Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways The U.S. Solicitor General on Monday supported Bayer’s efforts to get its case heard by the Supreme Court over whether it is liable for failing to abide by state-level laws concerning cancer risk warnings. The company argues that federal regulators have determined the chemical in question isn’t likely to be a carcinogen, meaning Bayer doesn’t need to include a cancer risk warning on the label. Shares of pharmaceutical conglomerate Bayer (BAYRY) are surging 12% on their home exchange in Germany after the U.S. Solicitor General supported its efforts to have the Supreme Court review prior rulings on whether…

Counting on your annual inflation “raise” in Social Security benefits to help cover your rising expenses in 2026? You may find yourself frustrated as the new year unfolds.Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 2.8% in 2026, just a smidge higher than 2025’s 2.5% increase, which was the lowest boost in benefits since 2021. The average monthly payment will rise by about $56, to an estimated $2,071, while the maximum that a recipient can take home at full retirement age is expected to hit $4,152 a month, up from $4,018 in 2025.The modest COLA is a positive sign that…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Strong demand for Japanese government bonds helped to steady Asian markets on Tuesday, a day after hawkish comments from the central bank governor sparked a global sell-off.The yen steadied and equity markets were flat, with investors reassured by demand at an auction of Japanese government bonds. The benchmark Nikkei 225 and the broader Topix both closed up 0.1 per cent, while the yen weakened 0.1 per cent against the dollar.The auction of 10-year Japanese bonds attracted relatively solid demand, including from pension…

The pause in the BOJ’s rate hikes, combined with the slowing its rate cuts, has supported a multi-month rise in the USD/JPY pair. However, changing macroeconomic conditions suggest a potential shift: the Fed may announce cuts while the BOJ could resume hikes, which could reverse the medium-term uptrend. Markets have largely priced in Japan’s wide-ranging fiscal package, which briefly supported yen sellers. Attention will now focus on the BOJ’s next move, while the Fed is widely expected to deliver a 25 basis point cut.Bank of Japan Hints at Hawkish MovesThe USD/JPY pair, nearing long-term highs, is likely adding pressure on…

The new Foundation Re IV Ltd. (Series 2026-1) catastrophe bond transaction that is being sponsored by US primary property and casualty insurer The Hartford, has seen its price guidance lowered during the marketing phase of the issuance, as investors demonstrate their appetite for risk from respected sponsors.The size of the issuance hasn’t changed though, and The Hartford continues to seek a $270 million source of multi-peril collateralized catastrophe reinsurance protection from the capital markets with this Foundation Re IV Series 2026-1 cat bond issuance. As we reported in November, The Hartford returned to the catastrophe bond market for its second takedown under…

Illinois locals are going through a severe financial crisis due to rising credit card debt, medical expenses, and personal loans. Metropolitan areas like Chicago, Naperville, and Springfield experience high living costs, while rural communities have scarce access to in-person financial counselling or support services. For the usual households with an unsecured debt of $10,000, professional debt relief programs include credit counselling, debt consolidation, settlement, and bankruptcy. They offer practical pathways to regain financial stability and a peace of mind.  Understanding Illinois-Specific Debt Challenges Illinois’ economic landscape is quite diverse, spanning all across urban centres, mid-sized cities, and rural regions. The…

Mortgage marketing is stuck in 2008. Not because the tactics are old. We have webinars instead of lunch-and-learns, sponsored posts instead of postcards. The problem isn’t outdated tools. It’s the mindset, the fact that most of us never really learned how to market in the first place. That’s not an indictment of the people doing the work. It’s an indictment of the systems they inherited. It’s Thursday afternoon in 2025. You’re setting up a booth at a Realtor appreciation event, maybe your third one this year. You paid $2,500 for the table. Dozens of agents drift by. Three stop. One…

Key Takeaways The typical employee contribution rate falls between about 8% and 10%, depending on the data source—but when employer matches are added, total savings climb to about 12% to 14% of an employee’s salary. Contribution rates climb with age: workers under 25 save a combined 9.3% of income, according to Vanguard’s figures, while those 55 to 64 save 13.8%. If you aren’t reaching the typical figures for your income and age range, you can start by contributing enough to capture your full employer match—typically 3% to 6% of your salary—then try to increase your contribution rate by 1% each…

Key Takeaways The 28/36 rule states that no more than 28% of your gross household income should go toward housing, and no more than 36% of your gross household income on housing, child care costs, and all debt.Child care costs an average of $989 per month, while the average price of a mortgage is $2,127 per month.Child care and mortgage costs take up about 45% of the average household income ($6,977.50), which is well above the 28/36 rule of thumb. As costs continue to rise, determining how much of your income should go to pay for housing versus child care…

Stock futures ticked higher Tuesday, a day after the three major equities indexes ended their runs of five consecutive winning sessions. Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, pointed up a respective 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%. Yesterday, the indexes closed lower as the final trading month of the year began, with shares of big tech and cryptocurrency-tied firms falling amid risk-off sentiment.  Bitcoin was trading around $87,200, up from its overnight low of below $85,500. Yesterday, the largest cryptocurrency suffered its worst day since March, tumbling from around $91,000 and weighing on crypto-tied stocks Strategy…