Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways People in their 50s carry about $158,000 in total debt on average, mostly made up of mortgages and credit cards.​A mortgage balance around the high $200,000 range and a credit card balance around $9,600 are typical benchmarks for this age group.The real red flags aren’t just high balances, but high interest rates, rising balances, and debt that crowds out retirement contributions. Many people imagine that they won’t have much debt by the time they reach their 50s, but the numbers tell a different story. Mortgages, credit cards, car loans, and even lingering student debt are all still on…

Key Takeaways Trump Accounts are a new type of investment account for children. They offer tax-deferred growth, and annual contributions are capped at $5,000. Depending on your goals, a 529 plan, custodial IRA, or brokerage account may offer more flexibility, better tax benefits, or even the ability to save more. Trump Accounts, the new tax-advantaged accounts for children, are set to launch July 5. Yet for parents who want to get a head start on saving for their kid’s future, there are plenty of other ways to save in the meantime. Determining what type of account is best for your…

(Investing) – UBS on Wednesday raised its average Brent crude oil price forecasts for the first quarter and full year 2026, citing escalating conflict in the Middle East and the current near de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The bank now sees the Brent price averaging $71 per barrel in the first quarter, implying around $80 a barrel in March, and at $72 per barrel in 2026, a $10 increase from its previous forecast. The bank said it was leaving its forecasts for later years unchanged at this stage at $70 for 2027 and $75 for 2028, but risk would be to…

Organigram Global Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI) is among the 11 Best Pot Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Organigram Global Inc. (OGI) Sees C$4 Target on Improved Outlook On February 19, Canaccord raised its price target on Organigram Global Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI) to C$4 from C$3 and maintained a Buy rating. That same day, Organigram Global Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI) announced a subscription agreement with BT DE Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco, in connection with its previously announced proposed acquisition of Sanity Group, including BAT’s stake. Under the agreement, BAT will subscribe for 14,027,074 shares at C$3.00 per share for…

This one’s for the history books: and plunged in the aftermath of the escalation of the military conflict in the Middle East. That’s exactly what happened this week. The moved below its mid-Feb. high after failing to hold above its January top. The breakout’s invalidation was a strong sell signal, and it’s completely normal that we now see a sharp decline. Remember how I wrote that due to higher correlation values, silver and miners would be likely to decline more when the rallies? We see this in practice today.Gold and Silver Align With Historic Post-Top CrashGold’s and silver’s performance is just as unsurprising if you look…

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s attempt to revive an old plan to build 12,000 affordable units over a borough railyard is seen as a long shot, even if he gains support from President Trump. Mamdani has garnered headline attention for proposing to build units on a platform above Sunnyside Yard, a 180-acre freight and marshaling area in Queens. The ambitious idea has been stuck in neutral for more than a decade. However, real progress on housing affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities might be more gradual and effective than focusing on a single large, costly, publicly…

Jada Jones/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Bluetooth SIG is preparing for lossless and spatial audio formats.Standardization reduces proprietary requirements and licensing fees.These formats are unlikely to appear until the next decade.Wireless headphones and speakers are a staple in our tech arsenals, but there’s one major drawback to Bluetooth audio transmission: lossy playback. For those who enjoy higher-resolution audio, Bluetooth isn’t an option. However, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is working on several wireless audio innovations, including standardized wireless lossless audio, spatial audio, and surround sound.How could Bluetooth standardize lossless audio?Bluetooth’s default codec is SBC,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Market participants went bargain hunting Wednesday, sending the three main equity indexes higher into the close. Sentiment also got a lift on better-than-expected employment data, which arrived ahead of Friday’s release of the February jobs report.It’s been a volatile week on Wall Street as the escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran sparks uncertainty about geopolitical risk, inflation and future rate cuts.But despite today’s reports that the U.S. sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and the Israeli Air Force launched widespread airstrikes in eastern Tehran, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average (+0.5% at 48,739),…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Pensions industry myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.One of the world’s largest real estate companies is being sued by a former employee over claims it failed to protect its workers’ retirement savings from climate-related risks, in a case that could have ramifications for $12tn in US staff funds.Renee Kvek, now in her 40s, alleges that Cushman & Wakefield failed in its fiduciary duty to members of its 401(k) retirement plan by offering a “wholly unsuitable” fund in spite of “numerous glaring red flags”. Kvek’s lawyers said the retirement plan…

Gallatin Point Capital LLC a private investment firm that focuses on structured investments in financial institutions including re/insurance, services, and related assets, has formed a strategic partnership with Capital Constellation, an investment platform managed by Wafra Inc.As per the announcement, the deal, which is being funded through the Constellation Generation V fund, gives Gallatin access to long-term capital backed by institutional investors, including primary commitments to its investment vehicles and support for its balance sheet. It’s also been confirmed that Gallatin will continue to operate independently, with no changes set to be made to its day-to-day management or investment processes.…