moment had finally arrived to speak publicly. “There is so much to say,” she said, adding that gratitude has played a central role in the family’s recovery. “We can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things, and so many people, and so many things that have happened to us,” Emily said. She was careful to note, however, that the gratitude did not erase the difficulty of the past two years. “That gratitude, it doesn’t negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years,” she said, adding that the family has had “a lot of trauma” to move through together.

The legal dispute between Baldoni and Lively began in December 2024, when Lively alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed her and orchestrated an online smear campaign against her during the filming and promotion of “It Ends With Us,” the 2024 film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel that Baldoni both directed and starred in alongside Lively. Baldoni denied the allegations and responded with a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, along with Sloane’s public relations firm, accusing them of defamation and breach of contract.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman later dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit in its entirety and separately threw out the majority of Lively’s claims against Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy. In May, the two sides reached a settlement resolving the remaining claims in the case shortly before the matter was set to proceed to trial. Some early reporting on that settlement indicated no money had changed hands between the parties. More recent court filings, however, indicate Liman has since ordered Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, to pay Lively’s legal fees connected to the litigation, an amount reported at approximately $8.04 million. According to Deadline, Baldoni’s side has until Monday, July 13, to either agree to that figure or contest it in court, and representatives for Baldoni had not responded to a request for comment on the filing as of Wednesday morning.

In the Instagram video, Baldoni did not directly name Lively, reference the film, or detail the specifics of the legal proceedings, instead focusing on the broader emotional toll the dispute has taken on his family. “There have been so many painful things that have been spoken to existence… over the last couple years,” Baldoni said. “And that created so much noise, and we didn’t want to add to the noise, so we just wanted to let the justice system run its course.”

Emily Baldoni struck a similar tone, suggesting the family has had to grapple with difficult questions throughout the ordeal. “We’ve had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like, ‘How could something like this even happen?’” she said, adding a reference to what she characterized as the framing of the dispute, “let alone disguised as a fight for women.” She went on to express confidence in the eventual outcome of the case, saying, “The truth and the facts have spoken for themselves, and here we are.”

Justin Baldoni described the process of moving forward as ongoing and non-linear. “We are healing,” he said. “And if you’ve ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn’t linear. It looks different every day. And we have had to rethink for ourselves what is real and what matters.” He also thanked the couple’s family, friends and broader community for their support throughout the legal battle, telling his roughly 4 million Instagram followers, “Thank you does not feel like enough. But we’re here because of so many of you and all of our friends and family.”

Emily, who shares two children with Baldoni, indicated that while there remains more the couple could say about the dispute, they intend to focus their energy elsewhere for now. “There’s so much more to say and that time will come,” she said. “But for now, we are going to focus on continuing the healing and hanging out with our kiddos and enjoying life.”

Neither Lively nor representatives for her and Reynolds had publicly responded to the Baldonis’ video as of Wednesday. The public dispute between the two “It Ends With Us” co-stars had remained largely dormant in recent months following the May settlement, though the more recent ruling on legal fees suggests some aspects of the litigation remain unresolved as the July 13 response deadline approaches.

Wednesday’s video marked the first time either Justin or Emily Baldoni had addressed the legal saga publicly since the dispute first became public in late 2024, a period during which the couple has largely avoided commenting on the case directly while it moved through the court system. With the response deadline on the legal fee ruling now just days away, further developments in the case are expected in the coming weeks, though it remains unclear whether either side plans additional public comment beyond Wednesday’s video as that process unfolds.