Economy
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Gone in 60 seconds…or thereabouts: How car thieves are hacking headlights to make off with vehicles
London-based cybersecurity consultant Ian Tabor bought a new Toyota RAV4 last year. Just weeks later, he tweeted in frustration that vandals had damaged the car, pulling off a piece of trim near the headlights and even pulling out a headlight wire. Three months later, it happened again. Same headlight. Two days later, the car was…
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More Americans are snapping up used electric cars
New electric cars are grabbing all the headlines, but Americans buy far more used cars than new cars. When will sales of used electric vehicles pick up? They already have. A new analysis from Kelley Blue Book parent company Cox Automotive shows that used EV sales grew by 32% in the first three months of…
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U.S. stocks struggle for direction with earnings season set to pick up steam
U.S. stocks flipped between small gains and losses Monday, with the S&P 500 near the top end of its recent range ahead of the first full week of first-quarter earnings season. How stocks are trading The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.00% was up off 45 points, 0.1%, at 33,844. The S&P 500 SPX, -0.21%…
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Treasury yields higher as market prices in 25 basis point hike by Fed in May
Bond yields nudged higher on Monday as calmer conditions across markets softened demand for the perceived safety of government bonds. What’s happening The yield on the 2-year Treasury TMUBMUSD02Y, 4.156% climbed 5.5 basis points to 4.165%. Yields move in the opposite direction to prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury TMUBMUSD10Y, 3.560% rose 3.7 basis…
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‘Gradually, then suddenly.’ Earnings expectations may be about to drop, says Morgan Stanley strategist.
Will optimism hold as earnings season gets fully under way this week and is banking stress done? Our call of the day, from Morgan Stanley’s chief U.S. equity strategist Mike Wilson, warns of a long shadow cast by March stress, despite a mostly upbeat stock market. “In contrast to what we expected, the S&P 500…
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Your tax refund will probably be smaller this year — unless you have a stock portfolio
April is National Financial Literacy Month. To mark the occasion, MarketWatch will publish a series of “Financial Fitness” articles to help readers improve their fiscal health, and offer advice on how to save, invest and spend their money wisely. Read more here. If you’re feeling underwhelmed by the size of your income-tax refund this year, you’re…
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Are you about to file your taxes? Take the MarketWatch Tax Quiz to see if you are prepared
April is National Financial Literacy Month. To mark the occasion, MarketWatch will publish a series of “Financial Fitness” articles to help readers improve their fiscal health, and offer advice on how to save, invest and spend their money wisely. Read more here. Millions of Americans file taxes every year in a process that might fill…
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Are you planning a family vacation? Brace yourself for a ‘summer of discontent.’
Traveling this summer may require a lot of patience and grit as the aviation industry tries to keep up with demand. After an epic meltdown last summer, many travelers may be emotionally prepared for another tumultuous travel season up ahead. “It’s gonna be the summer of discontent for air travel,” Robert W. Mann Jr., an…
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India is now the most populous nation. But this demographic metric is more important for its economy
India became the world’s most populous country on Friday, ending China’s reign as No. 1, according to an analysis of United Nations population projections. The analysis shows that India’s population reached 1,425,782,975 on Friday. India has overwhelming economic potential, not only due of its population size, but also because of its demographic makeup. This enormous…
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Social Security’s expected shortfall sparks debate over tax increases
With the clock ticking to remedy Social Security’s financial ills, many experts are pushing Congress to take urgent action, yet there’s little agreement on which medicine might work best. The points of contention were on display this week at a panel discussion focused on Social Security’s future. Competing proposals involve raising taxes, adjusting benefits, or…