Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks were choppy in the second-to-last trading day of 2025 as market participants took in the final economic reports of the year. The main indexes eventually finished lower for a third straight day, which spells trouble for this year’s Santa Claus Rally.At the close, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.2% lower at 48,367 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was down 0.2% at 23,419. The broader S&P 500 was off 0.1% at 6,896.With today’s loss, the S&P 500 is now down 0.2% since the December 23 close – the official start of the Santa Claus Rally.…

Key Takeaways While Fed policy committee members remained divided over whether to cut interest rates, minutes from their December meeting showed that most would support rate cuts if inflation continues to decline.Fed officials saw fewer risks that tariffs would drive up inflation, and more saw risks that the labor market could begin to deteriorate if rates remained too high.But a rate cut in January remains far from certain, as several members said that the central bank must make sure inflation doesn’t move higher before moving to cut again. The Federal Reserve could move forward on more interest rate cuts if…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. December 30, 2025 Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, December 9–10, 2025 For release at 2:00 p.m. EST The Federal Reserve on Tuesday released the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting that was held on December 9–10, 2025. The minutes for each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee are generally published three weeks after the day of the policy decision. The descriptions of economic and financial conditions contained in these…

In 2025, a handful of small-cap growth stocks saw massive rebounds as consumer spending held up and select tech-enabled retailers outperformed. U.S. e‑commerce holiday sales are expected to rise 7% to 9% this year, reflecting resilient demand. Within this environment, discount and resale platforms have thrived. One of the most surprising winners in 2025 has been ThredUp (TDUP), a secondhand apparel platform that has quietly transformed itself from a cash-burning niche retailer into a fast-improving resale infrastructure business. Shares of ThredUp have surged roughly 340% this year as investors reassessed its improving revenue trends, expanding margins, and path toward profitability.…

Selling a business in Washington State can be a life-changing win, but it’s also one of those projects where being “kind of prepared” usually costs you money. Buyers pay more when your numbers are clean, your operations are documented, and the deal feels low-risk.Below is a practical, friendly plan you can follow, plus Washington-specific places you can go for help (state filings, tax and licensing resources, mentoring, and directories for CPAs and attorneys). I’ll also cover Washington’s biggest cities and what tends to matter most in each local market. Selling a $1M+ revenue business in Washington? Start with a free…

The state alleges that Hometap’s flagship home equity investment (HEI) product is an “illegal, deceptive, oppressive and unconscionable mortgage that violates the criminal usury statute.” Squires-Lee’s ruling means that Hometap cannot argue that earlier interactions with state regulators — including meetings in which the company says it described its product and was not told to stop — prevent the AG from pursuing the case. The case itself is continuing, with the court allowing limited discovery related to what Hometap was told by regulators — but it will not grant access to internal government deliberations. State alleges predatory practices The litigation,…

Universities and research labs have long been Europe’s deep tech treasure trove. Now, academic spinouts have consolidated into a solid startup funnel worth $398 billion — and VC money is following. According to Dealroom’s European Spinout Report 2025, 76 of these deep tech and life sciences companies have either reached $1 billion valuations, $100 million in revenue, or both. These include unicorns like Iceye, IQM, Isar Aerospace, Synthesia, and Tekever, which are now inspiring more funds to back university spinouts. Just this month, two new funds emerged that will bring more funding to talent emerging out of European tech universities,…

Key Takeaways Americans can expect to pay anywhere from about $5,000 to $30,000 per month for nursing home care, depending on the market.Medicare covers 100% of the costs of nursing home care for only 20 days. After that, families must handle the costs.There are steps families can take to try to shield themselves from these high costs, but it’s important to prepare early. There are many reasons why people don’t put their parents in a nursing home as their care needs mount. They may want to help their parents maintain their independence, for example, or protect them from potential elder…

Key Takeaways Gen Z’s ideal retirement age is 59, but they expect to retire at 67, reflecting a gap between aspiration and expectation seen across generations. Compared to Baby Boomers at the same age, more Gen Zers have access to defined contribution plans like 401(k)s. New 401(k) features and starting to save earlier can help younger generations build larger nest eggs compared to older age groups. While Gen Z dreams of an early retirement, they’re not expecting it. Gen Z’s ideal retirement age is 59, according to a new survey from Manulife John Hancock Retirement, an insurance company. However, this…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Social Security beneficiaries may have their benefits reduced if they have missed child support payments, have unpaid taxes or government debt, or have received an overpayment.The Social Security benefits will continue to be offset until the full amount due is paid, but there are some ways to delay or lower the garnishment. Missing child support payments, unpaid taxes, or debt to the government could prevent you from getting the full amount of your next Social Security check. Wage garnishment, or when a person’s earnings are withheld, typically occurs when someone owes debt or is not making required payments.…