Home prices rose 18.6% in June compared with June 2020, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home price index, the highest gain in more than 30 years. The increase is attributed to a combination of low mortgage rates, a lack of stock and a shortage of building materials.

The latest trustee report on the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund says the fund could be depleted in 2033, a year sooner than what the report had estimated last year. The fund's reserves stood at $2.9 trillion at the end of 2020, but the report cites a rapidly aging population, expected shortfalls in budget allocations and setbacks caused by the pandemic as factors that will hasten depletion.

An analysis by Fidelity Investments of 30 million IRAs, along with 401(k) and 403(b) plans, shows record highs achieved in three consecutive quarters, including the third quarter. "The pandemic is clearly fueling a shift in how Americans prioritize their work, health, personal lives and financial well-being, so it's encouraging to see a continued improvement of retirement savings rates," said Kevin Barry, president of Fidelity-owned Workplace Investing.

Fidelity Investments aims to add 9,000 staffers before the year ends to manage growing demand for services in stock trading and other personal investment. Coming on the back of two recruitment drives earlier in 2021, the initiative would increase the firm's workforce by more than 22%, to over 60,000 people.

Asian-Pacific stock markets were mixed Wednesday, despite a record-high close for the Dow Jones industrial average. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.5%; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.3%; Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was flat; China's Shanghai Composite added 0.2%; South Korea's Kospi lost 0.2%; and India's Sensex was up 0.1%.