Dec. 31: Morsels on gambling psychology, inflation fears, the flattening yield curve, and why mortgage prices are sometimes “sticky”

A “handsel” is a gift given to wish good luck for the year ahead. The word dates back to the 1300s, and derives from “hand” and “selen,” an Old English word meaning gift or donation, a cousin of the word “sell.” A handsel can also be the first installment of a payment or bond, although we tend to use the less colorful term “first payment.”