Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Nebius shares jumped to a record high Tuesday morning after the Amsterdam-based AI infrastructure provider said it has inked an agreement with Microsoft worth up to $19.4 billion over five years.The price broke out from a pennant, a chart pattern that signals a continuation of the stock’s uptrend.The measured move technique forecasts a bullish price target of $176.40. Investors should watch major support levels on the Nebius chart around $87, $76 and $54. Nebius Group shares jumped Tuesday after the Amsterdam-based AI infrastructure provider said it has inked an agreement with Microsoft worth up to $19.4 billion over…

Key Takeaways Retiring early is a great goal, and you may be able to do it on just $750,000 if you have a plan and can keep a handle on your spending. Healthcare is a major expense for early retirees, as most won’t be eligible for Medicare before age 65. Shop around for different plans until you find the most affordable one for your needs. The 4% rule is a good rule of thumb, but early retirees have longer time horizons and may wish to withdraw 3% or 3.5%. You would love to retire early, but you only have $750,000…

U.S. stock futures were mixed before a report on producer prices Wednesday, a day after major indexes set fresh all-time closing highs. Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq and benchmark S&P 500 rose 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, while those tied to the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%. The Federal Reserve will be closely monitoring the release of the latest monthly Producer Price Index (PPI) reading today and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures tomorrow ahead of its meeting next week. Several recent reports showing a weakening of the U.S. labor market have convinced market participants that the Fed is about…

One of the main drivers of the business cycle (and therefore some stocks) is the direction of credit and liquidity. In this sense, these two areas of the United States economy are driven mainly by where interest rates are. They are set to go next, so today’s setup for the Federal Reserve is one of the most important in this current cycle, as it is already creating very high expectations among investors. With this in mind, investors can start examining the first areas of any economy that benefit from lower interest rates before most others, and that is the financial…

Key Takeaways New federal rules let more Affordable Care Act (ACA) shoppers buy catastrophic health care plans.  The change aims to offset rising premiums on the ACA marketplace. A recent law also lets catastrophic plan holders use tax-deferred health savings accounts (HSAs). Catastrophic plans come with low monthly premiums, but high out-of-pocket costs. They may work best for young, healthy people or those in serious financial hardship. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on Thursday that expands access to catastrophic health insurance. Catastrophic health insurance is low-premium, high-deductible coverage that primarily protects plan holders from incurring…

Mandy Xu ▬ September 8, 2025 Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:Implied volatilities were mixed last week as investors weighed labor market weakness against rising odds of additional Fed easing. SPX® options volumes jumped, with over 5M contracts trading on Friday, making it the 2nd highest volume day on record (behind only April 4th). Despite the elevated volume, the VIX® index fell, with investors choosing to focus on the positives of Fed easing rather than the weakening jobs picture. A similar sentiment can be seen in the credit markets with VIXIG down 1 vol pt wk/wk.While SPX ATM…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett’s Japanese holdings, now worth $30.0 billion, have increased significantly in value this year. His biggest investments are in the five largest Japanese trading houses, which often trade below book value and have consistently high annual total yields of 4% or more. He’s said he expects Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) to hold them for decades. Individual investors can access these stocks through Japan-focused exchange-traded funds, but there are added currency and other risks involved. Buffett just made another big bet on Japan, raising his stakes in Japan’s five sogo shosha—major trading houses—to nearly 10% each. That…

Key Takeaways Milwaukee International Airport (score: 99/100) connects to 30+ nonstop destinations via nine major airlines, with downtown just 15 minutes away.  Housing costs average $1,156 monthly—45% below the national average of $2,120—freeing up significant funds for travel. Milwaukee County features 35 hospitals, 1,400 health care establishments, and ranks #26 nationally for health care quality according to U.S. News & World Report. The city offers 15,000 acres of parkland, 135+ miles of trails, and 300+ arts venues, including 28 museums, and hosts 100+ annual festivals. For retirees looking to travel more during their golden years, finding the right home base…

Homeowners are often advised to try to pay off their mortgages ahead of retirement. That way, they’ll have one less expense to contend with once they move over to a fixed income.But while shedding a mortgage payment could free up room in your budget as a retiree, that doesn’t mean you won’t have other homeowner expenses to deal with, like property taxes, maintenance and insurance.The problem is that even with a paid-off home, your costs of ownership could rise in retirement, causing financial stress and making it difficult to keep up. It’s important to understand the costs of continuing to…

When you sell your house, the costs can add up quickly — and one of the biggest expenses is often real estate commissions.Over the years those commissions ballooned to inflated levels, sparking lawsuits over whether the industry kept rates artificially high. That’s what led to a major National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement in 2024.The $418 million settlement was intended to bring more transparency and lower costs for sellers. But nearly a year later, the changes aren’t having the widespread impact many had hoped for. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…