Author: Money Mechanics

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. December 16, 2025 Federal Reserve Board announces termination of enforcement actions with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Metropolitan Commercial Bank For release at 11:00 a.m. EST The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the termination of the enforcement actions listed below: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., New York, New York Cease and Desist Order dated October 22, 2020 (PDF) Terminated December 4, 2025 Metropolitan Commercial Bank, New York, New York Cease and…

October and November jobs data came in cooler than expected, but the long government shutdown muddies the waters. The jobs report alone won’t push the Fed to make more interest-rate cuts than previously communicated.  Takeaway: Mortgage rates are likely to remain largely unchanged following the release of mixed October and November jobs data. The data shows a cooling labor market that is staying afloat, but remains at risk of further deterioration. This data, on its own, is unlikely to change the expected trajectory of the Fed’s rate policy. Private sector employment remained positive as the federal government shed jobs due…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.It’s been agreed upon by the ZDNET team that the OnePlus 15 is this year’s sleeper hit. At a starting price of $899, the flagship phone can compete against more expensive phones like the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And we have OnePlus’ clean yet highly customizable software experience to thank for that.Also: I stopped using the Samsung S25 Ultra after battery-testing this surprise Android phoneIf you switched to a OnePlus phone recently or have been using one since its startup days, there’s a good chance you aren’t using…

Key Takeaways Bank of America’s Bull & Bear Indictor rose last week to within a tenth of a point from flashing “sell,” a sign that high expectations and aggressive investor positioning could pressure stocks in the coming months.The indicator has sent two sell signals this year, but neither preceded a prolonged stock slump. Professional money managers are feeling better about the stock market than they have in years. That may be cause for caution.  The smart money is more bullish than at any time since July 2021, according to Bank of America’s December Global Fund Manager Survey, which showed optimism…

(World Oil)– TotalEnergies has completed the sale of an indirect 9.998% interest in Malaysia’s SK408 offshore gas block to PTTEP, strengthening the companies’ long-standing partnership while allowing TotalEnergies to optimize its upstream portfolio in the country. Following the transaction, TotalEnergies retains a 30.002% working interest in SK408 and remains operator of the block, which is considered a key contributor to Malaysia’s domestic gas supply. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The divestment builds on a series of recent moves by TotalEnergies to consolidate its position in Malaysia, including the acquisition of SapuraOMV Upstream in December 2024 and the purchase of…

Key Takeaways Starting a 401(k) early gives compound interest more time to grow your savings. Employer matching is essentially free money that accelerates long-term returns. To choose between a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k), decide when you want to pay taxes—either now (get a Roth account) or in retirement (get a traditional account). If you’re a young worker, retirement planning can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve barely begun your career. One Reddit user captured this uncertainty perfectly: “I am 22 and have zero idea of what a 401(k) even is to be quite honest, besides that it’s for retirement,…

Key Takeaways Ford is pulling back on parts of its EV strategy as the automaker says it is looking to respond to consumer preferences.The automaker said it expects to take on about $19.5 billion in one-time charges as part of a restructuring. Ford’s (F) electric vehicle strategy is changing gear. The automaker announced a major shift in its EV plans late Monday, with the company expecting to take on about $19.5 billion in one-time charges to account for the costs of a restructuring plan that will see the automaker focus more on hybrid and plug-in vehicles, while pulling away from…

Having a flexible plan is a wise way to handle an uncertain future for savers, especially with decreasing returns on some accounts. The Federal Reserve has cut rates at each of its last three meetings due to weak job growth.Will that continue into 2026? It’s hard to say. Inflation remains stubborn, and with a new Fed chair taking over in May, it’s anyone’s guess how things will unfold.Despite the uncertainty, there are plenty of viable options to help you achieve strong returns. Whether you’re working to reach your retirement or savings goals, here are smart solutions to consider. From just…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If your family’s phones are overdue for an upgrade, Verizon’s newest four-line deal delivers serious savings. You can outfit the whole household with premium smartphones at one of the lowest monthly rates available.Verizon is running a four-line promo, offering four free flagship smartphones when you sign up for four new lines under the Unlimited Welcome plan with Auto Pay. With this deal, you choose four of the same device, whether it’s the Apple iPhone 17 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S25 or Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. Saving money on some of the most popular smartphones.It’s easy to take…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The November jobs report, delayed from its initial December 5 release date due to the record-long government shutdown, came in higher than expected but showed the labor market continuing to exhibit signs of weakness.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November, beating economists’ estimate for 45,000 new jobs. The report also showed 105,000 job losses for October, while figures for August were revised down by 22,000, from -4,000 to -26,000, and September’s additions were revised lower by 11,000, from +119,000 to +108,000.These revisions result in 33,000 fewer jobs combined in…