Author: Money Mechanics

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldThe car industry is undergoing its fastest transformation since the invention of the petrol car. Policy has been struggling to keep pace around the world. Now US President Trump is adding a new twist by loosening US fuel economy rules as a way to reduce the upfront cost of new cars, reversing a key policy of Joe Biden.But the global effects of that decision run deeper than they appear. They will be felt far more sharply in Europe than in…

Key Takeaways Kevin Hassett, the front-runner to take over as Fed chair in May, has advocated for sharply lower interest rates but could face pushback putting that agenda into practice.The 12-member Federal Open Market Committee votes on rate cuts and has many members who are skeptical about lowering interest rates too much. Kevin Hassett, the frontrunner to take over the Federal Reserve chair position, would push for lower interest rates—but it’s uncertain whether he would be able to get them.Hassett, currently a top economic advisor to President Donald Trump, is widely expected to be Trump’s nominee to replace current Chair…

The recent rise in silver prices aligns with the base outlook. Supply remains tight, while demand keeps rising, driven mainly by electromobility and renewable energy. Monetary factors add further support, especially with rate cuts underway. Another 25 basis points is likely after today’s . There is also a political angle. Jerome Powell’s term ends in the middle of next year, and his expected successor, Kevin Hassett, chosen by Donald Trump, may push for faster rate cuts in line with the President’s wishes. With this macro backdrop, the demand story for silver still has room to grow.US Dollar Struggles to Mount…

I’ve worked in the inflation field for about a quarter-century (depending on how you want to count it), and I can tell you that if you really want to start a food fight at an investment conference, mention the term ‘hedonic adjustment’ as it relates to the Consumer Price Index. Thanks to substantial counter-programming by people who want you to prefer their narrative on inflation and their inflation index, people who tend to hold to the “the government is making it up” narrative about inflation like to quote hedonic adjustment as one element of proof. The first problem with this…

Key Takeaways The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday, as widely expected.The Fed’s policy committee was unusually divided, with three members voting against the decision.The slowing job market and stubborn inflation are pulling the Fed in opposite directions. The Federal Reserve lowered borrowing costs Wednesday to boost hiring, but it could be the last rate cut for some time.As widely expected, the Federal Reserve’s starkly divided policy committee cut the central bank’s key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday. The cut puts the range at 3.5% to 3.75%, its lowest since November 2022, and prioritizes…

Key Takeaways Shares of neighborhood network Nextdoor took off Wednesday after hedge fund founder Eric Jackson posted bullish comments about the company on social media.Jackson’s previous comments about Opendoor Technologies and Better Home & Finance helped send shares of both skyrocketing earlier this year. Nextdoor shares are riding a meme stock rally. Shares of the neighborhood social network jumped nearly 50% to about $3 Wednesday before paring back some early gains after a hedge fund founder known for driving up shares of other meme stocks posted bullish comments on social media. The move helped bring Nextdoor (NXDR) stock back into…

Key Takeaways To celebrate the year, Robinhood will award a 2,025-gram gold prize to one lucky winner, while 2,024 winners will receive a 1-gram bar of gold each.Net deposits made to a Robinhood brokerage account between Dec. 1 and Dec. 17 count as entries, but you can also send a mail-in entry that doesn’t require an account.The grand prize is tempting, but the long odds mean it’s worth considering whether the effort and commitment make sense for you. Inside the New Gold Giveaway: What Robinhood Is Actually Offering As 2025 winds to a close, online brokerage Robinhood is marking the year…

Oracle has some new deals with big AI names. That news wasn’t enough to keep its stock from plummeting late Wednesday after the company released its quarterly results. The cloud infrastructure giant said Wednesday new agreements with AI chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) and Meta Platforms (META) helped drive its backlog to a record $523 billion. However, Oracle’s fiscal second-quarter revenue of $16.06 billion, while up 14% from the year-ago period, came in below analysts’ estimates, offsetting better-than-expected adjusted earnings of $2.26 per share. Oracle (ORCL) shares were down 11% in recent after-hours trading. Why This Matters to Investors Oracle’s stock has…

Key Takeaways Today’s Fed cut was widely expected, but it still signals that savings and CD yields will likely begin drifting a bit lower in the coming weeks.The Fed’s 2026 outlook is unusually scattered, from a quarter-point hike to cuts of a point or more, underscoring how much uncertainty policymakers face as they assess inflation and jobs risks.High-yield savings accounts and the top CDs are still smart, letting you earn solid returns on your cash while rates are still historically high. What the Fed’s December Rate Cut Means for Your Savings As widely expected, the Federal Reserve ended the year…

Key Takeaways Women today are less interested in promotions than men—a phenomena that occurs when women don’t receive the same level of support, according to a new report. The annual report from McKinsey and Lean In comes as fostering diversity is a priority for less companies than it was in years past. Climbing the corporate ladder is growing more daunting for women.  Women are less interested in promotions than men for the first time in 11 years, according to annual worker and employer surveys released this week by McKinsey, a consulting firm. This “ambition gap” shows up when women receive…