Author: Money Mechanics

Stocks opened lower to start the week, but closed the session with modest gains. Market participants brushed off conflicting messages from Fed officials and the threat of a potential government shutdown, and instead cheered a broader rally in tech stocks.There were no fewer than five Federal Reserve speakers on today’s economic calendar. Most who took the podium echoed the data-dependent stance toward monetary policy that Fed Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly taken.St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, for one, called last week’s quarter-percentage point rate cut “a precautionary move intended to support the labor market at full employment and against…

A Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is an annual increase to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The COLA is a vital feature of the Social Security program, affecting tens of millions of Americans. But how exactly is it calculated and what factors influence the final percentage? Test your knowledge with this ten-question true/false quiz!And don’t worry if you miss an answer, you can follow the links below the quiz to brush up on your knowledge.More on Social Security, from the Kiplinger team: From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The IRS has outlined 68 jobs that will be eligible for the new “no tax on tips” deduction.The new deduction, established by the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ will allow tipped workers to deduct the tips they earn from their federal taxes next year, reducing their taxable income.About 2.6% of all tax-paying households and individuals will be eligible for the tip deduction. The IRS has listed nearly 70 types of workers eligible to deduct the tips they earn when they file their taxes next year. The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ established a new tax break, allowing taxpayers to deduct…

U.S. stocks were mixed, with the Dow Jones index falling more than 100 points on Monday.Shares of PROS Holdings, Inc. PRO rose sharply during Monday’s session after the company announced it will be acquired by Thoma Bravo.PROS Holdings shares jumped 40% to $22.97 on Monday.Here are some other big stocks recording gains in today’s session. MBX Biosciences, Inc. MBX shares jumped 144% to $24.40 after the company announced once-weekly Canvuparatide achieved the primary endpoint in a Phase 2 trial. Metsera, Inc. MTSR gained 62.8% to $54.25 on reports that Pfizer is near a deal to acquire the company and its…

In-brief analysis September 22, 2025 In our annual survey of power plant activity, we ask operators of utility-scale batteries how they are using their systems, and one use case is increasingly prevalent: price arbitrage. Arbitrage involves buying electricity when prices are relatively low and selling that electricity when prices are high. Utility-scale battery systems can be used for many applications. In previous years, we asked operators to identify the ways they used their batteries. Common use cases included price arbitrage as well as frequency regulation, excess wind and solar generation, system peak shaving, load management,…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhen Apple’s M4 processor came to the MacBook Pro laptop line, we noted how it improved upon the already powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max with smooth performance, a more efficient battery, and a new Thunderbolt 5 port for blazing-fast data transfer speeds. Also: Save up to $700 on Razer’s newest gaming laptop – and get a free gameOne of the best things about the new M4 MacBook Pro is that it starts at the same price as last year’s M3, making it that much easier to consider. But even better, we’re seeing some deals — like this one at…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Oracle Monday named two new co-CEOs, including the former head of its cloud infrastructure business, to take over from Safra Catz as the software firm boosts its bets on AI.Oracle said Monday that Clay Magouyrk, president of Oracle’s cloud infrastructure business, and Mike Sicilia, president of Oracle Industries, will be co-CEOs.Oracle shares have surged this year as the AI boom boosted its cloud computing business. Oracle (ORCL) Monday named two new CEOs, including the former head of its cloud infrastructure business, to take over from Safra Catz as the software firm boosts its bets on AI. Oracle said…

(World Oil)– Chevron, Anadarko, and investment fund Westlawn have formalized a new partnership to advance hydrocarbon exploration offshore Peru, marking a significant step in revitalizing the nation’s upstream sector. The three companies signed amended license agreements with Perupetro for Blocks Z-61, Z-62, and Z-63 in the Trujillo basin, an offshore area covering 6,018 km² some 50 nautical miles off the coasts of Lambayeque and La Libertad. Anadarko will remain operator with a 35% stake, while Chevron and Westlawn take 35% and 30% respectively. The consortium recently completed Peru’s largest-ever 3D marine seismic survey, conducted between May and July 2024. Results are expected in early 2026,…

Key Takeaways Pfizer said it would pay as much as $7.3 billion for Metsera as it looks to profit from soaring demand for weight-loss medicines.Metsera investors will get $47.50 per share for each share they own, plus up to an additional $22.50 per share if the biopharma’s combination treatment for obesity meets certain thresholds. The news sent Metsera shares soaring in premarket trading. Metsera (MTSR) shares skyrocketed 60% in premarket trading after Pfizer (PFE) agreed to purchase the biopharma firm for up to $7.3 billion to jump into the lucrative weight-loss drug segment. Shares of Pfizer were up slightly. Pfizer…

Key Takeaways Shares in Oklo remain in focus after soaring last week as the Trump administration made nuclear energy a focal point in recent trade talks.After breaking out from a textbook ascending triangle early last week, the price accelerated higher, signaling a continuation of the stock’s long-term uptrend. The relative strength index confirms strong price momentum, though the indicator has climbed to a reading that has preceded prior consolidation periods.Bars pattern analysis projects a potential upside price target of around $410 and indicates the the trend could last until mid January next year.Investors should watch major support levels on the…