Author: Money Mechanics

For the past 10 years, Uber’s annual Lost & Found Index has provided a rather quirky anthropological snapshot of its riders — and even a few insights into society. The annual catalogue of millions of forgotten items ranges from mundane modern-day tools such as smartphones and laptops, to more eyebrow-raising objects like live fish, an ankle monitor, a toboggan, a package of live butterflies, and a single Louboutin shoe. This year, Uber is using the report to highlight the same old problem of lost items with a new twist: robotaxis. Thousands of items (it’s a bit too new for millions)…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – The oil market has spent the past several weeks trading optimism. Prices have retreated from their crisis highs as investors bet that diplomacy, ceasefire extensions, and negotiations between Washington and Tehran will eventually restore flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Yet a growing number of traders, analysts, and industry executives are warning that markets may be focusing too heavily on headlines while underestimating the physical realities developing underneath. That concern was reinforced this week when Tom Baker, managing director for Bahrain at global commodities trader Vitol, warned that oil markets may be underpricing the risks…

In May, U.S. equities extended April’s strong rebound, with broad indices advancing to new highs amid continued leadership from large-cap technology stocks. The S&P 500® Index gained more than 5% on the month, while the Russell 2000® Index followed closely with a 4.3% increase, leaving year-to-date returns at approximately 10.7% and 17.6%, respectively.Mega-cap leadership remained a dominant theme. The Cboe Magnificent 10SM Index (MGTN) rose nearly 12% to close at an all-time high of $527.88, representing a gain of almost 39% from the late-March lows. At the same time, measures of dispersion and correlation pointed to a shift in market…

Florida voters will decide this November whether to approve one of the largest property tax cuts in state history, after lawmakers passed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to dramatically expand the state’s homestead exemption.The plan, titled “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” was revealed last week and debated this week during a special session. After several major provisions were changed, the measure passed the House of Representatives 75-26 and the Senate 30-9.Now it heads to the ballot, where it will need support from 60% of voters to become part of the state constitution. In an April survey, 77% of Florida…

June opens with caution across crypto as liquidity stays selective. ETH, , and now face key technical tests. The winners may be assets with both support levels and strong narratives. As the crypto market begins June with low risk appetite, the question of “which assets can hold their ground?” takes center stage in this environment. After attempting to move higher in May, has retreated back into a narrower range, which has also dampened appetite for altcoins across the market. The main factor complicating this picture is the delay in expectations on the macro side. The fact that U.S. remains above…

If you’ve spent any time Googling debt help, you’ve run into the NFCC — usually right next to a wall of for-profit ads shouting about “erasing” your debt. After twenty-odd years writing about consumer debt, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling is one of the few names I’ve genuinely never had to walk back a recommendation on. But “legit” and “right for you” aren’t the same thing, so let’s look at what the NFCC actually is, what it can and can’t do, and whether it’s the right first call for your situation in 2026. Want to talk to a real,…

Dreaming of a second home in a summer hot spot? We took a look at listings of homes in places known for vacation vibes, from a waterfront home in Myrtle Beach to a castle in the Smoky Mountains.  Myrtle Beach: A Single-Family Home in a Resort Community, a Waterfront Retreat and More House in Myrtle Beach, SC listed by Redfin principal agent Sue Curlett: $525,000 Photo credit: Next Door Photos 1. Homebuyers looking for space without sacrificing access to beaches, golf, and everyday conveniences may find exactly what they’re looking for at 2588 Brescia St. in Myrtle Beach, SC. Listed…

A historic early example of Organic Modern architecture that was conceived in 1935 by the late master craftsman Walter J. Hall has just hit the market in Pennsylvania for $2.75 million. Hall—the builder who brought Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater to life—and his wife, Beda, dreamed up the idyllic six-bedroom mountainside retreat as the perfect place to raise their family and operate a roadside restaurant. Tragically, however, Beda died as they were breaking ground on the project, which was completed one year before Fallingwater was finished, and never got the chance to see their vision brought to life. However, Hall continued…

Question: My wife and I are both 68 and have always dreamed of living in Florida near the coast. We finally did it when we retired about a year-and-a-half ago. We sold our house in Albany, New York, and headed for Boca Raton, Florida.Besides the coastal life, we were drawn to Florida because there is no state income tax. I have a large 401(k) balance and don’t want to worry about paying taxes on withdrawals.We spent $1.5 million on a two-bedroom condo overlooking the ocean, which is a three-minute walk to the beach. It was paradise, until it wasn’t. After…

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Stocks got off to a rocky start Tuesday, but another day of strong gains for tech stocks lifted all three main equity indexes higher into the close. Energy stocks also gave a boost to the broader market as oil prices climbed for a second straight day.At the close, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.5% at 51,307, the broader S&P 500 added 0.1% to 7,609, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.03% to 27,093 — new all-time highs.Meanwhile, amid no new headlines regarding the war in Iran, front-month West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose…