Author: Money Mechanics

The official close is undeniably the most important trade of the day.It determines stock and index returns. It is used for futures and options settlements, mutual fund cashflows and exchange-traded funds (ETF) creations and redemptions. It is also used to determine the volatility of stocks, the tracking error of index funds and the outperformance (or alpha) of portfolio managers.In short – it is important.Close is the largest trade every day Because the close price is critically important to so many traders, the close is also usually the largest single trade of the day. As the data below shows, the close usually accounts for more than 10% of the whole day’s trading. In some countries, like Japan and developed countries in Europe, it is much more.Chart 1: The official close is the largest trade of the day   Because of that, investors and issuers care…

A Contract for Differences (CFD) allows traders to profit from price movements without owning the underlying asset. In a CFD, the investor and broker exchange the difference in asset value from opening to closing of the trade. CFDs offer capital efficiency, available widely on OTC exchanges outside the U.S., where retail trading is banned. Key Takeaways A contract for differences (CFD) is a financial agreement where investors exchange the difference in values of an asset between when the contract opens and closes.CFD investors speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset, allowing for potential profits from both rising and…

Key Takeaways Six Sigma certification verifies expertise in a well-regarded quality management method for improving business processes.Six Sigma uses statistical techniques to minimize defects, aiming for error-free delivery 99.99966% of the time.Certifications are structured in belt levels from White to Master Black Belt, each demanding increasingly rigorous exams and practical experience.Companies and individuals can benefit from Six Sigma through reduced waste, increased efficiency, and higher customer satisfaction.Lean Six Sigma combines Lean and Six Sigma to eliminate waste while striving for minimal defects in product outputs. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. What Is Six Sigma…

As the April 15 tax deadline approaches, it’s common to take a second look at your return and spot a few things you wish you’d done differently.But before you panic, it’s important to know that while some errors are easily fixed, others are much harder to change once your return is in the hands of the IRS.The key is knowing which mistakes are worth correcting. In some cases, rushing to change a minor detail can stretch your processing time out for months, only to lead to the same outcome. Here’s more to know. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Editor’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series on how to deal with a concentrated stock position. The first is 5 Ways to Manage Concentrated Stock (Plus, the Risks to Know). More people than ever are reaching out to me with a concentrated stock problem. People like “Mary,” whose company went public last year and now makes up 60% of her balance sheet, and “John,” who bought AAPL stock in the ’90s and decided after the iPhone came out that he may just never sell.In this article, however, I am going to talk about…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Retirement represents a profoundly important transition — one that should bring peace of mind, financial stability and the freedom to enjoy life on your terms.Yet even the most carefully designed retirement plan can be disrupted if underlying risks are not thoughtfully addressed.Effective retirement planning is not simply about accumulating assets — it is about anticipating challenges that may arise over decades of retired life and ensuring you are prepared to navigate them confidently. 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…

Gold (GC=F) June futures opened at $4,633.20 per troy ounce on Monday, 3.2% lower than Friday’s closing price of $4,787.40. Gold rebounded in early trading, moving to $4,739.40 by 6:55 a.m. ET. Silver (SI=F) May futures opened at $73.69 per ounce on Monday, 3.6% lower than Friday’s closing price of $76.48. The price of silver rose to $74.47 by 6:55 a.m. ET. The gold price and silver price today are facing multiple catalysts. The latest CPI report showed March prices increased 3.3%, the largest gain since April 2024. Higher gas prices related to the Iran war were the primary contributor.…

Lightning occurs when META 4, an Oil Products Tanker, sails into Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. Elke Scholiers | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, dimming hopes for a quick end to the conflict in the Middle East and escalating a standoff with Iran that has already triggered the worst energy shock in history. The blockade would take effect at 10 a.m. ET Monday, targeting vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those on the Arabian Gulf…

Video calls are exhausting. You’re juggling screen sharing, managing participants, and dealing with spotty connections. The last thing you need is headache-inducing software.Zoom became very popular during the pandemic, but it’s not your only option for video conferencing. Google Meet integrates seamlessly with your calendar. Microsoft Teams works better for enterprises. Platforms like Whereby require zero downloads. I’ve tested these platforms many times over my career, reviewing B2B software, watching them evolve with each major update. Some got better, others stayed stagnant, and a few surprised me with features that genuinely improved my workday.Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us…

(Investing) – Wall Street analysts are mixed on U.S. natural gas outlook as near-term price weakness is expected to be offset by strong long-term demand growth driven by liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and rising power needs globally. Natural gas prices have declined sharply in recent months, with benchmark Henry Hub prices down about 28% year-to-date, as a mild end to winter left inventories roughly 5% above the five-year average, Morgan Stanley’s report said. Analysts expect range-bound or slightly weaker prices in the near term, as seasonal demand remains soft through spring. Despite short-term weakness, demand fundamentals are strengthening as per…