Morning Business Report: Mortgage rates fall, stocks hit records and community college interest rises

Mortgage rates are easing slightly, offering a bit of relief to homebuyers as economic concerns tied to global conflict begin to settle.

(LILAMAX)-  According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.30% this week, down seven basis points and marking the lowest level in about a month. Rates are also lower than this time last year, when they stood at 6.8%.

In the entertainment industry, Paramount Skydance says it plans to prioritize theatrical releases, keeping films exclusively in theaters for at least 45 days before transitioning to streaming platforms like Paramount+ after 90 days.

CEO David Ellison says the company also plans to ramp up production, targeting at least 30 films annually following its merger with Warner Bros..

On Wall Street, stocks continue to climb. Both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite closed at fresh record highs Thursday, driven by investor optimism.

Education trends are also shifting. A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows more high school graduates are choosing community college over four-year universities.

For the first time, students ages 18 to 20 make up the largest share of first-time associate degree earners, a change experts say is driven by rising tuition costs and evolving job market demands.

Meanwhile, attitudes toward financial success remain mixed.

A survey conducted by Talker Research for National Debt Relief found that more than half of Americans still believe the American Dream is achievable. However, optimism varies across demographics, with 61% of Hispanic respondents expressing confidence compared to 55% of non-Hispanic Americans.

The findings highlight ongoing economic shifts, with some signs of relief in housing and markets, alongside changing attitudes toward education and financial stability.