Author: Money Mechanics

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.…

Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei is not happy — perhaps predictably so — with OpenAI chief Sam Altman. In a memo to staff, reported by The Information, Amodei referred to OpenAI’s dealings with the Department of Defense as “safety theater.” “The main reason [OpenAI] accepted [the DoD’s deal] and we did not is that they cared about placating employees, and we actually cared about preventing abuses,” Amodei wrote. Last week, Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) failed to come to an agreement over the military’s request for unrestricted access to the AI company’s technology. Anthropic, which already…

Key Takeaways Broadcom posted quarterly results that topped analysts’ estimates, thanks to strong demand for its AI offerings. The stock has lost more than a fifth of its value from its December highs amid a broader pullback in AI-exposed stocks. Can Broadcom’s latest quarterly results revive enthusiasm for its stock? Shares of Broadcom (AVGO) were recently up more than 4% in extended trading, after the chipmaker posted better-than-expected results for its fiscal first quarter. Broadcom posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.05 on a 29% year-over-year jump in revenue to a record $19.31 billion as AI sales more than doubled. Both…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – Escalating tensions involving Iran are reverberating through global energy markets, as security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz push shipping costs sharply higher and raise questions about the reliability of one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has taken on an expanded wartime leadership role inside the country, a shift that analysts say could reinforce a harder strategic line as regional conflict intensifies. The Guards, already central to Iran’s military and economic power structure, are increasingly shaping security and operational decisions during the crisis. At the…

Key Takeaways The average Vanguard 401(k) balance rose to a record $167,970 at year-end 2025.The growth was driven by strong stock market gains and Americans’ expanding use of automated savings plans.A record 6% of Vanguard participants took a hardship withdrawal in 2025, the sixth straight annual increase and triple the pre-pandemic rate. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. For the sixth straight year, more Americans raided their retirement accounts during a crisis. They also finished the year with more money in their 401(k)s than ever before. About 6% of workers in Vanguard’s 401(k) plans tapped…

In recent columns, I have written about longevity literacy and the need for long-term-care planning. To see how women fit into this picture, I interviewed Maddy Dychtwald, cofounder of AgeWave, a research and consulting firm focused on aging, and author of Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainspan and Lifespan. Dychtwald interviewed dozens of researchers, scientists and physicians for her book, and these are some of her key takeaways. What do women in particular need to know about aging? For women, there is good news, bad news and better news. The good news is that we have won…

(Image credit: Getty Images)When investors look for a financial advisor, one of the most common terms they encounter is fee-only. The phrase sounds straightforward, but it is often misunderstood.Fee-only is not a description of advice quality or an advisor’s intentions. It is a method of financial advisor compensation, and financial advisor compensation plays an important role in shaping financial advice.Understanding how an advisor is paid can help investors better evaluate potential conflicts of interest and decide what type of advisory relationship is right for them. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe…