Author: Money Mechanics

Question: I’m 51 and my portfolio is up. I’m planning to retire in nine years, at the age of 60, so I want to start moving out of stocks to lower my portfolio risk. Is that smart?Answer: In the years leading up to retirement, it’s common to start rethinking your investment strategy. And part of that could mean shifting into assets that are less volatile.But how soon is too soon? 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…

Key Takeaways Meta Platforms is expected to showcase its latest AI-powered glasses at a developer conference this week.HSBC analysts said the move could help position Meta as an early leader in a new category of devices with the potential to drive growth.More smart glasses are expected from Apple, Amazon and other competitors in the coming years. Meta Platforms is looking to AI-powered glasses to drive growth, which some Wall Street analysts said could help position the tech giant as an early leader in a new category of devices. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is widely expected to showcase Meta’s (META) latest AI…

(Removes extraneous “as” in headline, no other change to text) By Chibuike Oguh and Sara Rossi NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) – An index of world equity markets edged higher in choppy trading after hitting a record high on Tuesday ahead of the widely expected start of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cutting cycle, while U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar fell. MSCI’s all-country index was a shade higher by 0.04% after rising as far as 978.74, a record high. Wall Street stocks erased earlier session gains and finished lower, with utilities and real estate making the most losses while energy and…

Martin Shkreli, also popularly known as ‘Pharma Bro,’ announced late Tuesday that he has taken a short position against iBuying real estate company Opendoor Technologies Inc. OPEN.Check out OPEN’s stock price here. Pharma Bro To Launch Public Due Diligence Against OPENIn a post on the social media platform X, Shkreli revealed he shorted the stock at $9.36, marking his first trade in the company. He also declared his intention to launch a public due diligence campaign into the firm.“This is the first trade I’ve made in the stock,” Shkreli wrote, before detailing his unconventional next steps. “I will be doing…

Municipal bonds often get painted with a broad brush stroke a lot of the time. Investors typically bundle these bonds together in a single package and think of them as a one-off allocation. A package that simply offers tax-free income. However, the municipal market is quite complex, with a variety of different securities, sub-asset classes, and features that investors can leverage at different times to boost returns. One of them is callability. A large subset of municipal bonds features a provision that allows states and other municipal entities to repay the bonds before their final maturity. And while that may…

Interior of cheese monger specialist cheese shop, Mons cheese mongers, East Dulwich, London, England, UK. Geography Photos | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesThe U.K.’s annual inflation rate was steady at 3.8% in August, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday.Economists polled by Reuters had expected inflation to reach 3.8% in the twelve months to August.August core inflation, which excludes more volatile energy, food, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose by an annual 3.6%, down from 3.8% in the twelve months to July.”The cost of airfares was the main downward driver this month with prices…

Urban Company, India’s largest home services platform, stormed onto the public markets on Wednesday, opening 58% above its issue price after delivering the country’s most subscribed IPO of the year. The Gurugram-based startup, which connects users to at-home services ranging from beauty treatments to appliance repair, debuted on the Mumbai-based National Stock Exchange at ₹162.25 per share (approximately $1.84), up from its IPO issue price of ₹103. The offering, which opened last week, was subscribed over 100 times, meaning investors placed orders for 100 times more shares than were available, signaling robust demand from both institutional and retail investors. Urban…

(BOE Report) – Plains All American’s crude oil pipelines linking the Permian shale basin to the Corpus Christi export hub in Texas are facing quality issues related to high mercaptans, or naturally-occurring sulfur compounds, according to sources familiar with the matter and a notice seen by Reuters. Starting October 1, Plains will charge a half-dollar fee on every barrel that fails to meet mercaptan specifications on some of its pipelines in the Gulf Coast region, according to a notice to shippers seen by Reuters and two of the sources. The sources requested anonymity to discuss confidential information. Plains did not…

Key Takeaways A steady, well-paying job provides you with the security you need to plan for your financial future, while a passion fuels your creativity. You can have both by pursuing your passion through freelancing and side hustles in addition to keeping a stable, full-time job. To find the right job for you, research a company’s background, do labor market research, and reach out to people who work at the company for insights on working there. It can be tough deciding whether to pursue your passion or get a more practical job. Would you prefer doing something you love everyday…

Key Takeaways Original Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services, unless they’re tied to another covered procedure. Some Medicare Advantage (MA) plans include dental benefits. The American Dental Association (ADA) says MA dental coverage is often limited, confusing, and inconsistent. In a letter to Congress, it called for reforms to expand seniors’ access to care.  To avoid unexpected costs, you should ask about provider networks, what’s covered, annual maximums, waiting periods, and out-of-pocket expenses before enrolling. Alternatives to MA dental benefits include standalone dental insurance, discount programs, or bundled dental, vision, and hearing plans that may provide broader coverage. What the…