Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Coinbase Global rolled out a slate of new offerings including stock trading, a tokenization platform, prediction markets, and an AI-powered investment advisor.Coinbase CFO Alesia Haas said that the company intends to be the “No. 1 financial app” in the next five years. The largest publicly-traded U.S. crypto exchange just entered the race to build a financial “everything app.” Coinbase Global (COIN) on Wednesday evening announced a raft of new products and services, including stock trading, prediction markets, a tokenization platform, and an artificial intelligence-powered roboadvisor. “We are building to become the face of the future of finance,” Coinbase…

(Image credit: Getty Images)With just days left before Christmas, you’re running out of time to find gifts for those hard-to-shop-for names on your list – the coworker you drew for Secret Santa that you hardly know; the second cousin twice removed that just decided they’re coming for Christmas this year; the grandkid whose interests seem to change overnight.Whatever the reason you’ve been procrastinating on those last few gifts, there’s no need to panic. While you might miss the holiday shipping deadlines for the post office, many retailers still offer fast, free shipping (for members, at least) that will get your…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Two of the three main U.S. equity indexes opened higher on Wednesday before rotation out of tech-related names resulted in a broader downturn. Skepticism about hyperscaler spending was reflected in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 even before they joined the Nasdaq Composite in the red before noon as selling pressure took down more sectors and stocks.Nvidia (NVDA, -3.8%), the leader of the AI revolution, gapped down early and was joined by all of its Magnificent 7 peers in posting losses as investors, traders and speculators continue to scrutinize capex plans and future profitability.…

Once you file a home or auto insurance claim, your insurance company may provide a few recommendations for repair shops or contractors to tackle the cleanup and repair work. Insurance company referrals usually come from a preferred vendor network or preferred vendor program. This network includes service providers who have an arrangement with insurers to offer faster service, and sometimes, lower prices in exchange for steady referrals. Although this list can be helpful, especially when you’re already dealing with damage, insurers don’t always make it clear how preferred vendor programs work. This can lead to confusion or frustration if the…

Few people seem to have believed me when I wrote that was likely to disconnect from the rest of the precious metals sector due to its unique fundamental situation.  And yet, that’s exactly what we see. Silver Breaks AwaySilver is making new highs as I’m typing this, and it’s still a few dollars away from its nearest target area.  Its upper border at about $70 is confirmed by more techniques (Fibonacci extensions and the lines duplicating the sizes of previous rallies) than its lower border, so it seems that the white metal will rally by another $4 or so before…

An aerial view of homes in a neighborhood on Aug.27, 2025 in San Francisco, California.Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate last week, and just as happened the last two times, mortgage rates rose. That caused demand for home loans and refinances to drop.Total mortgage application volume fell 3.8% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, 806,500 or less, increased to 6.38% from 6.33%, with points increasing to 0.62 from 0.60, including the…

Key Takeaways Ally’s new cash-deposit option fills a long-standing gap in online-only banking for anyone who accumulates physical money.Adding cash to your Ally account now takes just a barcode and a quick stop at Walmart, giving you a simple, no-fee way to deposit funds.Pairing these features with a top high-yield savings account can help you earn more. How an Online-Only Bank Is Suddenly Making Room for Cash Ally Bank, widely regarded as the largest online-only bank in the U.S., is adding something that virtual banks have long struggled to offer: a way to deposit physical cash. Until now, if you…

While first-time homebuyers have largely been priced out of the housing market this year, a fraction of them are still finding success—thanks in part to family help and opting for more affordable locations. A November report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) paints a relatively bleak picture of the housing market for young people: The median age for first-time homebuyers is 40, an all-time high since the NAR started tracking data in 1981. Additionally, the homeownership rate of those under age 35 was just 37.5% in the third quarter of 2025, according to Census Bureau data. That’s higher than earlier…

(Oil Price)– Commodity trading major Vitol will provide $2 billion in loans for the Ugandan government, to be used for energy infrastructure projects, including a refinery, Reuters has reported, citing a Ugandan government official. The 60,000-barrel-daily facility is one of the key infrastructure projects related to the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline that will carry Ugandan crude to the East African coast in Tanzania. Initially, the Ugandan government tried to secure funding for the $4-billion project on international financial markets, but failing that, it turned to individual investors, including Emirati Alpha MBM Investments, which became its partner in the refinery project. The…

Key Takeaways The Mag 7 drive a huge share of total U.S. market value.Their stock performance explains most of the S&P 500’s recent gains.Free cash flow and R&D spending reveal the financial power behind their growth.ETF concentration data shows how much exposure investors already have.Big Tech’s dominance raises both opportunity—and concentration risk. The Magnificent Seven—Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla—aren’t just market leaders. In a sense, they are the market. These seven companies drive index performance, shape investor portfolios, and set the pace for innovation across AI, cloud computing, consumer tech, and more. This visual explainer breaks down…