Author: Money Mechanics

Flood specialist JBA Risk Management has launched an enhanced version of its Global Flood Model, which introduces a variety of key features, such as enhanced hazard maps, a wide range of future climate event sets, and improvements to both processing speed and exposure disaggregation.As per the firm, these developments will enable reinsurers, insurers, brokers, risk managers and asset managers to obtain a clearer understanding of both present and evolving exposure to flood risk, and to undertake transparent, fully auditable stress testing with greater confidence. JBA Risk Management’s new global flood model includes updated maps for 17 key countries (Hungary, Japan,…

As demand grows for training and refining AI models, Deccan AI — a startup supplying post-training data and evaluation work — has raised $25 million in its first major funding round, with much of that work carried out by an India-based workforce of experts. The all-equity Series A round was led by A91 Partners, with participation from Susquehanna International Group and Prosus Ventures. While frontier AI labs including OpenAI and Anthropic build core models in-house, much of the post-training work — from data generation to evaluation and reinforcement learning — is increasingly being outsourced as companies push to make systems…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Positive headlines on the war in Iran sparked an early rally in stocks on Wednesday. Nine of the 11 S&P 500 sectors closed higher, though energy was the biggest decliner as oil prices backtracked.The main indexes hit their session highs at the open amid reports that the U.S. sent Iran a 15-point proposal to end the war. However, enthusiasm waned after headlines suggested Iran rejected the peace plan.After being up more than 1% in early trading the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average closed with a more modest 0.7% gain at 46,429, the broader S&P 500 added 0.5%…

Americans are increasingly using personal loans to help manage their finances, according to a recent report from credit bureau Experian. As of 2025, a record 38% of consumers have at least one personal loan — up from 30.9% in 2017. Over that eight-year period, personal loan use has consistently risen. Personal loan balances are on the rise too. While not quite as high as they were two years ago, balances increased between 2024 and 2025 to an average of $19,333. “U.S. consumers continue to spend, based on recent retail sales figures, and credit card balances continue to climb,” the report…

US-Iran ceasefire optimism is fueling a fresh rally on Wall Street. Lower oil prices, reduced shipping and aviation risks, and renewed consumer willingness to travel and invest are creating a multi-sector tailwind. While no outcome is guaranteed and negotiations remain fluid, the early market reaction suggests these three names are poised to outperform as the rally broadens. As reports of a potential US-Iran ceasefire gain traction, markets are breathing a sigh of relief. have plunged, removing a major headwind for energy-sensitive sectors, while broader stock indices have rebounded sharply on reduced geopolitical risk.   Here are three standout stocks that…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. March 25, 2026 Federal Reserve Board releases annual audited financial statements For release at 12:00 p.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday released annual audited financial statements for the Federal Reserve System for 2025. An independent accounting firm issued unqualified opinions, stating that its audit found no material misstatements in accordance with applicable auditing standards. The Board released audited individual and combined statements for the 12 Federal Reserve Banks, the Board, and…

(Oil Price) – In just over a year, the world saw several instances of a choked supply of commodities indispensable for today’s economies and military capabilities. From China’s restrictions on rare earths and critical minerals supply to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, policymakers and analysts began to realize that the control of oil, critical minerals, rare earths, and magnets is as important as building and maintaining stockpiles of advanced weapons. It also became clear that without these resources, defense and military capabilities could be weakened. The actual arms race goes hand in hand with the new battle…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you notice you home’s energy bills have crept up you’re not alone. Electric bills have risen significantly in recent years, with some estimates showing increases of around 30% over the past five years.With more data center construction, harsher weather, and the Iran war increasing gas prices, it’s a recipe for higher electric bills heading into the summer. But these factors alone are not the only reasons your bills are rising.There’s a hidden factor that could add another $1,000 to your yearly costs. I’ll explain what it is, how to spot it, and how to fix it.Article…

December 2022The Strateg, originally named Melodia and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, is part of a fleet exporting crude oil from RussiaJune 2023The ship is renamed Li Bai and changes its flag to Panama2024It makes calls to Russian ports where oil consistently breaches the $60 price capJanuary 2025The vessel is placed under sanctions by the USFebruary 2025Renamed Azuron and registered under a false Guyana flagApril 2025Renamed Danshui and registered under a false Comoros flagMay 2025Sanctions imposed by the EUJuly 2025Sanctions imposed by the UKRegistered under a false Benin flagDecember 2025The vessel, now in effect stateless, is reportedly sold to…

Europe could experience energy shortages before the end of April, the chief executive of Shell has warned. Jet fuel supply has already tightened, and a diesel squeeze could be next, with gasoline supply tightening as well, as the continent nears peak fuel demand season in the summer, Wael Sawan said, as quoted by Reuters. “South Asia was first to get that brunt. That’s moved to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and then more so into Europe as we get into April,” Sawan said, speaking at the CERAWeek conference in Texas. The executive noted that energy security is essential for national security.…