Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways SpaceX’s reported pursuit of a $1.5 trillion valuation in an IPO next year would add hundreds of billions of dollars to Elon Musk’s wealth. Between his recently approved pay package at Tesla, his existing shares of the auto-turned-robotics company, and his other private companies, Musk’s wealth would rival some countries’ annual economic output. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, is well on his way to becoming a trillionaire. Musk’s private space exploration company, SpaceX could hand him that superlative as soon as next year—when it will reportedly list on public exchanges, targeting a market valuation of $1.5 trillion.…

Key Takeaways While artificial intelligence spending will likely boost the economy next year, the new technology could have farther reaching impacts on the economy, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said recently.AI could contribute to rising productivity, but the central banker also warned that job losses may be another result of the technology’s adoption.The benefits from technology spending on the economy are clear, Powell said, but officials are still waiting to see what kind of impacts AI will have on productivity and the labor market. Artificial intelligence will give the economy a lift in 2026, but it could also be coming…

Key Takeaways Kevin Hassett, the frontrunner to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, wants to bring inflation down to 1%.A 1% inflation rate would be the lowest since the Obama administration, other than the pandemic.Most forecasters do not expect inflation to get down below 2% for years. If you could turn back the clock on inflation, a good date to pick might be July 2016. That was the last time the Consumer Price Index rose by less than 1% over 12 months when there wasn’t a pandemic disrupting the global economy.Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks were choppy Tuesday as market participants considered what the delayed November jobs report could mean for the Federal Reserve and interest rates in 2026. A higher-than-expected payroll number couldn’t offset concerns over a rising unemployment rate, though, with two of the three main indexes extending their recent losing streaks.Ahead of the open, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November, beating economists’ estimate for 45,000 new jobs. The report also showed 105,000 job losses for October, while figures for August and September were revised down by a combined 33,000.More concerning…

Key Takeaways Parents often underestimate the full cost of college—especially non-tuition expenses—and that can put pressure on retirement savings.Protecting retirement comes first, and using 529 plans, the FAFSA, and modest borrowing can ease the pressure of paying for college.Periodic check-ins on your retirement contributions and college savings can help you stay on track toward both goals. How College Costs Can Squeeze Your Budget—and Your Retirement Plans College is more expensive than many parents anticipate. The average college cost for an undergraduate student in the 2024–25 school year was $30,837, according to a recent survey by private loan provider Sallie Mae.…

Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) is a technology company that specializes in enterprise asset intelligence and automatic identification and data capture solutions. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a broad portfolio of products and software, including barcode scanners, RFID readers, mobile computers, and specialty printers for labels, receipts, and cards. The company is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois and has a market cap of around $13.6 billion. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally classified as “large-cap” stocks, and Zebra Technologies fits right into that category. The company provides cutting-edge enterprise asset intelligence solutions that help organizations track and manage…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. December 16, 2025 Federal Reserve Board announces termination of enforcement actions with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Metropolitan Commercial Bank For release at 11:00 a.m. EST The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the termination of the enforcement actions listed below: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., New York, New York Cease and Desist Order dated October 22, 2020 (PDF) Terminated December 4, 2025 Metropolitan Commercial Bank, New York, New York Cease and…

October and November jobs data came in cooler than expected, but the long government shutdown muddies the waters. The jobs report alone won’t push the Fed to make more interest-rate cuts than previously communicated.  Takeaway: Mortgage rates are likely to remain largely unchanged following the release of mixed October and November jobs data. The data shows a cooling labor market that is staying afloat, but remains at risk of further deterioration. This data, on its own, is unlikely to change the expected trajectory of the Fed’s rate policy. Private sector employment remained positive as the federal government shed jobs due…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.It’s been agreed upon by the ZDNET team that the OnePlus 15 is this year’s sleeper hit. At a starting price of $899, the flagship phone can compete against more expensive phones like the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And we have OnePlus’ clean yet highly customizable software experience to thank for that.Also: I stopped using the Samsung S25 Ultra after battery-testing this surprise Android phoneIf you switched to a OnePlus phone recently or have been using one since its startup days, there’s a good chance you aren’t using…

Key Takeaways Bank of America’s Bull & Bear Indictor rose last week to within a tenth of a point from flashing “sell,” a sign that high expectations and aggressive investor positioning could pressure stocks in the coming months.The indicator has sent two sell signals this year, but neither preceded a prolonged stock slump. Professional money managers are feeling better about the stock market than they have in years. That may be cause for caution.  The smart money is more bullish than at any time since July 2021, according to Bank of America’s December Global Fund Manager Survey, which showed optimism…