Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Buffett urges investors to stick to a “circle of competence,” investing only in businesses they fully understand. His top priority is a company’s durable competitive advantage, not trends, forecasts, or buzzwords. Warren Buffett, revered for turning Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) into a global powerhouse, credits his success not to complexity, but to discipline. “You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many,” he wrote in a 1996 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. “You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not…

The American Petroleum Institute () estimated that inventories in the United States saw a build of 2.4 million barrels in the week ending December 19. Crude oil inventories shrank by 9.3 million barrels in the week prior. Crude oil inventories in the United States are so far showing a net decrease of 6.7 million barrels for the year, according to Oilprice calculations of API data. Earlier this week, the Department of Energy (DoE) reported that crude oil inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) have risen by 800,000 barrels to 413 million barrels in the week ending December 19 as…

U.S. home prices rose 0.2% from a month earlier in November on a seasonally adjusted basis. Home prices increased 2.6% year over year, down from 2.9% the month before and the slowest growth in records dating back more than a decade.  Prices fell month over month in 11 major metros, with the biggest declines in Charlotte, Austin and Cincinnati. U.S. home prices climbed 0.2% month over month in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, slightly smaller than October’s 0.3% monthly increase.  Prices rose 2.6% from a year earlier, a slightly slower growth rate than October’s 2.9% year-over-year increase. Home-price growth…

ZDNET’s key takeaways Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is available for $200.It has a better camera, and keeps standout features like loud Dolby Atmos speakers and a long-lasting battery.It also keeps the same hardware as before, so the phone still struggles with heavier workloads. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.”If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” — that simple phrase seems to have been Motorola’s mantra with the 2026 Moto G, a midrange smartphone that closely mirrors last year’s model. On one hand, that’s a good thing. I liked the 2025 Moto G a lot — it’s a great…

Key Takeaways Most experts expect another year of gains for the stock market in 2026. But they also say volatility could remain elevated as concerns about the AI rally persist.A resilient U.S. economy, as well as accommodative fiscal and monetary policy, are expected to support corporate profit growth.A softening labor market poses risk to the economy, but should also encourage more interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. It was a rollercoaster of a year on Wall Street. Most experts think the ride isn’t over. The S&P 500 is on track to post its third consecutive year of double-digit gains,…

Key Takeaways Retail crypto’s mood is “extraordinarily negative,” but institutional investors are “unremittingly bullish,” according to Bitwise Asset Mangement’s Matt Hougan.Amberdata’s Greg Magadini expects interest in bitcoin as a “debasement hedge” to pick up next year. The rise and subsequent retreat of bitcoin perfectly encapsulates the crypto industry’s year. It won big—but it doesn’t have much to show for it yet. The price of bitcoin, the world’s most well-known cryptocurrency, soared above $126,000, a record, but those gains evaporated and it’s poised to finish down for 2025. The industry welcomed the passage of stablecoin legislation, eased regulation, and the proliferation…

Key Takeaways The U.S. is on track for slow job growth in 2026, according to forecasters.Tariff-related uncertainty is curtailing hiring, and it’s possible A.I. adoption is also hurting job openings.Trump’s immigration crackdown is also reducing the number of available workers, making it harder for employers to find qualified staff. Is the labor market getting worse for employers, or for job seekers? Yes. And forecasters expect that to continue into the new year.Several trends have combined to create a labor market that isn’t working out well for anyone. Job seekers are seeing fewer openings and staying unemployed longer—the long-term unemployment rate…

Key Takeaways There’s still little evidence that AI is replacing workers at scale, with today’s hiring trends driven more by broader economic factors than automation. Experts say fears of major AI-driven job losses may be overblown, and workers can stay ahead by exploring how the technology fits into their day-to-day tasks. You’ve probably heard the refrain that AI can replace your job—if not now, then in the future. This may be especially true if you’re employed in a profession that involves tasks AI can excel at, like coding, writing, and conducting research. While CEOs and top executives have warned that…

The Social Security Administration follows a general schedule for mailing out checks to its more than 74 million beneficiaries. Most beneficiaries are paid according to their birth date and typically receive their payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month. Those who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997 will typically receive their payments on the third of every month. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program that provides additional income for people with disabilities and adults aged 65 and older with limited or no income, is distributed separately from Social Security benefits on the…

Key Takeaways Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s leadership term will expire in 2026, providing an opportunity for President Donald Trump to nominate a candidate who would be more favorable to interest rate cuts.The rotation of regional bank president voters isn’t seen as meaningfully changing the Fed’s path on interest rates. Significant changes are anticipated for the Federal Reserve in 2026—but they’re not guaranteed to change the path of interest rates. Jerome Powell’s term as the chair of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors is set to expire in May 2026 and President Donald Trump is already looking for a new…