Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Kohl’s shares hit their highest point since July 2024 on Tuesday after the retailer’s third-quarter results topped estimates.The results come a day after Kohl’s said interim chief executive Michael Bender is officially its permanent CEO, after previous head executive Ashley Buchanan was fired for cause earlier this year. Kohl’s (KSS) shares soared Tuesday after the retailer reported a surprise profit and better-than-expected sales, a day after removing the “interim” tag from CEO Michael Bender’s title. The company said Tuesday it earned an adjusted $0.10 per share, well above the $0.19 adjusted loss per share that analysts had projected,…

The U.S. equities market has experienced substantial growth in 2025, with Average Daily Volume (ADV) reaching 17.6 billion shares in the third quarter, a 53% year-over-year increase. Following this volume growth, the percentage of off-exchange trading increased to over 50% during the third quarter of 2025, up 8.26% year-over-year. This increase continues a multi-year trend that emphasizes growing interest in dark, or non-displayed execution. Cboe’s equities exchanges offer traders the ability to minimize market impact and improve performance through the use of dark orders. Cboe has observed growth in on-exchange non-displayed volumes alongside off-exchange growth, as clients seek both the…

Key Takeaways President Donald Trump is still pushing his plan to issue $2,000 tariff rebate checks to Americans who meet the income requirements, officials have said.However, more members of Congress are pushing back on the idea, arguing that tariff revenues should go toward the nation’s $38 trillion debt. President Donald Trump is still working on a plan to deliver tariff-funded stimulus checks to Americans, even as questions intensified over whether Congress would support the plan. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a Fox News interview on Monday that Trump’s proposal for a $2,000 rebate check is still in the works.…

Key Takeaways The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence survey for November fell to its lowest levels since April as labor market fears and job market worries weighed on public perceptions of the economy.Consumers’ near-term economic outlook remained in recessionary territory for the 10th straight month. Consumers have a bah-humbug feeling entering the holiday season, as their confidence has dropped to its lowest levels since April. A monthly survey conducted by The Conference Board showed that consumer confidence moved sharply lower, falling 6.8 points to 88.7 in November, its lowest level since April. Why This Matters for You Consumer confidence reflects how…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” created different student loan limits for graduate students and “professional” graduate students. Professional students, such as those in medical and law fields, will receive a higher loan limit than other graduate students.Critics argue that excluding degrees such as nursing and social work from being considered “professional” makes it more difficult for students to afford their master’s degrees. A new classification could make it harder for some graduate students to afford their degrees. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Act, passed in July, directed the Department of Education to reduce the amount of student loans available to…

With Thanksgiving just days away, the holiday season has officially started. That means it’s time to cozy up with friends and family for a Christmas movie marathon. Whether you’re a Christmas romcom connoisseur or a fan of the classic comedies of Christmases past, Paramount+ is a must-have streaming platform to fill your marathon watch list.The popular streaming service just added a bunch of new holiday movies to its roster and dropped a Black Friday streaming deal at the same time.From now through December 2, you can sign up for either the Paramount+ Essential or Premium plan for just $2.99 per…

Key Takeaways A prominent strategist contends that the real “poverty line” for a family of four is $140,000, not the official threshold of $32,150.Created in the 1960s, the formula used to calculate the poverty threshold does not accurately reflect the realities of modern household budgets, the strategist says. One analysis contends that a family of four is below a meaningful “poverty line” if they earn less than $140,000 per year, far more than the official federal threshold of $32,150.Michael Green, chief strategist and portfolio manager at Simplify Asset Management, wrote this week about how household finances have changed since 1963,…

Key Takeaways Best Buy has invited Ikea to set up shop in 10 of its locations and is testing small-store formats as it eyes excess retail space.The electronics retailer reported third-quarter results that beat expectations and raised its outlook for the full-year. Are you overwhelmed by Ikea’s mazy showrooms? Help is on the way—from a home-electronics chain. Best Buy (BBY) added 1,000-square-foot Ikea showrooms in 10 of its stores earlier this month, according to CEO Corie Barry. Ikea workers help staff the areas, which display Ikea kitchen and laundry room merchandise, as well as Best Buy appliances. The pilot program,…

These pages have often criticized proxy advisers, who provide research to institutional investors on voting decisions. But the market has changed dramatically in recent years: Investors and companies are adjusting to diverging national approaches to fiduciary duty. As the new CEO of Glass Lewis, I recently announced revisions to our business model to adapt to this reality. Your editorial “The Proxy Flight From ESG” (Nov. 18) suggests I was simply “reading politics in the room.” That isn’t quite right.As ever, I am focused on our clients and on leading in the rapidly evolving global market for corporate governance. The advice…

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are the foundation of tax-advantaged retirement savings, offering every worker the chance to build wealth outside of a workplace retirement plan. But knowing whether to choose a Traditional IRA (tax break now) or a Roth IRA (tax-free in retirement) requires understanding the crucial differences in contribution limits, income phase-outs, and withdrawal rules.This 10-question True/False quiz covers the essential facts you need to maximize your annual contributions and avoid costly mistakes. Don’t worry if you miss an answer; you can follow the links below the quiz to brush up on your knowledge.More on IRAs, from the Kiplinger…