Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Shares of Lumentum and Coherent are rising to start the week following the announcement on Friday that the companies would be added to the S&P 500 later this month.Nvidia recently announced $2 billion investments in both companies.EchoStar and Vertiv will also be joining the benchmark index. Four companies—including two part-owned by AI chip giant Nvidia—are set to join the S&P 500 later this month. S&P Dow Jones Indices on Friday said Coherent (COHR), EchoStar (SATS), Lumentum (LITE) and Vertiv (VRT) would be added to the benchmark index of U.S. companies before the start of trading on March 23.…

Key Takeaways Oracle is set to report earnings after the closing bell Tuesday, with Wall Street analysts projecting record revenues.Options pricing suggests traders expect Oracle’s stock could move as much as 10% in either direction by the end of the week. Oracle is set to report its latest quarterly results after the closing bell Tuesday. Traders anticipate the event could lead to a big move in the cloud computing giant’s stock. Options pricing suggests traders see Oracle (ORCL) stock moving as much as 10% in either direction by the end of the week. A shift of that size from the…

Key Takeaways The average 401(k) and IRA balance rose 11% and 7%, respectively, between Q4 2024 and Q4 2025, according to a recent Fidelity analysis.Some financial advisors believe that savers are more likely to stash away money in retirement accounts when the stock market is performing well. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Over the past year, retirement savers have watched their balances grow substantially thanks to a booming stock market and increased contributions. A recent analysis by Fidelity looked at tens of millions of IRA and 401(k) accounts and found the average 401(k) balance…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The price of crude oil approached $120 per barrel early Monday as the war in the Middle East between the U.S., Israel and Iran raged through the weekend. Approximately 20% of the world’s oil production must transit the Strait of Hormuz, which is controlled by the Islamic Republic, to reach global markets. The prospect of an energy supply shock plus a weakening employment situation has investors, traders and speculators on full alert for stagflation.The front-month crude oil futures contract traded to a nearly four-year high of $119.48 per barrel vs the 16-year high of $130.50 in March…

Key Takeaways Gas prices have surged across the U.S. this week as oil prices have jumped amid a widening Middle East conflict that threatens supplies.The national average is now $3.48, with only four states’ averages remaining under $3—while California drivers are paying more than $5.After falling below $3 in December for the first time since 2021, the national average stayed there for 13 weeks before shooting up. U.S. Gas Prices Climbed Quickly This Week, Rising Above $3.30 Oil prices have climbed steeply as the Iran war fuels fears of supply disruptions, and the impact has quickly shown up at the…

Key Takeaways Fewer than 16% of workers in February said they would voluntarily leave their jobs within the next year, the lowest level recorded by the New York Federal Reserve survey in more than a decade.Recent data shows that the quit rate has fallen from its peak during the “Great Resignation” of 2022, as fewer job openings are available. The decline in worker confidence comes as employers trimmed their payrolls. Workers are clinging to their jobs as the labor market slows. Employers shed jobs in February, making workers reluctant to leave their positions, according to a newly released New York Federal…

Aura Minerals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUGO) is among the 10 Best Affordable Stocks to Invest In for the Long Term. BofA Sees Enhanced Cash Flow Potential for Aura Minerals Inc. (AUGO) On February 26, BofA raised the firm’s price target on Aura Minerals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUGO) to $101 from $70 and maintained a Buy rating, following updated forecasts for 2026 metal prices across the North American metals and mining sector. The revised outlook reflects improved commodity price assumptions, which could further enhance Aura’s earnings and cash flow trajectory. The same day, Aura Minerals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUGO) reported fourth-quarter 2025 results, posting adjusted EBITDA of…

above $120 a barrel and rising sharply. Tanker traffic through one of the world’s most important energy corridors severely disrupted. Escalating confrontation involving Iran threatening global supply chains. Conditions are emerging that make global stagflation increasingly likely. surged almost 29% in a single trading session, the largest intraday jump since April 2020, as markets reacted to escalating conflict in the Middle East and growing fears of a supply shock. Traders rapidly pushed prices above $120 a barrel as they reassessed the risks to global energy flows. The Strait of Hormuz sits at the centre of this crisis. Roughly one fifth…

McAfee / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysTax scams are turning many people into victims.Protect yourself by not responding to a tax-related call or message.If you’ve been victimized, report the crime and secure your accounts.Tax season is upon us, and that means cybercriminals are busy cooking up scams designed to steal money or other sensitive information from unsuspecting taxpayers. Thanks to AI, falling for this type of scam may be easier than you think, at least according to the folks at technology specialist McAfee.Also: The best tax software for a stress-free tax seasonReleased…

(BOE Report) – Oil prices have soared while share markets have skidded on fears that the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran will squeeze energy supplies and hamstring industries around the world. Following are actions that governments are taking or plan to take to reduce the impact of the war on their economies. SOUTH KOREA PLANS FUEL CAP South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday that authorities would cap domestic fuel prices for the first time in nearly 30 years. The country will also look for sources of energy beyond supplies shipped via the Strait of Hormuz, and a…