us-business

Thinking about buying a home, but not sure how to afford it? Welcome to the Down Payment Diaries, where real people spill about how they saved and splurged on their path to homeownership. If you’d like to submit your own Down Payment Diary, please fill out the form here. Today, a couple shares how they used their 401(k) to buy a second home in South Carolina where they plan to retire for $36,000 less than asking.  The basics Age: 61 Pronouns: She/her Household setup: Married with two kids (one still at home) Occupation: Tow company owner Household income: $400,000 What was your home experience when you were growing up? We both grew up in homes our parents owned. We got married while in high school and expecting a baby. We bought a house pretty early on and have been there 37 years.  Why did you start thinking about buying a second home? It happened by accident. I have two siblings living in Greer, South Carolina. We visited the area to help my brother look at houses. Along the way, we fell in love with the area. What were you looking for? My husband initially wanted to buy land, but we quickly realized it would be too expensive to build. That’s when we switched gears and started looking at homes. How many houses did you look at? Our Realtor®, Christine Bartlett, went to 30 houses for us. Any listing we sent her, she would go check out and video it for us. She would also send listings that she thought we’d like.  Did you have any non-negotiables? My husband wanted new construction. I wanted an old farm house with character. We both agreed that we didn’t want an HOA. We don’t like subdivisions where every home is the same and you can sit on your porch and reach out and touch your neighbor. Along the way, we also realized we wanted the primary bedroom on the ground floor, as we intend to age in place at this home. How did you find this one?  My brother looked at it first but didn’t want it. I saw it because of him, and it piqued my interest, so our Realtor showed it to us via Facetime.  How did you know this was the one? It was the best of both worlds—the home had all the “new” that my husband wanted but also the charm that I wanted—and love at first sight.  What renovations had the seller done? It’s more like, what didn’t he do? The floors, brickwork, and doors are original, but almost everything else is new. The house has a brand-new roof and a new porch. The kitchen is all new, and so are the bathrooms (including two he added). The home was built in 1910, so it didn’t have central air or an HVAC system, so he installed that. There’s a new water heater, and he put in new soffits with fans. There are also so many thoughtful touches throughout, including six outdoor outlets. What did you love about the renovation? It wasn’t a flip, although the seller bought with the intention to sell. It took a year and a half to renovate, working with a designer. Nothing, from the vanities to the lights, is from a big box store. Everything is unique, chosen by the designer. One of the bathrooms has a dresser repurposed as a vanity. The mirrors are custom made. Were there any downsides? The house is three blocks from a freight yard, and trains run by the house every hour. But the trains don’t bother me. For 40 years, we’ve run a towing business. My phone rings at all hours of the night, and every call means I have to get up and go to work.  What were the negotiations like? The home had originally been listed at $400,000, but the day before our Realtor toured the home the seller dropped the price to $385,000. We offered $380,000, but since the home only appraised for $364,000 and there was no other competition, we got it for the appraisal price. Was the deal otherwise pretty straightforward? There was an issue with the land. We’d done our own research and saw that when the seller bought the home, it was on 0.86 acres. But then when he listed it, it was only 0.43 acre. We found out that the seller had the land surveyed and split into two properties. Our Realtor found he was trying to sell it separately for $45,000. Right across the street is the town community center. We speculated that the center wanted it for overflow parking. If that had been the case, we wouldn’t have been happy here. We didn’t want it unless we got the whole property. The land also had another home on it. The seller had gutted that structure down to the studs. It was nothing but an empty building. At first, I was telling him he had to take it away. My appraiser didn’t see any value in it. Thinking about it more, we decided to renovate it and rent it on Airbnb. Where did the down payment come from? We borrowed against our 401(k). It’s a four-year personal loan, and we pay it back to ourselves at a 9% interest rate—but we’re paying that interest to ourselves.  Is there any downside to this type of loan?  If you don’t make the payments, there’s a penalty. What’s your plan for the house? In about three to four years we’ll retire and live here full time. Until then we have given up all vacations—we are paying two mortgages, after all! We vacation at the house, visiting once or twice a month. When we’re not there, my family helps take care of the house. They live about 15 minutes away and bring in the mail and packages and mow the lawn. What’s your favorite thing about the house? My husband and I have been together since high school and have had a

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Editors’ Picks GBP/USD recovers toward 1.3500 ahead of US data GBP/USD is back in the green, having regained 1.3450 in the European session on Tuesday. The pair shrugs off a risk-off mood as markets digest US President Trump’s fresh attacks on the Fed’s independence, which keep the sentiment around the US Dollar undermined ahead of data.  Gold consolidates below two-week highs near $3,390, US data eyed Gold holds its latest uptick near two-week highs of $3,387. Concerns over the Fed’s independence linger after Trump fired Governor Cook. US Dollar attempts a tepid recovery, tracking US Treasury yields rebound but USD sellers will likely retain control ahead of US data.  Crypto market liquidations surge to $935M as Fartcoin, OKB, and CRV plunge The cryptocurrency market has incurred $935.44 million in liquidations over the last 24 hours, as Bitcoin drops below $110,000 and Ethereum slipped below $4,500 on Monday. This pullback extends the weakness from Sunday, resulting in a larger wipeout of retail leverage in the derivatives market.  AI boom or bubble? Three convictions for investors AI 2.0 = from “build it” to “prove it”: Big Tech’s AI investment is already in the hundreds of billions, but monetization remains modest. The cycle is shifting from spending on capacity to delivering productivity and revenue impact. Best Brokers for EUR/USD Trading SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market. Read More

Gold price edges lower in Monday’s early European session.  Fed rate cut hopes and rising Russia-Ukraine tensions could lift the Gold price.  Traders brace for the preliminary reading of the US Q2 GDP report later on Thursday.   The Gold price (XAU/USD) drifts lower to around $3,350 during the early European session on Monday, pressured by a stronger US Dollar (USD). Nonetheless, rising optimism of a September rate cut following comments by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium might cap the downside for the yellow metal.  The Fed’s Powell has opened the door to a rate reduction in the September meeting, but that position could become complicated if inflation pressures continue to rise. Powell added that the US economy is facing a “challenging situation,” with inflation risks now tilted to the upside and employment risks to the downside. Dovish remarks from Powell could provide some support to the precious metal, as lower interest rates could reduce the opportunity cost of holding Gold.  Additionally, the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine might contribute to gold’s upside. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country would continue to fight for its freedom “while its calls for peace are not heard,” in a defiant address to the nation on its independence day, per BBC. His comments came after Moscow said Ukraine had attacked Russian power and energy facilities overnight, blaming drone attacks for a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region. Gold traders will keep an eye on the preliminary reading of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter (Q2), which will be released later on Thursday. The US economy is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.0% in Q2. In case of a stronger-than-expected outcome, this could boost the Greenback and weigh on the USD-denominated commodity price. Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price loses momentum amid firmer US Dollar St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said on Friday he will need more data before deciding to support a rate cut at the September meeting, warning inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target.  Boston Fed President Susan Collins said that the overall economic fundamentals in the US are relatively solid. Nonetheless, she added that the central bank doesn’t rule out a larger and more persistent impact of tariffs on inflation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is ready to meet” with Zelenskyy when the agenda is ready for a summit. But he said that no meeting is currently planned. Traders are now pricing in nearly an 85% possibility of a 25 basis points (bps) rate cut next month, up from 75% before the speech, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Physical gold demand in key Asian hubs remained subdued last week as price volatility kept buyers at bay, while jewelers in India resumed buying ahead of a key festival season. Gold retains a bullish tone in the longer term The Gold price trades in negative territory on the day. Technically, the precious metal keeps the bullish vibe on the daily chart, with the price holding above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). However, in the near term, further consolidation cannot be ruled out as the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering around the midline. This suggests the neutral momentum in the near term.  The key resistance level for yellow metal emerges in the $3,400-3,410 zone, representing the psychological level, the upper boundary of the Bollinger Band, and the high of August 8. Sustained trading above this level could take XAU/USD back toward $3,439, the high of July 23. The next hurdle is seen at $3,500, the round figure, and the high of April 22.  In the bearish event, the initial support level for the yellow metal is located at $3,315, the low of August 19. A break below the mentioned level might even drag the gold price lower to $3,285, the lower limit of the Bollinger Band. The next contention level to watch is $3,268, the 100-day EMA. Interest rates FAQs Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%. If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation. Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank. If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold. The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure. Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should

EUR/USD clings to gains above 1.1700 at the start of the week. Fed’s Powell turns dovish on the interest rate outlook. This week, investors await inflation data from the US and major economies of the Eurozone. The EUR/USD pair holds onto Friday’s gains slightly above 1.1700 during the early European trading session on Monday. The major currency pair demonstrates strength as the US Dollar (USD) has come under pressure, following comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell that the United States (US) central bank has opened the door for interest rate cuts amid growing labor market concerns. At the time of writing, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, strives to hold its almost four-week low around 97.60. On Friday, Fed Chair Powell stated at the Jackson Hole Symposium that the central bank needs to adjust interest rate as balance of risks has shifted. Nonetheless, with policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” Powell said. This week, investors will pay close attention to the preliminary inflation data from major economies of the Eurozone for August and the US Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (PCE) data for July. EUR/USD trades close to the downward-sloping trendline plotted around 1.1740 from the July’s high at 1.1830. The near-term trend of the pair is bullish as it holds above the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which trades near 1.1652. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) oscillates inside the 40.00-60.00 range, suggesting a sideways trend. A fresh upside move in the pair would become inevitable to near the July’s high at 1.1830 and the round-level resistance of 1.1900 if it breaks above Friday’s high of 1.1740. On the flip side, a downside move by the pair below Friday’s low of 1.1583 will expose it to the August 5 low of 1.1528, followed by the August 1 low of 1.1392. EUR/USD daily chart US Dollar FAQs The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away. The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback. In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar. Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors

German IFO Business Climate Index surprises to the upside in August. EUR/USD keeps range near 1.1700 after German sentiment data. The headline German IFO Business Climate Index rose to 89 in August from 88.6 in July. The data beat the market forecast of 88.6. Meanwhile, the Current Economic Assessment Index dropped to 86.4 during the same period from 86.5 in July, missing the expected 86.7 figure. The IFO Expectations Index, which indicates firms’ projections for the next six months, jumped to 91.6 in August versus 90.7 previous and 90.2 expected. Market reaction to the German IFO Survey EUR/USD pays little heed to the mixed German data to trade near 1.1700, 0.15% lower on the day at the press time. Euro Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the weakest against the US Dollar. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD 0.19% 0.10% 0.34% 0.07% 0.01% 0.02% 0.12% EUR -0.19% -0.10% 0.09% -0.13% -0.11% -0.18% -0.07% GBP -0.10% 0.10% 0.02% -0.03% -0.07% -0.08% 0.02% JPY -0.34% -0.09% -0.02% -0.20% -0.28% -0.24% -0.09% CAD -0.07% 0.13% 0.03% 0.20% -0.03% -0.02% 0.05% AUD -0.01% 0.11% 0.07% 0.28% 0.03% -0.01% 0.09% NZD -0.02% 0.18% 0.08% 0.24% 0.02% 0.00% 0.10% CHF -0.12% 0.07% -0.02% 0.09% -0.05% -0.09% -0.10% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote). This section was published on August 25 at 5.38 GMT as a preview of the German IFO Survey release. The German IFO Survey Overview Germany’s IFO institute will publish its business survey for August on Monday at 0800 GMT. The headline IFO Business Climate Index is expected to stay unchanged at 88.6 this month. Meanwhile, the Current Assessment sub-index is set to tick a tad higher to 86.7 in August from July’s 86.5. The IFO Expectations Index, which firms’ projections for the next six months, is likely to decline to 90.2 in the reported month, as against a 90.7 figure printed in July. How could the German IFO Survey affect EUR/USD? EUR/USD is consolidating its pullback from three-week highs of 1.1743 in the lead up to the German IFO Survey. The pair pares previous gains as the US Dollar finds its feet, following Friday’s steep sell-off induced by US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell’s dovish pivot during his appearance at the Jackson Hole Symposium. An unexpected pick up in the German business morale could lift the Euro (EUR), reviving the EUR/USD uptrend, with the immediate resistance seen at three-week highs of 1.1743. The July 24 high of 1.1789 will be the next upside barrier en route to the 1.1800 level. To the downside, the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.1651 will offer some comfort to buyers, below which the 1.1600 psychological level could be tested. Further down, the August 22 low of 1.1583 will be on the sellers’ radars. German economy FAQs The German economy has a significant impact on the Euro due to its status as the largest economy within the Eurozone. Germany’s economic performance, its GDP, employment, and inflation, can greatly influence the overall stability and confidence in the Euro. As Germany’s economy strengthens, it can bolster the Euro’s value, while the opposite is true if it weakens. Overall, the German economy plays a crucial role in shaping the Euro’s strength and perception in global markets. Germany is the largest economy in the Eurozone and therefore an influential actor in the region. During the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis in 2009-12, Germany was pivotal in setting up various stability funds to bail out debtor countries. It took a leadership role in the implementation of the ‘Fiscal Compact’ following the crisis – a set of more stringent rules to manage member states’ finances and punish ‘debt sinners’. Germany spearheaded a culture of ‘Financial Stability’ and the German economic model has been widely used as a blueprint for economic growth by fellow Eurozone members. Bunds are bonds issued by the German government. Like all bonds they pay holders a regular interest payment, or coupon, followed by the full value of the loan, or principal, at maturity. Because Germany has the largest economy in the Eurozone, Bunds are used as a benchmark for other European government bonds. Long-term Bunds are viewed as a solid, risk-free investment as they are backed by the full faith and credit of the German nation. For this reason they are treated as a safe-haven by investors – gaining in value in times of crisis, whilst falling during periods of prosperity. German Bund Yields measure the annual return an investor can expect from holding German government bonds, or Bunds. Like other bonds, Bunds pay holders interest at regular intervals, called the ‘coupon’, followed by the full value of the bond at maturity. Whilst the coupon is fixed, the Yield varies as it takes into account changes in the bond’s price, and it is therefore considered a more accurate reflection of return. A decline in the bund’s price raises the coupon as a percentage of the loan, resulting in a higher Yield and vice versa for a rise. This explains why Bund Yields move inversely to prices. The Bundesbank is the central bank of Germany. It plays a key role in implementing monetary policy within Germany, and central banks in the region more broadly. Its goal is price stability, or keeping inflation low and predictable. It is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of payment systems in Germany and participates in the oversight of financial institutions. The Bundesbank has a reputation for being conservative, prioritizing the fight against inflation over economic growth. It has been influential in the setup and policy of the European Central Bank

EUR/JPY strengthens to around 172.40 in Monday’s early European session, adding 0.14% on the day.  The positive outlook of the cross remains intact above the key 100-day EMA, with the bullish RSI indicator.  The immediate resistance level emerges at 173.15; the first support level to watch is  171.12. The EUR/JPY cross trades on a positive note near 172.40 during the early European session on Monday, bolstered by improved risk sentiment. However, hawkish remarks from the Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda might lift the Japanese Yen (JPY) and cap the upside for the cross.  BoJ’s Ueda spoke at a panel held on Saturday during the Federal Reserve’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, saying that wages in his country are expected to remain under upward pressure due to a tight labor market. His comments signaled his optimism that conditions for another interest rate hike were falling into place.  Technically, the constructive outlook of EUR/JPY remains in place as the cross is well-supported above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the daily chart. The upward momentum is reinforced by the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which stands above the midline near 55.75, suggesting that further upside looks favorable.  On the bright side, the first upside barrier for the cross emerges at 173.15, the upper boundary of the Bollinger Band. Any follow-through buying above this level could pave the way to the crucial resistance level in the 173.90-174.00 zone, representing the high of July 28 and the psychological level.  In the bearish case, the initial support level for the EUR/JPY is seen at 171.12, the low of August 20. A breach of this level could drag the cross toward 170.45, the lower limit of the Bollinger Band. The next contention level is located at 170.00, the round figure. EUR/JPY daily chart Japanese Yen FAQs The Japanese Yen (JPY) is one of the world’s most traded currencies. Its value is broadly determined by the performance of the Japanese economy, but more specifically by the Bank of Japan’s policy, the differential between Japanese and US bond yields, or risk sentiment among traders, among other factors. One of the Bank of Japan’s mandates is currency control, so its moves are key for the Yen. The BoJ has directly intervened in currency markets sometimes, generally to lower the value of the Yen, although it refrains from doing it often due to political concerns of its main trading partners. The BoJ ultra-loose monetary policy between 2013 and 2024 caused the Yen to depreciate against its main currency peers due to an increasing policy divergence between the Bank of Japan and other main central banks. More recently, the gradually unwinding of this ultra-loose policy has given some support to the Yen. Over the last decade, the BoJ’s stance of sticking to ultra-loose monetary policy has led to a widening policy divergence with other central banks, particularly with the US Federal Reserve. This supported a widening of the differential between the 10-year US and Japanese bonds, which favored the US Dollar against the Japanese Yen. The BoJ decision in 2024 to gradually abandon the ultra-loose policy, coupled with interest-rate cuts in other major central banks, is narrowing this differential. The Japanese Yen is often seen as a safe-haven investment. This means that in times of market stress, investors are more likely to put their money in the Japanese currency due to its supposed reliability and stability. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen the Yen’s value against other currencies seen as more risky to invest in. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

Cheryl Strauss Einhorn is the founder and CEO of Decisive, a decision sciences company using her AREA Method decision-making system for individuals, companies, and nonprofits looking to solve complex problems. Decisive offers digital tools and in-person training, workshops, coaching and consulting. Cheryl is a long-time educator teaching at Columbia Business School and Cornell and has won several journalism awards for her investigative news stories. She’s authored three books, Problem Solved for personal and professional decisions, Investing In Financial Research about business decisions and Problem Solver, about the psychology of personal decision-making and Problem Solver Profiles. She has an AI book, The Human Edge: Decision-Making In An AI-Driven World that will be published at yearend. For more information please watch Cheryl’s TED talk and visit areamethod.com. Read More

SKIP TO CONTENT Harvard Business Review LogoHarvard Business Review Logo Boards|How New CEOs Can Build a Strong Alliance with Their Board Chair Subscribe Latest Magazine Topics Podcasts Store Data & Visuals Case Selections HBR Executive Search hbr.org Subscribe Latest Podcasts The Magazine Store Webinars Newsletters All Topics The Big Idea Data & Visuals Case Selections HBR Executive My Library Account Settings Explore HBR Latest The Magazine Podcasts Store Webinars Newsletters Popular Topics Managing Yourself Leadership Strategy Managing Teams Gender Innovation Work-life Balance All Topics For Subscribers The Big Idea Data & Visuals Case Selections HBR Executive Subscribe My Account My Library Topic Feeds Orders Account Settings Email Preferences Harvard Business Review Logo Boards by Michael D. Watkins August 25, 2025 Illustration by Sandra Navarro Post Buy Copies Summary.    Leer en españolLer em português Post Buy Copies The CEO role comes with immense responsibility and high expectations. One of the most critical relationships you’ll navigate early in your tenure is with your board chair. Post Buy Copies Read more on Boards or related topics Corporate governance, Leadership, Leadership transitions and Managing up Partner Center Read More

Harvard Business Review Logo Anton Vierietin/Getty Images Culture is one of the most talked-about priorities in leadership, yet one of the least consistently understood. Executives routinely declare it is a strategic imperative. They launch values campaigns, unveil wellbeing programs, revise mission statements, and deliver impassioned talks about trust and purpose. But for all this activity, something isn’t working: in many organizations, we’ve seen that the louder leaders talk about culture, the more performative it feels—especially when actions don’t align with the message. Read More

Skip to content