Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways The S&P 500 gained 0.3% on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, as a report showed an unexpected downtick in wholesale inflation ahead of Thursday’s Consumer Price Index release.Oracle guided for impressive growth from its cloud infrastructure business, citing strong AI demand, and shares of the enterprise software giant ripped higher.Synopsys shares plunged after the maker of chip design software missed quarterly estimates and lowered its forecasts. Major U.S. equities indexes turned in a mixed performance in the midweek trading session as the August Producer Price Index report revealed an unanticipated decline in wholesale inflation. The signal of moderating price…

Most folks would tell you they want to be at home and not go to “one of those places” to receive care when it’s needed. It sounds like a reasonable request. But when the care gets really complicated and a licensed nurse is needed to maintain the aging parent at home, the cost of care is extremely high. A Real Life Example Sadness in caring for his wifePhotothek via Getty Images Older gentleman, (OG) has been married for many years. His wife developed a breathing problem, for which there is no good solution with medication or surgery. The adult children…

Key Takeaways Oracle shares jumped 36% on Wednesday to a record high after the cloud computing giant reported a massive increase in its backlog of business amid booming demand for AI infrastructure.Analysts at Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, Citi and Jefferies raised their price targets on the stock, pointing to Oracle’s competitive advantage in the AI race.Investors will be looking for more details from the company next month at its AI event, where the company plans to unveil a new AI service. Oracle’s (ORCL) blistering stock gain amid strong AI demand has Wall Street analysts racing to raise their price…

Understanding Social Security can feel overwhelming, but it’s a vital part of your financial future. Whether you’re nearing retirement, just starting your career, or somewhere in between, the program provides a safety net that protects millions of Americans. This quiz is designed to test your knowledge of Social Security’s basic functions, from how benefits are funded to when you can start receiving them. Let’s see what you know!And don’t worry if you miss an answer, you can follow the links below the quiz to brush up on your knowledge.More on Social Security, from the Kiplinger team: From just $107.88 $24.99…

Medicare open enrollment is almost here, and your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter should be arriving soon. If you have a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Plan, this document is crucial. The information inside will help you decide whether to keep your current coverage or find a new plan for the coming year. Don’t make the mistake of keeping your plan on autopilot without reviewing it first.Every fall, Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are required to send an ANOC to their members. The notice provides a detailed summary of all the changes to…

Stocks closed mixed Wednesday, though two of the three main indexes notched new record closing highs. In focus was an encouraging reading on wholesale prices, as well as a broader rally in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, while market participants also kept a close eye on the latest offering to hit the Street.Ahead of the open, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures what businesses are paying suppliers for goods, fell 0.1% from July to August – coming in below economists’ estimates for a 0.3% rise. Year over year, PPI was up 2.6%.”PPI was much…

Key Takeaways Stock values have hit record highs, while measures of the economy’s health have deteriorated in recent months.Experts have identified several reasons the stock market is defying economic gravity, including a weak dollar helping exporters and companies finding ways to deal with President Donald Trump’s tariffs.Stock values and economic measures often move in different directions, since stocks only reflect a small aspect of the economy’s overall health. There’s a massive disconnect between different indicators of the health of the economy: employment and inflation measures are waving red flags, while financial markets are surging, seeing nothing but green.Indeed, stock markets…

Personal loans can be an affordable financing option for major expenses and debt consolidation, but misconceptions around how they work may prevent some people from taking advantage of them. These misunderstandings could also lead to unnecessarily high fees and interest rates. Learning how a personal loan works could not only help you improve your financial situation, but it may also save you money along the way. Here are some common myths about personal loans, along with the real facts you should know before borrowing. Most personal loans are unsecured, so they may have higher interest rates than a secured loan…

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page. UBS analyst A.J. Rice initiated coverage on Ardent Health, Inc. ARDT with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $17. Ardent Health shares closed at $13.48 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock. Oppenheimer analyst Ian Zaffino initiated coverage on Ralliant Corporation RAL with an Outperform rating and announced a price target of $55. Ralliant shares closed at $42.26 on Tuesday. See how other analysts…

Bitcoin’s inverted head and shoulders pattern hints at potential upward breakout, targeting $117,000. Ethereum trades within narrowing consolidation, with key levels set at $4,200 and $4,500. Weaker Bitcoin selling and slowed ETF outflows pause declines; inflation data may shift trends. Looking for actionable trade ideas to navigate the current market volatility? Subscribe here to unlock access to InvestingPro’s AI-selected stock winners. At the start of September, the prices of and are steady after rising in late August. Sellers gained control because money flowed out of Bitcoin-based ETFs and big holders, known as whales, sold off coins. The decline has slowed…