Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Financially supporting adult children can quietly erode retirement savings if it comes at the expense of your own long-term security.Market downturns early in retirement make rigid withdrawal rules risky, underscoring the need for flexibility and having a cash buffer. Even for the well-prepared, things can go awry in retirement—whether it’s entering your golden years during a bear market or facing an unexpected death. While you might not be able to plan for every surprise, Investopedia spoke with financial experts to understand what hidden red flags commonly arise for people during retirement and how you can prepare. 1. Helping…

Key Takeaways Novo Nordisk shares soared Tuesday after the company said the Food and Drug Administration approved an oral version of its popular Wegovy weight-loss drug.The Danish drugmaker said it hopes to launch the pill in the U.S. in early January. Could a new weight-loss pill be just what Novo Nordisk (NVO) needs to revive its stock? U.S.-listed shares of the Danish drugmaker surged 9% in recent trading after the company said it received Food and Drug Administration approval for an oral version of its injectable Wegovy weight-loss drug.  The pill, which Novo Nordisk said helped patients lose about 16.6%…

Key Takeaways Huntington Ingalls Industries shares surged to new highs this week after the Trump administration said it wants the company to build new ships for the U.S. Navy.With its recent gains, the stock has nearly doubled in value in 2025. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shares sailed to new highs this week. Shares of the shipbuilder climbed close to 2% to a fresh record high Tuesday before paring back some of their early gains, extending their rally after the Trump administration said it wants the company to build new ships for the U.S. Navy. President Donald Trump said in a…

Key Takeaways Nvidia reportedly hopes to sell its H200 AI chips in China as soon as February, after winning President Donald Trump’s approval in exchange for a 25% revenue-sharing agreement.However, the chip’s export to China could still face challenges in the U.S., as well as in China, injecting uncertainty into expectations around sales. Nvidia finally won President Donald Trump’s approval to sell its H200 AI chips in China, but will it be able to seal the deal? The company looks to sell the chip in China as soon as February, Reuters reported Monday, after President Trump greenlighted the chip earlier…

Earnings season, those quarterly corporate financial reporting periods, can bring a lot of surprises — sometimes unexpected ones.In late October, for instance, General Motors reported a 50% drop in profits compared with the same quarter the year before. After the announcement, GM stock rose nearly 15%. That same day, Netflix reported a nearly 8% climb in profits. Its shares plummeted 10% on the news.What gives? In both cases, what mattered most wasn’t whether profits were rising or falling, but how the company’s results compared with Wall Street’s expectations, which are largely dictated by guidance from the company. Netflix’s recent quarterly…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Are those chocolate Santas the real deal? Volatile cocoa prices, which scaled twin peaks in the past two years, have sent chocolate makers scurrying to find more economic substitutes. Food behemoth Nestlé has relabelled its not-so-chocolatey Toffee Crisps and Blue Ribands; McVitie’s’ Club and Penguin biscuits have been downgraded from chocolate to “chocolate flavoured” in recognition of their reduced cocoa content.The irony is that cocoa prices, hovering at about $6,000 to $7,000, have not been this low in two years. High prices…

Your 401(k) is arguably the single most important tool for achieving long-term financial security, thanks to its powerful tax advantages and the potential for employer matching. This 10-question quiz is designed to test your knowledge on the core mechanisms of these accounts — from understanding pre-tax contributions and Roth benefits to grasping the concept of vesting.And don’t worry if you miss an answer; you can follow the links below the quiz to brush up on your knowledge.More on 401(k)s, from the Kiplinger team: From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Acknowledging the unique risks faced by aging baby boomers, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it would be prioritizing its examinations in 2026 to focus on recommendations made to older investors and retirement savers.College savings were also a top priority, as were private securities (such as private credit and hedge funds) and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the investment management industry.So, what does this mean for investors and what questions should you be asking your financial adviser? From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Copper rose to a record high on Tuesday, crossing the $12,000 a tonne threshold for the first time as concerns about US tariffs and potential shortages fuelled a rally that has endured since October.The industrial metal, which is seen as a bellwether for the health of the global economy, rose 1 per cent to as much as $12,039 a tonne in morning trading in London. Gold and silver also rose to fresh record highs on Tuesday, driven by geopolitical tensions and expectations that the…

’s parabolic rise has been remarkable. Its price has more than doubled this year and is nearly three times higher than in 2023. The current surge closely mirrors two previous price jumps shown below.  In this article, we examine the two similar price surges shown below to provide context for what may be occurring today and, importantly, for what might cause this bubble to pop tomorrow. The Post Financial Crisis Silver Surge As the turmoil of the Financial Crisis of 2008 began to ease in 2009, the price of silver embarked on a 500% rally, rising from $8.50 to $50.00…