Author: Money Mechanics

(World Oil)– Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) has approved the acquisition of U.S. tight oil and gas assets through the purchase of all equity interests in Verdad Resources Intermediate Holdings LLC, marking a significant expansion of its North American upstream portfolio. The transaction will be executed via Peoria Resources Acquisition Company, LLC, an overseas subsidiary managed by Peoria Resources, LLC. Closing is expected around the end of February 2026, subject to customary conditions. The acquired assets are located primarily in the Denver-Julesburg basin in northeastern Colorado, with additional interests in southeastern Wyoming. JAPEX said the assets will be operated…

Key Takeaways Tech stocks have lagged value and small-cap stocks this quarter, a reversal of the trend that prevailed earlier this year.Investors are increasingly anxious about big tech’s AI investments, while interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have shifted sentiment toward small-caps and financials. Tech investors are smiling today, but they’ve had a tough time lately. Many value-oriented assets, meanwhile, have been feeling the love.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, despite gains in the back half of this week, has underperformed the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average and the small-cap Russell 2000 over the past several months. Heading into Friday,…

Key Takeaways Carnival delivered higher-than-expected earnings and issued 2026 profit guidance above analyst estimates.The reinstated dividend shows the cruise operator is moving further away from its pandemic-era financial strain. “Find Your Fun Again” is the tagline of Carnival Corp.’s (CCL) latest ad campaign. It looks like travelers are taking that to heart. Shares of the Miami-based cruise operator surged Friday, recently rising more than 8%, after the company reported solid quarterly results and issued rosy fiscal 2026 guidance. The news listed shares of other cruise companies on a broadly positive day for stocks. CEO Josh Weinstein said after the company’s…

To help you understand the trends surrounding AI and other new technologies and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe.) You’ll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…It’s a childhood dream come true. Now you can control Mickey Mouse, Yoda, Cinderella and Iron Man. At least for 30-second increments. In a new deal,…

Key Takeaways About half of Americans considering retirement abroad cite wanting to have a lower cost of living as their top reason. Political dissatisfaction and desire for better healthcare are major factors driving Americans to retire overseas. Quality of life improvements, including safer communities, climate, and social engagement, strongly influence retirement location choices. According to a 2025 Harris Poll, nearly half (44%) of Americans have seriously considered retiring abroad, with 14% reporting that they’re actively planning or contemplating a move overseas within the next two years. Lower living costs, better healthcare, and the promise of a higher quality of life…

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…