Author: Money Mechanics

Broad‑based indices moved higher to start 2026, with small caps setting the pace as investors shifted their focus away from the high‑cap technology “Mag 10” stocks that had significant gains in 2025. For the month, the Russell 2000 ® Index (RUT) increased 5.31%, followed by the S&P 500 ® Equal Weight Index (SPEQX), which was up 3.28%, and the benchmark S&P 500 Index (SPX), which rose 1.37%.Illustrating the shift, the Cboe Magnificent 10 (MGTN) Index declined 0.8%, while the Cboe U.S. Lead 50 Index (LEADX) — highlighting performance of the 50 top performers — gained nearly 10.3%. In contrast, the…

Key Takeaways The unusually cold weather that gripped much of the country in late January and early February was harsh enough to have a material impact on the economy.Car sales plunged and natural gas prices surged, and forecasters expect housing construction to tank.The effects of the storms are likely to be mostly temporary, as most economic activity is merely being delayed. There’s cold weather, and then there’s weather so cold you can see it on a thermometer and even in the economic data.The winter storms that blanketed the country in snow and ice from New Mexico to Maine in January…

Key Takeaways Trump Accounts could give wealthy families a big advantage, as they can more easily make additional contributions.Lower-income families may struggle to contribute to the account, meaning the program could widen the wealth gap rather than reduce it, according to one expert. President Donald Trump has touted Trump Accounts as a way for young people to build wealth early on, but one expert suggests that these new investment accounts for children could widen the wealth gap. Trump Accounts, which were established by 2025’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” are set to launch on July 5. Babies born between 2025 and…

Key Takeaways A revision to historical job creation data showed the economy lost 48,000 jobs in January 2025 instead of gaining 111,000, wrecking former President Joe Biden’s formerly perfect record on job creation.Until Wednesday, Biden was the only president who never presided over job losses while he was in office—now that’s only true for full months of his presidency. Unexpectedly upbeat job creation data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics gave President Donald Trump reason to celebrate, and added an asterisk to a record formerly held by his predecessor, Joe Biden. What This Means For The Economy The…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The January jobs report came in much higher than expected, alleviating fears of a sharp slowdown in the labor market. The data also strengthens the case for the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged for the foreseeable future; certainly through the remainder of Jerome Powell’s term as Fed chair, which is up in May.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nonfarm payrolls rose by 130,000 in January, more than double economists’ estimates for roughly 55,000 new jobs.The figures for November were revised down by 15,000, from +56,000 to +41,000, while job growth for December was…

Key Takeaways Mattel shares tumbled Wednesday after the toy maker’s fourth-quarter results fell short of estimates.Mattel also forecast profits could continue to decline this year, while analysts had been looking for growth. The holidays have not been kind to Mattel’s stock. Shares of Mattel (MAT) were down nearly 25% to just under $16 in recent trading after the toy maker’s latest earnings report covering the winter holiday shopping season—typically its strongest sales period of the year—disappointed. The maker of Barbie, Hot Wheels, and dozens of other toy brands said after the bell Tuesday that it earned an adjusted 39 cents…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Rising wireless bills are pushing more consumers to reconsider traditional phone plans and explore lower-cost alternatives. Prepaid wireless, once viewed primarily as a budget option, is drawing renewed interest as shoppers look for flexible ways to cut recurring expenses without committing to long-term contracts.Much of the growth is being driven by mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which lease network access from major carriers such as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Because MVNOs don’t maintain their own infrastructure, they can often offer comparable coverage at lower monthly prices.With inflation continuing to strain household budgets, more consumers are embracing cost-cutting…

Key Takeaways Kraft Heinz has reversed a planned split, with new CEO Steve Cahillane calling it “prudent to pause” amid fixable challenges.The company reported Q4 net sales fell 3.4% and 2026 guidance that missed estimates. Kraft Heinz plans to stay together. The food giant on Wednesday reversed a course set in September, when it announced plans to split in two and undo a merger that was just a decade old. New Kraft Heinz (KHC) CEO Steve Cahillane in the company’s latest quarterly financial report said the company’s “challenges are fixable and within our control.” The news lifted the company’s stock slightly,…

Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) is one of the 10 Trending AI Stocks According to Analysts. As debates around the durability of the memory cycle continue, Deutsche Bank recently took a more constructive outlook on Micron. The firm reiterated the stock as “Buy” and raised its price target to $500 per share from $300. Given the tight supply and demand dynamics in the memory market, the firm anticipates a favorable environment for Micron in coming quarters. “…we see the current market environment as remaining favorable for MU in the coming quarters.” Deutche Bank increased its calendar year 2026 earnings per share estimate…

In-brief analysis February 11, 2026 We forecast that production of petroleum and other liquids will continue to exceed global demand, which results in Brent crude oil prices falling from an average of $69 per barrel (b) in 2025 to $58/b in 2026 and $53/b in 2027. Crude oil prices tend to decrease as global petroleum stocks increase. Persistently high implied global oil inventory builds in the near-term are putting downward pressure on crude oil prices despite heightened uncertainty around the volume of crude oil exports from Russia and Venezuela. We estimate implied global inventory changes…