Author: Money Mechanics

(Oil Price) – The oil price decline over the past year has started to dent Big Oil’s earnings, which have slipped from the 2022 and 2023 highs. The persistently low oil prices at about $60 per barrel in the past months, compared to $100 in 2022 and $80 in 2023 and 2024, signal that part of the shareholder returns of the European oil majors may not be sustainable going forward. Europe’s top oil firms may start sacrificing some of their payouts by announcing in the coming weeks cuts to their share buybacks amid the lower oil prices, analysts say. Stronger…

Key Takeaways Aman’s superyacht Amangati doesn’t resemble traditional cruising—instead it applies the high-end hotel brand’s model to ocean travel.$50,000 is roughly the entry point for a seven-night sailing, with spacious suites, personalized service, and uncrowded spaces.Initial voyages, now booking for 2027, focus on Mediterranean routes like the French and Italian Rivieras, the Greek Isles, and the Adriatic. This Isn’t a Cruise Ship—It’s a Floating Luxury Hotel When people hear “cruise,” they tend to picture mega-ships, buffet lines, and thousands of passengers moving on fixed schedules. But that image doesn’t hold up when you look at what Aman, a luxury hospitality…

Key Takeaways Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended President Donald Trump’s tariff policies in a congressional hearing Wednesday.Bessent said Trump’s tariffs will take time to have their intended effect of revitalizing U.S. manufacturing and restoring factory jobs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent came to Congress Wednesday with a message to critics who say his administration’s tariffs are not delivering on promises to re-industrialize the country: give it some time. Bessent answered questions from the House Financial Services Committee in a hearing Wednesday, addressing tariffs, the president’s attacks on the Federal Reserve, and other economic matters. Bessent faced a mixture of supportive and…

Key Takeaways Even with Medicare, out-of-pocket health care costs still eat into people’s retirement income. After medical costs, the typical retiree is left with about 88% of total income and 71% of Social Security benefits. Choosing the right Medicare coverage and planning ahead using accounts like HSAs while you’re working can help you better manage health care costs after you stop working. Medicare helps defray medical costs for retirees, but health care spending still takes a big chunk out of peoples’ savings, according to a new report. A typical retiree had just 88% of their total income and 71% of…

Key Takeaways AMD CEO Lisa Su told CNBC Wednesday that demand for the company’s chips is “on fire” and that she sees this as an “inflection year” for the company as it rolls out its next-generation products.Shares of AMD slumped Wednesday despite results that topped Wall Street’s estimates. Investors dropped shares of Advanced Micro Devices after its latest earnings. Its CEO says they should be excited about what’s ahead this year. Shares of AMD (AMD), regarded by some as a top alternative to AI chip leader Nvidia (NVDA), plunged over 17% Wednesday, leaving them in the red year-to-date despite quarterly earnings…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events. This year’s game is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, and will feature the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots, with Bad Bunny performing at halftime.It is also among the most-watched events; in fact, last year’s game drew an audience of over 127 million, making it the most-watched TV event in history.Whether you’re a fan of the sport or just interested in the entertaining commercials, we’ll show you how to stream it for less. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed…

Key Takeaways Corporate giants such as Amazon, UPS and Dow have made major layoff announcements in recent weeks.Researchers examining labor market data have so far found AI’s impact on jobs to be limited.Some analysts say companies may be “AI-washing” layoffs—blaming AI to distract from deeper problems. The labor market limped into 2026, and big layoff announcements in recent weeks have added fresh anxiety to the fragile jobs picture. Amazon.com (AMZN) said it plans to eliminate about 16,000 corporate roles, while United Parcel Service (UPS) announced 30,000 new job cuts, following an even larger reduction last year. Chemical manufacturing company Dow…

(Image credit: Maja Hitij / Staff)Get ready for two weeks of fast-paced winter competition, the 2026 Winter Olympics are almost here. The Games officially begin February 6, as athletes from more than 90 countries head to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, to compete for gold across a packed schedule of Olympic winter sports.The Opening Ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium will officially launch the 25th Winter Games, though some preliminary events — including ice hockey, curling and snowboarding — will begin beforehand.If you’re planning to watch the action, you’ll have several streaming options. We’ll get into ways to watch the…

Key Takeaways Montana and North Dakota have lowered property taxes in their states, which have been rising along with soaring home values.Several other states, including Florida, Ohio and Kansas, are also looking at ways to reduce or eliminate the taxes charged based on home values.Some states are also trying to replace the funding lost from property tax collection, which is often used to pay for schools and other essential services. Homeowners in Montana and North Dakota are set to see a drop in their property taxes. And they may not be alone as the political movement to lower—or eliminate—state property…

Key Takeaways Eli Lilly’s stock surged Wednesday while shares of weight-loss rival Novo Nordisk slumped, widening the gap between the drugmakers.The stocks of the companies behind popular weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Ozempic have pulled apart since late last year. There’s a growing divergence between the shares of rival weight-loss drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Eli Lilly’s (LLY) stock jumped over 10% Wednesday on the company’s stronger-than-expected earnings and rosy outlook. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk (NVO) saw its U.S.-listed shares sink 6%, a day after the Danish drugmaker warned its sales could take a hit this year. The moves have…