Author: Money Mechanics

A 22-room Neoclassical mansion in Pennsylvania that was built in 1921 and remains virtually untouched has hit the market for $2.15 million.The extraordinary property, which is located in Wallingford, was originally designed for industrialist Howard H. Houston, for whom it is now named—and, while it has been carefully updated in the years since its completion to bring it up to modern standards, its bones and design details still hark back to the same year of its build.As a result, the six-bedroom estate, which is known as the Houstonia mansion, remains one of the finest surviving examples of the Neoclassical era…

remains under pressure as a combination of macroeconomic factors and global market sentiment continues to weigh on price action.From a fundamental perspective, the resilience of the US dollar has been a key driver. Elevated US Treasury yields, particularly across longer maturities, continue to attract capital flows into interest-bearing assets. In this environment, gold tends to lose some of its appeal, as it does not offer yield and becomes relatively less attractive compared with fixed-income instruments.Another major factor is monetary policy expectations. Markets are still pricing a low probability of near-term rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. As long as expectations…

Cuts of beef are displayed at Handy Market on May 14, 2026 in Burbank, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesThe recent surge in inflation is likely to get worse over the next several months, according to a survey Friday from the nation’s top economists.Consumer price inflation is projected to hit 6% for the first quarter, according to the Survey of Professional Forecasters, a blue-ribbon group that is polled each quarter by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.In the most recent forecast three months ago, the panel put the expected consumer price index gain at just 2.7%. However, that was just…

Kerry Wan / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysSamsung offers stronger software support and ecosystem perks. Motorola stands out for value, design, and battery life. The best Android brand depends on your budget and priorities.Samsung and Motorola are two of the oldest and most innovative brands in the mobile phone space. In recent years, one has pushed boundaries with the first-ever book-style foldable phone, while the other has reinvented the flip phone. Both brands offer phones at a variety of price points. You can get a Samsung Galaxy or a Motorola phone for less…

TV host Stephen Colbert is preparing to hang up his hat as one of the reigning kings of the late night talk show, when his eponymous series comes to an end on May 21, bringing CBS’ aptly named “Late Night” franchise to a close, after more than 30 years on the air.For the last 11 years of those three decades, Colbert, 62, has helmed the show, welcoming a wide variety of guests—from Taylor Swift to Barack Obama—while delivering pithy commentary on the state of society, politics, economics, and pop culture.Throughout that time, Colbert has been an East Coast staple, filming…

On May 15, 2026, Boxer Capital Management disclosed a purchase of 1,241,000 Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) shares, an estimated $9.89 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. What happened According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated May 15, 2026, Boxer Capital Management bought 1,241,000 additional shares of Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR). The estimated transaction value was $9.89 million, calculated using the average closing price from January 1 to March 31, 2026. The fund’s Vir Biotechnology position value increased by $12.95 million for the quarter, reflecting both additional shares and changes in the stock price. What else to know Boxer…

Learning how to stop spending money is not really about becoming cheap, miserable, or obsessed with every dollar. It is about getting back in control. If your money keeps disappearing before the end of the month, or you keep promising yourself you will “start saving next month,” the problem is usually not a lack of intelligence. It is a lack of structure. Struggling With Debt Because of Overspending? If overspending has already turned into credit card debt, personal loans, or missed payments, it may help to compare your options before things get worse. Our debt relief quiz can help you…

Faced with a shrinking supply of premium homes and intensifying bidding wars, San Francisco’s affluent tech elite are casting their sights farther afield to Napa’s managed estates.Located an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is famous for its iconic rolling hills covered in manicured vineyards and seasonal wildflowers. While the valley has long been a sanctuary for the world’s rich and famous—from Francis Ford Coppola to Ryan Seacrest—the current AI-driven wealth surge is attracting a new demographic: tech-savvy, high net worth professionals.These buyers are hunting for spacious, move-in-ready second homes, which hardly exist anymore in San Francisco—where the…

Commencement season has come around again — and this year, a couple speakers have discovered that it’s tough to get graduating students excited about a future shaped by artificial intelligence. Last week, Gloria Caulfield, an executive at real estate firm Tavistock Development Company, gave a speech at the University of Central Florida acknowledging that we’re living in a time of “profound change,” which can be both “exciting” and “daunting.” “The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,” Caulfield declared — prompting the students in the audience to begin booing, getting louder and louder until Caulfield chuckled, turned to the…

This week’s Baker Hughes Rig Count shows that the U.S. increased by 3 last week, resulting in a total count of 551 rigs. Canada had no change over last week, resulting in a total Canadian count of 124 rigs. Breakdown by region Of the regions tracked by Baker Hughes, the Permian region experienced an increase this week. Meanwhile, 5 regions experienced a decrease this week: The Cana Woodford is down 1, at 19. The DJ-Niobrara is down 1, at 8. The Eagle Ford is down 1, at 42. The Haynesville is down 1, at 56. The Marcellus is down 1,…