THE WEALTH NOTES

By WealthTrust Advisors on August 6, 2026

Weekly data-driven insights on the markets and economy

First Week of August 2026

Rates Rise, Demand Retreats

Reported today, mortgage rates climbed to 6.81%, their highest level in more than a year, driving mortgage demand below year-ago levels for the first time since April. Both refinancing and home purchase applications declined as elevated borrowing costs outweighed the benefits of increased housing inventory and modest price negotiations. While rates began easing slightly this week amid falling oil prices and improved bond market conditions, the recent surge highlights the sensitivity of housing demand to financing costs.[i]

Satellite Service Disruption

This week, SpaceX signaled its ambition to become a full-scale wireless carrier, positioning its Starlink Mobile network as a potential challenger to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The company plans to launch next-generation satellites in 2027, leveraging newly acquired spectrum and a hybrid satellite-terrestrial network to deliver broader coverage and higher bandwidth, particularly in underserved areas. If successful, the move could introduce meaningful competition to the U.S. telecom market and accelerate the convergence of satellite and traditional mobile connectivity.[ii]

Global Buyers, Selective Demand

Reported this week, foreign purchases of U.S. homes fell sharply over the past year, with transaction volume down 14% and sales value down 19%, reflecting weaker international travel, shifting immigration policies, and softer demand from employment-based visa holders. Despite the broader pullback, luxury new-home communities continue to attract affluent international buyers, particularly from China, with builders such as Toll Brothers benefiting from targeted overseas marketing efforts. The divergence highlights how premium housing markets remain resilient even as overall foreign investment in U.S. residential real estate declines.[iii]

Wellness Growth Bet

Earlier this week, Procter & Gamble announced they’re acquiring premium supplements brand Thorne for $3.8 billion, expanding its push into the fast-growing health and wellness market. The deal adds a rapidly scaling brand with more than $500 million in annual revenue, strong direct-to-consumer momentum, and a loyal customer base skewing under age 40. The acquisition reflects a broader consumer-goods trend of established companies buying high-growth wellness brands to capture shifting consumer preferences and reignite growth in mature portfolio.[iv]

Fraud Defense Expansion

Visa shared this week that they are acquiring cybersecurity firm BioCatch for $2.4 billion as financial institutions grapple with a growing wave of AI-driven scams and account takeovers. BioCatch’s behavioral biometrics technology analyzes how users interact with devices, helping detect fraud before payments are made, while strengthening Visa’s rapidly growing value-added services business. The deal underscores a broader industry shift toward advanced security and fraud-prevention tools as digital payments expand, and cyber threats become more sophisticated.[v]

Pricing Power Persists

Airfares remain elevated, rising more than 26% year over year in June, as airlines continue to pass higher fuel, labor, maintenance, and operating costs on to travelers without significantly dampening demand. Industry consolidation, reduced capacity from smaller carriers, and ongoing fuel market volatility have further strengthened pricing power for major airlines, allowing them to sustain higher fares even as summer travel peaks. The trend suggests that expensive air travel may persist beyond the current season, reflecting both structural industry changes and resilient consumer willingness to pay.[vi]

[i] Olick, Diana. “Mortgage Rates Hit Their Highest Level in Over a Year.” CNBC, 5 August 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/05/mortgage-rates-hit-their-highest-level-in-over-a-year.html. Accessed 5 August 2026.

[ii] Lee, Lloyd. “SpaceX Says T-Mobile Is Coming to Verizon.” Yahoo Finance, 5 August 2026, https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/spacex-says-coming-t-verizon-005508467.html. Accessed 5 August 2026.

[iii] Olick, Diana. “Foreigners Are Buying Fewer U.S. Properties, but Luxury Homebuilders Still Draw Them In.” CNBC, 4 August 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/04/foreign-buyers-us-properties.html. Accessed 5 August 2026.

[iv] Lucas, Amelia. “Procter & Gamble Will Acquire Supplements Brand Thorne for $3.8 Billion, CEO Tells CNBC.” CNBC, 4 August 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/04/procter-gamble-will-acquire-supplements-brand-thorne.html. Accessed 5 August 2026.

[v] Son, Hugh. “Visa to Buy Cybersecurity Firm BioCatch for $2.4 Billion Amid Surge in AI-Powered Scams.” CNBC, 3 August 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/03/visa-buys-biocatch-fraud-detection.html. Accessed 5 August 2026..

[vi] Josephs, Leslie. “Why Flights Are So Expensive and Will Likely Stay That Way.” CNBC, 2 August 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/02/flights-are-getting-even-more-expensive-as-fuel-prices-rise.html. Accessed 5 August 2026.