Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Kevin Carter / Contributor)When Spirit Airlines declared bankruptcy in August of last year, travelers already began to suspect that the budget carrier might not be long for this world. After a prolonged restructuring process and a failed attempt at securing a $500 million government bailout, Spirit Airlines officially announced that it would cease operations altogether on May 2.The news has been met with conflicting reactions among flyers. The airline didn’t exactly have a stellar reputation for customer service. The unbundled fares often left passengers feeling like the low prices were a bait and switch as they ended up…

American Express Global Business Travel agreed to be acquired by Long Lake Management in an all-cash deal valued at $6.3 billion, the companies said Monday. Shareholders will receive $9.50 per share under the terms of the offer, a 60.2% premium over the stock’s May 1 closing price, with Long Lake drawing on backing from General Catalyst and Alpha Wave. Amex GBT stock rose 57% in pre-market trading Monday. Regulatory approvals must be secured before the deal can be completed, with both companies targeting a closing date sometime in the latter half of 2026. The deal will take Amex GBT private…

In-brief analysis May 4, 2026 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Distribution Report and Quarterly Coal Distribution ReportNote: The 2025 data points are annualized using the four quarters of preliminary 2025 data from the Quarterly Coal Distribution Report. The Annual Coal Distribution Report provides detailed information about domestic coal distribution by, coal-origin state coal-destination state, consumer category, and method of transportation. It also summarizes foreign coal distribution by coal-producing state. The volume of coal delivered in the United States for uses other than power generation—primarily, for manufacturing—decreased by about half…

Sell in May loses relevance as this year sets up differently. Franklin Templeton backs staying invested as history favors recovery. UBS bets on Nasdaq 100 over Euro Stoxx 50 with a clear upside case. Investor SentimentBullish sentiment, or expectations of higher stock prices over the next six months, fell 7.9 percentage points to 38.1%, though it remains slightly above its long-term average of 37.5%.Bearish sentiment, or expectations of lower stock prices, rose 5.3 percentage points to 39.7% and stays well above its historical average of 31%.The gap between bullish and bearish sentiment remains below its long-term average of 6.5%.Why the…

Young Americans are more likely than older generations to support data centers in their backyards, according to a Redfin survey.  AI data centers face more pushback than other proposed building types in neighborhoods, namely new apartments and multi-use complexes.  AI data centers are viewed as controversial partly because some Americans believe they strain electricity and water resources in communities where they’re built. Nearly half (47%) of U.S. residents oppose the construction of an artificial intelligence data center in their neighborhood, while 38% support it. This is according to a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in November 2025, fielded to 4,000…

(World Oil) – Equinor has extended a series of drilling and well services agreements valued at approximately NOK 17 billion ($1.6 billion) to sustain production and activity on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Jannicke Nilsson, chief procurement officer at Equinor. Image: Ole Jørgen Bratland, Equinor. The contracts include integrated drilling and well services agreements worth NOK 8.3 billion, alongside corporate framework agreements for specialist services valued at roughly NOK 4.3 billion per year over two years. Baker Hughes Norge AS, Halliburton AS and SLB Norge AS were awarded the core integrated drilling and well services contracts, covering a wide range of assets across the shelf. The…

Nasdaq brought together investors, issuers, bankers, and policymakers at Epicenter Stockholm for its latest Capital Market Forum, a half-day gathering focused on the themes shaping European capital markets today.The April 23 forum drew leading voices from across the financial ecosystem, including portfolio managers, chief executives, sustainability officers, and capital markets advisors, for a morning of panels, interviews, and discussion.The agenda reflected the moment. With geopolitical uncertainty running high, defense spending accelerating across Europe, and the IPO market showing meaningful signs of recovery, the questions on the table were urgent and consequential: Where is capital flowing? What does it take to…

(Image credit: Future)For the fourth year, we’re pleased to present the winners of our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. In a survey we conducted on Kiplinger.com in January and February, more than 4,200 readers rated the financial products and services they use in 13 categories, from credit cards and banks to brokers, wealth managers and annuity providers. The results here offer valuable insight into the everyday experiences that Kiplinger readers have with their financial providers.Respondents made their judgments on such criteria as their interactions with customer service, the likelihood they would recommend the product or service to others, and their overall…

(Image credit: Future)For the fourth year, we’re pleased to present the winners of our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. In a survey we conducted on Kiplinger.com in January and February, more than 4,200 readers rated the financial products and services they use in 13 categories, from credit cards and banks to brokers, wealth managers and annuity providers. The results here offer valuable insight into the everyday experiences that Kiplinger readers have with their financial providers.Respondents made their judgments on such criteria such as their interactions with customer service, the likelihood they would recommend the product or service to others, and their…

(Image credit: Future)For the fourth year, we’re pleased to present the winners of our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. In a survey we conducted on Kiplinger.com in January and February, more than 4,200 readers rated the financial products and services they use in 13 categories, from credit cards and banks to brokers, wealth managers and annuity providers. The results here offer valuable insight into the everyday experiences that Kiplinger readers have with their financial providers.Respondents made their judgments on such criteria as their interactions with customer service, the likelihood they would recommend the product or service to others, and their overall…