Author: Money Mechanics

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The Iran war has been good for European oil majors. Rising prices have left companies such as BP and Shell with a new influx of cash. But not all have the freedom to choose what they do with it. Consider BP. In volatile and snarled-up energy markets, the group’s traders are making money hand over fist. The company on Tuesday reported a 43 per cent improvement in overall adjusted profit before tax compared to the immediately preceding quarter, thanks to the segment…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Spring often brings a sense of fresh starts, and for some families, that includes moving forward with a separation or divorce. If you’re navigating that transition, it’s easy to focus on the big decisions like housing, custody and dividing assets.But there’s one area that tends to quietly cause long-term financial damage if ignored: your credit cards. Shared accounts, lingering balances and unclear responsibility can follow you long after the paperwork is finalized. And the reality is, your credit card issuer doesn’t care what your divorce decree says; they care whose name is on the account.Here’s how to…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Oil & Gas industry myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.TotalEnergies’ profits jumped almost a third in the first quarter as the Iran war pushed oil prices higher and created volatility that drove strong revenues in its trading business. The French oil major managed to increase production outside the Gulf, with projects starting in Brazil and Libya, helping make up for shutdowns of some of its operations in the Middle East. The group is more directly exposed to the conflict than some peers, with 15 per cent of its oil and…

All eyes are on Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, Jerome Powell’s likely last as Fed chair. No major policy change is expected, but every word from Powell’s final press conference could tip expectations for the path ahead. Don’t expect drama, but do expect every phrase to move markets. Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting is set to be one of the most closely watched of the year in what is expected to be Jerome Powell’s final policy gathering at the helm of the U.S. central bank. With markets unanimously expecting the Fed to steady, the real action will be in the statement, the tone…

Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Lower Manhattan, this two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom loft-style apartment is listed for $2,199,000.  Located a block from City Hall Park and close to the Brooklyn Bridge too, this 1,700 square-foot apartment has 16-foot ceilings and 11-foot arched windows. It is what listing agent Eithan Davidov from Compass called a “one-of-a-kind-apartment.” The apartment has two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. Photo credit: Nathan Patrick Media and Doorbell Photos “You walk in and you feel the vibe because the windows are gorgeous and the high ceilings are breathtaking. It is a unique opportunity because it’s one of the…

MIAMI – JANUARY 06: United HomeCare Services home health aide Wendy Cerrato hugs Olga Socarras. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Getty ImagesA group of influential policy experts has designed a universal home care benefit for people with physical and cognitive limitations. In a major change from the existing system in the US, where government-funded long-term care is primarily a Medicaid benefit, they’d shift home-based care to Medicare. Their plan would be available to anyone who has a significant need for long-term services and supports, often called LTSS. However, the level of public benefits would be tied to an individual’s income and…

Dozens of members of Congress say they don’t support a proposed ban on institutional investors, a bipartisan statement that spells trouble for the controversial idea.Seventy-six members of Congress—members of the Real Estate Caucus and the Build America Caucus—signed a letter to House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson calling for major revisions or repeal of the language that would ban institutional investors from owning more than 350 single-family homes.That language was passed in the Senate version of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act. It’s the most comprehensive housing reform bill in decades. But since the House passed its own version of…

(Oil & Gas 360) By Greg Barnett, MBA – For oil and gas investors, the defining feature of energy’s resurgence since 2019 has not been commodity prices alone, nor a cyclical rebound driven by leverage to higher oil. It has been something far more fundamental, and historically rare for the sector: sustained capital discipline executed consistently by management teams across the value chain. XLE since 2019: Capital discipline as the defining competitive advantage- oil and gas 360 Energy’s strong total‑return performance over this period, as reflected in XLE, occurred without the benefit of persistently high oil prices. In fact, much of…

 The “Rising means the Fed might hike rates so gold must fall!” narrative is in play. It works… until it doesn’t. There are oil price and numbers where citizens begin to panic-buy gold, but what those numbers are is currently unknown. As long as the (false) narrative holds, falling oil prices benefit gold. On this chart, a H&S top is evident, but there’s no guarantee it plays out as is technically indicated. The “scenario #2” chart for oil. The bottom line: Whether oil goes higher now, or later, the main point is that it’s almost certainly going… much, much higher.…

A recent survey of insurance-linked securities (ILS) investors conducted by reinsurance broker Gallagher Re and Gallagher Securities reveals a notable rise in market appetite for 2026. The findings indicate that a clear majority of both specialist and generalist allocators intend to expand their exposure to insurance-related assets over the next two years.Furthermore, as ILS investors adopt more sophisticated strategies, data from the survey also shows that almost none currently plan to reduce their positions in the sector. In a recent article authored by Jason Bolding, global head of ILS at Gallagher Re, and Ben Lyon, CEO of Gallagher Securities UK…