Market Pulse, Global Headlines & Behind the Scenes of the Optimal Blue Hackathon | Optimal Insights | June 23, 2025

The Fed, Iran, and... wait, what's a hackathon?In this week’s episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, Alex Hebner, and Kevin Foley discuss the Fed’s cautious stance on interest rates, labor market signals, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Later in the episode, Jim Glennon and Kevin Foley explore the outcomes of Optimal Blue’s recent hackathon with special guest, Optimal Blue CTO Seever Sulaiman, highlighting how innovation and AI are shaping the company’s future.Notable Insights:The Fed remains in “wait and see” mode, with cautious language around tariffs and inflation.Despite high rates, mortgage volume remains strong, even for refis.The hackathon showcased Optimal Blue’s top-tier AI adoption, tech innovation, and deep partnership with Microsoft.Ideas ranged from internal process automation to revolutionary product concepts.Tune in to gain valuable insights to help you stay ahead and maximize your profitability in the ever-evolving mortgage landscape.Optimal Insights Team:Jim Glennon, VP of Hedging & Trading Client Services, Optimal BlueJeff McCarty, VP of Hedging & Trading Product, Optimal BlueAlex Hebner, Hedge Account Manager, Optimal BlueKevin Foley, Director of Product Management, Optimal BlueSpecial Guest:Seever Sulaiman, CTO, Optimal BlueProduction Team:Executive Producer: Sara HoltzProducers: Matt Gilhooly & Hailey BoyerCommentary included in the podcast shall not be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.Mentioned in this episode:Is Your PPE Helping – or Holding You Back?Small delays can become everyday obstacles. If your team relies on workarounds, extra verification steps, or manual processes to keep loans moving, it may be time to rethink your pricing engine. Discover what a modern PPE should deliver – from real-time accuracy and intelligent automation to seamless workflow execution. Learn more today. Explore the Optimal Blue PPE - https://www2.optimalblue.com/optimalblueppe