Author: Money Mechanics

While the S&P 500 has climbed to historic heights above 7,000 this month, Bitcoin (BTC) has struggled to regain the record-breaking energy that pushed it past $122,000 in October 2025. A new survey of 3,400 global consumers by Deutsche Bank suggests that while more people are entering the market, very few believe a new price mania is on the horizon for 2026. Data from the report shows that cryptocurrency adoption in the United States is making a comeback. In March, U.S. participation rose to 12%, a significant jump from the February low of 7%. This return to double-digit participation matches levels…

Thank you, David and thank you to Brookings for having me speak today.1 Whenever anyone hears the words “Federal Reserve” they immediately think about monetary policy and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) setting the federal funds rate. There is obviously tremendous media attention on those policy decisions, as there should be because they affect U.S. households and businesses and financial markets around the world. But the FOMC only meets 16 days a year to set monetary policy, so what are we doing at the Fed the rest of the time? The answer to that question is that we run…

Tower Hill Insurance Exchange has now successfully priced its latest catastrophe bond to secure the two-third upsized $375 million of fully-collateralized reinsurance protection against named storm losses in Florida from the Winston Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance, while each of the three tranches of notes priced well below their initial guidance ranges, Artemis can report.Tower Hill made its return to the catastrophe bond market at the end of March, initially seeking $225 million of fully-collateralized reinsurance protection against named storm losses in Florida. In our first update on this Winston Re Series 2026-1 cat bond issuance, we reported that the target size…

If you are trying to pay off $20,000 in credit card debt, I want to start with this: it is a serious amount of debt, but it is not automatically a financial death sentence. I have covered personal finance and debt-related topics for more than two decades, and one thing I have noticed is that people often make things worse by panicking, choosing the wrong strategy too fast, or pretending the problem will somehow solve itself. The smarter move is to get clear on your numbers, cut through the noise, and choose the option that actually fits your situation. Not…

Redwood Materials has laid off around 135 employees, or roughly 10% of its workforce, as it restructures to better accommodate its growing energy storage business, TechCrunch has learned. The cuts come just five months after Redwood cut 5% of its workforce, and three months after it closed a $425 million funding round that boosted the battery recycling company’s valuation to north of $6 billion, as TechCrunch previously reported. It’s been a difficult time in the battery industry lately. Earlier this month, battery recycler Ascend Elements filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing “insurmountable” financial challenges. Some battery-makers have also restructured…

Trump Accounts Are Coming. What Should Employers Do Now?gettyA new type of savings account for children is on the horizon. While the details are still taking shape, one thing is already clear: employers are going to get questions. “Trump Accounts,” created under federal legislation enacted on July 4, 2025, are designed to give children a government-seeded, tax advantaged investment account early in life. While the framework for these accounts has been established, they’re not expected to be fully open for contributions until after July 4, 2026.For employers and employees alike, this is one of those moments where awareness matters more…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.At least 34 tankers with links to Iran have bypassed the US blockade since it began, according to the cargo tracking group Vortexa, including several carrying Iranian oil — despite US President Donald Trump declaring the barricade a “tremendous success”.The US imposed its blockade on all ships entering or leaving Iranian coastal waters from 10am ET on April 13, marking a fresh phase in the Middle East conflict as Washington tries to pressure Tehran into a peace deal. The embargo was expanded…

(Oil & Gas 360) – April 21, 2026- For over 25 years, global petroleum consultancy Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) has hosted its highly regarded Oil & Gas Property Evaluation Seminar. This content-rich program is designed to give non-technical energy professionals such as bankers, investors, analysts, lawyers, accountants, and new oil and gas industry professionals a basic education detailing the information and data that goes into evaluating oil and gas assets and preparing an independent reserves report.  NSAI is pleased to announce it is hosting a two-day session in Dallas on May 12th and 13th. The seminar covers the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks hit their session highs out of the gate Tuesday but trended lower from there amid conflicting headlines over the war in Iran. Market participants also sifted through a stack of corporate earnings reports, which included a beat-and-raise quarter for UnitedHealth Group (UNH).Shortly after President Donald Trump took to Truth Social this morning to post that “Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!,” he told CNBC that he thinks the U.S. will “end up with a great deal” with Tehran.This comes ahead of tomorrow’s end to a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, which Trump said…

Americans nearing retirement are carrying more debt, relying on credit cards and home equity amid rising costs and rates, creating a shift toward entering retirement with ongoing financial obligations.Against this backdrop, a growing number of parents are being asked to support adult children financially, often by cosigning loans. It is a deeply personal decision that sits at the intersection of family dynamics and financial risk. Below are the key issues for retirees to consider:Cosigning is binding: A loan is not a symbolic gesture of support. It is a binding legal agreement. When you cosign, you are telling the lender that…