Author: Money Mechanics

A quieter July in catastrophe loss terms resulted in US insurer Allstate only reporting $184 million in pre-tax impacts from severe weather events, which has lifted the total for the current annual aggregate risk period for its catastrophe bonds to $2.174 billion so far.It remains a relatively heavy start to the annual aggregate year of its catastrophe bonds, in pre-tax overall catastrophe loss terms. But, it’s important to remember that not all of these catastrophe losses will qualify to erode the cat bond aggregate retentions, especially in a lighter month with numerous smaller events. Allstate’s annual aggregate year for its…

From time to time on this blog, I circle back to the question of the balance of deficits. In my mind, as our economy goes through whatever the “Trump Transition” is, the biggest risk to the bond markets is not from some fear about whether the Treasury will default or whether the US dollar will cease to be the world’s currency of choice for reserves (neither of which I think is going to happen any time soon) but that large secular changes in the balances of savings and dollar demand could lead to outsized moves in interest rates. First, let…

Stocks fell in early trading Thursday as investors brace for tomorrow’s highly anticipated speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 0.3% recently, while the S&P 500 (SPX) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) each slipped 0.2%. The benchmark S&P 500 index came into today’s session on a four-session losing streak, led by declines in technology sector stocks, after posting a series of record highs in previous weeks. Market participants were keeping an eye on a handful of economic reports this morning. The big event, though, is the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium,…

TeraWulf Inc WULF shares are trending Thursday. Here’s a look at what’s going on. What To Know: TeraWulf said in a regulatory filing late Wednesday that it completed its previously announced $850 million private offering of convertible senior notes due 2031 on Aug. 20. The total net proceeds from the offering were approximately $828.7 million. The company intends to use $85.5 million of the proceeds to pay the cost of capped call transactions. The remaining proceeds will be used to fund part of the company’s data center expansion. The news comes after TeraWulf announced Monday that Fluidstack exercised its option…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. June 26, 2025 Federal Reserve Board announces approval of application by Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd. For release at 4:30 p.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced its approval of the application by Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd., of Taipei, Taiwan, to upgrade its existing limited state-licensed branch in Los Angeles, California, to a full-service branch. For media inquiries, please email [email protected] or call (202) 452-2955. Last Update: June 26, 2025 …

Google is launching a global expansion of AI Mode, its experimental feature that allows users to ask complex questions and follow-ups to dig deeper on a topic directly within Search, the company announced on Thursday. The tech giant is also bringing new agentic and personalized capabilities to the feature. As part of the expansion, Google is bringing AI Mode to 180 new countries in English. Up until now, it’s only been available to users in the U.S., U.K., and India. Google plans to bring the feature to more languages and regions soon. In terms of the new agentic features, users…

For many senior executives, corporate board service lives on the “someday” list — a post-retirement goal or final career chapter. But waiting too long may be one of the biggest missed opportunities in executive development today.The best time to prepare for a board role isn’t after you’ve stepped down. It’s while you’re still in the thick of your career, when your influence is high, your experience is current and your network is strong.Active executives stand outToday’s boards aren’t just looking for prestige or past titles. They want directors who bring a real-time perspective and relevant leadership experience. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s…

While tax planning might not be on your bucket list as we head into fall, neglecting your finances at this time of year can be costly.However, with less than five months left in the year, it’s a great time to reflect on your current situation and make needed adjustments to take the pressure off when April 2026 rolls around.First on the listStart by looking at your withholdings. If you’re withholding too little or too much, or if your income has significantly changed in recent months, now is the time to make updates to avoid scrambling in the new year or…

Time was when Chris and Kathy Perry, both 63, dreamed of retiring somewhere coastal. Maybe they’d relocate to Cape Cod, where they’d enjoyed many a family vacation. Or Maine, where their sons now live. “Being near water has always been important to us,” says Kathy Perry, a teacher in Katonah, N.Y. “We love kayaking, taking long beach walks.”As their retirement has drawn closer, though, another concern has come into play: The rise of extreme weather events across the U.S. “Climate has become an extra cloud looming over our plans,” says Kathy.Being able to afford the coastal home of their dreams,…

If rising travel costs are holding you back, the right credit card could help. The best travel rewards credit cards feature many unique perks that allow you to save on travel costs, from booking flights to dining out.Beyond savings, some cards can also upgrade your experience, offering late check-outs, resort credits and room upgrades when you book through their travel portals.To show how much value these cards can deliver, we’ve broken down how much you could save on a $10,000 trip using two top travel rewards cards. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up…