Personal Finance
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Dow ends 530 points lower after Fed delivers quarter-point rate hike despite banking system stress
U.S. stocks finished sharply lower in volatile trade on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another 25 basis points, while noting that policymakers weren’t penciling in rate cuts this year. The decisions came despite recent stress in the banking industry following the collapse of two U.S. regional banks. How stock indexes traded…
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Apple’s drop shows price of popularity
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (MarketWatch) — What investment lesson are you drawing from Apple’s breathtaking plunge over the last couple of months? The one I think is most important is a contrarian one: To find your prince, you need to be willing to kiss a frog. For years now, this contrarian lesson was dismissed by Apple…
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My daughter has her heart set on attending a Canadian college. Will my 529 account still receive the tax benefits?
My daughter is considering a Canadian school for her Bachelor’s degree. The school is on the U.S. Department of Education’s website as a “deferment only” school, which means a student cannot get new federal loans while at this school. But if she has existing loans, they can be deferred while she goes to this school.…
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‘Folks are looking for whatever they can get’: Buying a house this busy spring season? Realtors advise using these 5 tactics.
Spring is typically the busiest season for the real-estate market. But with limited inventory and high mortgage rates, purchasing a home remains an expensive and time-consuming process. MarketWatch spoke to three realtors about how home buyers can stand out from the competition. Mortgage rates are double where they were a year ago, above 6.6%, and…
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‘My elderly uncle’s lady friend is very manipulative’: He loaned a lot of money to this girlfriend. How can we protect him? Will she be able to contest his will?
My uncle was married many years ago, but he divorced and has remained single ever since. His first wife took him to the cleaners financially. They had no children. He is currently in a romantic relationship and has enjoyed the company of the same lady friend for many years. They live separately. He is opposed…
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‘Rushed action leads to more pain’: Where should I put my cash amid this banking crisis? Is my money safe?
Rising interest rates and stock-market volatility over the past year have added extra allure to the high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit that banks offer. Then came the stunning failure of Silicon Valley Bank, the closure of Signature Bank and the array of regional banks under pressure — all in a matter of days.…
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S&P 500, Dow open higher as banking jitters ease after UBS-Credit Suisse deal
The S&P 500 and Dow opened higher on Monday after UBS Group agreed to buy its beleaguered Swiss peer, Credit Suisse, in a deal that was aided by Swiss authorities. The S&P 500 SPX, +1.30% gained 5 points, or 0.1%, to 3,921. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.98% advanced 90 points, or 0.3%, to…
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U.S. stocks hold gains as bank tensions ease and Fed decision looms
U.S. stocks were holding onto gains midsession Tuesday after a sharply higher opening, while anxiety about the banking sector recedes and traders wonder how high the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates on Wednesday — if at all. How stocks are trading The S&P 500 SPX, +0.77% climbed 22 points, or 0.5% to 3,973 The…
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How some retirees are making extra income with short-term rentals
When my husband died in 2018 at age 57, I knew I was going to have to do something to make up for the savings he would have contributed to our IRA. This year, when inflation skyrocketed, I not only needed additional income if I hoped to eventually retire, but I also needed additional money…
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The ‘pink tax’ and how to fight it: ‘It’s another punch to the gut as we’re trying to manage our budgets right now’
“I don’t know why brands think this is acceptable,” Bodge says. “It’s another punch to the gut as we’re trying to manage our budgets right now,” she adds, referring to rising prices across consumer goods categories due to inflation. The phenomenon known as the “pink tax,” when products and services aimed at women cost more…