Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks opened lower Friday and stayed there through the close. Amid bare economic and earnings calendars, market participants tracked developments in the Middle East and higher oil prices, which have muddied the outlook for interest rates.At the close, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1.0% at 45,577, the broader S&P 500 was off 1.5% at 6,506, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was 2.0% lower at 21,647. All three benchmarks notched a fourth straight weekly loss – the Dow’s worst weekly losing streak since February 2023.The small-cap Russell 2000 fell 2.3% to 2,438 – entering correction…

Travel medical insurance is a standard travel coverage that can reimburse you for covered medical expenses while traveling, such as hospital stays, dental procedures, and medical evacuations. This type of insurance typically only covers emergency situations, so you likely wouldn’t be covered for routine doctor or dentist visits, or optional procedures. Learn more: Travel insurance: What it covers, costs, and how to choose the right policy When we talk about travel medical insurance, we may be referring to several different coverage types. Depending on your travel insurance policy, you may have some or all of these types of coverage included:…

Pinterest’s CEO, Bill Ready, has called for governments to ban social media for users under 16 in a new Time op-ed. He’s now one of the few top CEOs to call for such a restriction, as nations worldwide begin to implement or consider ways to limit children’s online time, and exactly how to verify ages.  Ready wrote that children today were “living through the largest social experiment in history,” as they have been given “unfiltered access to social media platforms.” Research shows the damage this unfiltered access has done, with today’s youth seeing increased rates of depression, anxiety, and lower…

Filing your taxes as early as possible has always been a good idea. It’s the most effective way to thwart crooks from submitting a fraudulent return in your name, claiming a refund. And if you are due a refund, the sooner you file, the sooner you’ll have the money in your pocket.This year, it’s even more important than usual to get a head start on preparing your return. As a result of tax legislation enacted in July 2025, known by some as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), you’ll need to navigate a thicket of new provisions, covering everything from…

Georgia drivers will soon see some relief at the pump after state lawmakers approved a 60-day suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax.The measure, expected to be signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp today, will reduce prices by roughly 33 cents per gallon of gasoline and about 37 cents per gallon of diesel, once fuel distributors adjust prices.The bipartisan legislation comes as high gas prices continue to weigh on household budgets across the state. Global energy disruptions due to the United States conflict with Iran, inflation, and supply chain pressures are among the reasons cited for the emergency relief.Article…

Question: I’m retiring in a few years and want to reallocate around $100,000 to a less risky investment. Which savings account would work best for me?Answer: There are several solutions where you can earn thousands of dollars risk-free in a year. Two of the most popular choices are jumbo CDs and high-yield savings accounts.Which one would work best for you? I’ll break down when to use each and which one earns you the most cash.Article continues below From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. March 20, 2026 Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement actions with former employee of Ally Bank and former employee of Regions Bank For release at 11:00 a.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the execution of the enforcement actions listed below: Consent prohibition against Lidia Estrada Former employee of Ally Bank, Sandy, Utah Falsification of documents in connection with request for increased compensation Consent prohibition order against Brenda Fuson Former employee of…

The stock market is experiencing increased volatility amid inflation fears, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting interest rate expectations. Below we highlight four undervalued stocks that stand out for their ability to navigate the current volatility. All four stocks have outperformed the S&P 500’s YTD return while paying dividends that cushion portfolios during drawdowns. With equity markets experiencing heightened volatility in early 2026, investors are increasingly turning to stocks that combine attractive dividend income with defensive business models and strong year-to-date momentum. Betterware de México (NYSE:), Spectrum Brands (NYSE:), Sirius XM (NASDAQ:), and Kinetik Holdings (NYSE:) all fit that bill. Each operates in…

Just 30% of Americans believe advances in AI will help boost the economy and help more people afford homes, according to a recent Redfin survey. The majority of both Democrats and Republicans believe AI will make it harder to afford homes.   Nearly two-thirds of Americans say tariffs will cause inflation and keep interest rates high, while 31% say tariffs will boost the economy.  Half believe less immigration will result in fewer construction workers and fewer new homes, hurting housing affordability, while 35% believe less immigration will reduce demand for housing and help affordability.  Nearly half say loosening zoning rules will…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – Global energy markets are entering a new phase of disruption as attacks on critical infrastructure across the Middle East begin to translate into real supply losses, not just risk premiums. Brent crude surged to multi-year highs, briefly touching around $119 per barrel, as traders reacted to widening outages across oil and gas systems. The move reflects a market increasingly focused on physical disruption rather than just geopolitical headlines. At the center of the shock is a wave of coordinated strikes on energy infrastructure. Drone attacks have forced refinery shutdowns in multiple Gulf states, including…