Author: Money Mechanics

Integra LifeSciences used its update at the ongoing 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco to frame 2025 and 2026 as a deliberate transition period. The company described a shift from disruption and remediation toward more predictable execution, supported by product relaunches, a more resilient supply chain, and reimbursement changes that could make parts of its wound portfolio more economically attractive in outpatient settings. Integra spent a meaningful portion of the presentation on its “two horizon” plan. As presented, Horizon 1 is about rebuilding a sustainable foundation through quality systems, supply chain reliability, and better working capital discipline. Management…

One of the joys about writing about bond markets is that I always get questions in real life about whatever crisis du jour is being spread about bond markets. The thing to keep in mind: if you are a developed country with a freely-floating currency that you control, it takes a concentrated dose of stupidity to create crisis in your government bond market. Unfortunately, concentrated doses of stupidity are in great supply in the 2020s.However, if we avoid stupidity, do we need to worry about debt levels? The answer is: one needs to worry about inflation created by fiscal and…

A home with a “Sold” sign from a real estate company in North Patchogue, New York.Steve Pfost | Newsday | Getty ImagesSales of previously owned homes in December rose to a seasonally-adjusted, annualized rate of 4.35 million units, a 5.1% increase from November, according to the National Association of Realtors. That was higher than analysts’ expectations for a gain of 2%. Sales were 1.4% higher than a year earlier. For the full year, there were 4.06 million existing home sales, unchanged from 2024.After adjusting for seasonal factors, December sales were the strongest in nearly three years. Sales increased in all…

Jack Wallen/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysQ4OS is a great way to test the Linux OS.A special Windows installer makes things easy.You can install and use Q4OS for free.Over the years, I’ve claimed so many Linux distributions to be “the one” for new users. From elementaryOS to Zorin OS, the list is fairly lengthy (and seemingly continues to grow by the day).Most of those user-friendly distributions tend to be based on either Ubuntu or Debian because those two platforms go out of their way to make things easy.One such distribution that I believe could be the…

Key Takeaways Venezuela’s collapse in oil production stems from nationalizations that drove out technical expertise, sanctions that blocked investment and buyers, and having a heavy crude that’s expensive to extract.Rebuilding the industry would require a decade of work and $80 billion–$100 billion in investments, according to analysts—and that assumes political stability. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves—303 billion barrels, about 17% of the global total and more than Saudi Arabia’s 267 billion. Yet Venezuela produces fewer than 1 million barrels per day, less than 1% of global output. That’s less than a third of what it pumped in…

Key Takeaways Net worth is a clear way to see your full financial picture, showing what you own, what you owe, and how your wealth changes over time.Comparing your net worth to national medians can reveal whether you’re ahead or behind your peers and can motivate you to set realistic financial goals. The Average Net Worth by Age—Here’s How You Compare Ever wondered how your finances stack up to others your age? The best way to find out isn’t by comparing salaries or home values—it’s by looking at your net worth, which is essentially the amount of what you own…

The start of the year has brought several reasons for higher prices in commodity markets, including . WTI crude has risen by about $4 per barrel in recent days. This is a noticeable move, but it does not signal panic. Investors are watching events in the Middle East closely. Anti-government protests in Iran are intensifying, and the situation could worsen if the US decides to step in militarily and support the opposition. Such a move would likely support demand and help oil prices stay above $66 per barrel. At the same time, attention is also on Venezuela following the removal…

New View Advisors, which released its initial quarterly index at the end of October, estimated that private-label loans started 2025 with a market share of about 30%. Based on volume in December, that figure grew to represent 45% of originations. The company compiles the report from public and private sources, including financial statements, ratings agency reports and other data related to proprietary reverse mortgage securitizations. The growth in the proprietary market coincides with some key concerns facing the HECM market. In October, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a request for information (RFI) about the HECM…

Former OpenAI exec Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is saying goodbye to two of its co-founders, both of whom are headed back to OpenAI. Another former OpenAI staffer who went to work for Murati’s startup is also headed back to the company. On social media on Wednesday, Murati announced the departure of Barret Zoph, the company’s co-founder and CTO. “We have parted ways with Barret,” Murati said in a post on X. “Soumith Chintala will be the new CTO of Thinking Machines. He is a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for…

(Oil Price) – Brent Crude prices have the potential to hit $70 per barrel over the next three months amid heightened geopolitical risks, according to analysts at Citi. The investment bank raised its 0-3 month outlook on Brent Crude prices to $70 per barrel from $65 a barrel previously, due to upside pressure from geopolitical risks. Early on Wednesday, Brent Crude traded 1% higher at above $66 per barrel as the market has started to price in a potential U.S. strike on Iran and the potential of supply disruptions in the region. “We now think this oil rally has room to extend above…