New Home Sales Rise in December

The rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.24% this week. The rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 5.49%.

The Treasury Department announced a joint effort with Mexico to target several Mexico-based gambling establishments involved in alleged cartel-related money laundering and other criminal activities.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board published an accounting standards update that improves the accounting for purchased loans, according to a statement from the standard-setting body.

The House voted in favor of a Senate deal to reopen the government, ending a shutdown that began on Oct. 1.

Federal law enforcement agencies announced the formation of an interagency “strike force” to target Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related investment scams and confidence schemes.

The U.S. Mint held a ceremony where U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final circulating penny, ending 232 years of penny production.