Author: Money Mechanics

A man in his 80s with his adult son. gettyNavigating the highly complex and deeply fragmented systems of medical and long-term care is one of the biggest challenges family caregivers face. How do I find a reliable home care aide? Where is a good adult day center? How can I coordinate dad’s medical treatment with his personal care? Now, new care navigation services are filling the gaps, many offered by commercial businesses and health systems rather than government.Hospitals, insurance companies, employee benefit firms, and small start-ups all have recognized the desperate need for ongoing care navigation. Some are guiding families…

Key Takeaways Klarna shares tumbled Tuesday after the the buy now, pay later company reported revenue and user numbers that topped analysts’ estimates but posted a wider-than-expected adjusted operating loss.The company plans to sell up to $6.5 billion in loans and recently unveiled a new membership program. For buy now, pay later firm Klarna, the post-IPO honeymoon may be over. Klarna’s first results since going public in September mostly came in better than analysts had expected, and its current-quarter outlook also topped estimates. However, Klarna (KLAR) shares fell 9% on Tuesday as the Swedish company reported an adjusted operating loss of…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Holiday shopping season is here, and if you’re feeling pressure to spend big this year, you’re not alone. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans are expected to spend an average of $890.45 per person on holiday items which is just shy of the all-time high reached in 2021.On average, consumers plan to spend $627.93 on gifts for family, friends and coworkers. The rest typically goes to seasonal extras like food, decorations and greeting cards. Between rising prices, wish lists and festive marketing everywhere you turn, it’s easy to go overboard.But how much should you actually…

Key Takeaways The firm has lowered its rating for the pair of tech giants after years of maintaining an “above-consensus” bullish stance.”Gen-AI is not the new cloud 1.0,” Rothschild & Co Redburn’s analyst said. Some of the firms in the Magnificent 7 are starting to look a bit less magnificent. Rothschild & Co Redburn on Tuesday downgraded both Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT) to neutral from buy rating, a measure of cold water on backers of the AI rally—and on the shares, which are broadly beloved by Wall Street analysts. “We no longer see a bull case,” analyst Alex Haissl…

Key Takeaways If you need to cash in a CD early, you’ll likely pay a penalty—but the cost can vary widely, so check the bank’s policy before you commit.Even if you stick to CDs with only mild early withdrawal penalties, you can still earn strong rates—up to 4.40% APY right now.While no-penalty CDs provide flexibility, they usually offer much lower yields, reducing what you can earn. What It Costs to Cash In a CD Early If you’re lucky enough to have cash you won’t need right away, a certificate of deposit (CD) can be a smart place to park it.…

Stocks got up from their intraday lows, but all three main indexes closed down a day before one of Wall Street’s most anticipated earnings reports. Government-collected economic data is flowing again. And markets will, of course, note the release of the minutes from the most recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting. But it only sets the stage for numbers and commentary from the leader of the AI revolution after Wednesday’s closing bell.Five of the 11 S&P 500 sectors were down for the day, with declines for consumer discretionary, industrial, utility, financial and technology stocks dramatized by downgrades for big names…

Key Takeaways Nvidia’s size and influence on the broader market mean its results, due after Wednesday’s closing bell, will likely affect a wide range of investors.In recent quarters, the chipmaker’s quarterly update has tended to be a sell-the-news event in the short term, but Nvidia’s stock has climbed in the months following the results. A lot is at stake when the world’s most valuable public company reports earnings Wednesday. Nvidia’s (NVDA) latest quarterly financial update, due after the closing bell, is being widely viewed as the biggest event of this earnings season. It could have wide-reaching implications for the AI…

Key Takeaways Odds for a Fed rate cut in December have dropped to about 50-50 as inflation stays firm and data delays make the outlook hard to read.If the Fed holds rates steady next month, today’s strong savings and CD yields could last into early 2026 before any new cuts arrive.You can track the rate-cut odds yourself with the CME FedWatch tool, which updates as traders react to new data and shifting expectations. What’s Changed in the Outlook for Fed Rate Cuts When you want to know where bank savings rates are headed, it all comes down to what the…

We recently published 16 Latest Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar. Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer’s radar. Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) is one of Cramer’s top picks in the data center space. Over multiple appearances, he has praised the firm’s air conditioning business and the role it plays in data centers. In this appearance, he interviewed Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) chairman, Dave Cote, and recalled how Cote convinced him about the stock’s potential: I Think of Vertiv (VRT) When I Think of Data Centers, Says Jim Cramer Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash “Tech hyperscalers…

I am pleased to be here today to discuss a core part of the Federal Reserve’s mission: banking supervision.1 Much of what the Fed does to conduct monetary policy, promote a stable financial system, provide a safe and efficient payments system, and support consumers and community development depends on a healthy banking system. Lending fuels entrepreneurship, helps families buy homes, and enables communities to thrive—all critical aspects of a healthy economy. Ensuring banks operate in a safe and sound manner is essential because the banking system sits at the center of the economy. That is why banks’ risk-taking must always…