Author: Money Mechanics

A 5% yield on a 30-year municipal bond is an attractive buying point for high-quality, tax-free investors. However, these levels are not always sustainable. Given the market volatility and expectations of future Federal Reserve rate reductions, it isn’t easy to pinpoint the ideal time to invest. Currently, the long-term insured municipal market is hovering around the 5% yield mark in sectors such as housing, hospitals, charter schools, and municipal utility districts (MUDs). These sectors typically trade at slightly higher yields than school district general obligation (GO) bonds, presenting attractive opportunities due to their pricing dynamics. While the current landscape in…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. September 09, 2025 Federal Reserve Board announces termination of enforcement action with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation New York Branch For release at 11:00 a.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the termination of the enforcement action listed below: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Tokyo, Japan and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation New York Branch, New York, New York Written Agreement dated April 23, 2019 (PDF) Terminated September 4,…

A construction worker is shown on the job site at a multi-unit residential housing project in Encinitas, California, U.S., July 28, 2025. Mike Blake | ReutersWith job growth tanking and the economy wobbling, pressure is on for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, with markets now expecting a cut at each of the three remaining meetings this year.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday that the economy added 911,000 fewer jobs than previously reported for the year preceding March 2025. Downward revisions since the cutoff date in that report suggest that the reduction in payroll growth has been…

Key Takeaways The number of job scams coming through text messages has increased in recent years, as has the amount of money Americans have lost to those scams.In a recent survey, Resume.org found that younger Americans appear to be more vulnerable to the scams compared with their older counterparts.Many Americans said the scams are so common that they are now more hesitant to respond to any outreach about jobs. As generations that grew up alongside the development of personal technology like cell phones, you might think younger Americans would be less susceptible to falling for a scam so simple it’s…

(World Oil)– Diversified Energy Company Plc will acquire Canvas Energy in a $550 million deal that significantly expands the company’s producing assets and acreage positions in Oklahoma. Approximately 23 high-quality producing wells are included in the acquisition. The deal complements Diversified’s existing Oklahoma asset portfolio and is underpinned by high EBITDA margins(a) of ~70%, contributing an estimated $155 million of NTM Adjusted EBITDA(c) before any anticipated synergies. Diversified’s established integration playbook and corporate infrastructure are anticipated to unlock significant and sustainable value with fast, effective and efficient integration. Familiarity with the asset base and the combined operational density provides for…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Novartis said Tuesday it is buying Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion, in a deal that gives the Swiss pharma giant access to the biotech’s late-stage cardiovascular drug pacibekitug. Novartis said it would offer Tourmaline Bio shareholders $48 a share, an almost 60% premium to Tourmaline’s closing price Monday of $30.18.Wedbush downgraded its rating for Tourmaline to “neutral” at the $48 price, noting that Novartis will be able to help Tourmaline advance progress in pacibekitug.  Tourmaline Bio (TRML) shares have had a strong run this year. News that Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NVS) is buying the small biotech firm for $1.4…

Key Takeaways The Bureau of Labor Statistics downwardly revised its estimate for job growth between March 2024 and March 2025 by 911,000.The revision cancels out about half of the job growth during that time, meaning the job market is much weaker than previously thought.The report says nothing about how President Donald Trump’s policies have affected the economy since he wasn’t in office most of that time. It turns out the job market was weaker than previously thought. The U.S. economy added 911,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months through March 2025 than previously reported, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday…

Apple (AAPL) is set to launch its latest iPhones today, in what the tech giant has said will be “awe dropping,” though expectations are muted leading up to the event. The company’s livestream is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET, and you’ll be able to watch it here. Today’s lineup is widely expected to include design upgrades, with a thinner iPhone 17 Air and new backs for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, along with better cameras. Apple could also announce updates to its Apple Watch portfolio and other products. Investors hoping for bigger design changes, like a foldable…

For decades, U.S. taxpayers have paid into Social Security with each paycheck, only to discover later that up to 85% of those hard-earned benefits can be taxed again in retirement.So, many retirees wondered whether 2025 would be the year that Congress would finally pass legislation to provide some relief. That question was amplified, for some, by President Donald Trump’s recent campaign pledge to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits in his second term.However, despite what you may have heard, the GOP mega tax bill signed into law by Trump on July 4, 2025, doesn’t change Social Security taxation. From just…

Key Takeaways Major U.S. equities indexes were little changed at midday Tuesday following a report showing weaker-than-anticipated job growth. UnitedHealth Group shares surged after the insurer gave a positive outlook about its Medicare Advantage members.Freeport-McMoRan shares fell on a mega-merger by copper mining rivals Anglo American and Teck Resources. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were little changed at midday Tuesday following a report showing weaker-than-anticipated job growth. That raised speculation the Federal Reserve could move next week to cut interest rates more than previously thought. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) was the best-performing stock in the Dow and S&P 500 after the…