Author: Money Mechanics

Wise men say only fools rush in, but now big oil can’t help falling in love with Venezuela. Oh sure—after the experts scoffed at President Trump’s call to invest in Venezuela, they are now knocking down the doors, or at least taking a second look at, to get in as the progress being made in the country with the biggest proven oil reserves on the planet, not to mention gold and rare earth minerals is looking too good to ignore. This is good to keep in mind because the naysayers trying to paint Operation Epic Fury as a flop are…

A one-of-a-kind Georgian manor located just 20 minutes from Richmond, VA, has found a buyer after just two days on the market.Known as Walnut Hill Farm, the Greek Revival–influenced home was listed in April for $4.25 million and offers more than 6,500 square feet of interior living space defined by its historic character and craftsmanship.Set amid the rolling countryside in western Hanover County, the five-bedroom home was completed in 1954 for celebrated Richmond philanthropists J. Harwood and Louise Cochrane. It was comprehensively renovated by its current owners in 2023.The property encompasses 40 acres.Realtor.comThe 6,500 square foot homeRealtor.comViews from the front…

pros and cons Pros Simple, no-fuss gadget.Reboots every 24 hours.No apps, buttons, or settings. Cons No option to change reboot interval.No indication of how long until it reboots.Only one DC jack size. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.It’s a fact of life that consumer-grade routers can be a bit… rubbish. Sure, you can solve many of your internet-related woes by buying a bunch of high-end gear and then connecting to a high-speed internet pipe, but most people don’t have the cash or inclination to do that. Most people just want their reels to load faster.Also: I retested Apple AirTags…

This week’s Baker Hughes Rig Count shows that the U.S. increased by 3 last week, resulting in a total count of 547 rigs. Canada decreased by 7 over last week, resulting in a total Canadian count of 123 rigs. Breakdown by region Of the regions tracked by Baker Hughes, the Eagle Ford, and Haynesville regions experienced an increase this week. Meanwhile, 1 region experienced a decrease this week: The Permian is down 1, at 241. Major Basin Variances This Week +/- Ardmore Woodford 1 0 Arkoma Woodford 1 0 Barnett 1 0 Cana Woodford 20 0 DJ-Niobrara 9 0 Eagle…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For most people, the dream of retirement is a dream of relief.No more early morningsNo more deadlinesNo more showing up when you don’t want toAfter decades of work — physical or professional — the promise of doing nothing can seem like the most reasonable reward in the world.The problem is not that the dream is wrong. The problem is that the dream stops too soon. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)When people talk about “the 1%,” they often picture seven-figure salaries, corner offices and big bonuses. But income alone doesn’t tell the full story. The top 1% is defined by net worth — not just what you earn each year.Your net worth is everything you own, including investments, retirement accounts, home equity and businesses, minus everything you owe, like mortgages, loans and credit cards. It’s a snapshot of what you’ve built over time, not just what’s coming in.Understanding that distinction, and how your own net worth compares, can help you make more intentional decisions about saving, investing…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Question: We are in our 60s and comfortably retired. Our daughter wants a $200K advance on her inheritance to buy a home. We’re not opposed, but what’s the cleanest way to proceed to avoid resentment? We already paid $75K for her wedding and chipped in much less for her two brothers’ weddings. To our horror, her brothers say we are being sexist! But she earns less than them.Are they right, or are we just recognizing that daughters may need more financial help than sons?Answer: One of the most crucial things you might have to do as a…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Your trip to the grocery store might soon look different. Proposed bills in several states might change the way that stores are able to use self-checkout lanes. If you’re a fan of the speed and convenience these checkouts offer, you might find them subjected to some extra regulations soon.States are implementing new self-checkout rules in an attempt to reduce retail theft. Ohio Senate Bill 415, introduced in April, would implement several requirements on self-checkouts. If passed, the bill would require stores to offer at least one staffed checkout, have at least one employee supervising each three self-checkouts…

In-depth analysis April 27, 2026 This TIE was modified to address a correction in terminology and update a link. Electric utilities in the United States currently operate about 98 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear generating capacity, but very little nuclear capacity has been built in the last few decades. High capital costs and lengthy licensing and approval processes have limited the expansion of nuclear power. However, several companies are developing new small modular reactor (SMR) designs aimed at reducing capital costs and increasing siting flexibility, challenges associated with traditional nuclear power. The generating capacity of a…

More homeowners are putting their houses on the market, with new listings increasing for the second week in a row after five straight months of declines.  U.S. pending home sales rose 2.7% year over year during the four weeks ending April 26, the biggest increase in six weeks. Mortgage-purchase applications have risen to their highest level in three months.  There are a few reasons more homebuyers are on the hunt: Affordability is improving. The weekly average mortgage rate has dropped to 6.23% from a seven-month high of 6.46% at the start of April, pushing the median monthly housing payment down…