Author: Money Mechanics

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Razer Blade 14 (2025) is on sale now starting at $2,000.It’s a gorgeous laptop that redefines portability for gaming machines.However, the ultraportable form factor results in trade-offs when it comes to performance and upgradability. Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers.The Blade 16 has been Razer’s flagship gaming laptop for years, but the thinner, sleeker design on 2025’s Blade 14 (the thinnest Blade model yet) gives nothing short of a stunning first impression.The new model is 11% thinner and 11% lighter than its predecessor, weighing just 3.5…

(Oil Price) – The United States and Qatar have joined forces for a fresh warning to Brussels that its corporate sustainability directive risks LNG imports from two of the world’s biggest exporters at a time when the EU is trying to ban all Russian gas imports. Per a joint letter cited by the Financial Times, Washington and Doha are concerned that the directive would affect their exports of liquefied, meaning they would not be able to export as much of the commodity to the EU as they did previously. Qatar has earlier stated it would suspend all LNG exports to the EU if…

KEY TAKEAWAYS This year, health insurance costs grew faster than inflation and wages, with many insurers attempting to cover the rising costs of specialty drugs, such as GLP-1s.Many employers have indicated they expect to shift more healthcare costs to workers in 2026, as service and prescription drug costs continue to rise. Health insurance premium rates rose this year, and the growing costs of health services and prescriptions are expected to push up premium rates again next year. In 2025, family health insurance premiums through employer-sponsored plans rose by 6%, or $1,408, from last year, according to a recent report from…

Key Takeaways The Consumer Price Index likely rose 3.1% over the year in September, according to forecasters.That would be the highest inflation in nearly a year and a half, which would underscore how tariffs have pushed up inflation that had been decelerating before President Donald Trump imposed double-digit import taxes. Inflation likely rose to a 17-month high in September as tariffs pushed up prices, forecasters say. The Consumer Price Index report scheduled for release on Friday is likely to show that prices rose 3.1% over the year in December, according to a survey of economists by Dow Jones Newswires and The…

Key Takeaways A video streamer came under pressure on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, after a one-time tax event weighed on its earnings, while strong results boosted a maker of robotic surgical devices.Netflix missed quarterly estimates, citing the impact of a one-time tax event in Brazil, and its shares slumped.Intuitive Surgical stock powered higher after the company touted increases in procedures performed using its robotic surgical systems. A tax charge related to its business in Brazil contributed to an earnings miss for a major video-streaming company, and its shares moved lower. Meanwhile, a provider of robotic surgical systems got a boost…

Key Takeaways Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania are considered to be the most tax-friendly states for retirees.Thirty-eight states don’t tax Social Security income.Thirty-seven states don’t tax most military retirement pay.Fifteen states exempt pension income from state taxes.Nine states have no income tax at all. After a lifetime of contributing to Social Security, building up a retirement plan, or earning a pension, you may be bracing for a big tax hit in retirement. Now you’re ready to punch your last time card and your state has its hand out for some tax dollars as well. Or does it? While federal taxes…

Key Takeaways Net worth is a clear way to see your full financial picture, showing what you own, what you owe, and how your wealth changes over time.Comparing your net worth to national medians can reveal whether you’re ahead or behind your peers and can motivate you to set realistic financial goals.Experts say the best way to grow your net worth is by consistently investing and reducing debt to keep more of what you earn. The Average Net Worth by Age—Here’s How You Compare Ever wondered how your finances stack up to others your age? The best way to find…

Key Takeaways Rates for 30-year mortgages have dropped to their lowest level in over a year, giving buyers a window to lock in a more affordable monthly payment. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut its benchmark rate next week, but that’s no guarantee of lower mortgage rates—the Fed and the mortgage market can move in opposite directions. If you’re ready to buy, locking in now could be smarter than waiting. You can always refinance later if mortgage rates fall further. The full article continues below these offers from our partners. Today’s Mortgage Rate News We cover new purchase…

Key Takeaways Elon Musk used Tesla’s third-quarter conference call to renew his contention that next-generation businesses and AI will be the key drivers of the company’s future value.“People just don’t quite appreciate the degree to which this will take off,” he said of Tesla’s full self driving technology. Elon Musk wants investors to know Tesla is an AI company.  The CEO told investors on the company’s earnings call Wednesday that Tesla (TSLA) is at a “critical inflection point” as it shifts its focus toward “real-world” applications of AI, including self-driving cars and smart robots. The company had earlier said its…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldThe US is imposing sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, aiming to “degrade” Vladimir Putin’s war chest and support Donald Trump’s effort to end the war in Ukraine. The move marks the first time the Trump administration has imposed direct costs on Moscow over its full-scale invasion. “These are tremendous sanctions,” the US president said. “We hope that they won’t be on for long. We hope that the war will be settled.” Treasury secretary Scott Bessent…