Author: Money Mechanics

Redwood Materials has laid off around 135 employees, or roughly 10% of its workforce, as it restructures to better accommodate its growing energy storage business, TechCrunch has learned. The cuts come just five months after Redwood cut 5% of its workforce, and three months after it closed a $425 million funding round that boosted the battery recycling company’s valuation to north of $6 billion, as TechCrunch previously reported. It’s been a difficult time in the battery industry lately. Earlier this month, battery recycler Ascend Elements filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing “insurmountable” financial challenges. Some battery-makers have also restructured…

Trump Accounts Are Coming. What Should Employers Do Now?gettyA new type of savings account for children is on the horizon. While the details are still taking shape, one thing is already clear: employers are going to get questions. “Trump Accounts,” created under federal legislation enacted on July 4, 2025, are designed to give children a government-seeded, tax advantaged investment account early in life. While the framework for these accounts has been established, they’re not expected to be fully open for contributions until after July 4, 2026.For employers and employees alike, this is one of those moments where awareness matters more…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.At least 34 tankers with links to Iran have bypassed the US blockade since it began, according to the cargo tracking group Vortexa, including several carrying Iranian oil — despite US President Donald Trump declaring the barricade a “tremendous success”.The US imposed its blockade on all ships entering or leaving Iranian coastal waters from 10am ET on April 13, marking a fresh phase in the Middle East conflict as Washington tries to pressure Tehran into a peace deal. The embargo was expanded…

(Oil & Gas 360) – April 21, 2026- For over 25 years, global petroleum consultancy Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) has hosted its highly regarded Oil & Gas Property Evaluation Seminar. This content-rich program is designed to give non-technical energy professionals such as bankers, investors, analysts, lawyers, accountants, and new oil and gas industry professionals a basic education detailing the information and data that goes into evaluating oil and gas assets and preparing an independent reserves report.  NSAI is pleased to announce it is hosting a two-day session in Dallas on May 12th and 13th. The seminar covers the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks hit their session highs out of the gate Tuesday but trended lower from there amid conflicting headlines over the war in Iran. Market participants also sifted through a stack of corporate earnings reports, which included a beat-and-raise quarter for UnitedHealth Group (UNH).Shortly after President Donald Trump took to Truth Social this morning to post that “Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!,” he told CNBC that he thinks the U.S. will “end up with a great deal” with Tehran.This comes ahead of tomorrow’s end to a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, which Trump said…

Americans nearing retirement are carrying more debt, relying on credit cards and home equity amid rising costs and rates, creating a shift toward entering retirement with ongoing financial obligations.Against this backdrop, a growing number of parents are being asked to support adult children financially, often by cosigning loans. It is a deeply personal decision that sits at the intersection of family dynamics and financial risk. Below are the key issues for retirees to consider:Cosigning is binding: A loan is not a symbolic gesture of support. It is a binding legal agreement. When you cosign, you are telling the lender that…

(Image credit: Getty Images)We’ve all read stories about the budgetary wonders of self-restraint. You know the tale: If those darned millennials gave up Starbucks and avocado toast, we’d solve the housing affordability crisis or something.I don’t actually know. I don’t read those stories.That’s precisely why I laughed when my editor brought up a question she’d seen a few times from readers: “I can afford a nice car. But should I suck it up for a few years with my current vehicle, and use the money I’ll save not making payments on a new car to invest instead?” From just $107.88…

Younger Americans may be taking on long-term credit risk to help deal with rising costs. As credit card debt balances reach record highs, recent FICO data shows that Gen Z is opening credit cards at a higher rate than other generations. They also have among the highest credit card utilization. Amid job loss or reduced income, 48% of Gen Z relied on credit cards to make ends meet, FICO vice president Jenelle Dito recently told Yahoo Finance, and nearly 40% of Gen Z admits to opening credit cards as a financial cushion. But racking up credit card debt balances to…

India’s total imports declined by 13% in March from February as the Iran war crippled Middle Eastern supply that couldn’t be offset by record-high Russian oil imports.     India, the world’s third-biggest crude oil buyer, imported a total of 4.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in March, down by 13% from pre-war levels, according to shipping and industry sources’ data cited by Reuters. While India’s imports of crude from the Middle East fell materially, imports from Russia surged and almost doubled in March compared to February. Middle Eastern supply to India plunged by 61% to 1.18 million bpd…

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET key takeaways Samsung is killing its messaging app in July.Users in the US with Android v12 or newer need to switch.There are plenty of superior options to choose from.Multiple reports have been issued that Samsung is shutting down its messaging app and service.According to this Samsung community post, the service EOL will be this July, which means you have a few short months to find a new app and grow accustomed to it. If that sounds like what you’re facing, you’re probably wondering which app or service you…