Author: Money Mechanics

In-brief analysis July 14, 2026 Data source: International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL) Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade volumes increased 5.4% to a record 56.3 billion cubic feet per day last year (Bcf/d), driven largely by U.S. LNG export capacity expanding to meet growing demand, according to a recent report from the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL). Global LNG trade has slowed this year following the closure of the key export route for Qatar, the world’s second-largest LNG exporter. LNG exports from the United States increased…

Foreclosures continued to climb in the first half of the year, approaching levels that haven’t been seen since 2019, and Florida is leading the nation.In the first six months of 2026, there were more than 227,000 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings, up 21% from the same period last year, according to real estate data and analytics provider ATTOM.Nationally, that equates to foreclosures on just 0.16% of all homes. Foreclosure activity remains relatively low by historical measures—certainly, far below the levels seen following the 2008 financial crisis, when the number of foreclosures was five to seven times higher than today.But since foreclosures…

Applied Computing, a London-based startup that’s building a foundation AI model for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, has raised a $20 million Series A led by engineering giant KBR, with Databricks Ventures participating. Founded in 2023, the startup targets oil, gas, refining and petrochemical systems, where a single facility can have thousands of sensors measuring everything from temperature and pressure to velocity and viscosity. While there’s a huge market for helping energy companies solve the data tracking problem, the fragmentation that presents a significant hurdle. Facilities consequently make operating decisions using less than 8% of the data available to…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – For decades, hydrogen has been viewed primarily as a manufactured fuel. Whether produced from natural gas, coal, or renewable electricity, the conversation has focused on finding cleaner, more economical ways to produce it.   Entire industries have emerged around green, blue, and gray hydrogen, each defined by how the fuel is produced and the emissions associated with its production. A different question is now beginning to reshape that conversation. What if hydrogen doesn’t always have to be manufactured? What if significant quantities already exist beneath the Earth’s surface, waiting to be discovered and produced…

It’s been about one month since SpaceX’s (NASDAQ: SPCX) initial public offering (IPO), and the stock is down approximately 11% from its first trade on June 12. But cynics shouldn’t take a victory lap quite yet. Some of the pullback is due to a simple, mechanical reason. There are a massive number of shares outstanding that haven’t been soaked up by institutional investors. Plus, IPOs have a track record of “underperforming” after their debut. Taking a step back, this isn’t a repudiation of the overall space thesis. As of July 14, SpaceX’s market cap is $1.85 trillion. That’s down from the $2.1 trillion market cap at its debut, but it’s a strong signal that investors expect future growth in this sector. A better explanation for…

1980s SURPRISED AMAZED BUG-EYED BLONDE WOMAN LOOKING AT PILE OF CASH MONEY (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStockStarting in January, the federal government will begin depositing money directly into eligible workers’ retirement accounts — a first in U.S. policy. But millions of lower‑income women are poised to miss the new Saver’s Match entirely because they don’t have an account for the funds to land in.The Saver’s Match came out of the retirement law Congress passed in 2022, and it finally goes live next year. The idea is plain. You contribute to a retirement account. If your income qualifies,…

“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Dorit Kemsley may well have tried to leave her troubles behind when she jetted off on a lavish European vacation—but it seems her estranged husband, PK Kemsley, is determined to ensure she can’t forget about them. Dorit, 50, and PK, 58, are in the midst of a contentious divorce that has been further exacerbated by significant financial struggles, including the looming threat of foreclosure on their $8 million Los Angeles home.However, those battles did not stop the “Real Housewives” star from traveling to Paris for an extended vacation, during which she celebrated her 50th…

The processing fee that almost doubles your concert ticket or the subscription you have to jump through endless hoops to cancel — these aren’t accidents. They’re tactics designed to drain your wallet.Thankfully, the tide is finally turning. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently announced a proposed major crackdown on these practices. New rules would require companies to provide up-front pricing and a “one-click” cancellation rule. And New York isn’t the only place putting in restrictions.Here is what you should know about these protections — and how to spot the traps still eating away at your budget. From just $107.88…

In-brief analysis July 15, 2026 Data source: Bloomberg L.P. Note: 2Q26=second quarter of 2026 Petroleum markets in the second quarter of 2026 (2Q26) were characterized by continued disruptions to international crude oil and petroleum product flows through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher and more volatile crude oil prices through most of the quarter. The disruptions also resulted in international buyers seeking alternative supply sources for petroleum products, driving up U.S. refinery margins, production, and exports. Crude oil prices and inventories The front-month futures price of Brent crude…

I guess being the Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t pay as well as you thought it might. The New York Post reports that President Trump ditched his proposed 20% Strait of Hormuz toll Tuesday after Gulf allies agreed to replace it with billions in US investments — as Washington and Tehran traded large-scale strikes across the region. “I put it out yesterday, I thought it was good. [But] I was called by different people, different countries — kings and emirs, and all of the people that we all know and we all love — and they’ve been, frankly,…