Author: Money Mechanics

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week she’s looking at five questions on itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A of Form 1040. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Valuation of donated publicly traded sharesQuestion: I am planning to donate shares in a publicly traded mutual fund to charity. What is the value of my donation for claiming a charitable contribution deduction on Schedule A of my Form 1040.Joy Taylor: You would use the fair market value of the…

Key Takeaways Nike shares slumped Friday after the athletic apparel giant gave a weaker-than-expected outlook and warned of sales headwinds in China.The shoe maker’s fiscal second-quarter revenue and earnings beat analysts’ estimates as sales in North America rose, but sales in China sank. Nike shares tumbled Friday, despite quarterly profits that topped estimates, as a weaker-than-expected outlook and headwinds in China weighed on sentiment. The shares were down nearly 10% to about $59 in recent trading, making Nike (NKE) one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 Friday, at a time when broader markets gained. The athletic apparel giant…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. December 19, 2025 Federal Reserve Board requests public input on “payment account,” which eligible financial institutions could use for the limited purpose of clearing and settling their payments For release at 10:00 a.m. EST The Federal Reserve Board on Friday requested public input on a “payment account,” which eligible financial institutions could use for the limited purpose of clearing and settling their payments. In recent years, rapid developments in the payments industry have…

In-brief analysis December 19, 2025 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy OutlookData values: Total Crude Oil ProductionNote: While EIA does not forecast unplanned production outages, they are assumed to remain at the most recent historical month’s level throughout the forecast period. Each month we publish estimates of key global oil market indicators that affect crude oil prices and movements in our Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Among the most important indicators for global crude oil markets are estimates of OPEC’s effective crude oil production capacity and surplus production capacity, as…

is increasingly reflecting a change in the macro environment rather than reacting mechanically to inflation headlines. Recent European data and the ECB’s latest policy decision point to a landscape where price pressures are easing, policy remains restrictive but predictable, and markets are transitioning toward a more selective allocation phase. In this setting, commodities are no longer moving in unison. Instead, they are differentiating based on how they interact with real rates, growth dynamics and structural demand. Silver stands out precisely because it sits at the intersection of these forces.Stabilizing Inflation Reshapes Commodity BehaviorEuropean CPI figures suggest inflation is cooling without…

The casualty insurance-linked securities market (ILS) has experienced considerable momentum throughout 2025, with several transactions occurring in the latter half of the year, and according to Willis Re, the market is on a trajectory of potential exponential growth.In a recent article, Willis Re said: “In the early days of insurance-linked securities, many people believed that casualty ILS capacity would grow bigger than the cat-bond market, and eventually eclipse it. That’s now looking more likely than ever. Casualty ILS has burst forth with an explosion of deals in the last half of 2025. Its proof-point is close, both as a viable…

Thursday saw the release of a much lighter-than-expected consumer price report for November, breaking from the recent trend of sticky inflation.Stocks jumped. Yields fell. Odds of a Federal Reserve rate increased.And many economists scratched their heads.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index had an annual inflation rate of 2.7% last month, while core CPI — a measure that excludes volatile food and energy prices — was even lower at 2.6%. Both were below what economists had been estimating, as those polled by Dow Jones called for an annual headline rate of 3.1% and a rate on…

Every year, TechCrunch looks back at the cybersecurity horrorshows of the past 12 months — from the biggest data breaches to hacks resulting in weeks of disruption — to see what we can learn. This year, the data breaches were like nothing we’ve seen before.  Here’s our look back at some of the biggest security incidents of 2025, starting with: The U.S. government remained one of the biggest targets in cyberspace. The year started with a brazen cyberattack by Chinese hackers on the U.S. Treasury, followed by the breaching of several federal agencies, including the agency tasked with safeguarding U.S.…

Key Takeaways A 10-K filing contains much more than financial statements—investors can glean insights on risk, strategy, and leadership priorities. The Magnificent Seven’s filings are case studies in how leading firms frame their futures to investors. The 10-K filing sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)” often contain the most forward-looking, nuanced information. Comparing filings over time can reveal how a company’s priorities or tone have shifted. Supplemental filings like 8-Ks and proxy statements (DEF 14A) can clarify management decisions and shareholder matters. Alphabet (GOOGL; GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), and…

It’s a good problem to have: having too much money saved for retirement and having additional money to leave to your heirs. Here’s a look at the types of people who are saving a lot in their lifetimes and how you can be one of them. Who Saves the Most? A National Bureau of Economic Research study reveals what types of people work and save the most. According to the study, married men work in the labor force and save “substantially” throughout their lifetimes. Married women’s time in the labor market peaks in middle age. Single men show a decline…