Author: Money Mechanics

Jeff Bezos has cemented his standing as one of the wealthiest individuals in history—with a personal net worth hovering around $200 billion, and buoyed by Amazon’s relentless valuation growth.On Aug. 2, Amazon shares ascended past the $3 trillion market cap milestone. The new record is the best day for Amazon since May 5, 2026, with shares up roughly 4%.This spike comes after the company recorded a surge in cloud growth during the second quarter, backed by surging artificial intelligence demand. The report saw adjusted earnings per share of $1.97 versus estimates of $1.82. Revenue came in at $200.61 billion, much…

Stocks jumped out of the gate Monday after President Donald Trump on Sunday canceled planned attacks against Iran. Tumbling oil prices and Treasury yields also boosted sentiment at the start of the month, with one of the main benchmarks closing at a new record high.In a Truth Social post, Trump said that the United States was “locked and loaded,” but he decided to “cancel the attack” against Iran after “perimeters of a deal” had been agreed to.Trump added that the agreement will include the “Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”…

Vehicle thefts are declining in the U.S., yet there’s still one vehicle stolen, on average, every 48 seconds, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Depending on the car and the location, the odds can be even greater. Popular vehicles in big cities are most vulnerable. And driving one of the most stolen vehicles listed below increases the risk even more. However, the personal violation a victim feels when their vehicle is stolen can be compounded by the stress of realizing that their insurance policy falls short in covering the financial loss.  Read more: Cheapest car insurance companies of 2026…

(BOE Report) – U.S. shale producers are expected to report their strongest quarterly profits since 2022 after the Iran war sent crude prices soaring, with analysts expecting much of the windfall to be returned to shareholders rather than spent on expanding production. ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Diamondback Energy and Devon Energy are among the producers expected to post sharply stronger second-quarter earnings after benchmark oil prices climbed for much of the quarter, boosting cash flow across the sector. The conflict, which erupted in late February, disrupted Middle East energy supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about…

Article published at 9:10 a.m. CTJJ Kinahan is Senior Vice President, Head of Retail Expansion and Alternative Investment Products at Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe).Key Takeaways:Hopes of Middle East peace talks boost indicesAstraZeneca reportedly in talks to merge with Bristol-MyersWeek is jam-packed with earnings and economic reportsTrading in August kicked off with the markets primarily bouncing to the upside in the early going as crude oil prices tumbled amid hopes of a de-escalation of the Middle East war. That was a good sign after a rough month of trading throughout July.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was solidly higher, rising 1.32%,…

“The Real Housewives of Miami” star Stephanie Shojaee has claimed that the villa she rented for her summer vacation in France was robbed.Shojaee, 41, claimed in a post on her Instagram account that the South of France villa she had been renting was broken into.In the first Instagram story Shojaee posted, the reality TV star can be seen walking up the steps to her private jet with a caption that states, “Cannes and St Tropez are great.. Until it’s your turn to get ROBBED  😭😫.”Following the video was what appeared to be home security camera footage of two masked male…

With the stock market trading near record highs, confidence is soaring, and investors are increasingly buying into the good vibes.Many people think the bull market will continue indefinitely. They reason that President Donald Trump’s pro-growth policies will create a durable expansion, with deregulation and decreasing oil prices and mortgage rates fueling the surge.Market forecasters have no crystal ball, but history teaches us important lessons, such as: The good times don’t last forever, and sometimes the warm glow of summer optimism in the market fades into a long, cold winter of harsh economic reality. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

Wealth Wise is Kiplinger’s advice column on navigating retirement-related dilemmas. Got a question? See below for how to send it to us.Dear Wealth Wise: My mother suffers from MS and now needs daily help. I’m starting to look into programs that will pay me to be a caregiver. Am I allowed to keep my regular job or will I be forced to quit? I’m a freelance consultant with flexible hours, but I can’t give up that income (or not easily). I assume the pay to be a caregiver isn’t great. — SqueezedDear Squeezed: As the U.S. population ages, a growing…

When we talk about retirement, the conversation usually focuses largely on building a nest egg.With employers moving away from offering pensions and average life expectancies increasing, saving for retirement has fallen on the employee.As a result, industry professionals consistently encourage workers to maximize contributions to their IRAs or 401(k)s. 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 for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance…

In-brief analysis August 3, 2026 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-930, Hourly Electric Grid Monitor Note: ERCOT=Electric Reliability Council of Texas Hourly peak load in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the regional transmission organization serving most of Texas, reached a record 91.1 gigawatts (GW) on July 22, 2026, according to data reported to us for our Hourly Electric Grid Monitor. Set against the backdrop of growing U.S. electricity demand: The July 22 peak was 6% greater than the previous peak of 85.5 GW, set on August 10, 2023 according…