A naukri.com initiative
Strategy News
Forbes
1M
176
Image Credit: Forbes
Current Mortgage Refinance Rates: March 5, 2025 – Rates Decrease
- Current mortgage refinance rates for 30-year fixed loans decreased to 6.6%, with rates at 5.56% for 15-year loans and 6.33% for 20-year loans.
- The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage refinance is now at 6.6%, with borrowers paying $639 monthly for a $100,000 loan, accumulating around $129,870 in total interest.
- For a 20-year fixed refinance, the average interest rate is 6.33%, leading to $76,530 in total interest over the loan term.
- The APR for a 20-year fixed mortgage is 6.37%, and for a 15-year fixed mortgage, it stands at 5.61%.
- Refinance rates vary by loan program, with government-backed programs like FHA and VA offering potentially lower rates than conventional or jumbo loans.
- Refinancing can be beneficial for lowering interest rates, paying down the mortgage sooner, accessing equity, or eliminating PMI, but closing costs should be considered.
- It's important to calculate the break-even point for refinancing to determine if savings from a new mortgage will surpass closing costs over time.
- Maintaining a strong credit score, keeping debt levels in check, and monitoring fluctuating mortgage rates are key steps to securing a good refinance rate.
- Consider factors like home appraisal fees, closing costs, loan term options, and payment reduction when deciding on a mortgage refinance.
- Evaluating whether to refinance based on your financial goals and the overall cost-saving potential in the long run is crucial for making an informed decision.
Read Full Article
10 Likes
Forbes
1M
40
Image Credit: Forbes
Current HELOC & Home Equity Loan Rates: March 5, 2025
- Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap into the value of their homes.
- A home equity loan is a fixed-rate, lump-sum loan that allows homeowners to borrow up to 85% of their home’s value and pay that amount back in monthly installments.
- A home equity line of credit is a variable-rate second mortgage that draws on your home’s value as a revolving line of credit.
- Your home equity is the appraised value of your home minus your remaining mortgage balance, usually expressed as a percentage.
Read Full Article
2 Likes
Forbes
1M
271
Image Credit: Forbes
CD Rates Today: March 5, 2025 – Take Home Up To 5.06%
- The best CD rates today reach up to 5.06%, varying based on certificate term lengths.
- Certificates of deposit (CDs) offer fixed interest rates and maturity periods, typically yielding better returns than high-yield savings accounts.
- CD holders face withdrawal fees and penalties, with longer terms resulting in harsher penalties for early withdrawals.
- Current top CD rates include 4.72% for three-month CDs and 4.94% for six-month CDs.
- For one-year CDs, the highest rate is 5.02%, while two-year CDs offer rates as high as 4.52%.
- Three-year CDs have a top rate of 4.65%, and five-year CDs offer rates up to 4.43%.
- Jumbo CDs require higher minimum deposits, with rates reaching 4.94% for a 6-month term.
- Traditional banks usually offer lower CD rates compared to online banks.
- CDs require a lump-sum deposit, have minimum deposit requirements, and may impose early withdrawal penalties.
- CDs serve as a safe investment option with fixed returns, protected by the FDIC or NCUA up to $250,000.
Read Full Article
16 Likes
Forbes
1M
357
Image Credit: Forbes
Money Market Interest Rates Today: March 5, 2025 – Earn Up To 4.89%
- The highest money market rate today is 4.89%, compared to a national average of 0.54%.
- Money market accounts (MMAs) are interest-bearing deposit accounts offered by banks or credit unions.
- MMAs are insured up to $250,000 per depositor by the FDIC at banks, or the NCUA at credit unions.
- MMAs offer higher interest rates but often require higher minimum deposits and balances.
Read Full Article
21 Likes
Rockpapershotgun
1M
86
Image Credit: Rockpapershotgun
In the midst of Civilization 7 UI woes, Firaxis hire prolific modder
- Firaxis has hired modder Sukritact as a tech artist for Civilization VII.
- Sukritact is known for creating popular Civilization VI mods.
- The recent 'Sukritact's Simple UI Adjustments' mod has received positive feedback from Civ 7 players.
- Firaxis plans to release a patch on March 25th to address UI issues and add new content.
Read Full Article
5 Likes
HRKatha
1M
54
Image Credit: HRKatha
ByteDance launches share buyback for US employees
- Chinese company ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has introduced a share buyback programme for its US-based employees.
- The buyback program offers $189.90 per share, reflecting ByteDance’s rising valuation and a strong recovery from its previous valuation decline.
- ByteDance is actively engaging with US authorities to negotiate a resolution that would allow TikTok to continue operations amidst regulatory pressure.
- In addition to the share buyback, ByteDance plans major investments in artificial intelligence, with $12 billion allocated for AI infrastructure and $6.8 billion for enhancing AI model-training capabilities.
Read Full Article
3 Likes
HRKatha
1M
905
Image Credit: HRKatha
Microchip Technology announces major job cuts
- Microchip Technology is set to reduce its workforce by 2,000 employees, approximately nine percent of its total staff.
- The job cuts aim to address weakening demand from the automotive sector.
- The company expects costs of $30-40 million for expenses related to the layoffs, which will be completed by the end of the June quarter.
- In addition to the job cuts, Microchip Technology is accelerating the shutdown of its chip-manufacturing facilities in Arizona.
Read Full Article
19 Likes
HRKatha
1M
262
Image Credit: HRKatha
HRKatha Xoxoday Roundtable: How artificial intelligence is quietly transforming the workplace without replacing human talent
- Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the workplace in corporate India, quietly transforming work dynamics with the help of algorithms and subtle shifts.
- A roundtable discussion involving distinguished HR leaders highlighted the significant impact of AI on various aspects of work.
- The conversation indicated a shift towards 'Authentic AI,' systems operating with minimal human intervention for continuous improvement.
- AI adoption stories shared by leaders showcased improved efficiency, bias reduction in hiring, and personalized coaching for employees.
- The panel emphasized that AI is an enabler, not a replacement, and highlighted AI's role in recruitment, operational efficiency, and skill development.
- AI interventions in enhancing salesforce optimization, integration into talent marketplaces, and real-time sentiment analysis were discussed.
- The discussion emphasized the need for upskilling to adapt to AI-driven changes and the importance of human oversight in critical decision-making processes.
- AI is reshaping the workplace, emphasizing the importance of proactively learning and adapting to thrive in a tech-driven future.
- Organizations were advised to involve employees in AI transformations and prioritize upskilling to create a future-ready workforce.
- The roundtable concluded that AI complements human expertise, acting as a catalyst for innovation rather than a replacement for human skills.
Read Full Article
15 Likes
HRKatha
1M
62
Image Credit: HRKatha
+2% growth in fresher hiring in non-IT sectors: Report
- There has been a +2 per cent growth in fresher hiring, driven by hospitality, design, retail and other non-IT sectors.
- Hospitality and telecom sectors have seen maximum hiring of freshers with +23 per cent and +11 per cent growth respectively.
- Odisa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh topped the list in terms of hiring growth in February 2025.
- Kochi and Coimbatore witnessed growth of +21 per cent and +11 per cent in fresher hiring, respectively.
Read Full Article
3 Likes
HRKatha
1M
1.4k
Image Credit: HRKatha
“Submit weekly report of accomplishments”: Ola CEO to staff
- Ola CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, has asked his employees to submit a weekly report of accomplishments.
- Employees are required to provide three to five bullet points outlining their achievements each week.
- The updates are to be sent directly to Aggarwal and the respective managers, with the subject line 'Weekly updates'.
- This initiative aims to ensure discipline and productivity, but has drawn comparisons to a similar mandate issued by Elon Musk.
Read Full Article
21 Likes
HRKatha
1M
72
Image Credit: HRKatha
Nationwide bank strike on 24 & 25 March 2025?
- Banks may be closed for four consecutive days, including the weekend, if the planned nationwide strike by bank employees belonging to nine unions takes place on 24th and 25th March, 2025.
- Employees are seeking a five-day workweek and addressing the shortage of staff, which they feel has not been attended by the government.
- The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) plans to protest for regularisation of temporary employees and withdrawal of performance reviews and performance-linked incentives (PLI) directives.
- Participating employees in the strike may face a pay cut for the two-day period.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
HRKatha
1M
741
Image Credit: HRKatha
Firstsource’s AI Innovation Lab to create 400 jobs by 2030 in Melbourne
- Firstsource Solutions launches its Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) headquarters and AI Innovation Lab in Melbourne, Victoria.
- The AI Innovation Lab aims to drive meaningful research and offer real-world AI applications for enterprises worldwide.
- The lab will create over 400 new opportunities in the region in the next five years, promoting AI-driven growth.
- This expansion aligns with the Victorian government's focus on digital technology as a key driver for economic and job growth.
Read Full Article
7 Likes
Insider
1M
1.4k
Image Credit: Insider
How software companies are developing AI agents and preparing their employees for the next wave of generative AI
- Software companies are increasingly developing AI agents to automate tasks in the workplace.
- ServiceNow, SAP, Salesforce, and Intuit are among the leaders in integrating these agents to handle customer support, invoice processing, and more. AI agents are designed to perform tasks autonomously but still involve human oversight.
- ServiceNow's AI agents, for example, have saved 400,000 labor hours annually. The technology is still evolving, with companies focusing on improving collaboration between AI agents and workers. As businesses tailor AI solutions to specific departments, the technology aims to increase efficiency, productivity, and reduce mundane tasks while enhancing human roles.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
Pcgamer
1M
425
Image Credit: Pcgamer
The unofficial Civilization 7 manual: everything Civ 7 doesn't tell you about its rules and systems
- The unofficial Civilization 7 manual sheds light on various unexplained rules and systems not detailed in the game.
- Changes in units, settlements, and resources happen at the end of ages, with specific rules on what is kept or lost.
- Settlement limits, buildings, unit movements, commanders, and wonders are governed by unique mechanics in each age transition.
- Civilian units, unique abilities, and happiness mechanics undergo changes with each age shift.
- Naval units' movements, districts, war support mechanics, and conquest strategies have specific guidelines.
- Player decisions on settlements, religions, unit movements, and resource management significantly impact gameplay outcomes.
- Leaders' attributes, ideologies, espionage actions, trade mechanics, and town functionalities influence empire development.
- The manual also covers exploration, artefact research, PC-specific mechanics, and ways to optimize gameplay strategies.
- Understanding these hidden mechanics can enhance players' strategies and gameplay experiences in Civilization 7.
Read Full Article
25 Likes
Pcgamer
1M
0
Image Credit: Pcgamer
Civilization 7's 'first major update' tweaks balance and fixes some UI issues, but don't expect an overhaul
- The 'first major update' for Civilization 7 has been released, aligning the PC and console versions and enabling crossplay.
- The 1.1.0 update brings balance tweaks to the Geographic Society legacy path and improves AI pursuit of a cultural victory.
- While addressing other AI and balance tweaks, bug fixes, and UI problems, the update is not a drastic overhaul but the beginning of multiple patches to come.
- The update also includes the release of the first part of the paid DLC package and adds the Bermuda Triangle as a new natural wonder.
Read Full Article
Like
For uninterrupted reading, download the app