Author: Money Mechanics

The first days of public trading for Figma (NYSE: FIG) have been a study in market extremes. After being priced at $33 per share for its Initial Public Offering (IPO), the stock exploded, surging over 250% to a high of $142.92 on its first day. This euphoria was quickly met with a dose of reality, as the stock saw a sharp correction in the following sessions. Volatility has left investors asking a critical question: Is Figma a revolutionary company priced for a perfect future, or a high-risk investment whose initial hype has outpaced its fundamentals? A detailed examination of the…

Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $151.0 billion in 2024, according to preliminary statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Expenditures decreased $24.9 billion, or 14.2 percent, from $176.0 billion (revised) in 2023 and were below the annual average of $277.2 billion for 2014–2023. As in previous years, acquisitions of existing U.S. businesses accounted for most of the expenditures.Expenditures in 2024 for acquisitions were $143.0 billion, expenditures to establish new U.S. businesses were $6.3 billion, and expenditures to expand existing foreign-owned businesses were $1.8 billion. Planned total expenditures, which include…

Although the Canadian bond bears had some excitement a few years ago, the recent experience has been quite subdued despite a certain amount of macroeconomic fireworks (figure above).My eyeballing of the Canadian curve suggests that it is pricing a plausible macroeconomic scenario: the economy faces weakness due to a certain someone south of the border hammering out tariff rate posts, but the weakness is somewhat manageable, and possibly only mild cuts are needed. Supply chain disruptions and tariffs might put some upward pressure on prices, but that would be offset by the prospect of weaker growth.This puts the 10-year Government…

Trimmed CPI – Created by Bing AIInflation is one of the most important indicators that economists, policymakers, and financial markets monitor to understand the health of the economy. However, inflation data can often be “noisy”, with prices for some goods and services swinging wildly from month to month. This can be due to supply shocks, seasonal changes, or temporary anomalies. For instance, a frost in California can drive up the price of Orange Juice, a war in the Middle East can spike the price of oil, or rumors of a new tariff can affect the cost of electronics from China.To…

Key Takeaways Economists said there’s no turnaround in sight for a housing market that’s short on properties and long on costs.Housing starts rose in July, but building permits were lower. This indicates that builders will likely be unable to sustain their momentum in the coming months.Home sales in July were the slowest in more than a decade, as homes stayed on the market an average of 43 days. Despite the slow pace of home sales, inventory dropped, as frustrated sellers pulled houses off the market amid affordability pressures for buyers. Homebuilders were busier in July, but are still having trouble selling…

Key Takeaways Loan availability can reduce the psychological barrier to joining a 401(k), especially for first-time savers.Costs are often lower than credit cards or personal loans, but lost investment growth can be significant.Among the risks, leaving a job can force immediate repayment, risking taxes and penalties if you can’t pay back the balance. Many retirement experts warn against borrowing from your 401(k), but for some workers—especially lower-income or first-time savers—the option to take a loan can make all the difference in paying off high-interest debt or whether they join a retirement plan at all. According to Vanguard, 80% of the…

Good afternoon and thank you to the organizers of the 2025 Wyoming Blockchain Symposium for inviting me to speak to you today.1 It is an honor to be included in this year’s event, which is being held at a critical moment for American leadership in the digital asset space. We are at the beginning of what appears to be a seismic shift in the way we think about money, value, and the fabric of our financial system. This shift is not just about incremental changes or tweaks to the existing system. What we are witnessing has the potential to fundamentally…

Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, and Donald Trump, America’s president, do not share many similarities. Nehru was an erudite product of Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge; Donald Trump, for all his expensive education, is ultimately a rough-and-tumble graduate of New York real estate. A freedom fighter before becoming prime minister, Nehru spent nine years in British-run jails having campaigned against imperial rule; Mr Trump’s tangles with the law have involved hush money for a porn star. Nevertheless, Nehru’s Fabian socialism—a patrician distrust of commerce mixed with an intellectual love of scientific progress—means his views on trade are, many…

In-brief analysis July 28, 2025 Crude oil production from onshore federal lands has increased in recent years as a result of significant growth in drilling activity and operations. According to data collected by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue, onshore crude oil production from federal lands reached 1.7 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2024, a record high. Most of this growth was in New Mexico from crude oil produced from federal lands in the Permian Basin. Increases in crude oil production from federal lands in New Mexico are attributable…

U.S. home prices fell 0.1% in July, the third month-over-month decline in the past three months. On a year-over-year basis, home prices rose 2.9%, the lowest annual rate in Redfin’s records going back to 2012. A record 39 of the top 50 U.S. metros saw month-over-month price declines. U.S. home prices nudged 0.1% lower in July on a seasonally adjusted basis—the third consecutive month that prices posted a monthly decline.  On a year-over-year basis, price growth slowed to 2.9%, the lowest rate recorded in Redfin Home Price Index (RHPI) data going back to 2012. This is according to the Redfin…