Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways As the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8%, dragged down by slumping UnitedHealth Group stock.UnitedHealth, one of the priciest stocks in the blue-chip Dow, tumbled nearly 20% Tuesday after reporting disappointing earnings.UnitedHealth stock shaved 422 points off the Dow, accounting for all of the index’s 409-point decline on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average missed out on a rally today thanks in large part to one very influential stock.  The Dow fell 0.8% Tuesday. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, boosted by rising chip stocks and…

Key Takeaways On the Federal Reserve’s key policy committee, any member is free to vote as they wish, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences for going against the majority.FOMC members who dissent from the majority are less likely to have their way at future meetings, a team of researchers found.The FOMC has had an unusually high number of dissenting votes lately, as members have been divided over whether inflation or unemployment poses the greatest threat to the economy. If anyone on the Federal Reserve’s policy committee votes against the majority at the Fed’s meeting on Wednesday, they may…

Key Takeaways Workers displaced by shrinking industries may need a month longer to find work than their counterparts, according to a Goldman Sachs report.Once those workers land a full-time job, their earnings may also be impacted, especially if they’re older, the analysis found. If AI comes for your job, how long of a recovery should you expect?  Workers in industries disrupted by artificial intelligence (AI) may require an average of one month longer than others to find work, according to research Goldman Sachs published this month. Generally, unemployed workers are out of a job for a median of 11.4 weeks,…

Four weeks in, 2026 is starting to shape up and show its cards. It’s going to be a mess. That is not a statement about stock market direction or the path of interest rates. It is about the news flow, the macro risks all around us, and the absolute urgency with which I believe all investors and traders need to focus on managing risk. When I see social media posts focused on “how to get rich” themes, I want to simultaneously laugh and cry. When getting rich seems easy, that’s the exact time to focus on managing risk. Because the…

Markets are still trading near record levels, but signs of strain are starting to surface Dividend stocks may offer relative stability if risk appetite fades Which dividend stocks should you watch right now? Markets are still trading close to record highs, but the tension is easy to feel. moved above $5,100 an ounce this week, setting new records, while lost nearly 22% over two sessions after issuing weak forecasts. These are only a few signals. More analysts are now warning about the risk of a major market correction, even though markets have avoided a sharp fall for about nine months.…

Selling a business in Hawaii is not the same as selling on the mainland. Buyers love the strong demand in tourism, healthcare, and essential services, but they also scrutinize Hawaii-specific risks like shipping costs, staffing volatility, lease terms, permitting, and General Excise Tax (GET). If you plan around those realities, Hawaii can be a great state to sell in, especially if you position your business as “operationally resilient” and not overly dependent on you. Want a realistic idea of what your Hawaii business could sell for? Use EarnedExits to estimate value and get a clean plan for increasing your sale…

A “sale pending” sign in front of a home for sale in Larkspur, California, Nov. 30, 2023.Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesSerious headwinds in the housing market and the broader economy are tanking home sales at an alarming rate.More than 40,000 signed home purchase agreements were canceled in December, representing 16.3% of all homes that went under contract, according to Redfin, a real estate brokerage. That’s up from 14.9% in December 2024. It’s is also the highest share since Redfin began tracking the metric in 2017.”High housing costs and rising inventory have made homebuyers more selective,” said Chen Zhao, head of…

High Tech Pet Roll Up Door ZDNET’s key takeaways The Power Pet Roll Up Door by High Tech Pet is a smart pet door, starting at $630. It’s a smart doggy door that makes exit and entry fully automatic, featuring an accompanying collar, adjustable sensors, and solid installation.Though smart, the door doesn’t offer third-party integrations or Matter support, and the High Tech Pet app could use some work. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.A family with children typically thrives on routine, but maintaining a routine is one of the hardest things to do with young kids. Whether it’s…

Key Takeaways Microsoft is slated to post fiscal second-quarter results Wednesday afternoon, with analysts expecting rising revenue and profits amid strong AI demand.Options pricing suggests traders see the stock swinging up to 5% in either direction in the days following the report. Microsoft is scheduled to report its latest quarterly results after the market closes on Wednesday, with traders anticipating a big move in the tech giant’s stock following the results. Options pricing suggests traders expect Microsoft’s (MSFT) stock could move close to 5% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of that size from Tuesday’s…

(World Oil) – Matador Resources Company said it increased its oil hedging coverage, expanded its Delaware basin acreage position and reported improved well performance from recent development activity in Lea County, New Mexico.   The company now has approximately 35%–40% of its expected 2026 oil production hedged using costless collars, with a weighted-average floor price of about $52/bbl and a ceiling near $65/bbl. The hedges were added during recent commodity price strength to provide greater cash flow visibility. Matador also continued its incremental acquisition strategy across the Delaware basin during 2025, completing more than 690 transactions for roughly 17,500 net acres. Total…