Author: Money Mechanics

KEY TAKEAWAYS Gold and silver touched new all-time highs again Tuesday.Precious metals have rallied strongly in the past month amid global trade tension, the federal government shutdown and increased stock market volatility. The global rally in precious metals continued Tuesday, reflecting a litany of concerns on the part of investors. In spot markets, gold reached an all-time high of $4,186 per troy ounce, while silver hit a new record high of $53.59 per ounce. The precious metals came off those highs later in the session, but gold and silver remain 12% and 21% higher, respectively, in just the past month.…

Key Takeaways Shares of Intel fell Tuesday after a downgrade from Bank of America analysts, who voiced worries the stock has become overvalued after a recent rally.Tuesday’s drop also came as the broader tech sector lost ground amid worries about U.S.-China trade tensions. Is Intel’s stock due for a pullback? Bank of America analysts think so, telling clients this week they believe the struggling chipmaker’s stock has climbed “too far, too fast” after their recent rally on a string of high-profile deals. The stock dropped over 4% Tuesday, making it one of the biggest decliners in the S&P 500 and…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett said, “What the wise do in the beginning, fools do in the end.”With this quote, he was implying that wise people pounce early and that the fools follow the crowd and arrive when it’s too late to benefit, getting caught in a bubble that inevitably bursts.The comment is a dig at investors who pile into investments when they are already very popular and expensive in pursuit of quick profits.That approach has gained traction with social media and cheap trading apps and contrasts with Buffett’s long-term value investing philosophy. Warren Buffett isn’t just one of the world’s…

Key Takeaways Short-term CDs continue to deliver some of the strongest yields available, with the top nationwide offers paying between 4.32% and 4.45% APY. The best opportunities may not last long, as markets expect the Fed to cut rates later this month and again in December. Whether you like PenAir Credit Union’s 5-month CD paying 4.45% or prefer another offer, it’s smart to lock in your rate now—as top APYs can disappear overnight. The full article continues below these offers from our partners. Short-Term CDs Still Lead—But Rates Could Ease Soon For money you can set aside for just a…

Stocks slumped out of the gate Tuesday amid renewed worries over U.S.-China trade relations. However, the main market indexes finished well off their intraday lows – with one of the three ending in positive territory – after a strong start to third-quarter earnings season and aspeech from Fed Chair Jerome Powell that kept the door open for an October rate cut.True to form, stocks have been volatile so far this October. On Friday, for instance, the main indexes plummeted after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of being “hostile” and threatened to hike tariffs an d cancel an upcoming meeting with…

Thank you, Emily. And thank you to the National Association for Business Economics for the Adam Smith Award. It is an honor just to be mentioned alongside past recipients, including my predecessors Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke. Thank you for this recognition and for the opportunity to speak with you today. Monetary policy is more effective when the public understands what the Federal Reserve does and why. With that in mind, I hope to enhance understanding of one of the more arcane and technical aspects of monetary policy: the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet. A colleague recently compared this topic to…

Technology stocks have been performing very well in recent months. The and , which are heavily made up of tech companies, rose 8.29% and 9.95% over the past three months. In comparison, the went up 6.16% and the gained 3.62%. Small-cap stocks have also done better than the broader market. The , which tracks US small companies, rose 9.41% over the same period. With the expected to continue cutting interest rates, and investors anticipating rate cuts at every upcoming FOMC meeting this year, the outlook looks positive for both tech and small-cap stocks. These types of stocks tend to benefit…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. October 14, 2025 Minutes of the Board’s discount rate meetings on August 18 and September 17, 2025 For release at 2:00 p.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday released the minutes from its recent meetings to review and determine the discount rates provided to depository institutions through the discount window. Today’s minutes cover the Board meetings that occurred on August 18 and September 17, 2025. The Board’s process for setting the discount…

Key Takeaways A grocery-chain CEO listed a number of ways shoppers are looking to “focus on value” these days, including buying more store brands, using coupons and sticking to a list.But an ongoing effort to save doesn’t mean they aren’t also trying to eat healthier, the CEO of Albertsons said. Americans aren’t done hunting for deals in grocery aisles. Shoppers are looking to “focus on value,” the CEO of grocery chain Albertsons (ACI) said on a Tuesday conference call, adopting a range of strategies to save ranging from buying smaller to avoiding impulse purchases. The latest comments, from CEO Susan…

For decades, stock awards have been the most sought-after perks in corporate America, offering the promise of wealth in exchange for loyalty. For employees, these packages often spark hope of striking it rich should their company stock take off. According to a recent Charles Schwab study, three-quarters of employees say equity pay is very important, and half see it as a must-have benefit when job hunting. But, according to financial planners and industry experts, relying too much on stock for pay can create risks that few workers fully understand. It may even leave you worse off than if you got…