Author: Money Mechanics

Stock futures pointed slightly lower to begin a busy day of corporate news Tuesday, with several major companies set to report quarterly results.  Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq were down roughly 0.1%, while those affiliated with the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average and benchmark S&P 500 were fractionally lower. Yesterday, the three major indexes closed up between 1.1% and 1.4%. Tuesday represents the 21st day of the U.S. government shutdown, but National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett told CNBC yesterday that it “is likely to end sometime this week.” Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Monday that he is optimistic the U.S. will…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Shawbrook is targeting a valuation of up to £2bn in its initial public offering, delivering a shot in the arm for the London market with one of its biggest listings in years. The specialist lender announced on Tuesday that it was aiming for a range of £1.8bn to £2bn in the float, confirming previous reporting by the Financial Times.The transaction will allow Shawbrook to raise £50mn from selling existing shares and let its private equity backers, Pollen Street and BC Partners, sell down…

Gold remains near a record high. How long will its rally last? Find the full breakdown below. Events. Gold remains around $4,340 per ounce, supported by U.S. rate cut expectations and the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Background. Paused government activity in the U.S. continues to fuel uncertainty. Investors are also watching U.S.–China trade talks closely as they will affect the market sentiment. Possible outcome. Traders await the delayed September CPI report, which is critical for Federal Reserve rate decisions next week. If the CPI report shows higher-than-expected inflation, it could strengthen the U.S. dollar and pressure gold. Wait for Friday’s…

Shares of U.S.-listed companies related to the rare earth supply chain climbed on Monday as investors continued to weigh the impact of Chinese export restrictions on domestic producers.  Rare earths are minerals that are essential to many aspects of modern life, particularly for the technology sector and the energy transition, as they are used in everything from semiconductors, fighter jets to the motors of electric vehicles.Prime Minister Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed an agreement on Monday to invest in joint ventures to stand up a critical mineral and rare earth supply chain that is not dependent…

For most enterprise companies, AI is either a promise that has yet to deliver or a security risk. The effort of Lithuania’s most famous entrepreneur duo to solve that conundrum has garnered attention — and funding. Just months after Nexos.ai came out of stealth with an $8 million funding round led by Index Ventures, Nord Security co-founders Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas have closed a €30 million Series A (approximately $35 million) for this new startup — a a platform that helps companies adopt AI tools securely by acting as a middleman between employees and AI systems. In Okmanas’ view,…

Key Takeaways Tesla’s earnings, due Wednesday, kick off the Magnificent Seven earnings season.Many investors have moved on to the company’s next-generation opportunities as drivers for its stock. But the shares have underperformed the Big Tech group so far this year. Halfway though 2025, Tesla stock looked like a big-time laggard. The EV maker’s shares were down more than 20% through the first six months of the year—a stretch that was rough for just about everyone, though by the end of it the S&P 500 and Magnificent Seven group of tech shares had moved back into the green even as Tesla…

Key Takeaways While President Trump has already laid out some tariffs on Canada and Mexico, upcoming negotiations on a major trade deal could lead to additional tariffs.The process of renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement recently started, coming ahead of the July 2026 deadline to review the comprehensive trade agreement.Negotiations could center on a range of issues, including automobile manufacturing, as well as non-trade issues like intellectual property rights and agricultural supply management. President Donald Trump is about to get another chance to massively shape the U.S.’s trade policies. It’s been six months since Trump upended years of U.S. trade policy with…

Key Takeaways Options pricing suggests traders expect Tesla’s stock could move about 7% in either direction in the days after its third-quarter earnings report on Wednesday’s afternoon.Wall Street analysts are split on the outlook for Tesla’s stock, but most believe the stock is currently overvalued.Investors will be looking for updates on lower-cost models, the rollout of robotaxi services, and progress on Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot. Tesla (TSLA) is scheduled to report third-quarter results after the bell on Wednesday, and some traders are betting the electric vehicle maker’s stock will jump to its highest level since last December on the results. …

Key Takeaways Americans’ financial confidence has fallen 13% since 2020, driven by inflation, economic instability, and rising living costs. Many Americans also aren’t prepared with a written financial plan, but advisors note that mapping out your goals can turn uncertainty into focus. Even in uncertain times, behavioral shifts like values-based planning and focusing on what you can control can restore optimism and clarity. What You Can Do Despite years of declining confidence, financial advisors say there are meaningful ways to regain your footing, no matter your age or income. It starts with a mindset shift, but it doesn’t stop there.…

Key Takeaways New data shows that credit scores for home purchases hit their highest levels in six years, while credit scores for refinancing also hit mutli-year high levels. The increase comes as mortgage rates were near their lowest levels in a year after remaining elevated for more than three years.Potential homebuyers and homeowners with lower credit scores could face more limited opportunities, experts said. Credit scores for homebuyers in September reached their highest levels in at least six years as better-financed borrowers pounced on a drop in mortgage rates and lenders tightened their credit standards, new data showed. The average credit…