Author: Money Mechanics

Entering 2026, forecasts for the performance of the energy sector were tempered, with analysts pointing to a global oil surplus and consequently weaker demand. After mustering a gain of just 8.7% in 2025—good for fourth worst among the ’s 11 sectors—expectations remained low this year. But as the market continues to rotate out of tech stocks, defensive sectors continue to benefit from investors’ flight to safety. Chief among them is energy, which has led the index with a year-to-date (YTD) gain of more than 18%. However, with four of the oil majors reporting Q4 2025 earnings over the past two…

The US Department of Labor headquarters building is seen at dusk on June 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. J. David Ake | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe Bureau of Labor Statistics will not be releasing the January jobs report as scheduled Friday due to the partial government shutdown, a department spokesman confirmed Monday.”The Employment Situation release for January 2026 will not be released as scheduled on Friday, February 6, 2026. The release will be rescheduled upon the resumption of government funding,” Emily Liddel, associate commissioner of the BLS, said in a statement.Following last year’s record shutdown that stretched into…

As AI data centers drive up electricity prices, London-based startup Tem thinks AI might be able to help solve it, too. Tem has built an energy transaction engine that relies on AI to cut prices relative to other energy traders. The company has signed up more than 2,600 business customers throughout the U.K. on the promise that buying energy from its utility division can save them up to 30% on their energy bills. The startup recently closed an oversubscribed $75 million Series B led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from AlbionVC, Allianz, Atomico, Hitachi Ventures, Revent, Schroders Capital, and…

Key Takeaways Some software stocks are on sale after last week’s rout, according to a recent Jefferies note, in which analysts called it “premature” to predict AI will decimate the software industry.Investors are concerned that competition from AI startups and the rise of “vibe coding” could undercut demand for existing software and pressure the industry’s margins.Jefferies sees opportunity for software companies that can adapt to AI transformation and leverage their vast pools of data. All the talk of AI “eating” software could have some investors eating their words, according to a recent Jefferies report. A rough year for software stocks…

Key Takeaways One Polymarket user made about $1.2 million on a series of Seahawks bets, while another won every bet made on celebrity appearances during Bad Bunny’s halftime show.BofA estimates prediction markets’ Super Bowl wagers came to as much as 20% of regulated sports books’. The stakes were high this Sunday—for both football fans glued to the Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl and traders watching the game playing out on prediction markets. Prediction platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi did not run Super Bowl ads—the NFL put them on the no-fly list alongside tobacco and firearms companies—but they still saw a surge in…

Key Takeaways AppLovin shares soared Monday after CapitalWatch retracted accusations from a report about a shareholder of the adtech company.CapitalWatch said an internal review found the claims tying a shareholder to criminal organizations didn’t meet its standards. One of AppLovin’s most vocal critics is walking back some of its claims. Shares of AppLovin (APP) jumped over 13% Monday, leading gainers on the S&P 500, after CapitalWatch—a self-described “vigilante of capital flowing in and out of stock markets”—over the weekend posted a correction and apology on social media regarding some of its accusations against a shareholder. “We are formally retracting specific…

KEY TAKEAWAYS During President Donald Trump’s first year of his second term, the Department of Education forgave the loans of an estimated 117,280 borrowers through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.As lawsuits led to a pause in forgiveness under several income-driven repayment plans, 3,570 borrowers received forgiveness through those plans in 2025.While the number of forgiven borrowers is lower than during Joe Biden’s presidency, it is much higher than other previous administrations. Although federal student loan borrowers faced many changes to their repayment plans during President Donald Trump’s first year of his second term, thousands still got their debt forgiven…

Key Takeaways Robinhood is set to report fourth-quarter results after the closing bell Tuesday.Options pricing suggests traders expect the stock could move 9% in either direction by the end of the week. Robinhood is set to report fourth-quarter earnings after the closing bell on Tuesday, with traders anticipating a big swing from the retail brokerage’s stock following the results. Current options pricing suggests traders expect Robinhood (HOOD) stock could swing around 9% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of that size from Monday’s close near $87 could lift the stock back up to $95, where…

Key Takeaways Trump Accounts provide $1,000 in free seed money for babies born between 2025 and 2028.But these accounts aren’t just for newborns. Families can contribute up to $5,000 annually for kids up to age 18.Because Trump Accounts convert to traditional IRAs at 18, many kids could then shift the money to a Roth IRA with little or no tax due. How Trump Accounts Work The Trump Accounts created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are government-funded investment accounts designed to help children build wealth from birth. Babies born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will…

(Image credit: Getty Images)An extended rebound in tech stocks sent the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite notably higher to start the week. Price action for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was more muted, though the blue-chip index held its footing atop the psychologically significant 50,000 level.At the close, the S&P 500 was up 0.5% at 6,964 and the Nasdaq gained 0.9% to 23,238. And while the Dow ticked up just 0.04% to 50,135, it was its second straight close above 50k and a new all-time high.The Dow above 50,000 has many investors “wondering where it will go next,” says…