Author: Money Mechanics

(By Oil & Gas 360) – As conflict in the Middle East disrupts traditional flows, Russia is quietly repositioning itself to capture new openings in global energy trade. Officials in Moscow have pointed to the shifting landscape as an opportunity, less about replacing lost barrels and more about redirecting them. When established routes tighten, trade does not stop; it moves. And Russia, already operating outside many Western frameworks, is structured to adapt quickly. That flexibility is showing up in multiple ways. Russia’s crude and LNG flows continue to find alternative buyers, particularly across Asia, where demand remains strong, and price…

Key Takeaways The IRS sets AFRs to prevent below-market personal loans from being treated as gifts.Different AFRs apply based on loan duration: short-term, mid-term, and long-term.Failing to charge AFR on loans can lead to additional taxes and penalties. What Is the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR)? According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), private loans must charge a minimum interest rate known as the applicable federal rate (AFR), published monthly by the IRS. Since private loans can vary by term length, the IRA publishes several AFRs by loan type. How the IRS Determines the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) The Internal Revenue…

Key Takeaways Dot plots are used to visually represent data trends and groupings.Cleveland and Wilkinson dot plots are the two main types.In a dot plot, each value is represented as a dot to show distribution.The FOMC uses dot plots to indicate members’ interest rate projections.Dot plots work best for smaller data sets due to easier dot management. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. What Is a Dot Plot? A dot plot is a simple form of data visualization that consists of data points plotted as dots on a graph with an x- and y-axis. These…

Key Takeaways: Current assets are convertible to cash within one year.They include cash, receivables, inventory, and securities.Current assets demonstrate a company’s short-term liquidity.They are listed under assets on the balance sheet.The current ratio measures a company’s short-term financial health. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Investopedia / Matthew Collins What Constitutes Current Assets? Current assets are found on a company’s balance sheet. They are resources that a company will convert into cash, use, or sell within one year. These assets, such as cash, accounts receivable, and inventory, measure liquidity and a company’s ability to meet…

(Image credit: Getty Images)President Donald Trump has warned that “a whole civilization will die” if Iran does not accept his terms to end the war in the Middle East. All three main U.S. stock indexes gapped into the red at the opening bell on Tuesday, but trended higher before closing mixed as a now-familiar rhythm of “oil up, stocks down” appears to be reaching a crescendo.According to The New York Times, Iran told Pakistan it will no longer negotiate a ceasefire directly with the U.S. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard “is threatening escalating attacks on…

If you were counting on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year, JPMorgan’s chief economist has a message you may not want to hear. Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at JPMorgan, has forecast zero rate cuts through all of 2026, with the Fed’s next move being a 25 basis point rate hike in the third quarter of 2027, according to Yahoo Finance. That would bring the upper band of the federal funds rate to 4.00%. The current rate sits at 3.50% to 3.75%. The forecast puts JPMorgan squarely at odds with the Federal Reserve’s own projections and with…

The U.S. government is warning that Iran-backed hackers are escalating their tactics by targeting American critical infrastructure systems with the aim of causing disruption. In a joint advisory published Tuesday, the FBI, the National Security Agency, the U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA, and the U.S. Department of Energy collectively warned that Iranian government hackers have been exploiting internet-facing systems used across a range of sectors. These include water and waste-water utilities, energy, and local government facilities. The agencies did not specifically name any of the targets, but said that the hacks were aimed at causing “disruptive effects within the United States,”…

March 2026 HighlightsIn March 2026, Cboe FX Spot Average Daily Volume (ADV) reached $74.5 billion, a new all-time high, and a 42.9% increase from March 2025’s ADV of $52.1 billion.Cboe FX and Cboe SEF observed new single day records in March: $109.1 billion on March 3 for Cboe FX, and $6.7 billion on March 6 for Cboe SEF.Cboe SEF ADV1 topped $5.4 billion, the highest ADV recorded on our SEF, and a 101.9% increase from $2.7 billion in March 2025.At $29.2 billion, Cboe FX ECN Firm ADV2 accounted for 53.6% of the Spot ECN total, a new high-water mark, and…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Inflation’s always been top of mind for economists. But since June 2022, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit its highest level in 40 years (9.1%!) and the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to their highest level in over 20 years, it’s become a talking point for most folks.This is because inflation is a measure of our purchasing power. How much things cost and how quickly prices are rising directly impact not only how far a dollar will stretch for us, but also how far it will go for the companies that we invest in. And very…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Hedge funds have amassed a record number of short positions against European stocks, in a bet that the region will be hard hit by the economic fallout from the Iran war.The number of short disclosures against stocks listed in Europe increased to nearly 12,000 in the first three months of this year, according to figures from data provider Breakout Point. That is the highest level since short disclosure rules were introduced in 2012.Short positions are required to be disclosed when they reach…