Author: Money Mechanics

In-brief analysis October 14, 2025 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2025Note: Export capacity includes total flexport capacity, which includes other hydrocarbon gas liquid export capacity. U.S. ethane exports are poised for significant growth through 2026, driven by robust global demand for ethane as a petrochemical feedstock, substantial U.S. export capacity expansions, and larger vessels to carry ethane exports. In our October Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. ethane net exports will grow 14% in 2025, followed by a 16% rise in 2026. The United States does not…

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to the press, on the day of U.S.-China talks on trade, economic and national security issues, in Madrid, Spain, September 15, 2025. Violeta Santos Moura | ReutersTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of trying to weaken the global economy by slapping export controls on resources vital for technology.In an interview with the Financial Times, Bessent said the moves over rare earths and minerals are an attempt by China “to pull everyone else down with them.””If they want to slow down the global economy, they will be hurt the most,” he said.The move by China…

ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysWindows 10 support has ended, making Linux a possible alternative.It’s a good time to consider switching from Windows to Linux.Switching to Linux can extend your computer’s life and performance.I can still remember when I decided to install Linux on my very first computer (a Pentium 75). I’d been using Windows 95 and found myself more frustrated than not. I was experiencing constant blue screens of death, couldn’t make the OS behave how I wanted, the software was expensive, and I hated the way it looked.So, I installed Linux over…

Stock futures pointed lower as trade tensions with China re-escalated Tuesday, a day after indexes rebounded from Friday’s sharp losses, and big banks began reporting third-quarter results.  Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average were down a respective 1.2%, 0.9%, and 0.5%. Yesterday, the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up a respective 2.2%, 1.6%, and 1.3% after President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine!” Last Friday, indexes tanked after Trump threatened “massive” tariffs on China. However, China subsequently imposed…

It’s a message we frequently repeat at Advisors Excel: When record-breaking results are achieved — as they have been in recent years by many financial professionals — it’s easy for complacency to set in.Sales is the lifeblood of any business, and complacency can be its biggest threat. It’s easy to do what we’ve always done, but to grow, we must commit to continuous improvement. Something as little as a 5% improvement in your conversion rate can lead to significant growth.This isn’t just about attracting new clients; it’s about optimizing every interaction, from the first meeting to the follow-up touches. From…

America is minting “everyday millionaires” faster than ever before — 1,000 per day in 2024, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025.But for many people, having a seven-plus-figure net worth doesn’t necessarily translate into feelings of financial security.In fact, according to Northwestern Mutual’s Planning & Progress Study, only one-third (32%) of American millionaires consider themselves “wealthy,” and nearly half (48%) say their financial planning needs improvement. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice…

Key Takeaways Major insurers, including Aetna CVS Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, are reducing their 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) offerings. Small insurers that specialize in certain markets are also terminating their MA plans, largely due to high expenses and lower reimbursement rates from the federal government for patient care. If your MA plan is canceled, you can switch to a new one or Original Medicare during this open enrollment season, following helpful guidelines outlined below. People on Medicare Advantage (MA) need to pay careful attention this open enrollment season. Multiple insurers are significantly reducing the number of plans…

In early September, I began hearing from readers all across the country who had the same question: “Should I drop my current policy with Farmers Insurance and go with some other company?”This was the first time in decades that so many people had the same question about one insurance company. The last time was in the early 1990s, in reference to Executive Life Insurance Company in California and New York. They were among the largest failures of life insurance companies in U.S. history.Prior to their crashes, I wrote a column about them, and to anyone who asked, my advice was…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Specialist UK bank Close Brothers has nearly doubled the amount it has set aside to cover payouts from the car finance mis-selling scandal to £300mn, following a ruling from the UK financial regulator.Close Brothers said on Tuesday that it expected to take an additional charge of £135mn, in addition to an initial provision of £165mn.It noted that the final cost could be “materially higher or lower depending on the outcome of the consultation and any further legal, regulatory or industry developments”.The extra…

The market was seen trading marginally lower in the early Tuesday trading session as OPEC expects supply increases to ease deficit projections. Precious metals edged higher yesterday, with reaching yet another record high, driven by US-China trade uncertainty and continued ETF inflows Energy – OPEC Sees Smaller Oil Supply Deficit in 2026 Oil prices are trading almost flat this morning, with the market focused on Friday’s Trump-Putin meeting. OPEC’s expectations of increasing output to ease a supply shortfall next year further weighed on prices. In its monthly oil market report, OPEC left its global oil demand growth forecasts largely unchanged…