Author: Money Mechanics

Another new private catastrophe bond issuance from the Eclipse Re Ltd. transformer vehicle has come to light, the eighth from the platform in 2025 so far. At $100 million in size, this Eclipse Re Ltd. (Series 2025-8A) cat bond lite has become the biggest from the issuer this year.Issuance of privately placed catastrophe bonds has resurged somewhat in 2025 after a slowdown in the prior year, with the total coming to market so far already well-exceeding the volume of these cat bond lites tracked in 2024. Eclipse Re, the Artex managed structure, is among the most prolific every year, and…

Shoppers look at a canned fish display Nov. 4, 2025 at the Market 32 Supermarket in South Burlington, Vermont.Robert Nickelsberg | Getty ImagesAs stock market investors support economic sentiment, some economists wonder if a looser labor market could pull the rug out.The University of Michigan’s widely-followed consumer sentiment index slid more than 6% in November, nearing all-time lows and down about 30% from a year ago. Respondents were concerned that the long-running federal government shutdown would drag on the economy, according to survey director Joanne Hsu.But at least one group bucked the sour mood: Those with the most stock holdings.The…

Key Takeaways Cybersecurity firm Cloudflare experienced errors, which cut off access to dozens of sites, including X, Spotify, and ChatGPT, early Tuesday. Service has been restored to a number of sites but others remain down. Cybersecurity firm Cloudflare’s network buckled early Tuesday, cutting off access to widely used websites such as X and Spotify (SPOT), as well as government authorities like New Jersey Transit. Cloudflare (NET) was working to restore service after a “spike in unusual traffic” at 6:20 a.m. ET triggered errors, company spokeswoman Jackie Dutton told Investopedia. A number of impacted sites appear to be back online, including…

Key Takeaways Recent filings show Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) took a $4.9 billion stake in Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), a rare tech-heavy move for the firm. CEO Warren Buffett also oversaw major cuts in the company’s holdings of Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Bank of America (BAC)—together representing a stock sell-off worth more than $12 billion. A leadership handoff could be underway as incoming CEO Greg Abel may already be influencing investment decisions, once something Buffett closely managed. As Buffett prepares to step back as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, the company is making moves few would expect from the Oracle of…

Major U.S. equities indexes extended their slide Tuesday afternoon, amid worries about an AI bubble. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq were down about 1%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.6%. Home Depot (HD) shares fell 4% after the home-improvement retailer reported disappointing third-quarter earnings and cut its full-year profit outlook. Cloudflare (NET) shares declined 3% after the web security company was affected by an outage that hit several prominent customers, including social media site X and ChatGPT. Shares of Nvidia (NVDA), which reports quarterly results after the bell Wednesday, were down 3%. Microsoft (MSFT) shares were also about 3% lower…

Key Takeaways Vermont, New Mexico, Nevada, and Alaska are among the most expensive states for child care, infant care, and nanny services.The least expensive states for infant and child care include South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and North Carolina.Families can reduce their child care costs with subsidies and tax credits. Child care can be expensive, especially in certain states. Around the U.S., the cost of daycares, preschools, and nanny services vary. Here’s how your state stacks up. The Most and Least Affordable States for Child Care When looking at the U.S. as a whole, parents pay the most for child care…

Key Takeaways Over $1 trillion in coin market cap value has been erased since crypto’s October peaks. Bitcoin sank below $90,000 overnight, to the lowest level since April, before recovering to near $93,000. Meanwhile, the crypto industry continues to offer investors new ways to move their money into the space. Bitcoin is down. Crypto is still shipping. Investment appetites are being tested as products—including new exchange-traded funds, initial coin offerings and an index-linked token—launch into a bear market for the industry’s best-known asset. It’s happening at a challenging time for investors, both in crypto and risk assets broadly. The crypto…

This aerial view shows revellers waiting during the 35th edition of the Francofolies Music Festival, in La Rochelle, southwestern France, on July 12, 2019. (Photo by XAVIER LEOTY / AFP) (Photo by XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThe longer we live, the more we will experience losses of family members, friends, abilities, interests, and more. There is some truth to the common expression,“Aging isn’t for the faint of heart.” I first learned of the glimmer concept when attending a workshop at the Modern Elder Academy which is known as “the world’s first mid-life wisdom school.” When you look…

Key Takeaways High income doesn’t guarantee financial stability, as individuals earning six figures live paycheck to paycheck.Among Americans earning $300,000 or more, about 40% report living paycheck to paycheck.As a result of competing financial priorities, higher‑income earners may contribute less to retirement, infrequently save, or delay retirement timelines. When we think of living paycheck to paycheck, we often picture those in lower-income brackets struggling to make ends meet. But Goldman Sachs’ Retirement Survey and Insights Report challenges that assumption.  Data shows that while 57% of earners with an annual income of $50,000 or less live paycheck to paycheck, 40% of…

Key Takeaways If your college major has a high unemployment rate, it may be more difficult to land a full-time job in your field after graduation.Be flexible, stay open to all job opportunities, and don’t get tied to a ‘dream job’.If you don’t have any full-time experience to promote on your resume, highlight your volunteer work, internships, and part-time employment. When it comes to success in the job market, your college major can have a big impact, determining how much you’re paid and your likelihood of getting a job. For recent college students, the current job market may be especially…