Key Takeaways President Donald Trump's effort to remove a Federal Reserve governor faced scrutiny on Wednesday when Supreme Court justices questioned his authority to fire Governor Lisa Cook. What This Means For The Economy Should the Supreme Court rule in favor of Cook, it would bolster the Fed's ability to resist pressure from the White House to sharply lower interest rates. Kavanaugh, who Trump appointed during his first term, said allowing the firing could "weaken if not shatter" the Fed's independence. ...

Group 1: Gold Market Insights - Spot gold prices approached $4,900 per ounce, raising speculation about reaching $5,000 for the first time [2] - The increase in gold prices is attributed to geopolitical uncertainties, particularly involving U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders [2][32] - Gold's recent trading levels were around $4,800, with a slight cooling as market tensions eased [3] Group 2: U.S. Housing Market Dynamics - In December, there were 631,535 more home sellers than buyers, marking a 47% gap, the widest since Redfin began tracking in 2013 [7][8] - Despite the surplus of sellers, existing-home prices rose for the 30th consecutive month, reaching a median of $405,400 [8] - High mortgage rates above 6% have contributed to housing unaffordability, impacting buyer activity [8] Group 3: Airline Industry Performance - United Airlines reported a profit of $3.4 billion in 2025, but its cost per available seat mile (CASM) exceeded passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) [37][38] - This trend indicates that major U.S. airlines may struggle to profit from passenger transport, relying instead on ancillary revenue sources [37] Group 4: Stock Market Reactions - Following President Trump's comments on Greenland, stocks experienced volatility, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.1% [34][35] - Some Wall Street strategists view this volatility as a buying opportunity, citing strong long-term trends in innovation and AI [10][34] - The energy sector outperformed others, with a 2.3% increase, led by companies like EQT and Texas Pacific Land Trust [22][23] Group 5: Netflix's Market Challenges - Netflix's stock fell nearly 5% after reporting earnings that narrowly exceeded estimates, raising concerns about its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery [19][20] - The stock has declined nearly 40% from its highs last summer, reflecting investor skepticism about its growth prospects [21] Group 6: Treasury Yield Trends - The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 4.30%, its highest level in months, following geopolitical tensions related to Trump's Greenland acquisition proposal [42][43] - This increase in yields could impact mortgage rates and business investment decisions, raising concerns among investors [42]

Key Takeaways Intel shares popped Wednesday, adding to their recent gains amid growing optimism about demand ahead of the chipmaker's earnings report due Thursday. Wednesday's rise brought Intel's stock to its highest level in four years. Intel's stock has been on a tear lately, as expectations grow ahead of the chipmaker's quarterly results due after the closing bell Thursday. The shares jumped nearly 12% amid a broad market rally to close above $54 Wednesday, extending the stock's recent gains as sev ...

Key Takeaways Anxious software investors worry that artificial intelligence is disrupting the multi-trillion dollar industry. One veteran tech investor says those concerns are misplaced. Orlando Bravo, founder and managing partner of tech-focused private equity firm Thoma Bravo, on Wednesday called the narrative that AI is going to eat software "absolutely wrong,†in an interview with CNBC. The reason: They know what the companies and industries they serve need to succeed—and are still positioned to deliver ...

Key Takeaways If you've ever been in the position of having to delay or skip medical care because you can't afford it, you're not alone. A recent survey of 500 people by Alphaeon Credit—a medical financing provider—found that nearly 60% of people reported postponing or avoiding medical care due to cost. To avoid neglecting necessary medical care or forgoing it all together, try these steps: If Possible, Check Prices Beforehand While not all hospitals or providers disclose how much services or procedures wil ...

KEY TAKEAWAYS Taxpayers using the IRS Free File can submit their 2025 tax return now, and the IRS will begin processing tax returns on Jan. 26.All W-2 and 1099 forms reporting income will be sent by Feb. 2.Taxpayers have until April 1 to file their taxes or request an extension. The 2026 tax filing season starts next week. Here are the key dates you need to know. During this filing season, taxpayers will need to use the newly created Schedule 1-A to take advantage of the new tax deductions and credits ...

There were 631,535 more home sellers than buyers in December, according to Redfin data, creating a staggering 47% gap. That's the widest margin recorded since Redfin began tracking it in 2013, and an increase of more than 22 percentage points from a year ago. More sellers in the market mean more options for buyers, as housing supply outpaces demand. However, the growing imbalance comes as housing remains unaffordable for many people, thanks in part to mortgage rates that hovered above 6% throughout 2025. Ke ...

What This Means For The Economy The delayed release of the PCE inflation data from November means it will be less influential than usual on Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Inflation has run higher than the Fed's goal since 2021, and while it has fallen sharply from its recent peak in 2022, it has resisted the Fed's attempts to wrestle it all the way down to 2%. Some Fed officials have worried that tariffs are pushing inflation higher as merchants pass along the costs of President Donald Trump's import ...

Key Takeaways There's nothing like a potential crisis to brighten the shine on gold. Spot gold prices rallied to fresh highs on Wednesday, coming within dollars of $4,900 per ounce and leading investors and media to wonder when we might touch $5,000 for the first time. While U.S. stocks shook off Tuesday's scare as affairs involving U.S. President Donald Trump, his European counterparts, and Greenland seemed to cool—Liberation Day déjà vu still drove investors to assets that hedge geopolitical uncertainty. ...

Core Insights - Warren Buffett expressed disappointment regarding Kraft Heinz's plan to split into two companies, indicating potential leadership changes at Berkshire Hathaway that may lead to a complete exit from the stock [1][2][6] Company Performance - Kraft Heinz shares fell by 6% following the announcement of Berkshire Hathaway's potential sale of up to 325,442,152 shares, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future [1][6] - The stock has declined nearly 70% from its 2017 highs, struggling with changing consumer preferences and increased competition since the merger of Kraft and Heinz [3][4] Strategic Decisions - Kraft Heinz's decision to break up its business is seen as an acknowledgment of past missteps in the merger, with the breakup expected to be completed in the second half of 2026 [4][5] - The company aims to streamline operations through this breakup, although investor excitement has been minimal since the announcement [5] Analyst Sentiment - Among six Wall Street analysts, five maintain neutral ratings while one recommends selling the shares, indicating a cautious outlook on Kraft Heinz's future [6]