Author: Money Mechanics

This year, we’re celebrating 40 years of The Options Institute, Cboe’s education team dedicated to delivering trusted financial education, custom programming and experiential learning opportunities for investors of all backgrounds.In 1985, Cboe established The Options Institute (OI), marking the industry’s first in-house team focused exclusively on options education. The initial strategy concentrated on in-person learning opportunities like training courses, seminars and events for experienced market participants, including brokerage professionals and floor traders. As technology and the markets evolved over time, the OI adapted their efforts to meet the learning needs and goals of new audiences like the growing wave of…

Key Takeaways The Supreme Court is considering whether to invalidate many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs: a complex case with an unpredictable outcome.If the court decides to overturn the tariffs, it could save businesses and individuals money but fuel uncertainty.Trump’s trade wars have created uncertainty that has undermined business expansions and hurt the job market. The Supreme Court’s hearing on the legality of some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs raised fresh questions about the future of U.S. trade policy, stoking the uncertainty that has plagued the economy this year.On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a lawsuit that…

Key Takeaways Travel rewards cards let users earn points or miles for purchases, often at higher rates for travel and dining. Rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotels, upgrades, and more—sometimes at higher value through transfer partners. Cards range from no-fee options to premium cards with lounge access and travel insurance. The best card depends on your travel frequency, goals, and willingness to manage rewards systems. Not all travel redemptions offer the same value—smart redemption is key. One way that credit card providers incentivize users to make purchases on their cards is through rewards. These rewards—often in the form of…

Key Takeaways A big vote on Elon Musk’s pay landed today, with the company reporting that over 75% of voters approved a proposal that could make him a trillionaire. Prediction markets bettors across Polymarket, Kalshi, and Robinhood showed near-certain probabilities that shareholders approve Musk’s pay package. The fate of Tesla—or, at least, the answer to the question of whether its chief Elon Musk stays or walks—may have been settled at today’s shareholder vote. A preliminary tally on this year’s 14 proposals, which include giving Musk greater control over Tesla (TSLA) as well as a trillion-dollar pay package, was rolling in…

Question: I recently found out I was receiving $50,000 from a family member. My retirement is already fully funded, I have no debt to pay off, and I don’t need to use the $50,000 for anything immediate. Where are some smart places to store it to keep ahead of inflation?Answer: My first suggestion would be to invest it in an index fund since they offer historically higher returns than savings accounts. However, if you’re concerned about market volatility, there are a few other solutions that would work best for you. Depending on your savings goals, a high-yield savings account or…

Key Takeaways Hyperion Bank’s Exclusive Money Market is guaranteeing 4.50% APY for six months—letting you lock in a top rate yet withdraw when you like.That rate guarantee matters, since likely Fed cuts are expected to push savings and money market yields lower in the months ahead.Hyperion’s offer beats even the best CDs by offering easy withdrawals and a top yield—but you’ll need at least $10,000 on deposit to qualify. This APY Guarantee Can Protect Your Savings if the Fed Keeps Cutting For most savers, earning the best return on your cash usually means giving up some flexibility. Savings and money…

Investors pulled back their bets Thursday during another steep sell-off for stocks, as a fresh set of private-sector data indicated a weakening labor market. Consumer discretionary, technology and communication services – basically, all the “risk on” sectors – led the way lower as inevitable questions about current valuations and future cash flows re-took hold of the market’s collective mind.Amid the record-long government shutdown, data from employment agency Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed U.S. employers announced 153,074 job cuts in October. That’s up 183% from the 54,064 cuts announced in September and 175% compared to October 2024. October layoffs hit their…

Key Takeaways A growing number of large clients, and demand from AI customers helped Datadog beat quarterly earnings and revenue forecasts, sending shares higher Thursday. The cloud-based monitoring and security platform also lifted its full-year outlook. Datadog (DDOG) shares soared Thursday after the cloud-based monitoring and security platform posted quarterly results that topped analysts’ estimates and raised its outlook. The stock surged 23% to close near $191, making it the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 Thursday. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.55 for the third quarter, above analysts’ estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Revenue jumped 28% year-over-year…

Key Takeaways DoorDash’s quarterly earnings missed analysts’ estimates as its cost rose, sending shares tumbling Thursday.The delivery firm also gave a weaker-than-expected outlook, expecting its investments in new products and initiatives like delivery robots will squeeze profits. DoorDash (DASH) shares tumbled Thursday after the food delivery firm missed profit estimates and gave a weak outlook. The stock dropped 17.5% to close near $197, making it the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 Thursday. Read Investopedia’s full daily markets coverage here. The company reported third-quarter earnings per share of $0.55, well below what analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for. Revenue grew 27% year-over-year…

Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its “Baron Focused Growth Fund” third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund delivered strong results in the third quarter, appreciating 4.83% (Institutional Shares); however, the performance underperformed the Russell 2500 Growth Index’s (the Benchmark) 10.73% gain. The fund’s underperformance stemmed from concerns over a slowdown in economic growth affecting the fund’s more economically sensitive Consumer Discretionary stocks. Furthermore, the rise in competitive pressures has adversely affected the valuations of a few of its holdings. In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know…