Author: Money Mechanics

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week, she’s looking at questions on the OBBB and tax rates. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Income tax ratesQuestion: Did the “One Big Beautiful Bill” act (OBBB) extend the lower federal income tax rates for individuals that were going to expire after 2025? Joy Taylor: Yes. Federal income tax rates for C corporations, individuals, trusts and estates will stay the same. C corporations are taxed at a 21% rate. The individual…

Key Takeaways Dayforce is reportedly discussing a sale to private equity firm Thoma Bravo.Bloomberg said a deal could be announced within a few weeks.Shares of Dayforce took off on the news, but they remain lower year-to-date. Dayforce (DAY) shares soared more than 20% on indications that private equity firm Thoma Bravo is in talks to purchase the human resources software provider. Bloomberg reported that people familiar with the matter indicated that an agreement could be reached in as soon as a few weeks. They added that while the discussions are in the advanced stage, they could be delayed or stumble,…

Key Takeaways Major U.S. equities indexes were little changed Monday morning, ahead of retail sector earnings reports and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due later in the week.Novo Nordisk shares climbed after the Food and Drug Administration approved the drugmaker’s popular Wegovy weight-loss medicine to treat a serious liver disease.Dayforce shares surged following reports it’s held talks about a takeover by private equity firm Thoma Bravo. Major U.S. equities indexes were little changed Monday morning, ahead of retail sector earnings reports and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due later in the week. Dayforce (DAY) was the…

Dayforce Shares Soar on Report of Talks With PE Firm 1 hr 17 min ago Dayforce (DAY) shares surged Monday on indications that private equity firm Thoma Bravo is in talks to purchase the human resources software provider. Bloomberg reported that people familiar with the matter indicated that an agreement could be reached in as soon as a few weeks. They added that while the discussions are in the advanced stage, they could be delayed or stumble, and another suitor might emerge.  In a note to investors, analysts at Jefferies noted that considering Dayforce’s stock had lost 28% year-to-date as of Friday’s close…

Ed Tom ▬ August 11, 2025 Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:In a complete reversal of the prior week’s market action, implied volatilities declined across asset classes last week on the back of robust tech earnings, the anticipation of potential Fed rate cuts, and optimism of a breakthrough in Trump-Putin talks to end the 3yr conflict. Equity market volatility led the decline, with all major measures of equity market risk (vol, vol-of-vol, & correlation) reverting towards the lowest levels of the summer. (see chart below)We published last Friday our comprehensive VIX index decomposition model, breaking down changes in…

Retail giant Walmart (WMT) is slated to report second-quarter earnings before markets open on Thursday, and investors see potential for shares to approach a record high in the days following.  Walmart stock is expected to finish the week roughly 4% above or below last week’s closing price, according to options prices. A move of that magnitude would put shares at either $104, their highest close since February, or $96, a nearly 1-month low.  Walmart stock has notched an average post-earnings move of about 4.2% over the past four quarters. Shares slid 0.5% after Walmart’s most recent report in May, when…

There’s nothing like the thrill of traveling abroad and enjoying different cultures, delicious foods, and unforgettable sights. As you plan your itinerary, be sure to consider how you’ll pay for everything. While U.S. dollars and credit cards are generally accepted worldwide, having foreign cash on hand can be more convenient and, in some cases, the only way to pay.When it comes to foreign currency, a little preparation can help you avoid potential markups, or worse, not being able to get the cash you need. Whether you’re planning a trip months in advance, or just about to zip up your suitcase,…

Perplexity AI, a San Francisco-based startup backed by Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), SoftBank, and Jeff Bezos, has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, one of the most widely used internet tools in the world, Bloomberg reports. The offer, sent Tuesday morning, comes as U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is expected to rule in the coming days on remedies in the government’s case against Google, which could include requiring Chrome to be divested to open the search market to competition. Perplexity’s offer stands more than $14 billion above the $20 billion valuation the startup is seeking in…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. July 21, 2025 Federal bank regulatory agencies seek further comment on interagency effort to reduce regulatory burden Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Reserve Board Office of the Comptroller of the Currency For release at 4:00 p.m. EDT The federal bank regulatory agencies today announced their fourth notice requesting public comment to reduce regulatory burden. The Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act requires the agencies to review their regulations at least once…

Executive summary:Large caps make new highsMajor digital asset legislation signed during “Crypto Week”Earnings season kicks off with a strong startU.S. Dollar rallies on increasing trade dealsFOMC holds rates steadyJuly continued the strong run for stocks seeing the S&P 500 up for the third month in a row, and the Nasdaq for the fourth. Interestingly, the S&P 500 didn’t have any significant moves of 1% in either direction, which hasn’t happened since July 2023. The VIX, a measure of market volatility, stayed relatively calm, ending the month around 17. Big tech stocks were the stars of the show, but other sectors…