Prices involve a lot of psychology. That’s why retailers roll out 3-for-1 discounts, promote offers to buy one get one free, and round prices down to end in 99 cents. Similarly, a high-priced stock can dampen an investor’s enthusiasm. After all, would you rather have five shares of a stock, each worth $100, or half … Read more
Value was in vogue in 2024. Shoppers and restaurant patrons in the U.S. were choosy about where and how to spend their money as they wrestled with high housing and food prices. Well-heeled customers traded down to Walmart and Aldi. Diners opted for fast food or home cooking instead of sit-down restaurants. Department stores struggled … Read more
Stocks fell on Monday, with the woes of the three major indexes continuing in the final week of the year as an otherwise strong 2024 comes to a close. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped more than 1% while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about … Read more
There’s a mad dash for cash in college sports. Between multibillion-dollar television deals, the institution of the transfer portal and the escalation of NIL —name, image and likeness — deals for athletes, college athletic programs, particularly football, have never looked more lucrative. Now private equity and venture capital enterprises such as College Sports Tomorrow, Smash … Read more
The holidays are here. But many investors may be feeling like they made it onto the naughty list as they contend with challenges from turmoil in Washington as President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk flex their newfound political power to a souring outlook on the Fed’s interest rate policy, with fewer cuts expected to come … Read more
The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate this month, which means deposit rates will soon follow. It’s more important than ever to ensure you’re earning the highest rate possible on your savings, and a high-yield savings account could be the solution. These accounts pay more interest than the typical savings account — as much … Read more
The Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate for the third time this year — and there may be more cuts next year. Rate cuts can be cause for celebration, particularly if you’re planning to buy a home or pay off debt. But you can also expect to earn less interest on bank deposits and … Read more