Author: Money Mechanics

In this edition of The Price Point—a weekly series where Redfin data journalists explore current housing inventory across a rotating combination of budgets and metro areas—we’re looking at the million-dollar market. The $1 million price point was once synonymous with luxury—but as home prices continue to rise, it’s increasingly tagged on more conventional properties. Still, as with any price point, geography does a lot of heavy lifting; the same budget opens entirely different doors depending on where you look. This week, our lens is pointed on three distinct markets: Asheville, NC; Bend, OR; and Richmond, VA. Each offers a version…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Love might be priceless, but weddings certainly aren’t. If you’re footing the bill for your kid’s big day (or for your own nuptials), it’s important not to allow the age-old wedding tradition of “something borrowed” to mean long-term debt that you’ll carry for years.Weddings can be expensive, but they don’t have to become financial burdens that stick around like an uninvited guest at the buffet.The modern wedding comes with inflation, not just flowers The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is around $36,000, a number that has consistently inched up in the past few years.…

Americans have never owed more on their homes. With interest rates and home prices climbing steadily for years, mortgage debt has become the defining financial burden of a generation—and new data shows just how heavy that load has become. Surprisingly, the states where that debt is growing fastest aren’t coastal hot spots like California or New York—they’re such places as Alaska, Delaware, and even Kentucky and Alabama.Currently, mortgage debt is by far the biggest category of debt for Americans, with the average household owing about $109,000 and our total balance reaching $13.2 trillion, according to WalletHub. The personal finance site ranked all…

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary – Moby Operational Context and Strategic Positioning Performance was characterized by a divergence between 11% subscription growth and lower-than-expected product revenues, primarily due to a comprehensive go-to-market (GTM) model reset. The GTM transition involved reassigning account managers and optimizing channel strategies, which created short-term disruption in sales execution rhythm, particularly within the appliance business. Management attributes the product revenue miss to internal execution friction rather than macroeconomic factors, noting that the transition is a deliberate move to scale for long-term multi-pillar growth. The emerging technology portfolio, including Email Security, CTEM,…

miners’ stocks are revaluing higher, normalizing into a new higher-price regime. Technically this is evident in their current high consolidation after soaring last year. The miners’ fantastic fundamentals at these lofty prevailing gold prices also more than justify much-higher stock prices. This sector’s growing market capitalization as it revalues is bullish, expanding funds’ interest in gold stocks and willingness to invest. As January 2025 dawned almost 16 months ago, I wrote an essay predicting last year would prove gold stocks’ revaluation year. At the time that thesis was hardcore contrarian, as gold stocks’ performance in 2024 was shockingly-poor. merely eked…

Adoption of advanced technology and artificial intelligence are serving to expand addressable markets for the insurance and reinsurance industry, with digital infrastructure one example where data analytics are expected to help Aon access institutional sources of capital for its clients, CEO Greg Case explained today.During Aon’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call today, Greg Case highlighted how his firm has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) within the business and also the risk capital opportunity presented by the digital infrastructure and data centre build-out. Importantly, he explained that the adoption of AI and advanced technology helps Aon unlock more and more diverse sources of…

Kevin Warsh- FED Chair The Federal Reserve just made history — and not in a way anyone expected. After holding rates unchanged for a third straight meeting, the most divided Fed vote in 34 years is already signaling what a new era under incoming Chairman Kevin Warsh might look like. Jerome Powell’s Final Act: An 8-4 Vote That Speaks Volumes Jerome Powell chaired what is almost certainly his last Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on April 30, 2026, and the committee did not go quietly. The Fed voted 8-4 to hold rates steady, the most fractured result since 1992.…

Adam Breeden/ZDNETGreat news for T-Mobile customers — if you’ve got an Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plan, Hulu with ads is now automatically included as a free benefit, along with Netflix. Customers on the new Better Value phone plan and the All-In Home Internet plan also get Hulu and Netflix. Also: The best live TV streaming services in 2026T-Mobile has a reputation for being an affordable phone and internet provider, offering a ton of coverage without breaking the bank — especially if you enroll in one of the new Better Value family plans. (Plus, special discounts are available to first responders, those…

(World Oil) – Occidental Petroleum said President and CEO Vicki Hollub will retire effective June 1, 2026, with Chief Operating Officer Richard Jackson set to assume the role. Source: Reuters Jackson will also join the company’s board of directors upon becoming CEO. Hollub, who has led Occidental since 2016, will remain on the board following her retirement, providing continuity during the leadership transition. The move follows what the company described as a decade-long transformation that strengthened its portfolio and technical capabilities. “With this strong foundation in place, a clear path forward and a leader like Richard… now is the right time for this transition,” Hollub said,…

As we navigate the peak spring homebuying season, the economic backdrop remains characterized by a persistent “cloudy” outlook. While geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have injected a fresh dose of volatility into financial markets, the latest data suggests a housing market that is remarkably resilient, albeit one that is undergoing a complex rebalancing.In what marked Jerome Powell’s final meeting as Federal Reserve chairman, the FOMC opted to hold rates steady. However, the most telling aspect of that meeting wasn’t the decision itself, but the dissension.With four members expressing differing views on policy or statement language, it is clear that…