Author: Money Mechanics

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Asia-Pacific economy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.The writer is chair of Rockefeller International. His latest book is ‘What Went Wrong With Capitalism’The protests roiling Jakarta have raised questions about how this economic star fell from the sky. But it’s not just Indonesia. South-east Asia — including Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam — is a region of many fading stars. Once home to the world’s fastest growing economies, it is lately home to the most rapidly declining expectations for economic growth. In the decade from 2010, stock markets in…

Market OverviewThe Fed cut rates, and stocks, which were already in an uptrend as extensively noted here, accelerated to new all-time highs. We continue to see technology leading to the upside, which confirms the risk-on environment. The Nasdaq led the rally higher last week, closing up 2.21%. The S&P 500 followed, closing up 1.22%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 1.05%. There are still strong opportunities coming from China, which is set to benefit from dollar weakness and lower rates.Stocks I LikeDomo DOMO – 50% Return Potential What’s Happening Domo, Inc. (DOMO) is a leading cloud-based software company providing…

The median home-sale price in Santa Barbara, the most expensive college town in the U.S., is almost $2 million.  When it comes to housing, the most expensive college town in the U.S. is Santa Barbara, CA, home to a University of California campus with about 26,000 students. Santa Barbara’s median home-sale price is nearly $2 million, more than double the next-most expensive college town.  Second-place Boca Raton, FL, home to Florida Atlantic University and its 30,000-plus students, has a median home-sale price of more than $820,000. The two most expensive college towns in the country have one big thing in…

(Oil Price)-OPEC+’s decision last week to increase its collective oil production has surprised many, given the soft outlook for oil prices for the remainder of this year and into next. It is true that the 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) rise from October is much lower than the 411,000 bpd and 555,000 bpd respective increases for the June and July period, and for the August and September timeframe.   However, the rise in oil output also means that the group – which comprises the original OPEC members ‘plus’ Russia – is beginning to reverse the second part of around 1.65…

Retirement can be expensive, and if you haven’t quite reached your long-term financial goals, it may be time to start cooking up some short-term passive income ideas. Worry not, as there are plenty of ways to make money that don’t require much effort. Check Out: 12 Totally Free Ways To Make Enough Passive Income To Quit Your Job Consider This: 7 Luxury SUVs That Will Become Affordable in 2025 Generally speaking, you’ll need to put some time and elbow grease into getting these income streams set up, but then you can sit back and watch the money come in. Talk…

The investment world reveres the late Charlie Munger for his profound wisdom and success principles. His three cardinal rules for career satisfaction and success have been a beacon for many aspiring investors and professionals.Munger, who passed away in 2023, had shared his insights on achieving success in life and career. His journey, which began at a prestigious law firm in California, led him to investments in stocks, businesses, and property development, culminating in the establishment of his own law firm.Munger’s three fundamental rules for career satisfaction were: strive to deserve what you want, work under individuals you admire, and maintain a deep interest in your work. He highlighted the…

In-brief analysis August 11, 2025 Five countries account for more than two-thirds of the world’s total nuclear electricity generation capacity. The United States has the most capacity, followed by France, China, Russia, and South Korea, based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data as of June 2025. Globally, 416 nuclear power reactors are operating in 31 countries, with a total installed net generating capacity of 376 gigawatts (GW). The development of nuclear power plants for commercial electricity generation began in the United States in the late 1950s with the commissioning of the Shippingport Atomic Power…

The Federal Reserve announced a long-awaited rate cut on Wednesday.The move could bring some consumer rates down, which may be good news for borrowers hoping to refinance into lower-cost loans.”While the broader impact of a rate reduction on consumers’ financial health remains to be fully seen, it could offer some relief from the persistent budgetary pressures driven by inflation,” said Michele Raneri, vice president and head of U.S. research and consulting at TransUnion.But that relief may take a while to arrive.Borrowing costs tend to rise quickly when the Fed raises its benchmark interest rate — but fall slowly when it cuts. And…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.I got to wear the new Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses at Meta Connect 2025 on Wednesday. And while they are a long way from replacing your smartphone, they are good enough to make it clear that smart glasses are a lot better when they include a heads-up display. From what I experienced on Wednesday, we’re definitely taking a step toward a world where we spend less time with our heads buried in our smartphones.Also: Meta Connect 2025 live updates: Ray-Ban Display, Oakley Vanguard smart glasses, moreIn the Meta Connect keynote on Wednesday evening…

“I had a million dollars by the time I was 24 years old. A year before that, I was making $12,000 a year working at a record store, and I was broke.”So starts a two-minute video that a friend implored me to watch—twice—this week, and by the end of the second time, the truth hit me so hard that my eyes welled up. I knew I had to share it with you, if only to ensure that it sunk more deeply into my consciousness, but I believe there’s something here for you, too.Some of the best career advice comes from…