Higher interest rates, lack of profitable investments, less economic activity and foreign currency exchange fluctuations are all challenges that put strain on a company's balance sheet and could lead to lawsuits against the company and its directors and officers. (Credit: rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock) Higher interest rates, lack of profitable investments, less economic activity and foreign currency exchange fluctuations are all challenges that put strain on a company's balance sheet and could lead to lawsuits against the company and its directors and officers. (Credit: rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Over the past decade, the Federal Funds Rate has consistently stayed below 2.5% and near zero from January 2009 until January 2016. The COVID- induced crash of February 2020 once again brought the federal funds rate near zero until early this year (prime interest rates are generally 3% higher than the Federal Funds Rate).

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