Author: Money Mechanics

Investors, traders and speculators stepped back after a furious rally triggered by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.With the direction of interest rates seemingly settled, attention has turned to the biggest stock ever by market capitalization and the most important company on the planet amid a still-expanding artificial intelligence revolution.”The baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” was all Powell had to say Friday for market participants to price in easier money. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to…

Key Takeaways A new Nationwide survey found that 61% of U.S. adults that currently receive or expect to receive Social Security said they wouldn’t survive financially if they were forced to miss even half a monthly benefits payment.More than 80% of Americans are concerned about the long-term outlook of Social Security, and nearly 22 million U.S. reitrees rely on the program’s benefits as their only source of income.Younger generations are particularly concerned about whether they will receive benefits when they are eligible, and financial advisors are cautioning some to plan for the worst. More than half of Social Security recipients said…

Key Takeaways The number of visitors to Las Vegas fell by 11% in June, and was down 7% through the first six months of this year. Over a whole year, 7% would be the largest decline in more than 50 years, bigger than the drop felt during the Great Recession. Experts have pointed to several reasons for the drop, from a lackluster U.S. economy to a decline in international travel and changing habits among generations. Las Vegas, one of America’s most popular tourist destinations, is showing signs of a downturn. Data released at the end of July showed that visitor…

Key Takeaways Inflation likely stayed too hot for comfort in July, according to economists’ expectations of the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure.”Core” inflation, which excludes volatile prices for food and energy, likely rose to 2.9% over the last 12 months, up from 2.8% in June.President Donald Trump’s far-reaching campaign of tariffs is raising prices for a wide range of products, pushing the inflation rate.The Fed aims to keep inflation running at a 2% annual rate, but it hasn’t for more than four years. The Federal Reserve’s favorite measure of inflation likely stayed higher than the central bank’s target in July, according…

Mandy Xu ▬ July 14, 2025 Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:Implied volatilities fell across asset classes last week despite renewed trade headlines as investors largely shrugged off the new tariff threats. Credit volatility declined the most, with VIXIG index falling over 3 pts to 23bps vol, trading almost 1 std. dev. below its long-term average and screening as the cheapest cross-asset vol. All this is far cry from the last time President Trump threatened large-scale tariffs against US trading partners, when implied volatilities surged across asset classes following the “Liberation Day” announcement. The lack of a reaction…

Artificial intelligence bellwether Nvidia (NVDA) is slated to report quarterly results after markets close on Wednesday, and traders are prepared for a big stock move. Nvidia stock is expected to move approximately 6.5% in either direction by the end of the week, according to options pricing data. That big of a move from last week’s close would put shares at either $189.65, an all-time high that translates to a $4.63 trillion market capitalization, or $166.33, its lowest price since mid-July.  Nvidia has reported earnings 10 times since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022 sparked the AI craze that’s made…

Whether you took time off to raise a child, care for a loved one, recover from illness, or reassess your career path, reentering the workforce can feel overwhelming. You’re far from alone. LinkedIn surveyed 23,000 employees and found that 62% had taken a break from their careers and 35% expressed interest in taking one at some point in the future. Re-entering the workforce can be daunting. Knowing the key building blocks, including reframed resume gaps, strategic upskilling, and confident networking can help you relaunch your career. Key Takeaways After a career break, focus on the skills and unique qualifications that…

Rivian Automotive’s (NASDAQ:RIVN) upcoming R2 SUV could drive significant growth, with Needham analyst Chris Pierce projecting strong demand and a larger market reach. Pierce said Rivian’s $50,000 R2, supported by high brand awareness and positive consumer sentiment, is well-placed to beat modest 2026 estimates. He reiterated Rivian with a Buy and a $14 price forecast. Pierce said Rivian is well-positioned to capture market share with the upcoming R2 mid-size SUV, projecting significant growth potential as the company enters a broader, more competitive market segment. Also Read: Rivian Shares Rise as EV Maker Upgrades R1 Models With Smarter Sensors, Smoother Driving…

At the end of last week, the US dollar dropped sharply after Fed Chair Jerome hinted at a possible during his . By stressing the risks in the , Powell signaled that the Fed is now focusing more on protecting employment than fighting inflation. This pushed market expectations for a 0.25% rate cut in September up to 85%, and the fell to its lowest level in four weeks. While the decline has paused at the start of this week, upcoming key economic data will likely decide the US dollar’s next move.Fed’s Position: Dovish Tilt With a Data-Dependent PathPowell’s comments suggest…

Key Takeaways U.S. equities were mixed and little changed ahead of more big corporate earnings reports scheduled for this week.Keurig Dr Pepper is buying coffee maker JDE Peet’s and will split into two, coffee and soft drinks.Netflix’s “Kpop Demon Hunters” scored a big-box office take when it was shown in movie theaters this weekend. U.S. equities were mixed and little changed at midday as the market awaited more key corporate earnings reports this week, including from Nvidia (NVDA). The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell, while the Nasdaq gained.  Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) was the worst-performing stock in…