Author: Money Mechanics

Markets were mostly higher this week as investors focused on strong earnings that are keeping the AI trade rolling along. Investors also remain confident that an end to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is coming sooner rather than later. That would take the pressure off inflation, which came in hotter than expected on both the consumer and producer levels. Sticky inflation is changing the outlook for rate cuts and is even putting the idea of a rate hike on the table. For now, however, investors are buying into the growth story, which is backed up by mostly solid earnings. That outlook may be…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you’re eager to get the newest phone the day it’s released, pre-ordering can help you secure the device before it sells out in stores. Manufacturers, carriers and retailers typically open online pre-orders days or weeks before a phone’s official release date, allowing shoppers to reserve a device ahead of launch.Companies including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Best Buy and Amazon all offer phone pre-orders.But timing matters. Popular models and configurations can sell out quickly, and some pre-order windows fill within minutes.How the pre-order process worksWhen you pre-order a phone, you’ll typically choose the model, storage capacity,…

Home designs can be unique, original, and very varied—yet it is still rare to happen upon a property that is perhaps unremarkable in structure, yet has still been turned into “a living work of art” by a visionary owner who viewed its simplicity as an opportunity for true transformation. Such a home is rare, yet one such dwelling as recently appeared on the market in Tennessee: a quaint three-bedroom abode that might once have been passed over, were it not for its incredible mosaic exterior that is covered from ceiling to floor in tiny rainbow tiles. That artistry is the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Picture this: You and your wife find the perfect home. You’re so eager to make an offer, but before you do, you visit your mortgage banker for a pre-approval. They run the numbers, and you sit back and relax, knowing you, the meticulous bill payer and responsible card user, are in a good spot.But then, his eyebrows furrow. He shows you an item on your credit report, it’s for a charged-off Macy’s credit card. The only problem is that you have never had a card with them. Your wife is surprised, too.You file an appeal with the…

Every year, thousands of people move to Georgia. In 2026, the Peach State remains a top-ten destination for inbound residents according to the latest U-Haul research.*And it’s easy to see why: with views ranging from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the historic, moss-draped streets of Savannah, Georgia offers a distinct four-season lifestyle not many in the U.S. get to enjoy.Beyond the scenery, the financial forecast may be bright, too. Georgia has continued to be part of the state “flat tax revolution,” with Gov. Brian Kemp recently signing legislation that cut the income tax rate to 4.99%. From just $107.88 $24.99…

Surging energy prices, Fed FOMC minutes, Nvidia earnings could dominate the coming week. Nvidia is poised for a potentially explosive week with upcoming earnings catalyst. Home Depot faces looming headwinds as it prepares to report earnings likely to disappoint. U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Friday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq pulling back from their record highs, as surging energy prices ignited inflation fears that also drove Treasury yields sharply higher. Source: Investing.com Despite the selloff, it was a mostly muted weekly performance for the major averages, with the S&P 500 eking out a gain of 0.1%, while…

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com As U.S. annual inflation rises toward 4%, investor interest in inflation-protected investments is also on the rise, making this week’s reopening auction of a 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Security one to watch. This is CUSIP 91282CPU9, with a term of 9 years, 8 months. It had its originating auction on Jan. 22, when it got a real yield to maturity of 1.949% and a coupon rate of 1.875%. The first reopening auction, on March 19, got a real yield of 1.896%. There is a good possibility this week’s auction will top those yields. This TIPS trades on…

In this edition of The Price Point—a weekly series where Redfin data journalists explore current housing inventory across a rotating combination of budgets and metro areas—we’re looking at some of the hottest real estate markets in the country, according to Redfin’s latest analysis.  Our annual Hottest Neighborhoods report ranks U.S. zip codes in the 100 most populous metro areas by year-over-year growth in listing views on Redfin.com and Redfin Compete Score—a measure of how difficult it is to win a home. This year, several neighborhoods that landed in the top 10 clustered around three metro areas: Milwaukee, WI, Detroit, MI,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)After four decades in the financial services industry, one persistent concern has never faded: The way “top producers” are celebrated as elite financial advisors — when in many cases, they’re primarily salespeople.That distinction matters more than most consumers realize.What is a top producer?Within many Wall Street brokerage firms, banks and insurance companies, a top producer is not necessarily the advisor who provides the best financial planning or the most thoughtful advice. Instead, the title typically goes to the individual who generates the highest revenue for the firm. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It’s hard to avoid stories about AI in the news or on social media these days. The technology is widely expected to be transformative, although the extent and the speed at which it will impact society is not well understood.Anthropic, the maker of AI model Claude, has been in the news lately for several different reasons. In late March, the company admitted it had accidentally posted some of Claude’s source code online.While this didn’t expose any user data or confidential information directly, there is some concern that bad actors could use this information to build rogue agents…