Author: Money Mechanics

(World Oil) – ConocoPhillips Chief Executive Officer Ryan Lance’s priority in Venezuela is recouping billions his company is owed almost two decades after its oil projects were nationalized, rather than drilling new wells. Despite roughly $10 billion in favorable judgments from international arbitrators holding Venezuela liable for the seizures, the Houston oil giant’s efforts to recover all it’s owed have been frustrated. Sorting that out takes precedence over making new investments in the Latin American nation, Lance signaled, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for U.S. drillers to help revive the Venezuelan oil sector. “That’s a significant amount of money, we’ve…

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Friday closed up +1.97%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +2.47%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +2.15%.  March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) rose +1.92%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) rose +2.07%. Stock indexes rallied sharply on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrials posting a new all-time high.  Recently beaten-down chipmakers, software companies, and AI-infrastructure stocks surged on Friday on dip buying as they recovered some of this week’s sharp losses.  Stock indexes added to their gains on Friday after the University of Michigan US Feb consumer sentiment index unexpectedly…

Silver crashed after Kevin Warsh’s Fed nomination surprised investors expecting a dovish shift. The metal faces pressure from margin hikes, physical delivery demands, and aggressive Chinese short positioning. Long-term fundamentals stay supportive, but prices remain range-bound, awaiting macro and technical clarity. The sharp falls seen in at the end of last week can reasonably be described as a crash. The main trigger was news that Kevin Warsh had been nominated to lead the Federal Reserve. Until then, markets had been expecting a very dovish choice. That view was shaped by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for a weaker…

Weekly housing inventory data Inventory fell week over week, which isn’t a total surprise for last week, but the magnitude of the decline was notable, and I attribute it to the snowstorm, as we saw a year-over-year decline in new listings data. Soon, this storm’s impact will pass and we will get back on track. Inventory growth, which peaked at 33% in 2025, is now below 9% year over year. The year-over-year comps will get harder as we heading in to spring.  Weekly inventory change: (Jan. 30- Feb. 6): Inventory fell from 696,222 to 687,697 Same week last year: (Jan.…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Whether you’re considering buying a new TV or your old flat panel seems to be doing fine, there are still ways to optimize your viewing experience, and it all begins with your television’s settings. Let’s explore some of the key factors determining how your TV performs and what you can do to make it look even better.1. Turn down the sharpnessThe sharper the picture, the better. Right? Not necessarily.Contrary to popular belief, the “sharpness” setting on your TV doesn’t affect the actual sharpness of the displayed image. True sharpness is determined by…

Key Takeaways Allentown has a median home value of around $303,000, and everyday costs below the national average. Pennsylvania won’t tax your Social Security, pension, or most retirement distributions.Allentown has become Pennsylvania’s fastest-growing city, with a revitalized core that puts restaurants, free museum admission, concerts, and parks within easy reach.Two hospital systems and hundreds of medical facilities across Lehigh County give retirees the specialist access and routine care they need without traveling to Philadelphia or New York. Allentown may not top lists of classic retirement destinations, but for retirees seeking affordability, four-season living, and access to quality healthcare and everyday…

Key Takeaways The initial accumulation of $100,000 is the hardest and most important step in building wealth, Munger says. Frugality, discipline, and patience are essential to getting to that threshold. Once you reach that critical threshold, compounding accelerates wealth growth. As Warren Buffett’s legendary right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway, Charlie Munger spent decades building a $2.6 billion fortune. Munger’s advice on how to start building wealth was blunt and honest. It’s also a stark contrast to the get-rich-quick promises that are so common today. Munger, who passed away in 2023, said the hardest part of getting rich is putting together…

Key Takeaways Certain spring break activities, like renting a scooter and zip-lining, are often excluded from travel insurance coverage.High-risk or motorized activities often require an extra rider, even when the rest of the trip is covered.When shopping for a travel insurance policy, think through your planned activities so you can choose the right coverage. Spring break planning usually focuses on flights, hotels, and where you’ll eat and explore once you arrive. Travel insurance often gets added as a final step—a box to check for peace of mind. But many travelers are surprised to learn that several common vacation activities may…

Key Takeaways Olive oil is expensive by nature, with years-long tree cultivation, labor-heavy harvesting, low yields, and steady global demand.There’s a wide quality gap between mass-produced olive oil and true extra virgin, and that difference is usually reflected in price.Climate-driven harvest swings and trade policies are layering new costs onto an already expensive staple. Olive oil has always been an expensive product, long before recent price increases caught shoppers’ attention. What many consumers don’t realize is that those higher prices are baked into how olive oil is made—and newer global pressures are now pushing prices even higher. Olive Oil Has…

just soared to some of its most-overbought levels on record, climaxing its largest cyclical bull ever. That was followed by one of gold’s worst down days in history, formally slaying that monster bull. That popular-speculative-mania topping means a serious reckoning is underway. Gold’s drawdowns after past extremes offer insights into the likely magnitude of the carnage traders need to gird themselves to expect. Since 2000, I’ve written 1,212 of these weekly web essays. That discipline has led to a well-established workflow to release them on time. Wednesday mornings I decide on relevant topics, then that day I do all the…