Author: Money Mechanics

KEY TAKEAWAYS Oracle shares advanced in premarket trading Thursday, a day after soaring 36% in their best session since 1992.The surge in Oracle stock yesterday briefly lifted the net worth of chair and co-founder Larry Ellison above that of Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person, according to Bloomberg.Several analysts have lifted their price targets on Oracle, which they see as leading the race to provide AI infrastructure. Oracle (ORCL) shares advanced in premarket trading Thursday, a day after skyrocketing 36% in their best session since 1992. The shares soared after the cloud computing and software giant announced after…

The major U.S. stock indexes rose in early trading on Thursday after consumer inflation data came in as expected, adding to Wall Street’s conviction that the Federal Reserve will resume rate cuts next week. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in early trading on Thursday, as was the Nasdaq Composite, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.3%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh record highs yesterday, boosted by cool wholesale inflation data and a blockbuster earnings report from Oracle. Consumer inflation data came in largely as expected on Thursday, with headline inflation accelerating to 2.9% in August…

Key Takeaways Consumer prices rose 2.9% over the year, the highest annual inflation rate since January.Tariffs pushed up prices as merchants passed the costs of President Donald Trump’s sweeping import taxes on consumers.Grocery prices rose the most in one month since 2022. Inflation continued to crunch household budgets in August as tariffs pushed consumer prices.Prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index rose 2.9% over 12 months ending in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday. Inflation was up from a 2.7% annual increase in July and reached the highest since January, “Core” inflation, which excludes volatile prices for…

While the global business ecosystem has been firmly focused on artificial intelligence and other innovative solutions, key industrial commodities have also risen to the forefront. Increasingly, awareness has been building regarding the enormous scale of resources required to feed the digitalization machinery. However, production of necessary metals and minerals is difficult to come by, potentially presenting a unique opportunity for forward-thinking investors.Fundamentally, one only needs to consider the tremendous burden that generative AI imposes on the supply chain of core resources used in the production of power. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a single request on the popular…

In-brief analysis September 11, 2025 Data source: Natural Gas IntelligenceNote: Prices are adjusted for inflation based on June 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index data. Monthly average natural gas spot prices in the northwestern United States reached historic lows in 2025, as ample supply from Canada coincided with subdued regional demand for natural gas-fired electricity. At Northwest Sumas, a key pricing hub for natural gas in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the daily spot price averaged $1.59 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025 through August and reached its lowest…

“We have automated emails going out, drip campaigns,” he said. “But agents have to know the scheduling of that drip campaign. If they have a conversation with someone today, [they had] better make sure an email doesn’t go out tomorrow saying, ‘Hey, haven’t talked to you forever.’” Franco founded the five-member Michael J. Franco Group in 2013 and joined Compass in 2019. He’s using AI for a range of marketing content, but never as a complete human replacement.  “I’m continuing to push for more (use of AI) in content creation, primarily for marketing,” he said. “It can be everything [from…

The California State Assembly took a big step toward regulating AI on Wednesday night, passing SB 243 — a bill that regulate AI companion chatbots in order to protect minors and vulnerable users. The legislation passed with bipartisan support and now heads to the state Senate for a final vote Friday. If Governor Gavin Newsom signs the bill into law, it would take effect January 1, 2026, making California the first state to require AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions and hold companies legally accountable if their chatbots fail to meet those standards. The bill specifically…

Key Takeaways Novo Nordisk said it is laying off about about 9,000 positions or 11.5% of its workforce in a “transformation” of the drugmaker’s business. The maker of Ozempic and Wegovy said the cuts are part of a plan to help the company grow its diabetes and weight-loss products.Novo Nordisk expects the job reductions will save about $1.25 billion by the end of next year. Novo Nordisk (NVO) is making big job cuts as the weight-loss drugmaker faces growing competition. The pharmaceutical firm said it is slashing about 9,000 positions or 11.5% of its workforce. 5,000 of the cuts will…

Key Takeaways Pueblo, Colorado, is a retirement destination worth considering because of its low cost of living, health care access, and recreational life. Pueblo County’s median monthly housing cost is $1,083.Pueblo County offers over 300 health care establishments and is relatively close to Denver, which has many more specialized facilities. For history buffs and art lovers, Pueblo offers the El Pueblo History Museum and Helen Thatcher White Galleries. With a low cost of living, rich cultural history, health care access, and welcoming community, Pueblo, Colorado, may be an affordable and attractive retirement option for you. Constituting roughly two-thirds of the Pueblo County…

Key Takeaways Synopsys reported quarterly earnings and revenue that missed analysts’ forecasts as sales for its design intellectual property sank.The chip design software maker also gave a weak current-quarter forecast and slashed its full-year outlook.Shares lost a third of their value Wednesday and fell into negative territory for the year. Synopsys (SNPS) shares plunged Wednesday, after the semiconductor design software maker posted quarterly earnings that missed analysts’ expectations and lowered its full-year outlook as demand for its design intellectual property slumped. The stock was down about 35% in recent trading, dragging it into negative territory for the year. Synopsys reported…