Author: Money Mechanics

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.This article is an on-site version of our Unhedged newsletter. Premium subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every weekday. Standard subscribers can upgrade to Premium here, or explore all FT newslettersGood morning. The rest of this week will be busy. Lots of consumer stocks report: Home Depot today, then Target, TJX, Walmart and BJ’s later in the week. Nvidia, the biggest company there is, reports earnings on Wednesday. And long-awaited delayed government data starts rolling in on Thursday,…

Key Takeaways Beef prices are up nearly 15% year-over-year, as top U.S. beef importers from Australia, New Zealand and Brazil face higher tariffs.Beef producers say the problem is bigger than tariffs; the U.S. cattle herd is at its smallest level in 75 years, and ranchers face higher costs. The Trump administration has raised tariff quotas on Argentine beef imports in an effort to help stem the price hikes. Move over eggs: Soaring beef prices are the latest talking point when it comes to expensive groceries. As food prices surge, President Donald Trump moved on Friday to reduce tariffs on a number…

You probably know Florida for its sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and big cities. But it can be slightly overrated and expensive. Housing costs are climbing, Miami’s median rent now averages $2,600/month for 1-bedroom units and $3137 for 2-bedroom units, while groceries and transportation across Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville continue to rise above the national average. Factor in student loans, medical bills, and high-interest credit cards, and it’s no surprise that many Floridians are struggling with mounting debt. Having debt can be a burden, making it difficult to buy a house and causing a lot of anxiety. The positive side is…

China’s imports of U.S. soybeans have shown little sign of rebounding as Beijing’s stockpiles swelled to their highest levels in years, undermining U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that a recent trade truce would spur major new Chinese purchases. China, the world’s largest consumer of soybeans, has built up a glut of supplies after months of aggressive stockpiling, which analysts said allowed Beijing to slow-walk its purchase agreement even as both sides touted improved relations. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report released last Friday showed only two Chinese purchases of American soybeans since the summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi…

A pro-AI super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman has chosen New York Assembly member Alex Bores — and his congressional bid — as its first target.  The PAC, dubbed Leading the Future, formed in August with a more than $100 million commitment to support policymakers with a light-touch — or a no-touch — approach to AI regulation. And that means going after policymakers who want to regulate AI. The super PAC has backing from a number of other prominent leaders in tech, including Palantir co-founder and 8VC managing partner Joe Lonsdale as well as AI search engine…

Key Takeaways Millions of Americans ages 65 and older are opting to rent instead of buy, according to a study.High costs and responsibilities of homeownership are the driving factors for retirees looking to rent.Florida, Tennessee, and Texas are popular states for retiree renters.An area’s transportation and healthcare services are primary motivations when older adults select a new hometown. Gone are the days when our grandparents remained nestled in the homes where they had raised our parents, snuggled in with memories and living out their years in properties long paid off. The number of seniors age 65 and older who packed…

(Investing) –  prices are anticipated to hover in the $60 per barrel to $70 per barrel range in the near term, as traders weigh the trajectory for Russian oil exports over the coming months, according to analysts at UBS. In a note, the analysts including Giovanni Staunovo predicted that Brent crude would end the year at $62/bbl and retained “a more constructive price outlook for next year.” “By mid-2026, the market focus will likely shift to 2027, during which we anticipate stalling non-OPEC+ supply growth, and specifically a market focus on limited spare capacity amid still rising oil demand,” they…

Key Takeaways Alphabet stock rose on Monday after Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett, revealed it took a stake worth nearly $5 billion in the Google parent last quarter.Alphabet stock is up about 50% since the start of the year, making it an unusual purchase for value-focused Berkshire.The majority of Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Alphabet’s stock, with many raising their price targets after its better-than-expected earnings report last month. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is making a big bet on one of the hottest tech stocks. Berkshire (BRK.A)(BRK.B) purchased 17.8 million shares of Alphabet’s Class A stock…

QQQ-SPX Volatility Spread Widens to 1Y High on Tech Angst Cboe Japan Corporate Webpage to be permanently terminated effected from November 2025 Mandy Xu ▬ November 17, 2025 Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:Implied volatilities gained modestly across asset classes last week as the US government re-opened and anticipation built ahead of key economic data releases this week. There is a pronounced kink in the SPX options term structure for this Thursday Nov 20th when the much-awaited Sep jobs report is expected to come out, with SPX weekly options currently implying ~1.6% move for Thursday.While the SPX index…

Key Takeaways Alphabet stock rose on Monday after Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett, revealed it took a stake worth nearly $5 billion in the Google parent last quarter.Alphabet stock is up about 50% since the start of the year, making it an unusual purchase for value-focused Berkshire.The majority of Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Alphabet’s stock, with many raising their price targets after its better-than-expected earnings report last month. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is making a big bet on one of the hottest tech stocks. Berkshire (BRK.A)(BRK.B) purchased 17.8 million shares of Alphabet’s Class A stock…