Author: Money Mechanics

The U.S. current-account deficit resulting from international economic transactions widened by $5.8 billion, or 2.6 percent, to $226.8 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revised fourth-quarter deficit was $221.1 billion.The first-quarter deficit was 2.9 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter.The $5.8 billion widening of the current-account deficit in the first quarter reflected a shift in the balance on primary income from a surplus in the fourth quarter to a deficit in the first quarter that was partly offset…

Bloomberg / Contributor / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysRAM prices are soaring primarily due to demand for AI.Helium shortages are also contributing to RAM shortages.We’re seeing a domino effect on older RAM as manufacturers try to bypass higher prices.How crazy high are RAM prices right now? So crazy that even moving to RAM technology that’s two decades old won’t help protect consumers from increased costsRising RAM prices are pushing up the prices of all your favorite gadgets, such as Raspberry Pi boards (now a pair of 16GB Pi 5 boards will cost…

Institutions are increasingly using derivative-based ETFs and FLEX Options as complementary tools to achieve precise risk-return outcomes. This panel will explore how products such as buffer and target outcome ETFs, hedged equity structures, and single-name/high-payout ETFs are reshaping institutional allocation models — and how FLEX Options provide the customization needed to support these strategies. Moderator: Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading, WallachBeth Capital Panelists: Sean Truett, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Box Options Market LLC Geoff Gaiss, Vice President Global Derivatives, TRAFiXBurke Ashenden, Head of Capital Markets & Institutional Strategy, Innovator James Maund, Head of…

Virginia lawmakers have approved what appears to be the nation’s first tax on data center electricity use.The budget deal, which ends months of budget negotiations, will impose a new charge on the power used by data centers in the Commonwealth beginning July 1.But…the compromise stops short of rolling back the long-standing and controversial sales tax exemption on equipment that has helped fuel Virginia’s massive data center industry. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for…

The country may be turning 250 this summer, but many Americans didn’t start taking retirement savings seriously until it turned 200.Before that, pensions and Social Security were the primary means of support in old age, but as both declined or faced financial strain, new mechanisms emerged. From the mid-1970s through today, a lot has changed in how Americans save for retirement. For good reasons: We are living longer, and retirements are stretching on for decades.As we commemorate America’s 250th or semiquincentennial birthday, here’s a look at how saving for retirement has evolved over the years. From just $107.88 $24.99 for…

Kylie Jenner has removed her extraordinary concrete megamansion from the market—just six months after listing the modern Los Angeles dwelling for $48 million.The reality TV personality listed the seven-bedroom Holmby Hills property on Dec. 22, according to property records, after purchasing it for $36.5 million in 2020.It remained on the market for several months at the same asking price, however on June 24, that listing was suddenly removed. It’s currently unclear what has prompted Jenner, 28, to take it down. Realtor.com® has contacted Jenner’s spokesperson for comment. When it was first listed with Ginger Glass of Compass, the property was hailed…

The investing road to retirement can be invigorating.You make regular contributions to an IRA or a 401(k), buy individual stocks or find other investments for your money, and you watch your portfolio’s value grow.There might be times when growth halts or you lose money. But you hold steady with your aggressive approach, a rebound happens and the dollar figure trends upward once again. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit…

“Do I have enough to retire?”It’s the question nearly every pre-retiree asks — and it’s often answered with: “Do you have $1 million?”Sometimes it is $1.3 million, and occasionally, it is even higher. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more – straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice…

Here at Kiplinger, we want to ensure that you have the best financial advice at your fingertips — and that you can understand the specialized terminology often used for complex topics such as investing.That’s why we put together this short quiz to test your knowledge on a handful of key investing terms. Knowing what these words and phrases mean will help you stay a step ahead in those big decisions you have to make about what’s in your portfolio and why.And don’t worry if you miss an answer or two. You can follow the links below the quiz to review…

Carlyle Group has started a formal sale process for UK online retailer Very Group, in a deal that values the business at £2bn ($2.63bn), according to The Telegraph. The US private equity company took control of Very last November for a nominal £1 after the Barclay family lost ownership. Carlyle has now appointed Barclays and JP Morgan to run the auction. PwC administrators, who were brought in last year to manage the handover of the company to Carlyle, said the sale is already in progress and is expected to take several months. The Very Group has reportedly drawn initial interest…