Author: Money Mechanics

In-brief analysis March 16, 2026 We released new data on the electric power sector’s coal transportation costs. The release incorporates final data for 2024 from Form EIA-923, which we collect from electric power plant owners and operators. The data release includes tables with costs, in nominal and real (2024) dollars, across regions, states, and modes of transportation. Data highlights After accounting for inflation, the average cost of transporting coal to the electric power sector in the United States decreased from $19.23 per ton in 2023 to $17.55 per ton in 2024 (in 2024 dollars). In…

Gold prices have extended their uptrend over the last two sessions, with the market opening gap up again during today’s Asian session. Prices moved close to the $4900 level, touching around $4896, before witnessing volatility and slight pullback. Currently: are trading near $4877 per ounce is hovering around $4853 per ounce The recent strength in gold is supported by geopolitical developments, particularly signs that the US and Iran may be moving toward easing tensions. However, the overall environment remains uncertain, keeping volatility elevated.Previously, rising oil prices driven by conflict fears had increased inflation concerns globally, leading to expectations of potential…

Artex Capital Solutions, the insurance-linked securities market service provider and insurance management specialist has partnered with legacy and run-off reinsurance specialist Enstar to introduce structured exit options embedded within Artex’s ILS vehicles.The goal is to solve the trapped capital issue for ILS investors, by providing mechanisms that can deliver greater certainty on exits from insurance-linked securities (ILS) investments, while providing liquidity and capital return. Trapped capital, where investor’s funds are locked up to sustain insurance and reinsurance investments that are at-risk of attaching or facing potential loss and loss development, has been a drag on investor funds in the ILS…

grandriver | Getty ImagesBeef climbed to all-time highs on Tuesday, a bad sign for shoppers planning summer barbecues.Live cattle futures traded at the CME Group settled at $2.51 per pound on Tuesday, the highest price on record going back to the 1960s, according to FactSet data. Each contract is for 40,000 pounds of live cattle, typically about 30 to 35 head of finished, slaughter-ready cattle.The contract has jumped more than 25% over the past 12 months as ranchers faced rising costs and slashed the size of herds. Cattle prices ticked down marginally in Wednesday’s session.Cattle slaughter is expected to have…

Nuclear startup X-energy began its investor roadshow Wednesday as it works toward its IPO, setting its target price between $16 and $19 per share, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If it lists at the high end, the startup could net about $814 million. X-energy and its peers have been riding a renewed wave of interest in fission power as demand for electricity has surged on the back of AI data centers and societywide electrification.  Amazon is one of X-energy’s biggest backers. The tech giant led a $500 million Series C-1 round and has pledged…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – The global petrochemical industry is entering a different phase, one where growth is still happening, but the rules are changing underneath it. Capacity is expanding in some regions, demand is accelerating in others, and geopolitics is reshaping flows almost overnight. At the same time, companies are being forced to balance cost, resilience, and sustainability in ways that didn’t matter as much even a few years ago. What’s emerging is not just another cycle, but a more structurally volatile market. China remains the center of gravity for petrochemical expansion. It has accounted for more than…

Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany Mahomes, are already busy soaking up the lazy, hazy days of summer ahead of the start of pre-season training—whisking their children away for a fun-filled farm trip in the quarterback’s home state of Texas. The NFL quarterback, 30, took a break from the football field to spend some time at the Milk and Honey Ranch in Burton, TX, alongside Brittany, 30, and their three children: daughter Sterling Skye, 5; son Patrick “Bronze” Lavone III, 3; and baby girl Golden Raye, 1.Brittany took to Instagram to share some glimpses into the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The main U.S. equity indexes were mixed on Wednesday, but technology and other risk-on sectors rose as market participants looked beyond events in the Middle East. Meanwhile, with a firm date set for an initial confirmation hearing for his nominee to be the next Fed chair, President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to fire Jerome Powell.The front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures contract was down 0.4% to $90.95, as investors, traders and speculators assess the bottleneck at the Strait of Hormuz and the state of negotiations to end the war.The president was relatively silent on…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.A federal jury has found concert promoter Live Nation unlawfully monopolised ticketing markets, in a verdict that could have sweeping effects for the US live music business.A jury in New York on Wednesday held Live Nation illegally maintained a monopoly that harmed competition among venues, ticketing services and other concert promoters.The decision comes after Live Nation last month reached a preliminary settlement with the US Department of Justice less than a week after the trial began, in a deal that stopped short…

There are two kinds of homebuyers: those with pets and those without. And for pet owners, a home purchase can hinge on whether a listing works as well for their pet as it does for them, according to new data.A new survey from Realtor.com® finds that buyers with pets often evaluate homes through an animal-first lens, prioritizing features like a secure outdoor space, durable interiors, and communities where pets are allowed.It’s not surprising to the agents who regularly see these trade-offs play out in real time.“I’ve never seen a child influence a house decision no matter what they’ve thought of…