Author: Money Mechanics

As 2025 comes to an end, investors are reshaping their portfolios and deciding which stocks to buy for 2026 based on their goals. Some investors look for stocks that have fallen a lot. They believe these shares were punished too harshly and now trade at attractive prices, with room to recover. This approach is called value investing. Others focus on stocks that have done well recently. The idea is that strong performers may continue to deliver gains if market conditions stay supportive. This approach is known as momentum investing. This strategy carries risk. Stocks that have risen sharply can already…

A number of specialty insurers are increasingly turning to parametric insurance solutions as an effective tool to help support clean energy deployment, particularly by stabilising revenues and improving access to project finance, according to Jason Kaminsky, CEO, kWh Analytics.kWh Analytics is a leader in insuring the energy transition, underwriting property insurance and revenue firming products for renewable energy assets. The company is highly involved in supporting renewable energy project finance transactions, most recently creating and implementing the wind proxy hedge to support developers of wind farms. kWh Analytics offers the Wind Proxy Hedge product as part of its suite of…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. December 30, 2025 Agencies release annual asset-size thresholds under Community Reinvestment Act regulations Federal Reserve Board Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation For release at 11:00 a.m. EST The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today announced the 2026 updated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) “small bank” and “intermediate small bank” asset-size thresholds. The CRA regulations establish the framework and criteria by which the relevant agencies assess a financial institution’s record of…

AI image. Source: Google Gemini By David Enna, Tipswatch.com Let’s all admit one thing: 2025 has been a bizarre year for the U.S. economy, inflation, government effectiveness and the certainty of economic statistics. In fact, my code word through the entire year has been “uncertainty,” so much so that some readers complained I use that word too often. In this year: President Trump launched an seemingly dangerous policy of high tariffs on U.S. imports, threatening friends and foes across the world. At first, the market reacted in fear, with the S&P 500 index falling nearly 5% on April 3, the…

Key Takeaways The median amount of home equity for adults age 65 and older is $250,000, up 47% from pre-pandemic levels. Housing wealth is many retirees’ main asset. Almost one in three homeowners age 75 and older now carries a mortgage, triple the rate from 1998. The median mortgage debt is about $107,000 for that age group. If you’re like many Americans, your house might mean as much or more to your retirement as your 401(k). The median home equity for homeowners age 65 and older stands at $250,000, according to a Harvard analysis of the most recent federal survey…

(BOE Report)– Frontera Energy’s Colombian unit has signed a prepayment and commercial agreement worth up to $120 million with a unit of U.S. oil major Chevron to supply crude oil over two years, the Canadian oil producer said on Monday. Under the deal, Frontera will receive an initial $80 million advance and supply a portion of its crude output to Chevron Products Company. Frontera may seek an additional $40 million advance for up to six months on a fully committed basis. The agreement replaces an existing prepayment arrangement set to expire at the end of January 2026, Frontera said. Frontera, based…

Key Takeaways Jim Cramer told “Investopedia Express” podcast listeners that speculative stocks tied to AI hype and data center buildouts are due to “revert” to previous levels.He also provided his 2026 playbook: shifting from companies making the technology for AI to established firms using it to cut costs and boost profits. CNBC’s “Mad Money” host is waving the yellow flag. In other words, he’s urging caution: After a run-up in AI and other tech plays in 2025, Jim Cramer says “the year of magical investing” is coming to an end. In a recent interview on the “Investopedia Express” podcast, the…

Key Takeaways The affordability challenges that first-time homebuyers have been facing aren’t likely to improve much in 2026.Mortgage rates are expected to continue to hover around 6%, while home prices are likely to rise by 4%, according to the National Association of Realtors. The housing market has become a challenging environment for individuals seeking to purchase their first home. And in 2026, conditions don’t look like they will improve much. High housing costs and interest rates have served as a barrier for many looking to buy a house, but especially those looking to buy their first home. In fact, National…

Key Takeaways Americans ages 65–74 have a median net worth of $410,000, the highest of any age group.About 76% own a home and 51% have a retirement account, making home equity and savings the biggest drivers of wealth at this stage.Debt is less common but still present, with roughly 65% carrying some debt and about a third holding a credit card balance. How Wealthy Are Americans Ages 65–74? Americans ages 65–74 are typically in retirement or just a few years removed from full-time work, making this a key moment to assess how wealth looks once paychecks have largely stopped. For…

(Image credit: Getty Images)There is an age when self-doubt — questioning our decisions, seeking approval of family and trusted friends for our choices — can prevent us from becoming victims of financial abuse, consumer fraud or even ourselves.Like three-quarters of Americans over the age of 50, “Walter” and “Patty,” both in their late 70s, decided to “age in place” — remaining in the home they had lived in for many years, where they’ve formed friendships, have good neighbors and access to health care resources and much more.Patty deals with severe mobility and dexterity challenges that require their primary bathroom to…