Author: Money Mechanics

A lot of investors use bonds for one simple reason: to generate income with lower volatility than stocks. One of the most common ways to structure this is through a bond ladder.A basic Treasury bond ladder might look something like this: an investor splits capital evenly across Treasury securities maturing in one, two, three, four and five years. As each rung matures, the proceeds can either be spent or rolled into a new five-year Treasury.Bond ladders can help match future liabilities or spending needs, such as retirement withdrawals or tuition payments. They can also improve cash-flow planning and liquidity management…

Another big rebound on the other side of the world suggested stocks would rise in the U.S., too, and that’s what happened early on Wednesday. But investors, traders and speculators remain wary about the speed and scale of the artificial intelligence (AI) buildout.South Korea’s KOSPI Index bounced back in a big way after a sharp sell-off from new highs, just as it did in March and April, rising as much as 4.6% and finishing with a gain of 3.3%.More than half of the KOSPI’s value is tied to Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) and SK Hynix (HXSCL), which were up 9.8% and…

Server racks by dotshock via Shutterstock On June 17, Rumble (RUM), whose primary business involves streaming video content, announced that it had closed its acquisition of Northern Data. The latter entity intends to have “approximately 250MW of power deployed or coming online across ten global data centers by 2027” and rents GPUs that are used to create AI. Northern Data expects to generate 130 million euros to 150 million euros of revenue in 2026.  Meanwhile, Tether, the issuer of the cryptocurrency Tether (USDT), has invested a large amount of funds in RUM and has pledged to provide it with a…

In-brief analysis June 24, 2026 For the week ending June 19, 2026, U.S. refineries processed 17.1 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil, down 81,000 b/d from the previous week, and they operated at 96.1% capacity utilization. Gasoline production averaged 9.5 million b/d, and distillate production increased to 5.2 million b/d. Crude oil imports increased 436,000 b/d to 5.6 million b/d, although the four-week average of 5.7 million b/d is 4% below the year-ago level. Gasoline imports averaged 647,000 b/d; distillate imports averaged 135,000 b/d. Commercial crude oil inventories (excluding the Strategic Petroleum…

The markets are breathing a collective sigh of relief this week as news of progress in US-Iran peace talks and a framework ceasefire agreement has eased fears of prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have tumbled sharply — slipping toward multi-month lows with WTI following suit and now testing $70 per barrel on — removing much of the geopolitical risk premium that had built up earlier in the conflict. For traders using Volume Price Analysis (VPA), this kind of event-driven move is exactly where the methodology shines. It cuts through the noise of headlines and reveals what…

(Investing) – KUWAIT CITY – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday vowed that the United States will not do anything that would undermine the security of U.S. allies in the Gulf region when it comes to Washington’s dealings with Iran. “We’re going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf,” Rubio told reporters in Kuwait City before departing for Bahrain. “That’s why I’ve taken these trips now, and it’s the reason why I’m here.” “We’re not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region,” Rubio said. The top…

Article published at 8:55 a.m. CTJJ Kinahan is Senior Vice President, Head of Retail Expansion and Alternative Investment Products at Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe).Key Takeaways:All eyes are on Micron’s earnings after the bellWTI crude prices are falling, but maybe not fast enoughFedEx shares declining after mixed earnings results yesterdayA sense of calm is taking over the markets in early trading after the tech sector took a deep dive Monday and Tuesday. Oil prices are sliding again and tech investors are waiting on Micron’s earnings after the bell to give them insight on the trajectory and sustainability of AI spending.The…

It can feel like there’s always a sale happening. Right now, shoppers are being bombarded with promotions from Amazon Prime Day, Walmart Deals and other summer sales events, all promising big discounts and limited-time offers. But just because something is on sale doesn’t mean it’s the best time to buy.Many of the biggest savings happen when retailers are clearing out seasonal inventory, making room for new models or trying to boost sales during slower shopping periods. That’s why timing can matter just as much as the item you’re purchasing. Buying a refrigerator during a major holiday sale, waiting until the…

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a new partnership with Google Wallet on Wednesday. Travelers can now use Google Wallet to opt into TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, a program that allows you to breeze through security checkpoints without any physical government ID or paper boarding pass.Your TSA PreCheck membership fast-tracks you through the wait line (and shortens the screening process), but you still need to stop and show ID at a security checkpoint before you can go to the screening area. Touchless ID uses facial recognition technology, not a security agent and physical ID, so you can go through a…

Few married couples are aware of the significant financial pitfalls of the solo years. Even fewer retirement plans adjust for those years.Yet, in every married couple one spouse will experience the solo years. For many of them the period will last longer than five years. Women primarily experience the solo years, but many men will face them.The solo years are the period after one spouse passes away. They also are the period when retirement plans are most likely to fall short or come apart.Consider these major changes in household finances and management to which most surviving spouses must adapt:* One…