Author: Money Mechanics

Mandy Xu ▬ February 23, 2026 Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:Implied volatilities diverged last week on the back of rising geopolitical tensions, changing tariff policy, and lingering AI worries. Commodity vols saw the biggest increase, with oil 1M implied volatility jumping over 12 pts to 52% on fear of an US-Iran conflict. Oil skew is the most inverted (calls trading at a premium to puts) since the 2022 Russia-Ukraine invasion, with the inversion extending out to the 6M tenor as traders position for a period of prolonged geopolitical tension. In contrast, equity and rates vol all ended…

Key Takeaways An incorrect address can be an innocent error, but it can also signal identity theft.The address on your credit report generally won’t affect your credit score.Notify the credit reporting agency that issued the report if you see an incorrect address there.You can place a freeze or fraud alert on your credit in serious situations. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Your credit report is a critical component of your financial life since it demonstrates your level of creditworthiness to lenders, which can determine whether you achieve financial goals like buying a home or…

Key Takeaways Nvidia is set to report quarterly results after the closing bell Wednesday, with expectations running high for record-beating numbers.Options pricing suggests traders see the stock moving as much as 6% in either direction by the end of the week. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Nvidia is set to report earnings after the closing bell Wednesday, with traders anticipating a sizable move from the AI chipmaker’s stock. Options pricing suggests traders expect Nvidia (NVDA) shares could move as much as 6% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of…

Key Takeaways Amid sluggish hiring, workers with in-demand AI skills are commanding higher pay and more opportunities across a wide range of industries, not just tech.In 2026, many high-paying jobs with strong job growth are concentrated in tech, with median salaries for some topping $100,000.But tech jobs are to be found beyond Silicon Valley, with high-tech jobs found across the economy. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The tech job market is splitting in two—between those who work directly with technology, and those who help it run. On the first side are software engineers, cloud…

Refresh 2026-02-23T18:14:15.967Z Software’s death is greatly exaggerated, says Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Not many had a bear market for software stocks on their bingo card for 2026. It has been pervasive, from massive tech companies including Microsoft (MSFT) and SAP (SAP) to smaller ones, such as DocuSign (DOCU) and LegalZoom (LZ). Some on Wall Street have called this the “SaaSpocalypse.”The catalyst for the sell-off came last month, when Anthropic released Claude Cowork, a sophisticated agentic AI system. It allows for developing sophisticated agents without needing to know how to code.But interestingly enough, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang thinks that Wall Street…

Key Takeaways According to legendary investor Warren Buffett, market volatility isn’t a threat—it’s an opportunity to buy quality companies at discounted prices.Buffett’s approach emphasizes patience, discipline, and a focus on long-term business value rather than day-to-day stock swings.Investors who stay calm, avoid speculation, and lean into market downturns with strategy and not fear tend to come out ahead. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The ups and downs of the stock market can feel like a roller coaster ride. If you’re watching your portfolio’s value increase or decrease significantly, you may feel like you need…

Key Takeaways Starting a 401(k) early gives compound interest more time to grow your savings. Employer matching is essentially free money that accelerates long-term returns. To choose between a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k), decide when you want to pay taxes—either now (get a Roth account) or in retirement (get a traditional account). If you’re a young worker, retirement planning can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve barely begun your career. One Reddit user captured this uncertainty perfectly: “I am 22 and have zero idea of what a 401(k) even is to be quite honest, besides that it’s for retirement,…

We recently published an article titled 12 Best Data Storage Stocks to Buy Right Now. On February 5, Craig-Hallum raised its price target on Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:SIMO) to $160 from $120 and maintained a Buy rating, citing market share gains and rising average selling prices amid sustained demand for its NAND flash controllers. While management expects near-term gross margin pressure in the March quarter due to rising memory costs, margins are projected to recover toward the 48%–50% range in subsequent quarters. The previous day, Roth Capital raised its price target on Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:SIMO) to $140…

In-brief analysis February 23, 2026 U.S. power plant owners and operators plan to retire nearly 11 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale electric generating capacity from the U.S. power grid this year, according to data reported to us in our latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. Almost all the scheduled retirements are either coal-fired power plants (58%) or steam turbines and simple-cycle natural gas (42%). The plans may be more subject to change than usual, with policy shifts recently delaying retirements at several coal plants. Last year, owners and operators planned to retire 12.3 GW of capacity…

In the world of the geopolitical risk premium the question is half traders priced him the appropriate amount of risk premium? not surprisingly has pulled back after the Iran risk premium run-up we’ve seen lately because no attack happening over the weekend and the has eased the risk, at least for now. Yet oil still has some solid monthly gains in the books with WTI hanging around $66.12 per barrel, down just a smidge (about 0.5-0.6%) from yesterday’s close. Brent is sitting near $71.03, easing off roughly 0.7-1.0%. It’s a classic risk off relief pullback from those six-month highs we…