Author: Money Mechanics

“Get your $TRUMP now,” came the message from America’s president-elect three days before his inauguration. The commander-in-chief’s meme cryptocurrency, the aggregate value of which has so far peaked at almost $15bn, is far from the only sign of the administration’s ardour for digital assets. One new government department (DOGE) has been christened after another meme coin. It is now quicker to list people close to the president who do not have significant financial interests in crypto than those who do. For anyone not paying attention, an executive order on January 23rd made things clear: digital assets, it announced, would play…

Key Takeaways Real estate investor Grant Cardone said recently that he believes renting is superior to owning, as it can allow a renter to avoid large expenses that come with owning a home.However, several financial advisors told Investopedia that they disagree, and said owning a home remains a reliable long-term investment.Still, many said it’s important to evaluate your own situation to make sure you are financially healthy enough to buy and maintain a home. The conventional wisdom about buying compared to renting a home is that owning a home provides you with an investment that will reliably increase in value…

Nucor’s NUE short percent of float has risen 18.18% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 6.12 million shares sold short, which is 3.51% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.96 days to cover their short positions on average.Why Short Interest MattersShort interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will…

Over the course of this year, the U.S. economy has shown resilience in a context of sweeping changes in economic policy. In terms of the Fed’s dual-mandate goals, the labor market remains near maximum employment, and inflation, though still somewhat elevated, has come down a great deal from its post-pandemic highs. At the same time, the balance of risks appears to be shifting. In my remarks today, I will first address the current economic situation and the near-term outlook for monetary policy. I will then turn to the results of our second public review of our monetary policy framework, as…

In-brief analysis July 14, 2025 Based on what power plant owners and operators have reported to EIA, the total operating capacity of U.S. coal-fired power plants is scheduled to fall from 172 gigawatts (GW) in May 2025 to 145 GW by the end of 2028, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. On a regional basis, 58% of the planned coal capacity retirements are in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Coal consumption in the U.S. electric power sector has fallen since its peak in the late 2000s because of increased competition from other electricity…

Key Takeaways Stocks soared on Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell left the door open for the Fed to cut interest rates at its September meeting.Stocks in the industrial and financial sectors led the Dow higher as investors bet lower rates would stimulate capital markets and construction activity.Homebuilders should benefit from lower rates by reducing the monthly cost of home loans; rate-sensitive small caps are also expected to get a boost. Stocks soared on Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the central bank may be ready to resume cutting interest rates at its next policy meeting in…

All three main U.S. equity indexes gapped up at the opening bell and bounced even higher after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested in his keynote speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium that, all things considered, the Fed could cut interest rates as soon as September.”In the near term,” Powell said at Jackson Hole, “risks to inflation are tilted to the upside, and risks to employment to the downside.” In his prepared remarks, Powell cited the still-emerging impacts of shorter-run factors such as tariffs and immigration policy as well as longer-term factors such as fiscal and regulatory policy.”The effects…

Significant changes occurred in Medicare Advantage plans each of the last couple of years, and more changes are on the way in 2026. In 2024, I documented several factors that would cause higher costs and fewer benefits in Advantage plans in 2025. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was in the midst of a three-year period during which payments to Advantage plan sponsors were reduced. In addition, major sponsors of Advantage plans reported that their costs were higher than expected because of higher use of medical services and increased claims by plan members. CVS Health, Aetna and UnitedHealth Group…

Key Takeaways Your ex is removed from your will in most states, but some states don’t follow this rule. Assets with named beneficiaries, like life insurance or retirement accounts, can still go to an ex because they bypass probate court. Always update beneficiaries on retirement plans, life insurance, and bank accounts after divorce. Divorce can complicate estate planning (among other things). The good news is that your ex is automatically cut out of your will in most states. “Under New York law, once a divorce is finalized, your ex-spouse is generally treated as if they predeceased you for the purposes…

The 2025 hurricane season is underway, and Hurricane Erin was the first named storm. While Erin is moving back out to sea, forecasters are already tracking more systems right behind it.For travelers, that means the risk of last-minute disruptions is far from over, and the window to prepare often closes once a storm is officially named. Taking steps now to understand airline policies, rental agreements and travel insurance options can make the difference between absorbing the full cost of a canceled trip and protecting your wallet.If a hurricane forces you to cancel or change your vacation plans, knowing your rights…