Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Market-cap weighted crypto indexes underpin funds that hold huge slugs of bitcoin and ether, but plans for new ones could expand beyond the biggest and well-known coins.The latest comes from S&P Global, which blends coins and cryptocurrency-linked stocks in one index. Big-stock indexes helped draw Americans into the stock market in droves. Will crypto indexes do the same for digital currency? A big name in the index business this week made the latest bid to do just that. S&P Global (SPGI), the shop behind the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, unveiled a crypto-specific blend, adding…

Managing your finances in a tax-efficient way requires planning and understanding of the current tax laws.A key aspect of that planning is being aware of federal income tax brackets. These brackets dictate how much tax you’ll pay on different portions of your income and can have a significant impact on your overall tax liability.Thankfully, the IRS just released the income tax brackets for 2026, allowing you to strategize for the upcoming tax year (returns filed in early 2027). 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…

The IRS released the 2026 standard deduction amounts you’ll use for your 2026 tax return — and they’re higher than ever.The IRS adjusts these amounts for each filing status every year. And since these adjustments are based on inflation, the standard deduction is higher for 2026 compared to last year. Plus, the increased standard deduction amount was recently made permanent under the 2025 GOP spending bill, also referred to by some as the “big beautiful bill” (BBB).Knowing the standard deduction amount for your status can help you determine whether you should plan to itemize or claim the standard deduction next…

Key Takeaways Medicare open enrollment begins Oct. 15, and the federal government could still be shut down at that time.The government shutdown should not affect Medicare enrollment because the program is covered under mandatory government spending; however, it may make it more difficult for beneficiaries to receive assistance during that time. Those looking to sign up for or change their Medicare health and drug plans will get a chance soon. Medicare open enrollment begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. During this time, enrollees can switch their coverage plan that will start Jan. 1. Some beneficiaries are concerned that…

Key Takeaways In a Monster survey, nearly 80% of workers said they’ve been ‘career catfished’ into jobs that didn’t match what was promised, while 13% admitted to misrepresenting themselves to employers.One expert recommends addressing job description discrepancies with your boss before deciding whether to find a new job.For employees, avoiding ‘catfishing’ can mean being honest about your own skills and not exaggerating your work experience. Have you ever been excited to start a new job only to find out a few weeks later that it’s completely different than what you expected? You may have been ‘career catfished’. ‘Career catfishing’ is…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Technology sector myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.The writer is a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and author of ‘Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future’ Each month brings fresh indications that China is catching up with the US on the development of artificial intelligence. At the end of 2024, the Chinese start-up DeepSeek decisively demonstrated that Silicon Valley possesses no monopoly on frontier models. It’s large language AI model was shown to achieve a comparable performance using far fewer chips than those of the US. In the wake of…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Delta Air Lines’ third-quarter results blew past analysts’ estimates, and the carrier raised its full-year outlook. Delta’s results, the first by a major airline this earnings season, drove its shares as well as those of rivals United Airlines and American Airlines higher Thursday. Delta Air Lines (DAL) reported record third-quarter revenue and issued a rosy outlook, driven by higher premium and corporate travel sales. The air carrier’s stock jumped over 6% following the news, making it one of the S&P 500’s best-performing stocks Thursday. Shares of rivals United Airlines (UAL) and American Airlines (AAL) also rose. Delta posted…

You may find that your most fruitful tax breaks aren’t hiding in itemized deductions — but they may be waiting for you after age 65.Data from the IRS shows that 90% of taxpayers choose the standard deduction over itemizing at tax time, including retirees.But where do you start? When federal tax breaks, like the deduction for medical expenses, are disallowed for non-itemizers, claiming the standard deduction can seem counterintuitive. 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…

The pricing dispute between BHP Group and China’s state-run iron ore buyer, China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG), may extend into early 2026, reported Bloomberg, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Negotiations between the two parties have stalled, leading to concerns about the impact on one of BHP’s key trading relationships. Despite the ongoing dispute, BHP has faced minimal disruption to its shipments to China as the company has already fulfilled most of its iron ore allocation for November and December. Following CMRG’s order to halt purchases at the end of last month, BHP offered approximately 50 cargoes to international…

In-brief analysis October 9, 2025 We estimate crude oil inventories in China increased by about 900,000 barrels per day (b/d) between January and August this year, essentially acting as a source of demand by removing barrels from the global markets. The stock builds in China limited the downward price pressure we would otherwise expect to see with growing inventories, keeping the Brent crude oil spot prices in a relatively tight range around $68 per barrel (b) in the second and third quarters of 2025. We estimate global petroleum inventories rose by an average of 1.8…