Economists, traders increasingly believe Federal Reserve won't hike in September
Consumer spending showed a decent gain but was down from Q1
Grayscale Investments won its challenge of an SEC decision
The Federal Reserve will likely welcome Tuesday's data
The downturn in spending showed up in the earnings reports of many high-profile retailers
The shortage of homes for sale has kept the market competitive
Five regional banks face rating cut, outlooks downgraded for two others
But higher interest rates are weighing on economic activities dependent on credit
Latest settlement brings penalties in DoJ cases to over US$36 billion
Earnings to remain under pressure as the sector faces slow growth and elevated costs