Author: Money Mechanics

This Week In A Nutshell: Rates may continue to be volatile as the Middle East conflict expands and new inflation data is released. Upcoming Attractions   Our attention will be on the ever-changing situation in Iran and associated market reaction.  It’s also a consequential week for economic data, with the February CPI report coming on Wednesday. This data was collected prior to the Iranian conflict. For monetary policy and rates, the key metric is still core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices. That is expected to abate slightly, from a 0.3% monthly increase in January to a 0.2% increase…

Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD ZDNET’s key takeaways A super-thin and super-light portable SSD Innovative NFC unlocking eliminates passcodes and biometrics Not the fastest SSD, but fast enough to handle 4K ProRes 60 fps video Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.I think the days of carrying data around in an unencrypted state have pretty much come to an end. It’s just too risky, especially if that data is in any way important or subject to regulatory oversight.But encrypting and decrypting drives can also be a pain, and must be as quick and simple as possible. I don’t think that process…

Key Takeaways The Consumer Price Index likely rose 2.4% over the year in February, the same annual inflation rate as January.Wednesday’s report will cover a period before the Iran war caused energy prices to surge, so it may be less relevant to financial markets than usual. Inflation may have been relatively tame in February, but that might not matter much to financial markets and the Fed. Forecasters expect a report Wednesday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to show the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% over 12 months in February, the same annual…

Stock futures pointed to a higher open as oil prices retreated further Tuesday, a day after major indexes erased steep losses to end higher after President Donald Trump said the Iran war could end soon.   Nasdaq 100, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 futures pointed up 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively, in recent trading. Yesterday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up a respective 1.4%, 0.8%, and 0.5%, with the Dow finishing nearly 240 points higher after having erased a nearly 900-point decline. The indexes rallied after President Donald Trump told CBS News that…

Welcome to the February edition of Market Metrics That Matter, your monthly briefing on European cash equities trends.Don’t forget to visit Cboe Europe’s Market Share page for leading insights into European equity trading activity.February 2026 HighlightsEuropean equity trading volumes reach all-time high, as on-exchange activity shifts towards Dark order books and Closing AuctionsTotal on-exchange average daily value traded (ADVT) in European equities hit a new all-time high of €69.1bn, up 23% year-over-year, surpassing the previous high of €68.6bn set in March 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemicTotal addressable activity (including on and off-exchange), also set an all-time record…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Continued diversification within the green and sustainable-labelled debt market is broadening the climate investment landscape for fixed income investors, leading to attractive investment opportunities.Also, vanilla bonds from issuers with strong climate credentials provide an additional pool of impactful investment beyond labels.As these markets continue to develop, they create new pathways for real-world decarbonisation while widening the investment universe for those seeking meaningful environmental impact.Article continues below 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 FREE ISSUE Sign…

Editor’s note: This article is the first in a five-part series featuring the best advice about money from investing greats, renowned economists, top financial planners and other experts. Other articles focus on advice about saving and investing, retirement planning, family finance and the best advice experts have gotten from their moms and dads.Financial advice is everywhere these days. In the digital age, you can find insights and tips about how best to save, invest and manage your money from adviser and financial services websites; YouTube, TikTok and other social media platforms; podcasts, newsletters and Substacks; and your 401(k) provider, among…

(Image credit: Getty Images)I was 11 years old when Frampton Comes Alive! was released in 1976. I still have my original copy of the double live album, which I bought with money from my Akron Beacon Journal paper route.It was a big hit with my friends and me at Indian Trail Elementary School and played in heavy rotation during inside recess, along with albums from Kiss and Grand Funk Railroad, during fifth and sixth grades (no judging, we were 11).That record mattered to me. Not just because the music was awesome, but because it felt like something bigger than me.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Interest rates may be settling, but many Americans continue to hesitate to move to a new home, borrow money, or refinance debt.This isn’t because they’re concerned about where rates are headed next. It’s because they remember how quickly things changed not long ago.When borrowing costs rose sharply over a short period in 2025, many people were left with the impression that financial conditions could shift without warning.Article continues below 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: Getty Images)If your travels bring you to my town, and you’d like a great cup of espresso and a dose of neighbors acting un-neighborly, please drop by our office.While I fix the coffee, my wife, Anne, will hand you a box filled with emails, photos, video clips and frustrating correspondence from readers who have begged neighbors to please trim or remove trees that pose an imminent, direct risk of harm.Fans of Judge Judy will immediately see a parallel: Some dog owners — who left their dogs off leash and someone was bitten — remain in complete denial of…