Author: Money Mechanics

Brent crude (BZ=F) is trading at $84 per barrel Thursday, up 3.3% on the session after Iran’s Tasnim news agency confirmed Iranian forces struck a U.S.-registered oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf with a missile — the single most market-moving headline of the week in energy markets. WTI (CL=F) at $78 has advanced more than 20% since the conflict’s outbreak on Saturday, when Brent was trading at $72.50 before the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran began. That $11.50 per barrel advance in six days is not a speculative spike — it is a physical supply disruption premium being priced…

The Andover Companies has now secured $250 million of collateralized catastrophe reinsurance from its new Locke Tavern Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) catastrophe bond sponsorship, more than replacing the soon to mature protection from its 2023 deal, Artemis can report.The Andover Companies, a large and long-standing mutual insurance group in the Northeast US, had sponsored its debut catastrophe bond back in March 2023. The first Locke Tavern Re cat bond secured the sponsor $175 million of multi-peril catastrophe reinsurance protection backed by capital market investors, to protect its main underwriting entities and it is due to mature at the beginning of…

Maria Diaz/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeaways Amazon is experiencing a disruption. Users report checkout, product page, and mobile app issues. Amazon is working to fix the issue. If you’re having trouble viewing an Amazon product’s price or using the Amazon app, you’re not the only one. Amazon is experiencing a disruption, according to Downdetector. Over 150,000 reports have been submitted to the site, Thursday.Downdetector’s map shows the partial outage impacting major US cities, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, San Francisco, and Seattle. The service, which corrals user reports, is owned by ZDNET’s parent company, Ziff Davis. Latest updateAs of 6:20…

Key Takeaways Robinhood will roll out its Early Dividends program this spring, giving investors access to payouts before the traditional payment date.The brokerage said dividends would be available after the record date, an average of 17 days earlier and sometimes up to a month sooner.Most large-cap U.S. stocks are eligible, but shares held in IRAs will not qualify for early dividend access. Robinhood announced Wednesday that it will roll out a new “Early Dividends” program this spring, giving investors access to their dividend payments sooner than the standard industry timeline. The move would apply to eligible dividend-paying stocks and breaks…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – China continues to deepen its energy ties with both Iran and Latin America, strengthening supply chains while expanding its economic influence across key resource regions. In Iran, Beijing’s engagement centers largely on oil, gas, and infrastructure. China is one of the largest buyers of Iranian crude, accounting for over about 80% of Iran’s oil exports and roughly 13% of China’s total crude imports. China’s state-owned companies have also pursued upstream projects, including development work in the North Azadegan oil field and participation in major gas projects such as South Pars. The two countries formalized…

Key Takeaways An income engine prioritizes predictable cash flow over long-term growth.Yield, income, and total return measure different things, and yield alone can mislead.Beyond traditional bonds, income strategies may include bond funds, CDs, annuities, and REITs.Income-focused investments are typically less volatile than growth assets but still carry credit, inflation, liquidity, and interest-rate risks.Income investing often suits retirees and pre-retirees but may slow wealth accumulation for younger investors. According to the F&G 2026 Risk Tolerance Tracker, 66% of Americans are worried about their retirement income amid current economic conditions. In addition, 77% say the past year has made them less likely…

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(Image credit: Getty Images)Late dip-buying pulled technology and consumer discretionary into positive territory with energy, but all the other stock market sectors were down after crude oil prices surged to 52-week highs on reports Iran attacked a tanker in the Persian Gulf. Investors, traders and speculators will now look forward to Jobs Friday and what the employment situation says about interest rates amid persistent inflation anxiety.The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) spiked as high as 25.84 from 21.15 on Wednesday as a volatile week on Wall Street continues. A normal range for the stock market’s “fear index” is between 12 and…

Key Takeaways Lloyd Blankfein, who led Goldman Sachs through the 2008 financial crisis, expressed concern in several recent interviews that hidden risks within private credit may put the U.S. on track for another financial crisis. Blankfein is one of several Wall Street veterans warning of impending losses in private credit right as the industry and White House push to make private assets part of the average American’s retirement portfolio. The man who led Goldman Sachs through the 2008 financial crisis is sounding the alarm on private credit, joining a chorus of Wall Street veterans expressing concern at a pivotal time…

(Image credit: Getty Images)From “9-to-5” to a “Coat of Many Colors,” Dolly Parton — the Queen of Country — has spent decades teaching us how to grow old with grace. Through her lyrics and life story, Parton has distilled big ideas like purpose, generosity, and resilience into lines you can’t help but hum all day.Retirement is its own kind of reinvention, and Parton knows that better than anyone. Whether she’s singing about the grind or the value of family, her wisdom is a perfect soundtrack for a chapter that isn’t always smooth sailing. To get inspired for your own golden…