Author: Money Mechanics

We all know that everyone’s holiday meal is not like a picture perfect greeting card. There are plenty of jokes about this, a time that is supposed to be wonderful but isn’t. And sometimes it is wonderful. But at other times, those unfortunate historical conflicts emerge again when family gets together. Here are some thoughts about how to just let things be and take leadership in keeping the peace. Whether you are hosting, or attending, you can be responsible for a few small things that may avert or at least minimize discord.Think of keeping the peace at the mealGetty Images1.…

Key Takeaways Gen Z’s ideal retirement age is 59, but they expect to retire at 67, reflecting a gap between aspiration and expectation seen across generations. Compared to Baby Boomers at the same age, more Gen Z’ers have access to defined contribution plans like 401(k)s. New 401(k) features and starting to save earlier can help younger generations build larger nest eggs compared to older age groups. While Gen Z dreams of an early retirement, they’re not expecting it. Gen Z’s ideal retirement age is 59, according to a new survey from Manulife John Hancock Retirement, an insurance company. However, this…

Key Takeaways Trump gets to nominate a replacement for Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May, and who has resisted Trump’s demands for steep rate cuts.Kevin Hassett, the front-runner to become the next chair of the Federal Reserve, is likely to push the central bank to lower interest rates.Several unanswered questions hang over a possible Hassett nomination, including who on the FOMC he would replace. Kevin Hassett, the reported frontrunner to take over as Federal Reserve chair in May, has a recent track record of advocating for the central bank lowering interest rates.Hassett is the leading candidate to replace Federal…

Key Takeaways HP announced a restructuring plan that will involve 4,000 to 6,000 layoffs, as it aims for savings of about $1 billion by fiscal 2028.The computer maker’s latest quarterly results topped estimates, but its profit outlook was lower than expected. Computer and printer maker HP’s (HPQ) stock slid Wednesday, a day after the company announced a major cost-cutting plan that includes layoffs. The company said it aims to eliminate between 4,000 and 6,000 roles as part of its efforts to save $1 billion over the next three fiscal years. For HP, which said it had about 58,000 employees in…

Key Takeaways More than half of Americans consider Thanksgiving hosting when searching for a home to buy, a survey from Realtor.com found.A big kitchen and a large family room were the top features sought by house hunters who hoped to host Thanksgiving festivities.Thanksgiving hosting was a bigger priority for younger generations, the survey found. For many American homeowners, the Thanksgiving holiday means hosting family and friends for food and festivities—but only if you have enough space for it. A new Realtor.com survey revealed that hosting holidays is a priority for the majority of house hunters.  For 52% of homeowners, Thanksgiving…

Key Takeaways Some price-conscious shoppers are looking to apps that help them score discounted foods that might otherwise have been soon discarded.The tactic is being used by consumers looking to save a buck—many who’ve already been clipping coupons or shifting to store brands.”We’ve been accustomed to changing our shopping behavior by buying differently or doing without,” on expert told Investopedia. Americans will spend Thanksgiving Day around tables loaded with food. But even while they’re filling up, many are looking to scale back on spending. One tactic they’re trying? Snagging sellable food before it heads to the waste heap.  American consumers,…

Yesterday’s market action confirmed all three setups described in previous Lab Notes with near-perfect precision The broke down below key technical levels, while both and rallied directly into their projected upside targets. These price movements not only validate the outlined scenarios but also open the door for the next strategic decision points across metals.   Let’s start with the USD Index  Daily Chart Yesterday’s close below the psychological barrier of 100 and the lower border of the green rising wedge carries strong technical and psychological implications: a close below them may signal a broader trend shift (however, only if follow-through selling confirms…

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com The U.S. Treasury today finally announced a calculated CPI index for October – 325.604 – which equates to monthly inflation of 0.25%. The presumed annual rate ticked higher from 3.0% in September to 3.1% in October. This unprecedented calculation was necessary because no inflation data were collected in October during the 43-day government shutdown. Without that data, Treasury had to determine a number so that daily inflation indexes could be set for Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities during the month of December. The procedure is set out in the Treasury’s Uniform Offering Circular (Appendix B to 31 CFR…

A hiring sign is displayed in the window of a business in Manhattan on Nov. 27, 2025 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty ImagesConsumers soured on the current economy and their prospects for the future, with worries growing over the ability to find a job, according to a Conference Board survey released Tuesday.The board’s Consumer Confidence Index for November slumped to 88.7, a drop of 6.8 points from the prior month for its lowest reading since April. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were looking for a reading of 93.2.In addition, the expectations index tumbled 8.6 points to 63.2,…

Key Takeaways A trading platform’s expansion into a growing market helped lift its stock on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, while a software firm lost ground after a soft revenue outlook.Robinhood Markets shares turned in the S&P 500’s top performance after the firm announced a joint venture expanding its prediction markets offerings.Shares of Workday fell after the human resources software firm gave an underwhelming subscription revenue forecast. The operator of a major online trading platform got a boost after announcing a joint venture to broaden its reach in prediction markets, while a soft growth outlook weighed on a human resources software firm.…