Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks, schmocks. Lately, bonds have been a rewarding place to be, too, if the recent performance of Kiplinger ETF 20 member, JPMorgan Income ETF (JPIE), is any guide.The multisector bond fund, which aims to maximize income for a prudent level of risk, delivered a 6.9% return over the past 12 months, with less than half the volatility of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. It currently yields 5.6%.The fund’s managers, led by Andrew Norelli, have a flexible mandate. They are free to invest in any sector and any bond they deem attractive, whether it’s rated investment grade…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you need cash for a major expense, you might be considering tapping your home equity. With a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a home equity loan or a cash-out refinance, you can access the equity in your home and use that money for renovations and other expenses.But it’s more important than ever to understand the potential risks that come with tapping your home equity. According to the Intercontinental Exchange Mortgage Monitor report, Americans hold approximately $17 trillion in total equity, with about $11 trillion tappable.High home values and limited inventory have resulted in equity-rich but…

In recent years, more states have adopted a single income tax rate, or “flat tax.” Unlike progressive systems, where tax rates rise as income increases, a flat tax applies the same rate to all taxable income.Flat taxes could make certain places more appealing for those looking to keep more of their paycheck. That’s likely something people are thinking about as tax season wraps up.Supporters say flat taxes are easier to understand and plan for and could make some states more competitive. (That could be helpful as people leave high-tax states like California and New York for states with lower tax…

ENGIE has announced plans to expand its European battery energy storage systems (BESS) portfolio with the acquisition of two projects in Spain totalling 278MW and the start of construction on a 110MW facility in France. The additions take the company’s BESS capacity in Europe to more than 1GW when combined with 700MW already operating or being built across eight countries. In Spain, ENGIE has bought two stand-alone BESS projects under development in Andalusia: a 78MW/312MW-hour (MWh) facility in Álora and a 200MW/800MWh facility in Tarifa. Each project will enable up to four hours of storage and include synchronous condensers to…

are exhibiting a powerful mean reversion rally, confirming the strength of the VC PMI framework as price accelerates from the Buy 1 ($4629) and Buy 2 ($4572) levels. The market has now decisively reclaimed the VC PMI Daily Mean at $4688 and is trading above the Sell 1 Daily level at $4745, signaling a transition into bullish price momentum. This shift indicates that the market has moved from a neutral-to-bearish corrective phase into an expansion phase, where higher resistance levels become the next targets The immediate upside objective is the Sell 2 Daily level at $4804, which is now being…

March HighlightsU.S. Index OptionsIndex options Average Daily Volume (ADV) reached a record 6.9 million index options contracts in March, rounding out a record first quarter. ADV in the first quarter of 2026 was 6.1 million.SPX Record VolumesS&P 500 Index Options (SPX) had a record monthly ADV of 5.4 million contracts.March 31 set the third highest volume day on record with 6.35 million contracts traded.XSP Record VolumesMini S&P 500 Index Options (XSP) set a new monthly ADV record of 222,000 thousand contracts.CBTX Record VolumesCboe Bitcoin U.S. ETF Index Options (CBTX) had a record monthly ADV with 1,200 contracts traded.March 31 set…

For a risk-averse investor, Blackstone has what could be seen as an irresistible offer. Back its flagship buyout fund and expect a paper return of 11 per cent after fees in six years. But opt for a vehicle that buys ostensibly safer, diverse pools of stakes in other private equity funds, and notch up a 19 per cent return in just four. That discrepancy is core to the appeal of private capital’s exploding secondaries market, where investors back ageing assets rather than funding new deals.Secondaries transactions reached $240bn globally last year according to investment bank Jefferies, a sixfold increase in the space…

Thank you for the warm welcome. It is an honor to speak here at the University of Detroit Mercy.1 I spent most of my career as an economics professor before joining the Board of Governors, so I feel right at home when I am back on a university campus. This evening, I would like to start by updating you on my economic outlook. And since I have the privilege of being here in Detroit, a city synonymous with hard work, I will particularly focus on my labor market outlook. Next, I will discuss the possible implications of the outlook for…

Zurich, the European headquartered global re/insurance company, is now aiming to secure up to $150 million of US named storm and earthquake reinsurance protection from its Turicum Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance, while the price guidance has been lowered for the notes on offer, Artemis can report.Zurich was first seen as a sponsor in the cat bond market back in 2001, and went on to return a number of times up to its last Lakeside Re issuance in late 2012, according to our records in the Artemis Deal Directory. Then, after more than 13 years, Zurich made its return to the catastrophe…

Jada Jones/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Sony, Bose, and Apple have all released the latest generation of their over-ear headphones within the past year. With Apple’s release of the AirPods Max 2, the trifecta is complete. If you’re ready to upgrade your over-ear headphones and are weighing your options between Sony’s WH-1000XM6, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), and Apple’s AirPods Max 2, you have some serious decisions to make. Also: I replaced my Sony WH-1000XM6 with the AirPods Max 2 for a week – and didn’t miss a beatI’ve worn all three, and each has its own…