Interest rates

Citing good management with "strong" financial policies and practices, a major agency recently reaffirmed the city's AAA bond rating, which lets Newburyport buy bonds at lower interest rates.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the U.S. central bank's task has shifted from a post-crisis exercise of healing the economy to one aimed at holding on to progress made.

Three rate hikes appear to remain appropriate for this year, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and CEO Patrick T. Harker repeated Monday, noting they can be spread out.