(Best Syndication News) Mortgage interest rates began to rise after two-straight days of declines (see the mortgage rate charts below). Although some of the benchmarks were higher, the rise in secondary lending rates pushed loans up at U.S. Bank, SunTrust, KeyBank, and PNC; however, JPMorgan Chase lowered their rate.

Benchmarks

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average today pushing the index down 23 points, however the wider market gained value. Because there are only 30 constituents in the Dow, a three percent pull-back in the value of BA had a major influence on the index.

(Best Syndication News) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the voluntary recall of around 168,000 handheld air misters sold at Target stores nationwide. The product is being recalled because the unit can shatter and cause potential lacerations.

The handheld air misters were imported by Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) and were sold at their stores nationwide between February 2012 and May 2012 for around $2.50. Target announced the recall after receiving three reports of the air misters shattering. One of the reports involved a person being cut.

(Best Syndication News) - Researchers found that students who got financial help from their parents when attending college were more likely to graduate, but with lower grade point averages (GPAs). The study results will be published in the February issue of the American Sociological Review.

Laura T. Hamilton, a sociology professor at the University of California, Merced, studied what impact financial assistance from parents had on students’ grades and graduation rates. The good news is that parents who supported their child financially in college were best at avoiding serious academic trouble. However, at the same time earning good grades also diminished.

(Best Syndication News) - Dunkin Brands Group Inc. (NASDAQ: DNKN) announced plans to open more Dunkin’ Donut stores in 2013, especially in Southern California. The company’s long-term goal is to have over 15,000 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants operating in the United States.

The company is looking for multi-unit franchisees for the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Orange. The restaurants would start to open in 2015. The company is also seeking other franchise opportunities, such as operating within a college, university, military base, supermarket, and airport or travel center.

(Best Syndication News) A drop in secondary yields pushed mortgage rates lower today after weak manufacturing numbers were released by the Federal Reserve (see the mortgage rate charts below). Nearly all of the major banks, including JPMorgan Chase, KeyBank, HSBC, and Bank of America, lowered their mortgage loan rates.

Benchmarks

Stock markets in the United States opened lower Tuesday after disappointing economic news put pressure on the major indexes. There was a pull-back on stock prices early in the morning but by the closing bell there was a reprieve.