Author: Money Mechanics

Ready for a break? You’re getting one: The 2026 trading holiday schedule starts in earnest next week. Stock and bond markets will close for the first time since New Year’s Day on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which commemorates the birth of the civil rights rights leader. The holiday itself is observed on the third Monday of January, though King’s birthday was on Jan. 15. Regular trading resumes on Tuesday. Here’s the 2026 holiday trading schedule through the start of the summer: Monday, Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day/George Washington’s birthday observed): Stock and bond markets…

Last year was a busy year for the markets. It included macro events like tariffs, artificial intelligence (AI) and the growing dominance of U.S. tech companies attracting ever more global retail investors. That, in turn, led to ongoing growth of off-exchange trading and plans for 24-hour trading — both of which make a better National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO) even more important.Today we look at my 10 favorite charts from 2025.1. Stock markets are good for the economyYou might think it is obvious that stock markets are good for the public. Accounting statements make it easier for more investors to efficiently value companies and allocate capital, and that capital allows companies to expand, build new factories or products, and hire more workers.…

Key Takeaways Most Americans retire earlier than expected, with health issues and job loss being the main drivers of unplanned early exits.Experts recommend that people in their 40s and 50s plan by looking at best and worst case retirement scenarios and consider whether they can continue to work in their current jobs. You’re fast approaching retirement, but don’t have enough money to comfortably retire just yet. Instead of stashing more money in your 401(k), what if you just worked longer, delaying retirement until you saved enough? While this may seem like a good idea in theory, in practice it might…

ZDNET’s key takeaways 0patch costs about $30 per year for its Pro plan, and includes a free tier that provides zero-day patches. It’s easy to install and runs quietly in the background, automatically applying updates the moment they come in. Some users have reported performance issues after installing patches. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.In early 2023, Microsoft announced that it would end all official support for Windows 10 in 2025, giving users just over two years to migrate to Windows 11. As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ceased regular updates and security patches for Windows 10,…

(World Oil) – Coterra Energy Inc. is exploring a combination with Devon Energy Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, a potential tie-up between two shale explorers that would be among the biggest oil and gas deals in years. The companies — both with large positions in the oil-rich Permian Basin — are holding talks about a possible merger, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the matter is private. One option being discussed is an all-stock transaction, they said. Coterra has a market capitalization of about $21 billion, while Devon is valued at about $23 billion. The companies…

In 2025, over 200 companies had their initial public offerings (IPOs) on U.S. exchanges. However, less than a quarter of these were able to beat the S&P 500’s 18% return (with dividends reinvested). Below, we’ll break down three 2025 IPOs that really stood out. They attracted significant attention from investors and handily beat the market. Implied upside and downside data are of the Jan. 2 close. KRMN Delivers More Than Triple-Bagger Performance in 2025 First up is defense name Karman (NYSE: KRMN). The stock had its IPO on Feb. 13, 2025, at a price of $22 per share. Ultimately, shares…

Key Takeaways In most cities, job growth, wages, and housing move at different speeds—but a small group of metros is managing that balance better than most.Cities like Austin, Raleigh, and Phoenix show how steady job growth paired with housing supply can reduce pressure on millennial budgets.These markets aren’t necessarily cheap, but they offer millennials more flexibility when weighing career moves against housing costs. In most cities, economic momentum doesn’t show up evenly across everyday life. A city might be adding jobs quickly, yet wages lag behind rising rents and home prices. Another metro area might offer solid incomes, but housing…

Key Takeaways No two credit scores are the same, even if they belong to the same person. That’s because the financial industry uses different scoring models for different purposes.FICO and VantageScore are most commonly used by lenders, and there are different versions of each.Focus on improving the range your credit score is in (poor, good, very good, excellent) rather than the number itself. Your credit score affects whether you’ll qualify for credit. Having a high score means you’re more likely to be approved, and you’ll also get better rates than someone with a lower score. But you may notice that…

Key Takeaways At age 65, the average Social Security payment is $1,583 per month, with men receiving more ($1,756) and women less ($1,426).The average 401(k) balance for people aged 65 to 69 is $252,800—providing about $800 per month to spend under the 4% rule.With an average of about $2,400 per month from Social Security and 401(k) savings combined, many retirees may face financial challenges without additional support or income, particularly in higher-cost areas.Options like downsizing, relocating, part-time work, and reverse mortgages can help stretch limited resources. At age 65, many retirees find themselves relying on a combination of Social Security…

Key Takeaways Thursday is the last day in most states to enroll in Affordable Care Act plans for 2026.Enrollees are facing monthly payments that are more than double on average because Congress allowed a pandemic-era health care subsidy to expire.Households across the country are facing financial hardship due to premium hikes, and more are choosing to go without insurance. On the final day to sign up for an Affordable Care Act plan for the year, people seeking health insurance must choose between paying skyrocketing premiums or risking financial catastrophe if they get sick.Because of rising insurance premiums and the expiration…