Author: Money Mechanics

Its core is the expectation that the new government will restart a combination of large-scale fiscal stimulus and ultra-loose monetary policy, which is seen as a continuation of former PM Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics.” She has clearly expressed opposition to interest rate hikes, a stance that fundamentally puts pressure on the Japanese Yen. The market’s initial reaction was direct and intense. The Yen immediately weakened, USD/JPY quickly climbed from below, while the Japanese stock market (Nikkei) rose, and Japanese government bonds (JGBs) faced selling pressure. This price action reflects the market’s immediate expectations for the new policy mix: fiscal expansion will…

Technology stocks rose sharply on Monday, with the NASDAQ 1.86% to a new record high. The rally was led by chipmaker , which jumped more than 11% after announcing a new AI chip. Attention will stay on the tech sector this week as five of the “Magnificent Seven” report their third-quarter earnings. , , and will report on Wednesday, followed by and on Thursday. With recent optimism around AI investments and strong earnings so far this season, investors expect these companies to post solid results. They are also likely to offer upbeat forecasts, following the trend set by other large…

Pending home sales jumped 17% year over year in San Francisco last month—more than any other major metro. The typical home also sold in roughly 20 days—over twice as fast as the typical U.S. home. The housing market in the San Francisco Bay Area is picking up steam thanks to rising incomes, an AI boom and a return to the office. Pending home sales in San Francisco jumped 17.1% year over year to the highest September level since 2021 last month. That’s the biggest gain among the major metropolitan areas Redfin analyzed. Nationwide, pending sales rose less than 1%. Homes…

ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.The most notorious shopping event of the year is slowly making its way to us: Black Friday is now about a month away. That’s right: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the weekend of savings in between is almost here, and there will be plenty of seasonal sales at some of the biggest retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. ZDNET has been tracking early deals, and we’ll continue monitoring all-time low prices and significant price drops on categories our editors test and love.Also: 3 money-saving tricks I use every time I shop online – and…

Key Takeaways The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates to a range of 3.75%–4%, but officials remain divided and cautious amid unclear economic data.Analysts anticipate the Fed will soon end its quantitative tightening program, possibly by December, as liquidity tightens. The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates Wednesday, but analysts are focused on its view of the economy’s prospects as the government shutdown clouds the outlook. When the Fed last met in mid-September, the federal government was open, the job market was showing some cracks and inflation was moving up slightly but within reason.  The overall…

Key Takeaways UnitedHealth posted quarterly earnings that topped analysts’ estimates and raised its 2025 outlook.The strong earnings come after a series of setbacks that sent the health insurer’s stock tumbling earlier this year, including an investigation into its Medicare billing practices. America’s biggest insurer is showing some signs of improvement in the health of its business, after a series of setbacks. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) posted adjusted earnings of $2.92 per share for the third quarter, above the $2.74 per share analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had called for. Its revenue grew 12% year-over-year to $113.16 billion, in line with expectations.…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The labor market has been sluggish recently, and specifically, recent college graduates are struggling to find jobs in their field of study. The emergence of AI could be partly to blame, as the automation technology has consolidated some early-career jobs.Most Gen Z workers do not feel confident that they are adequately prepared for today’s workforce. If educational institutions prioritize training students and young workers about the evolving technology, this would likely help them feel more confident about their abilities. As artificial intelligence reshapes the modern workplace, many young workers say they’re struggling to keep pace—and subsequently having a…

The defined outcome exchange-traded fund (ETF) market has exploded in recent years, with assets growing from virtually nothing a decade ago to more than $70 billion today.But despite their growing popularity, this investment category remains widely misunderstood by both advisers and investors.Some view defined outcome ETFs as too complex for average portfolios, while others see them as silver bullets that have the potential to eliminate risk entirely. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice…

Planning your retirement finances often means navigating complex rules, especially if you intend to keep working while collecting benefits early. The Social Security Retirement Earnings Test (RET) is a crucial rule that can temporarily reduce your benefits if you are under your Full Retirement Age (FRA) and earn over a certain limit.This quick, 10-question quiz covers the essential basics of the earnings test, including who the test applies to, how benefits are affected by different income levels, and the all-important fact that any reduced benefits are not lost forever. Test your knowledge to ensure you understand this key component of…

The Social Security Administration (SSA) just announced two key updates for 2026: the new cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and the updated Social Security tax wage base.You’ve probably heard a lot about the COLA, but fewer people realize there’s a cap on how much of your earnings are subject to the Social Security payroll tax. This “wage base” (also known as the Social Security tax limit or wage cap) sets the maximum amount of income that can be taxed to help fund the program each year.That’s important since payroll taxes help fund Social Security, which more than 68 million Americans rely on…