Author: Money Mechanics

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The UK’s FTSE 100 is on track for its best performance since 2009, outpacing the US’s S&P 500 by a wide margin. The benchmark index has returned 22.8 per cent year in the year to December 1 including dividends, led by gold miners and banks. The S&P rose by 16 per cent. “You would have to go back to 2009 to see a better annual performance for the FTSE 100. There may therefore be a lot of people kicking themselves that they’d…

Swiss Re is working on “future ideas” within its Alternative Capital Partners (ACP) division that focuses on insurance-linked securities and third-party capital management, the firm’s CEO said today. While its CFO explained more on the fact the company may need less external retrocession in 2026.As we reported this morning, Swiss Re has highlighted the role of third-party capital investors this morning, in helping the company manage its natural catastrophe reinsurance exposures. We said in that article that the company highlighted the benefits of its reinsurance sidecars and its Core Nat Cat ILS fund, but had also noted it may need…

Skyscrapers in the Canary Wharf financial, business and shopping district in London, UK.Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesVisa is moving its European headquarters to London’s financial district, hot on the heels of an announcement by JPMorgan that it will build a landmark tower in an area considered to be the city’s answer to Wall Street.Visa, whose European headquarters is currently at Paddington in the west of London, has signed a 15-year, 300,000 square foot lease at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, according to Canary Wharf Group. The firm will move in summer of 2028.  It follows news that JPMorgan intends to build a new 3 million square foot tower…

Maria Diaz/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysUsers can take steps to reduce the risk of attack on smart homes. Strong passwords, MFA, and secure setup all enhance device security. Research smart device brands before making a purchase.As a smart home user, I pause anytime a major data breach hits the news cycle, especially one that involves devices I own or recommend, like security cameras. Recent reports have underscored the question: How easily can your smart home devices be hacked?Also: Your smart plug is seriously underutilized: 7 ways I’ve programmed it in my smart homeMost of us…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett has often said that his desired holding period for a stock is “forever.” But this can be misinterpreted as holding any stock forever. In fact, Buffett restricts this recommendation only to stocks of “great” companies; of businesses he wants to own (and at fair prices). Buffett’s famous line, “Our favorite holding period is forever,” is widely quoted—but also widely misunderstood. Many naively take it to mean “buy any stock and never sell.” That is not what Buffett meant. He was talking about core businesses, not just stock tickers. When Buffett buys shares through his holding company,…

Key Takeaways Stay in control of your finances by creating a budget and adjusting it as needed.Build a healthy emergency fund, which is crucial to avoiding high-interest debt in the event of an unexpected expense.Diversify your investments across stocks, bonds, and other assets to mitigate risk in the event of an economic downturn.Develop multiple income streams to create financial stability and help cushion you against job loss or reduced hours.Choose a financial institution with low fees, strong customer support, and insurance against custody-firm failure. Bolstering your financial security ahead of a recession can save you from financial disaster. Here’s a…

This WeekThis week saw mixed data that mostly supported a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next Wednesday.Labor market data were weak for November. ADP showed 32,000 private sector job losses, while the employment subindexes in the Manufacturing and Services PMIs stayed in contraction for 10 and 6 months straight, respectively.Core PCE inflation slowed for the first time since April, easing to 2.8% YoY in September from 2.9%, as softer core services inflation more than offset an increase in core goods inflation to a 2¼-year high.Activity data were soft, too, with real consumer spending and manufacturing output both flat in…

Key Takeaways Microsoft researchers argue that jobs involving writing, research, and communication, such as translators, journalists, and historians, may be replaceable by AI tools.Occupations requiring physical labor or human interaction, like nursing assistants and massage therapists, are least affected by AI. If you’re a translator, historian, writer, data scientist, or customer service representative, your job could be ripe for being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). That’s according to a new, not-yet-reviewed research from Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), which identified 40 occupations with tasks most likely to be replaced by AI. Their findings suggest that knowledge work and communication-heavy jobs are the…

Key Takeaways Fewer people expect to tip their childcare providers, mail carriers, teachers and trash collectors this holiday season, according to a new report. Surveys and other sources have indicated a growing frustration with tipping culture in the U.S., with many Americans feeling like they’re being asked to tip more, and more frequently, than they’d like. Do you plan to tip anyone this holiday season? Many Americans may skip the ritual this year. Fewer people expect to tip their childcare providers, mail carriers, teachers and trash collectors, according to a new report, though for those who do, the median holiday…

Key Takeaways Seventy-seven percent of Americans age 50 and over say the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) does not keep up with rising prices. The COLA for 2026 is 2.8%. To offset the Social Security COLA’s inability to keep up with inflation, you’ll need strategies to stretch your income farther. If Social Security’s annual increases won’t be enough for your budget, experts recommend delaying benefits until age 70 for maximum payouts and diversifying retirement income sources beyond Social Security. Social Security recipients will see their monthly checks increase by 2.8% in 2026, the Social Security Administration has announced. For the…