Author: Money Mechanics

Social Security turns 90 years old on August 14. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the program into law in 1935 during the Great Depression. Today, this federal program provides benefits to 70 million retired workers, disabled workers, and their families.At the time the program was enacted, the world was still in the throes of the Great Depression, and, in the absence of welfare programs, poverty was rampant. At the height of the Depression in 1933, 24.9% of the total workforce (12,830,000 people) was unemployed. Things were better for those still employed, but not by much. Wage income for workers fell…

Bitcoin (BTCUSD) prices fell Monday as investors continued to take profits after the token hit record highs last week. The token, which hit a record high of $124,500 early Thursday, was down around 2% at about $115,179. Ether, the second-biggest digital coin, is also down, falling 3% at around $4,335, while XRP dropped around 4%.  President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month that would open the door for workers to invest in crypto and other alternative assets in their 401(k) retirement accounts, buoying prices of the asset class.  Meanwhile, crypto-tied stocks are dropping in premarket trading Monday.…

Key Takeaways Solar stocks surged Monday after the Treasury Department released new guidance on projects that could qualify for clean energy tax credits.While the latest guidelines narrow what kind of projects can apply, analysts said they are less restrictive than feared.First Solar, Sunrun, Enphase Energy, and SolarEdge shares all climbed Monday. Solar stocks are surging after the Treasury Department released guidance on the kind of projects that can qualify for clean energy tax credits that was less restrictive than investors feared. Shares of First Solar (FSLR) were up over 9% in recent trading, making it the best-performing stock in the…

Bitcoin’s meteoric rise has shattered expectations time and again. What once seemed impossible—a $100,000 bitcoin price—was obtained in December 2024 as the cryptocurrency surged to new highs following the U.S. elections. Now, investors and skeptics alike are asking: could bitcoin really hit $1 million? Let’s explore what could drive bitcoin toward that elusive $1 million mark—and what stands in its way. Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s price reached $100,000 in December 2024, driven by institutional adoption and spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) approvals.The cryptocurrency’s supply continues to decrease through regular “halving” events, potentially supporting long-term price growth.While historical trends suggest a continued upward…

Eric Qian ▬ August 7, 2025 The first outcome-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) introduced in 2018 featured buffer fund mandates comprised of variations on a funded option collar that set a target buffer over an outcome period defined by the strategy’s time to expiration.Cboe® was well-equipped to support ETFs with these directives as structured products regularly use bespoke option strategies. With the right market structure in place, outcome-based ETFs have flourished alongside their structured note predecessors, bringing to market a diversity of reference assets, buffer ranges and risk mandates in an accessible, transparent wrapper.Road to $100 BillionOutcome-based ETFs quietly surpassed…

Key Takeaways Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole economic conference could shed light on whether the central bank will cut interest rates in September.Powell may signal that the Fed will pivot to cutting interest rates on concerns that a recent slowdown in the job market could turn into a worrisome rise in unemployment.On the other hand, Powell could throw cold water on that idea, since inflation has started to rise after President Donald Trump’s tariffs went into effect.Powell could also avoid addressing the issue one way or another. Wall Street will be listening closely to Federal…

If you are or were an AT&T subscriber, you might be entitled to a payout from the AT&T data breach settlement.The $177 million AT&T settlement addresses two data breaches that occurred, jeopardizing subscribers’ personal information and leading to financial losses for some. If you were affected, you can still file a claim.These breaches impacted millions of current and former customers, with sensitive data surfacing on the dark web and being illegally accessed from a third-party cloud platform. We’ll break down the timeline of both incidents, what information was compromised and who qualifies for payments. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be…

Broadcom stock has been on fire over the past year, racking up gains of 109%. The company’s booming artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor and networking business has fueled impressive revenue and profit growth. Broadcom’s upcoming financial report will mark a crucial test for the highflier. 10 stocks we like better than Broadcom › When it comes to technology solutions, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) occupies a pivotal position in this ever-evolving landscape. The company’s products underpin a wide swath of tech infrastructure, and the paradigm shift that is artificial intelligence (AI) has taken it to the next level. Much to the delight of…

There are a lot of big changes that might shape how stocks trade in the future — from 24-hour trading to AI and tokenization. Over the past year, major exchanges, including Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange, Cboe (in the U.S.) and the London Stock Exchange have all announced plans to extend the equity trading hours toward 24 hours a day. Clearing and settlement (DTCC) and the Consolidated Tape (SIP) will also need to be upgraded.Today we’re going to look at what research says about how overnight trading works now. The data points might help us work out how 24-hour trading…

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / PlayerFM  More individual investors are feeling optimistic right now than they’ve felt all year, according to our recent investor sentiment survey. And with stocks dancing around record highs, strong corporate earnings, and less bite than bark from tariffs, everyday investors are leaning into their favorite stocks and ETFs. Kevin Gordon of Charles Schwab joins us for a vibe check and sets the scene for the rest of the year. Plus, IPOs are popping like it’s 1995 all over again and the gains are sticking—at least for now. What’s different and the same about this bull market compared to…