Author: Money Mechanics

The Dow plunged 620 points Friday after a hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation report rattled Wall Street, capping the S&P 500’s worst month since March. Nvidia (NVDA) shed 5.5% the day before—despite posting record earnings. The VIX, Wall Street’s fear gauge, jumped back above 20. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 dropped 2.5% and 0.4%, respectively, this month. So right now, millions of investors are staring at screens full of red, asking the same question: Is this the dip I should buy? When stocks tumble this fast, your instinct might be to see bargains. A price that was higher last week feels…

Key Takeaways Dell shares surged Friday after the company beat quarterly earnings and revenue estimates.The company reported $64 billion in AI-optimized server orders and a record $43 billion backlog.Dell announced a $10 billion buyback plan and a 20% dividend increase. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Dell Technologies (DELL) is taking advantage of its “AI opportunity.” Shares soared 20% in morning trading Friday, a day after the computer and server maker easily topped analysts’ estimates for its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter.  The Round Rock, Texas-based firm reported adjusted earnings of $3.89 per share on revenue…

Key Takeaways The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has made permanent some of the adjustments from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and has significantly shifted other aspects of the tax landscape. New changes include an additional senior exemption, provisions for families with minor children, deductions for business owners and those earning overtime and tip pay, and more. It may be possible to increase your refund when you file taxes in 2026, but you’ll need to know how to maximize your benefits first. Most tax filers don’t pay much attention to the often-subtle changes in the tax code…

Key Takeaways Most investing mistakes stem from fear or misinformation—not poor judgment.Avoiding the market can be just as costly as taking on too much risk.Consistent strategies often outperform reactive decision-making.Confidence in investing grows through education and experience, not perfection. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. As women enter top-earning professions at higher rates and make up a growing share of heirs in the Great Wealth Transfer, they are becoming wealthier than ever before. Many women fear financial decisions, finding these choices overwhelming or paralyzing in a financial world that often seems complex and unforgiving. While…

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week she’s looking at five questions on how to file a tax return for someone who died. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Filing a joint return with a deceased spouseQuestion: My husband died last year. Can I file a joint 2025 Form 1040 even though he’s no longer with us? Joy Taylor: When someone is deceased, the decedent’s personal representative is generally required to file any final tax returns for the…

SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 25: (L-R) David Dobrik, Tyler Cameron, Matt James, and Taylor Lautner play in the CELSIUS pickleball tournament at David Dobrik’s home on August 25, 2023 in Sherman Oaks, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Celsius)Getty Images for CelsiusIn my recent article, “Why Aging In Place May Not Be The Answer For Your Retirement,” I tackled one of the main dilemmas people face as they grow older – where are we going to live? During my research process, I discovered a trend of older adults who, rather than aging in place (in other words, living…

Key Takeaways Women hold more excess cash than needed, which can slow long-term wealth growth.Planning and fully funded emergency savings can reduce financial stress and support investing.Women tend to outperform men by investing consistently rather than overtrading.Investing isn’t gambling, but different strategies exist for different risk tolerances. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The concept of “girl math” may be a quirky internet trend, but the real math is this: women are more likely to keep extra money in cash savings instead of investments—and that choice can limit long-term wealth. Women are strong savers, and…

(Image credit: Getty Images)There are few certainties in life beyond death and taxes, but one of them is that you can always count on Vanguard Group to cut fees.The nation’s second-largest asset manager kicked off 2026 by once again cutting costs on a slew of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. The move is part of a multi-year effort to save investors’ hard-earned capital and boost their long-term returns.Of course, this is just what Vanguard does. The late, great Jack Bogle was keenly aware of the pernicious effects of costs on long-term performance. The Vanguard founder famously admonished folks never…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It’s got all the drama of a movie, only it’s playing out in boardrooms instead of theaters. First came the $82.7 billion offer from Netflix (NFLX) to buy the film and TV studios of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in December. Warner’s Discovery Global unit, which includes CNN, Discovery and TNT Sports, would have been spun off to the public in late 2026.Though not all rejoiced at the union, the two seemed destined to plight their respective troths, until Paramount Skydance (PSKY) showed up like a suitor shouting objections at the altar with a competing, hostile offer to…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.You can always recognise these people. You see them pacing as you wait with them for a lift. Or moving back and forth at the station, every stride chipping away at the target. Why waste five minutes standing still on a District line platform when you could probably knock off a cheeky few hundred steps? You just know that if they’ve managed only 9,700 by the time they get home, they will be pacing the kitchen until their counter hits five figures. And,…