Author: Money Mechanics

Stock futures dropped and oil and gold futures surged Monday after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend.  Nasdaq 100, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 futures pointed down 1.6%, 1.2%, and 1.2%, respectively, with Dow futures shedding 550 points. On Friday, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, tech-heavy Nasdaq, and benchmark S&P 500 finished down a respective 1.1%, 0.9%, and 0.4%, after a hotter-than-expected Producer Price Index reading. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 ended lower for February, while the Dow finished 0.2% higher for its 10th straight month of gains. Early Saturday, a military…

While inflation has slowed, affordability continues to be a key issue for many Americans. Here, Kiplinger speaks with Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree and author of Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More about affordability and what people can do to get by. It seems that most Americans, even many with higher incomes, are facing affordability issues these days. Is this something you’re seeing in LendingTree data?Yes, it’s clear that affordability issues aren’t just hitting lower-income Americans. For example, data from a recent report we put out on rising theft from self-checkout showed that the biggest reason people…

Wall Street analysts are scrambling to get a grip on the financial and economic implications of the latest Middle East war. Understandably, the biggest primary impact is going to be on energy prices, with almost everything else flowing from that. Judging by the volume of “umm, we think this will be shortlived and stand by our forecasts” vibe, a lot of the sell-side has evidently been caught on the hop by recent developments. At least JPMorgan’s oil analysts to their credit open their report by admitting they messed up: “Our base case assumed that an unprecedented disruption would remain improbable.…

The US Supreme Court has overturned most of the tariffs.  Disappointing data from the US economy impacts EUR/USD. The pair has consolidated within 1.18. On Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs former President Donald Trump had put in place under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal. Despite this major decision, the US dollar and forex markets, including key pairs like . have only moved a little, and an early drop in the US dollar has been reversed. Trump reacted strongly in his statements, but it is still unclear how the ruling will affect existing trade…

Wong Yu Liang/Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeawaysFailed projects and job-loss fears have lowered employee confidence in AI.Professionals should embrace AI and find clear personal benefits.Be realistic, accept cultural change, and focus on long-term impact.Evidence suggests workers have lost confidence in AI, with many proof-of-concept tests not moving to production. Even when AI projects deliver results, talk of potential job losses means it’s easy to understand why workers are anxious about emerging technology.Also: Nervous about the job market? 5 ways to stand out in the age of AIHowever, it’s not all bad news.…

Key Takeaways Though the Alps are sprinkled with luxury ski resorts and wealthy zip codes, many destinations are surprisingly affordable for retirees.The Alps are popular for their natural beauty, high quality of life, and the health benefits that come with walkable communities. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Retiring to the Alps doesn’t require a Swiss bank account type of wealth. While Switzerland’s mountain villages average $3,691 per month, among the world’s highest costs of living, neighboring Alpine countries offer the same dramatic scenery at a fraction of the price. Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and France…

(Investing) – WASHINGTON – The United States is seeking the forfeiture of Motor Tanker Skipper, an oil tanker seized by the U.S. in December, and 1.8 million barrels of crude oil cargo supplied by Venezuelan state-run company PDVSA, the Justice Department said on Friday. In its complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the department alleged a scheme dating to 2021 to facilitate the shipment and sale of petroleum products to benefit Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is under U.S. sanctions. It said the Skipper moved crude oil from Iran and Venezuela during this time. “The Skipper…

January 2026 HighlightsMember Usage & Peer Ranking Reports Now AvailableMember Usage and Peer Ranking Reports are now available to help members understand how their trading activity and performance compare to other members in their peer groups on each of the Cboe trading venues.Metrics available include: traded volume across different order types on a shares and notional basis, post trade markouts by liquidity, price group and spread buckets, and volumes and average trade size for NBBO setting and joining add volume. For each of these metrics, members are given an overall ranking and a ranking within their peer group, along with…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldThe writer is a professor at Arizona State University and author of ‘Putin’s Sledgehammer’Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US is still debating how to categorise the paramilitary networks that help finance and sustain Vladimir Putin’s war effort. The recently introduced Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries Act (Harm) suggests that Congress is finally ready to move beyond a narrow focus on the Wagner Group and confront the broader ecosystem that replaced it. Lawmakers should act quickly, but they…

To get a personal loan, you’ll need good credit, a stable income and a steady employment history. Bad credit loans are available, but rates can be high and loan amounts may be limited. You’ll qualify for a lower, more competitive rate with good-to-excellent credit. Most personal loans are unsecured, which makes them faster and easier to get than collateral-backed loans. Shopping for personal loans with multiple lenders could land you the best deal. Getting a personal loan is relatively simple. Most lenders offer a fully online application process and only require information about your income, credit history and bank account…