Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Palantir posted record third-quarter results that topped analysts’ estimates.The data analytics software maker raised its full-year revenue outlook for the third straight quarter. Palantir posted record quarterly results that blew past analysts’ estimates and raised its full-year revenue outlook for the third straight quarter. The AI software company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.21 cents on revenue that jumped 63% year-over-year to a record $1.18 billion in the third quarter, well above analysts’ estimates compiled by Visible Alpha, driven by strong demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform.  While Palantir still derives more of its domestic business from…

It was a choppy start to November as market participants looked ahead to a busy week of earnings reports and little sign that the government shutdown will end anytime soon. However, two of the three main indexes closed higher as Amazon.com (AMZN) kept climbing.At the close, the S&P 500 was up 0.2% at 6,851 and the Nasdaq Composite had added 0.5% to 23,834. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, was down 0.5% at 47,336.The next several sessions feature an onslaught of corporate earnings reports, with big data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (PLTR) included in the lineup. PLTR stock rose 3.4%…

Key Takeaways AI is generative software that “learns” patterns from data to make predictions or decisions. Quantum computing is a new kind of hardware that uses quantum bits (qubits) to process many possibilities simultaneously, potentially solving problems too complex for today’s computers. AI and quantum may converge in the future: quantum could supercharge certain AI tasks, while AI is already being used to stabilize quantum systems. Most people think AI and quantum computing are essentially the same thing, which is futuristic technology that’s hyped in headlines and driving significant stock market gains. It’s certainly doing the last part, but you’d…

Key Takeaways In the months following the announcement, Berkshire’s shares have fallen 11.6% while the broader market has risen 20.4%. For years, investors were willing to pay a premium for Berkshire shares because Buffett wasmanaging their money.Analysts predict that the premium could now evaporate. Warren Buffett’s decision to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year wasn’t well-received by investors. In the months following the announcement, Berkshire’s shares have fallen 11.6% while the broader market has risen 20.4%. The anticipated evaporating of the “Buffett premium” appears to be underway. What Is the Buffett Premium? For…

Mortgage rates have been choppy lately, but are still well below their level one year ago. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.11%, while the 15-year fixed rate is 5.58%. With rates so favorable, now could be a good time to buy a house. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.11% 20-year fixed: 5.98% 15-year fixed: 5.58% 5/1 ARM: 6.58% 7/1 ARM: 6.69% 30-year VA: 5.61% 15-year VA: 5.13% 5/1 VA: 5.69% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Here are 8 strategies…

spare production capacity is getting smaller by the minute. OPEC+ has agreed to increase oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in December 2025 but will pause further production increases from January to March 2026 to avoid a supply glut during a seasonally weaker demand period. But does this mean that OPEC plus is worried about oversupply or is it because the group is seeing diminished spare oil production capacity and because Russia’s energy infrastructure keeps getting hit by Ukraine attacks. Russia, according to reports, was the one that pushed hardest for a pause because they need a pause because…

Jerome Powell, chair of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.Bloomberg | GettyThe Federal Reserve cut borrowing costs for the second time in a row on Wednesday.Lowering the federal funds rate by a quarter point puts that benchmark in a range between 3.75%-4.00%. The decision comes amid intense pressure from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to drastically lower rates, arguing that would make it easier for businesses and consumers to borrow and boost the economy.The federal funds…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysThe best way to prevent data loss is to back up your files onto a cloud storage service.On top of safeguarding documents and photos, you can access content across multiple devices.I explain key terms, compare popular services, and even recommend third-party options.One of the most important (and harshest) lessons I’ve learned as a tech writer is to always back up your files. Sooner or later, the worst will happen — you’ll lose a project you’ve invested a lot of time and energy into, either due to a random glitch, file…

Key Takeaways This fall, 8.2 million New York state residents are set to receive one-time inflation refund checks of up to $400, depending on filing status and income. Eligibility is based on 2023 income, residency status, and whether you were claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return. Checks will be automatically mailed to the address listed on recipients’ most recent New York State tax return, so those who are eligible won’t have to take any action. If you were a New York state resident in 2023, and you haven’t yet received a check, you may be eligible to…

Key Takeaways Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed Monday afternoon, as tech stocks gained but most other sectors declined. Amazon shares rose to a record high on a $38 billion deal to provide AI infrastructure for OpenAI.Kenvue shares soared after Kimberly-Clark said it would buy the Tylenol maker in a nearly $49 billion deal. Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed Monday afternoon, as tech stocks gained but most other sectors declined. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose, while the Dow fell. Amazon (AMZN) shares surged to an all-time high after the tech giant struck a $38 billion cloud computing deal with OpenAI…