Author: Money Mechanics

For the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market to expand beyond its current size, investors must be willing to partner more closely with cedents and provide solutions that address the full spectrum of their needs, rather than focusing narrowly on a single line of business, Shiv Kumar, President of GC Securities told us in an interview.Kumar leads the capital markets and ILS specialist unit of reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter and during an interview with Artemis around the time of this year’s Monte Carlo Rendez-Vous event, he outlined what he sees as the biggest challenges currently facing the ILS market. Starting with catastrophe…

Container backlog occurs at Longtan Port Container Terminal in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, on September 21, 2025. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Costfoto| Nurphoto | Getty ImagesThe Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development upgraded its global economic growth forecast on Tuesday, with many economies appearing more resilient than expected so far this year.The OECD now expects global growth of 3.2% this year, compared to the 2.9% expansion it had forecast in June. Expectations for 2026 were unchanged at 2.9%. This would mark a slowdown from the 3.3% growth seen in 2024.Growth expectations for the U.S. were also lifted, to 1.8%…

Every month, the Social Security Administration mails more than 74 million checks to people who receive retirement, spousal, survivor, or disability benefits. That’s a lot of checks, so they aren’t all mailed at once. Here’s the breakdown of how they’re distributed. Most beneficiaries are paid according to their birth date. There are some exceptions, such as separate payment dates for individuals who started receiving benefits, whether retirement, spousal, or survivor, prior to May 1997, or people who also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a federal program that provides additional income for people with disabilities and adults 65…

Key Takeaways AutoZone missed earnings estimates as it spent more on expansion.The auto parts retailer increased its store count by 141 in the quarter, and also expanded its inventory.CEO Phil Daniele said AutoZone will “aggressively open stores in the new year.” AutoZone (AZO) posted weaker-than-expected quarterly profit as its spending increased. The auto parts retailer reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 net income that dropped 7.2% to $837.0 million, with diluted earnings per share of $48.71. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for $867.5 million and $50.89, respectively. Revenue rose 0.6% to $6.24 billion, basically in line with forecasts. Same-store sales…

(World Oil) – Tracerco has introduced its proprietary chemical tracer technology into a U.S.-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) project for the first time, marking a milestone for monitoring CO₂ containment in large-scale sequestration. s With decades of experience applying tracer technology in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the company has adapted its tools for CCS, enabling operators to track plume migration, verify seal integrity, and detect potential leaks at ultra-low concentrations. Unlike other monitoring methods, Tracerco’s tracers can distinguish between naturally occurring, recycled, and newly injected CO₂, providing what the company describes as an “independent source of truth” for project…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Boeing has logged its biggest-ever single order with a sale of up to 22 787 Dreamliners to Uzbekistan Airways in a deal President Donald Trump said is worth more than $8 billion.The companies said Monday that Uzbekistan Airways would buy 14 of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner jets, with options for eight more.The companies said the investment will support “nearly 35,000 U.S. jobs.”The two companies announced the deal as Washington and Beijing reportedly are in the final stages of talks for a “huge” Boeing aircraft order, according to Bloomberg. Boeing (BA) has logged its biggest-ever single order with a sale of…

AutoZone Posts Weaker-Than-Expected Q4 Profit 2 minutes ago AutoZone (AZO) posted weaker-than-expected quarterly profit as its spending increased. The auto parts retailer reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 net income that dropped 7.2% to $837.0 million, with diluted earnings per share of $48.71. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for $867.5 million and $50.89, respectively. Revenue rose 0.6% to $6.24 billion, basically in line with forecasts. Same-store sales grew 4.5%, slightly higher than estimates. Eva Marie Uzcategui / Bloomberg via Getty Images Operating, selling, general, and administrative expenses were up 3.0% to $2.02 billion as AutoZone added 141 stores and expanded its inventory 14.1%. CEO…

The emotional and financial impact of a “gray divorce” can be overwhelming.A 2022 study from the Journal of Gerontology found that 36% of divorces were among people 50 and older.Beyond the emotional strain of a divorce, managing your finances is critical. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more – straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice – straight to your…

Choosing the right age to retire is crucial, since once you leave the workforce, you may not be able to return. If you decide to go back to work, you’ll likely have to find a new job, possibly at a lower salary. That’s why you need to be sure you’re ready before you retire.To help you figure out the right age for you, we put together a checklist of questions you should ask yourself before retiring. The checklist covers everything from money to emotions and helps you prepare for the next chapter of your life, whether you are 55 or…

If you’re a New York resident, check your mailbox: Hundreds of dollars could be waiting inside. The New York State Office of Taxation and Finance has announced it will issue inflation refund checks as early as this fall.The event is not because of any special program, like how STAR payments are issued. Instead, New York is providing one-time relief checks to help offset higher sales taxes due to increased inflation.“This is your money and we’re putting it back in your pockets,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a press release. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter,…