Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: CFOTO / Contributor)Stocks were mostly positive to start the new month, with the latest round of corporate earnings lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite to new record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, on the other hand, wasn’t so resilient, finishing Friday in the red as several high-priced components sold off.At the close, the S&P 500 was up 0.3% at 7,230 and the Nasdaq had added 0.9% to 25,114 — fresh all-time closing highs. The Dow was down 0.3% at 49,499.Earnings from Apple (AAPL) generated the most buzz, with the blue chip stock jumping 3.3% after its…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Over the past 25 years, investors have lived through an extraordinary range of economic disruptions: Wars, global financial crises, recessions, a pandemic and surging inflation.I’ve walked with clients through all of these moments, listening intently to their fears and reassuring them each time: “Stay calm, stay invested. This has happened before and it will happen again.”This is the go-to script for most financial advisers, because it’s mostly always been true. Markets fluctuate, and economies cycle. Over time, patience tends to reward investors who stay the course. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter,…

Microsoft (MSFT) is a software giant, known for its Windows operating system and Office software suite. It is also a hyperscaler. The biggest driver for the stock is artificial intelligence. The company’s revenue comes from three different business segments. These include Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. Microsoft’s cloud computing platform is called Azure, and the main AI product is Microsoft 365 Copilot. The stock is down approximately 16% year to date, at the time of writing, Thursday afternoon, April 30, according to Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P 500 index (SPY) is up slightly above…

Salesforce, Adobe, and HubSpot have all suffered bruising year-to-date stock price declines. Despite the drawdown, each offers double-digit revenue growth, sector-leading margins, and outsized earnings growth projections. Below is a closer look at why these three companies represent a “buy on the dip” opportunity amid the current market backdrop. Software stocks have faced significant pressure in 2026, with many enterprise names declining sharply amid concerns over AI disruption, slower deal cycles, and broader market rotation. Yet leaders such as Salesforce (NYSE:), Adobe (NASDAQ:), and HubSpot (NYSE:) continue to post solid results while ramping up AI monetization. These companies now trade…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. May 01, 2026 Agencies issue host state loan-to-deposit ratios Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Reserve Board Office of the Comptroller of the Currency For release at 11:00 a.m. EDT Federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly issued updated host state loan-to-deposit ratios, as required by law. Each ratio compares the total loans in a state to total deposits in the state for all banks that are legally operating in that state. These ratios…

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has officially headed off on maternity leave ahead of the arrival of her second child with husband Nicholas Riccio—and she’s wasted no time in settling into life at home with her family as she prepares to expand her brood.Leavitt, 28, who tied the knot with Riccio, 61, in January 2025, days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, took to Instagram to share several professional photos her family, while opening up about her excitement at welcoming a second child.”There is no greater blessing than motherhood. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” she wrote alongside two photos…

(World Oil) – OPEC+ is likely to agree another symbolic production increase for June, in the group’s first move since the surprise departure of the United Arab Emirates, three delegates said. Seven major nations led by Saudi Arabia and Russia will probably add 188,000 bpd to their output target during a video conference on Sunday, two of the delegates said, even though they’d be unable to implement it with the Strait of Hormuz blocked. The OPEC+ delegates asked not to be identified as any deliberations are private. The group is continuing the process—at least on paper—of restoring output halted several…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Investors don’t hire financial advisors because they want to — they do it because they believe they need help making important financial decisions.But too often, that relationship leads to frustration, confusion and a lingering question: “Am I actually getting good advice?”As I’ve been interviewing individual investors for my newest book — and listening carefully to their real-world experiences — clear patterns have emerged. The frustrations aren’t random. They’re systemic. 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…

(Image credit: NurPhoto / Getty Images)If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “What time is the race?” at 6 a.m. with coffee in hand, welcome back. It is Formula 1 season.Racing season is a chance to follow some of the fastest drivers in the world as they compete across a global stage. The 2026 calendar is packed with high-speed weekends and is shaping up to be one of the longest seasons yet, with stops from Miami to Monaco to Las Vegas.But this year, there is a major shift off the track: how you watch. Gone are the days of flipping between…

(Image credit: Getty Images with Gemini edit)Question: We’re New Yorkers retiring with $3.8 million and considering a move to South Carolina for better weather and lower taxes. We can sell our $1.3 million home and buy a similar one for $600K. My wife worries about rebuilding a social life and making friends. I think we will be fine. Am I being unrealistic?Answer: New York can be a great place to raise a family and launch a successful career. But it can also be an expensive place for retirees.With a top tax rate of 10.9% and just a small pension exclusion,…