Author: Money Mechanics

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com One day after the Federal Reserve acted to lower short-term interest rates, the Treasury’s offering of $19 billion in a reopened 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Security — CUSIP 91282CNS6 — drew surprisingly weak demand from investors. The auctioned real yield to maturity for this 9-year, 10-month TIPS ended up at 1.734%, well above the “when-issued” market prediction of 1.684%. This TIPS had been trading on the secondary market with a real yield of 1.69% just before the auction’s close. Also, the bid-to-cover ratio was a weak 2.20, the lowest in three years for this term. Conclusion: investor…

Top tech names were on the guest list for the banquet thrown for President Trump during his second state visit to the UK on Wednesday.  The banquet seating chart included NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang; Apple CEO Tim Cook; venture capitalist and White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks; Alphabet and Google president Ruth Porat; Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff; and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, according to the New York Times. On Thursday, the US and UK signed a partnership called the Tech Prosperity Deal to focus on developing nuclear, AI, and quantum technologies. Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and…

(Oil Price) – The fate of Citgo, the jewel in the crown of Venezuela’s PDVSA, may be decided by the end of this week. The Venezuelan state-owned oil company may lose its prized asset. The creditors that fueled the process that led to the auction for Citgo may be left with empty hands, as well. The U.S.-based refining company used to have a total processing capacity of over 800,000 barrels daily, the biggest U.S. outlet for Venezuelan heavy crude. Yet in 2019, amid tightening U.S. sanctions on the government in Caracas, Citgo cut its ties with the parent company and was…

Key Takeaways Hermitage, Johnstown, and Altoona are the top three Pennsylvania towns that made our list of the 50 best places to retire in the U.S. this year. When choosing a retirement destination, factors like cost of living, health care access, and lifestyle amenities play a crucial role. Pennsylvania doesn’t tax pensions, Social Security income, or retirement account withdrawals.  If you’re looking for a place to retire, consider Pennsylvania. It offers an attractive mix of urban and small-town living, affordability, access to quality health care, and proximity to major metros. Earlier this year, Investopedia compiled a list of 50 of the best…

Getting married is not only a major life event, but one with significant financial implications. That’s especially true of second or blended marriages, which often come with added complexities, such as children from prior marriages and financial obligations like alimony or child support on the part of one or both partners.  To get off to the best possible start, couples embarking on a new marriage may want to resolve a few issues even before they head to the altar. Here are some ways to plan for a happy, harmonious, and financially successful future together. Key Takeaways One key to a…

What do increased fraud, significant costs, and operational inefficiencies all have in common? Paper checks. Or, at least, those were the reasons cited when President Trump issued an executive order earlier this year that mandated the federal government cease paper check payments.The IRS, Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal government agencies are phasing out physical checks by September 30. But where does that leave you?We’ll cover the ins and outs of what to know before the date approaches — so you can be prepared if you’re still receiving paper checks for tax refunds, Social…

Mortgage rates have slipped to their lowest level in nearly a year, creating a pivotal moment for homeowners considering a refinance.Those who bought after 2022, when rates climbed above 6%, now have an opportunity to reassess. Lower borrowing costs can translate into real savings, but the decision hinges on timing, long-term goals and whether the math works out after closing costs.The current surge in refinancing isn’t just about cheaper payments. It’s being driven by signs of a cooling job market, falling Treasury yields and expectations that the Federal Reserve could enter a rate-cut cycle. Together, these forces are reshaping the…

A man in his 80s sitting in a wheelchair, taking a walk in the park with his adult son. gettyI and others have written endlessly about the importance of supporting family caregivers. They are the backbone of the system of care that supports frail older adults and younger people with disabilities. But they get little support from the health care system. Often, their assistance is vastly more important than costly medical treatment.But many family members provide this care with little or no training, no guidance about services that are available to help, and no emotional support. Thus, they deliver care…

The American Express Platinum Card has long been a favorite among frequent travelers and heavy spenders, thanks to its premium rewards and lifestyle perks. American Express recently refreshed the card, adding new benefits valued at up to $3,500 a year.But those perks are paired with a fee increase; American Express increased the current annual fee of $695 to $895 per year.For some cardholders, the new and expanded perks make the fee increase worth it, but for others, the Platinum Card is no longer the great value it once was. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter,…

The ripple effects of each Federal Reserve meeting reach far beyond Wall Street. They shape the rate on your mortgage, the growth of your savings, and even the value of long-term investments.Ahead of the September Fed meeting, mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level since October 2024. The average 30-year fixed rate slipped below 6.5% for the first time in months, thanks to cooling inflation and growing confidence that the Fed may begin cutting rates in the coming quarter.The reaction was immediate: refinance applications spiked nearly 60% last week — the sharpest increase in more than two years. As rates…