Workflow
Investopedia
icon
Search documents
New Repayment Plan Set To Transform Student Loans. Find Out If Your Costs Will Increase or Decrease
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 21:00
Core Insights - A new income-driven repayment plan, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), is set to be implemented by July 1, 2026, replacing existing income-driven plans and potentially increasing costs for certain borrowers, particularly low-income individuals [3][4][19] Summary by Category New Repayment Plan - The RAP will open for enrollment by July 1, 2026, and will eliminate all existing income-driven repayment plans within three years [3] - Borrowers who take out loans before the implementation date can still enroll in the current Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan [3] Impact on Borrowers - Monthly payments under RAP are expected to be significantly higher for lower-income borrowers compared to the IBR plan, with some facing payments of at least $10 per month instead of $0 [4][14] - The average lower-income borrower could pay 734% more under RAP than under IBR, with total payments over the life of the loan increasing from $0 to $12,287 for those with families [14][19] Financial Examples - A borrower with an annual income of $23,475 would pay $4,512 over 20 years under IBR, while under RAP, they would pay $38,510 over 30 years [9][10] - For an average income borrower earning $68,400, total payments would be $54,867 under IBR and $55,165 under RAP, indicating minimal difference for this income bracket [15][18] Additional Provisions - The Department of Education will contribute up to $50 a month to lower the principal balance for borrowers, but this support may not be sufficient for those with low incomes and high loan amounts [13]
These Grad Degrees Aren't Considered 'Professional'—Limiting Student Loans
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 21:00
A new classification could make it harder for some graduate students to afford their degrees. Nursing students are among those whose graduate programs are not considered professional. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images Close KEY TAKEAWAYS The "One Big, Beautiful Bill" Act, passed in July, directed the Department of Education to reduce the amount of student loans available to many graduate students. Previously, all graduate students had an aggregate student loan cap of $138,500. Starting July ...
Living Paycheck to Paycheck? Your City Could Be the Culprit
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 21:00
Core Insights - A significant number of American households are living paycheck to paycheck, spending over 95% of their income on necessities, with nearly a quarter of households affected in Q3 2025 [2][4] - Inflation rates have risen, with a 3% increase year-over-year in September 2025, while wage growth has lagged behind, increasing only by 2% for middle-income and 1% for lower-income households [3][4] - The trend of households living paycheck to paycheck is more pronounced in the Northeast and Midwest, while the South and West have seen a decrease in this trend [6][8] Inflation and Wage Growth - Inflation has outpaced wage growth, leading to households allocating a larger share of their income to basic necessities [8] - The inflation rate in the West increased by 3.3% in September 2025, while the Northeast experienced a lower inflation rate compared to 2024 [10][11] Regional Disparities - Households in the Northeast and Midwest are facing the highest financial pressures, with an increase in the percentage of those living paycheck to paycheck compared to the previous year [6][8] - Conversely, households in the South and West have experienced lower inflation rates in 2024, easing financial stress and allowing their income to stretch further [9][10] Economic Implications - The rising cost of living and reduced discretionary spending among consumers could lead to broader negative effects on the economy [5] - If inflation levels out, it may positively impact the number of households living paycheck to paycheck [12]
MongoDB Stock Soars as Strong Earnings and Guidance Impress Investors
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 17:25
Core Insights - MongoDB reported exceptional third-quarter results, exceeding expectations in both earnings and revenue, leading to a significant increase in stock price [1][2][7] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q3 were $1.32, with revenue rising 19% year-over-year to $628.3 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.82 EPS and $594.3 million in revenue [2] - For the upcoming quarter, MongoDB anticipates adjusted EPS between $1.44 and $1.48, with revenue projected at $665 million to $670 million, both above consensus estimates [4] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $2.434 billion to $2.439 billion, up from the previous guidance of $2.34 billion to $2.36 billion [4] Leadership and Strategy - The strong quarterly performance follows the appointment of CJ Desai as CEO, who emphasized customer expansion and the company's unified data platform's role in supporting mission-critical workloads and AI initiatives [5][3] - Desai's leadership comes after the retirement of former CEO Dev Ittycheria, who led the company for 11 years [5]
Top Stock Movers Now: Boeing, Intel, Sandisk, and More
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 17:15
Market Overview - Major U.S. equities indexes experienced gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 0.3%, the S&P 500 increasing by 0.2%, and the Nasdaq climbing by 0.4% [1] Company Highlights - Boeing (BA) shares surged by 8% after the new CFO announced at a UBS conference that the company's production ramp-up plan is on schedule, following previous safety issues that had significantly slowed production last year. Boeing also expects to generate positive free cash flow next year after incurring substantial losses over the past two years [2] - Intel (INTC) stock rose by 7% as the company revealed plans to invest approximately $200 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Malaysia. This increase follows a rally initiated by reports suggesting that Apple (AAPL) could become a significant customer for Intel [3] - MongoDB (MDB) shares jumped nearly 25% after the company reported quarterly results that exceeded estimates and raised its full-year forecasts, following the appointment of a new CEO [3] - XPeng (XPEV), a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, saw its U.S.-listed shares decline by 6% after reporting November sales data. The company delivered just under 37,000 EVs, marking a 19% increase year-over-year, but falling short of October's sales figures amid intense competition in the Chinese EV market [4] - Symbotic (SYM) shares fell by 16% after a significant rally of nearly 40% following last week's earnings report. The company had exceeded sales estimates and announced its first partnership with a medical supply company [5] - Sandisk (SNDK), a recent addition to the S&P 500, led the decliners on the index with a 5% drop [5] Commodity and Currency Update - Crude oil futures decreased by 0.5% to approximately $59.00 per barrel, while gold futures fell by 1.4% to around $4,212 per ounce. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note remained stable at about 4.09% [6]
Dow Jones Today: Stocks Gain After Major Indexes Snap 5-Session Winning Streaks; Tech, Crypto-Tied Shares Rebound
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 17:00
Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all closed lower, ending a five-session winning streak [1] - Stock futures for the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones pointed higher, with respective increases of 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2% [2][8] - Bitcoin traded around $87,200, recovering from a low of below $85,500, but experienced its worst day since March, dropping from approximately $91,000 [2] Company Performance - Nvidia shares rose 1.7% after announcing a $2 billion investment in Synopsys, with further gains before the bell [4] - MongoDB and Credo Technology Group saw significant premarket gains of 24% and 18%, respectively, after reporting quarterly results that exceeded analysts' expectations [5] - CrowdStrike and Marvell Technology were up roughly 1.5% ahead of their quarterly results [5] - Costco's stock remained stable despite a lawsuit against the Trump administration over tariffs [6] - Bayer's shares surged 9% in Frankfurt after receiving support for a Supreme Court review regarding its Roundup weedkiller case [6] Economic Indicators - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note remained steady at 4.09%, following a rise from 4.01% [3] - The U.S. dollar index increased to 99.50, indicating a stronger dollar against a basket of foreign currencies [3] - WTI crude futures decreased by 0.2% to $59.20 per barrel, while gold futures fell 1.3% to $4,220 per ounce [3]
Costco Is Suing the Trump Administration—Here's Why
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 16:25
Costco is looking to get a refund on the tariffs it has paid so far under the Trump administration's tariffs. Kevin Carter / Getty Images Close Key Takeaways Warehouse retail giant Costco Wholesale (COST) has joined the list of companies looking for a refund on tariffs. The company filed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Trump administration on Friday. In the Court of International Trade, Costco said that it would seek a refund of the tariffs it has paid on imports in the last sev ...
Here's Why the Maker of Roundup Weed Killer's Stock Is Surging Today
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 15:25
Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Solicitor General supports Bayer's request for the Supreme Court to review rulings regarding the health impacts of Roundup, potentially affecting the company's liability in ongoing lawsuits [1][7]. Bayer's Stock Performance - Shares of Bayer surged 12% on the German exchange following the Solicitor General's support for the Supreme Court review [1]. Regulatory Background - The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that glyphosate, a key ingredient in Roundup, is "not likely to be carcinogenic in humans," and the Food and Drug Administration has approved numerous labels for Roundup without cancer warnings [2][7]. Legal Arguments - Bayer contends that since federal agencies deem glyphosate safe, customers should not be able to sue under state laws for failing to warn about cancer risks. Most of the ongoing lawsuits are based on "failure-to-warn theories," which could be invalidated by a favorable Supreme Court ruling for Bayer [3][4]. Implications for Investors - A Supreme Court ruling in favor of Bayer could prevent the company from paying billions in settlements related to cancer risk allegations, while a ruling against it could benefit thousands of cancer patients and their families [4]. Bayer's Strategy - Bayer welcomes the Solicitor General's support, stating that a Supreme Court ruling would clarify the company's obligations under state laws versus federal determinations of chemical safety. The company aims to significantly reduce litigation by the end of 2026 [5]. Acquisition Context - Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion, and shortly after the acquisition, a California jury found Monsanto liable for failing to warn about Roundup's potential cancer risks [5].
The Most Important Charts in the Market Right Now
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 01:00
Group 1 - The stock market is experiencing a "melt up," indicating a significant increase in stock prices, which is accompanied by a surge in implied volatility, suggesting market fragility [1] - Technical analysis is emphasized as a reliable method to understand market trends, despite the headline-driven nature of the current market [1] Group 2 - The article highlights the importance of charts and patterns in capital markets, indicating that they reveal underlying truths about market conditions [1]
Dow Jones Today: Stock Indexes Close Lower to Begin December Trading; Big Tech, Crypto-Tied Shares Drop Amid Risk-Off Sentiment
Investopedia· 2025-12-02 01:00
Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin was trading around $85,500, significantly down from its overnight high of over $91,300, with other major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Solana also experiencing sharp declines [1][2][26] - Crypto-related stocks, including Coinbase (COIN) and Robinhood (HOOD), saw declines of approximately 6% as risk-averse sentiment returned to financial markets [26][24] - The price of Bitcoin fluctuated wildly in November, reaching a high near $110,000 before dropping to as low as $82,000, indicating high volatility in the cryptocurrency market [27] Technology Sector - The S&P 500 and Dow finished slightly higher for November, marking seven consecutive months of gains, while the Nasdaq recorded its first losing month since March [2] - A majority of the Magnificent Seven tech companies ended lower, with Nvidia (NVDA) shares rising 1.7% after announcing a $2 billion investment in Synopsys (SNPS), whose shares surged nearly 5% [3][35] - The Magnificent Seven reported third-quarter earnings growth of 18.4%, the slowest since Q1 2023, but excluding Meta's one-time charge, profits grew by 30%, suggesting Wall Street may be underestimating future growth [7][6] Retail and Consumer Spending - Cyber Monday spending is projected to reach $14.2 billion, approximately 6% more than last year, with peak spending expected between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. [21][22] - Retail spending over the holiday weekend exceeded estimates, indicating strong consumer demand as many Americans began shopping early this year [22] Aerospace Industry - Airbus shares fell about 6% after reports of an industrial quality issue affecting fuselage panels of several dozen A320-family aircraft [4][12] - The company has resolved a software issue that grounded 6,000 A320 jets, but fewer than 100 still require updates due to concerns about solar radiation affecting flight control data [12] Precious Metals Market - Silver prices reached an all-time high, rising over 3% to surpass $59 per troy ounce, with prices nearly doubling since the start of the year, significantly outpacing gold's 60% increase [15][14] - The surge in silver prices is attributed to limited supply and rising investor demand, with expectations of future interest rate cuts further supporting the metal's appeal [15]