Stock Markets ^{As of 9/12 5:00 PM CST}

Top News

Mortgage rates fall to lowest level since February 2023 ahead of Fed rate decision

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has fallen to 6.2%, down from 6.35% last week and 7.18% a year ago, marking its lowest point since February 2023. Similarly, the rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage has decreased to 5.27%. Despite the slight drop in rates, potential homebuyers remain cautious due to high home prices and limited supply, leading to a slowdown in pending home sales and mortgage applications. With the Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates soon, some buyers are holding off in hopes that mortgage rates will drop further, potentially offering more savings.

Dow Jones Today: Stock Rally Continues as S&P 500, Nasdaq Close Higher for 4th Straight Day

Stocks rallied on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posting their fourth straight day of gains, recovering from last week's selloff. Tech stocks, including Nvidia and Apple, led the gains, while Warner Bros. Discovery surged 10% after renewing a distribution deal with Charter Communications. Moderna saw the largest decline in the S&P 500, falling 12% due to plans to cut its research and development pipeline. Economic data on jobless claims and inflation came in mostly as expected, with investors focused on the Federal Reserve's upcoming decision on potential interest rate cuts.

OpenAI unveils o1, a model that can fact-check itself

OpenAI has introduced its latest generative AI model, officially named OpenAI o1, under the code name Strawberry. The o1 family includes two models: o1-preview and o1-mini, the latter optimized for code generation. Access to o1 is currently available for ChatGPT Plus or Team subscribers, with enterprise and educational users set to gain access next week. While o1 lacks some advanced features like web browsing and file analysis for now, and image-analysis capabilities are disabled for further testing, usage is capped at 30 messages for o1-preview and 50 for o1-mini per week.

Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris, Calling Out Donald Trump's AI Deepfake Post

Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president after AI-generated deepfake images falsely implied she supported Donald Trump. The endorsement followed Swift's concerns about the dangers of AI misinformation, which Trump amplified by reposting deepfake images of Swift and her fans on Truth Social. In response, Swift shared a voter registration link via Instagram, leading to over 400,000 clicks to Vote.gov in 24 hours, contributing significantly to a surge in voter registration interest. This marked Swift's first clear stance in the 2024 presidential race.

Gas Leak From Chemical Factory Spreads Across Ambarnath City In Maharashtra

A gas leak from a chemical factory in Maharashtra's Ambarnath has caused widespread panic as fumes spread across the entire city, affecting visibility and causing irritation to residents' eyes and throats. The situation has drawn comparisons to the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster. Videos from the scene show streets engulfed in a smoky haze, with people covering their noses and mouths. The gas has reportedly reached railway tracks, complicating potential evacuation efforts for residents.

Family Dies While Shooting Reels on Railway Track

In a tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh, a family of three lost their lives while attempting to shoot social media reels near a railway track. Mohammad Ahmed, 26, Nazrin, 24, and their three-year-old son Abdullah were recording videos for Instagram when they were struck by an oncoming train. The accident occurred near Kyoti in Lakhimpur Khiri district, where they had gone to attend a family function. Despite being on the tracks, the family did not notice the fast-approaching train. Police confirmed they found a cellphone at the scene and have begun an inquiry into the incident.

Movie News

‘I Have Had Many Relationships And I Am A Serial Dater’

Actress Regina Cassandra, once active in Telugu cinema, has been less visible in recent years, with only a few projects like Evaru, Thalaivi, Saakini Daakini, and a special song in Acharya over the last five years. As she promotes her upcoming film Utsavam, Regina opened up about her personal life in interviews. She candidly shared that she has been in many relationships and considers herself a "serial dater." Regina described herself as a hyper-independent woman who doesn't conform to others' expectations, even surprising her ex-boyfriend's parents with her no-filter attitude. She also addressed her bond with actor Sandeep Kishan, likening their dynamic to "Tom and Jerry," affirming they are close friends.

Actor's Middle Finger Gesture Sparks Social Media Outrage

Actor Darshan, who is currently in Ballari prison, drew attention on social media after a viral video allegedly showed him making an obscene gesture, flashing his middle finger while walking from his cell. The video was widely shared by media outlets and sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting Darshan and others criticizing his behavior. Darshan’s wife Vijayalakshmi, brother Dinakar, and two lawyers visited him for a 30-minute meeting, during which dry fruits and bakery items were handed to him. Darshan, in judicial custody for over two months, faces charges related to the murder of Renukaswami, and was transferred to Ballari prison following controversies over leaked photos and videos from his earlier prison stay in Bengaluru.

Recently, Jiiva had made headlines for his remarks on the Hema Committee Report regarding sexual harassment in the Tamil film industry. At a public event, Jiiva denied that such issues exist in Kollywood, emphasizing that his focus was on maintaining a positive atmosphere in the industry.

Ravi Teja’s Mr. Bachchan is now available for streaming on Netflix

Ravi Teja and director Harish Shankar have teamed up again for the film Mr. Bachchan, which was released on Independence Day and is now streaming on Netflix. The movie, a Telugu adaptation of the Hindi hit Raid, struggled to draw in audiences during its theatrical run. However, with its release on OTT platforms in multiple languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, it remains to be seen how home viewers will react. The film features Bhagyashri Borse as the female lead and includes performances by Jagapathi Babu, Tanikella Bharani, and others, with music by Mickey J Meyer.

Theatre Releases

Source: Filmibeat