Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Oracle is one of the day’s biggest S&P 500 decliners, with the shares giving back some of the big gains they posted in September. Back then, an upbeat outlook pulled the shares higher. Now it looks like investors are looking under the hood a bit more closely. Oracle gave the AI trade a big shot in the arm last month. That shot is a little bit of a sore spot these days. Shares of the cloud computing and software giant were recently off about 7%, making them one of the day’s biggest S&P 500 decliners. That still has Oracle…

Key Takeaways Some taxpayers, such as tipped workers or those earning overtime pay, could see larger refunds in 2026 because the new tax cuts apply retroactively to 2025. The IRS won’t adjust withholding rules until 2026, meaning some workers may overpay taxes in 2025 and could receive that money back as a refund. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act expands the child tax credit and standard deduction, but experts say many taxpayers won’t see a major change in their refunds. Select taxpayers could receive larger tax refunds when they file their taxes in 2026 because of President Donald Trump’s recent…

The recent deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa highlighted the differences between the two primary tools for passing on the bulk of one’s wealth.The two tools are the will and the revocable living trust, also known as a living trust.Anyone with a living trust also should have a will to control assets and issues outside the scope of the living trust. The issue is which tool should control most of the assets and be the foundation of the estate plan. The best choice for one person might not be optimum for another. Most of Hackman’s assets…

Key Takeaways Bitcoin is falling toward the $100,000 level following last weekend’s rout in the digital assets market.Without the support of the safe-haven narrative, crypto market experts are looking for other reasons to stay optimistic about the near term for bitcoin. So much for “Uptober.” Bitcoin is close to giving up all of this year’s gains, dragged lower since renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China sparked a reversal in the digital assets market. The world’s largest cryptocurrency (BTCUSD) has declined about 7% since Monday, according to research platform Messari. The drag in bitcoin prices is reflected in the…

Key Takeaways Major U.S. equities indexes climbed at midday Friday as regional bank stocks rebounded from yesterday’s losses after a flurry of corporate earnings reports.American Express shares climbed after the company posted strong quarterly results.Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly shares lost ground after President Trump said he would look to lower prices for popular weight-loss drugs. Major U.S. equities indexes climbed at midday Friday as regional bank stocks rebounded from yesterday’s losses after a flurry of corporate earnings reports. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were all higher. Kenvue (KVUE) was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 as investors…

Key Takeaways Micron shares pulled back from a record high Friday following a report that the company will stop providing server chips to data centers in China.After climbing above $200 for the first time earlier this month, the stock consolidated in a pennant before breaking out from the pattern on Thursday, potentially laying the groundwork for a continuation move higher.Bars pattern analysis indicates the price could climb to around $245. Investors should also watch key support levels on Micron’s chart around $158 and $130. Micron Technology (MU) shares lost ground Friday following a report that the company will suspend some…

How much you pay to the IRS is an important question on a lot of people’s minds when they retire.Many might expect their retirement income to be taxed in the same way as their employment pay. Others might have heard that there’s a specific age where you stop paying federal taxes on certain types of income, like Social Security benefits.If you take this quick quiz, you could be surprised about how your retirement income is actually taxed on a federal level. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign…

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.The Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates despite rising inflation, due to concern about the job market losing steam. 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 Wednesday is likely to show that…

Shopping for internet service can feel overwhelming when you’re faced with dozens of plans, speeds and pricing options. Every provider promises fast and reliable service, but figuring out what you actually need — and what you can skip — can be tricky.On the other hand, choosing an internet plan that’s too slow can be equally frustrating. Lagging video calls, buffering movies and delayed downloads can interrupt work, school and entertainment. The right internet speed makes a noticeable difference in how smoothly your household stays connected day to day.By taking a closer look at your household’s size, online habits and number…

Despite progress in expanding access to capital, private equity and venture dollars remain concentrated in a handful of coastal cities. California, New York, and Massachusetts continue to absorb the lion’s share of funding, while vast regions of the country—particularly the Midwest and South—receive only a fraction of institutional attention. This imbalance represents more than a regional gap. It reflects a persistent blind spot that risks leaving long-term value on the table. Despite the growing conversation around equitable capital allocation, the reality remains stark: more than 85% of venture funding in the US still flows to just three states: California, New…