“Will there be any costly penalties or taxes associated with using the POD method?” (Photo subjects are models.) - Getty Images/iStockphoto Dear Quentin, I have a very modest sum in my CD, checking, and savings accounts (approximately $150,000). I have set up a payable on death (POD) designation on all of these accounts. I have named my daughter as the recipient and beneficiary on all my accounts, including my pension insurance policy and any Social Security benefits. Most Read from MarketWatch I com ...

From a performance standpoint, Ultrapar has delivered an exceptional year. Shares are up 42% year-to-date (YTD), excluding dividends. That’s an awe-inspiring result for an energy infrastructure name, especially one that also offers a high yield.Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE: UGP) is a Brazilian diversified holding company with operations across downstream energy distribution, logistics, and chemical products. The company is a dominant player in South American energy infrastructure, and its scale has tra ...

to Kevin Hanks live at the CBOE. Our pre-bell playbook begins there and uh we'll start with this metals bounceback. You and I were talking yesterday.I mean I think I said $200 or something for gold being down. It was crazy. It's been crazy, right.What's going on now with the metals. >> Well, here here's what it is, Nicole. And it it's indicative of the um intricate nature of the futures markets.The rumors are out there that that the CME raised margin rates on futures for the for some of the metals and that' ...

Another key assumption is that regulatory clouds will clear globally. The SEC's lawsuit against Ripple Labs dominated XRP's narrative for years. In August 2025, the SEC withdrew its appeal, leaving Ripple to pay a $125 million settlement with the court affirming that XRP sales on secondary markets are not securities transactions.For comparison, XRP's current circulating supply is about 57 billion coins. Even a few billion dollars of new buying would be a meaningful supply shock. If $5-10 billion flows into ...

Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty Images Good morning. Here's the latest in trending:Proxy fight: Pressure is building on Lululemon's (LULU) board to make major changes to the athleisure company, with its founder now joining the campaign.Profit taking: Silver prices were slammed in their biggest one-day drop since 2021, while gold fell as well (before both rebounded). U.S. stocks also ended lower to start the Ne ...

Market Overview - Stock markets ended marginally lower amid thin year-end trading, influenced by persistent foreign fund outflows and a muted trend in global equities [1] - The 30-share BSE Sensex fell for the fifth consecutive day, decreasing by 20.46 points or 0.02% to settle at 84,675.08, with a daily high of 84,806.99 and a low of 84,470.94, resulting in a fluctuation of 336.05 points [2] - The 50-share NSE Nifty ended flat, slipping 3.25 points or 0.01% to 25,938.85 [3] Sector Performance - Among the 30-Sensex firms, the biggest laggards included Eternal, Infosys, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finance, HCL Tech, and Titan [3] - Conversely, Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, and Axis Bank were noted as the biggest gainers [3] Foreign Investment Trends - Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 2,759.89 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 2,643.85 crore, indicating a net outflow from foreign investors [4] Commodity Prices - Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, increased by 0.47% to $62.23 per barrel [4]

Core Insights - Home equity line of credit (HELOC) and home equity loan (HEL) rates are at their lowest levels in 2025, both hovering around 7.5% [1] - The average HELOC rate is currently 7.44%, while the national average for home equity loans is 7.59% [2] Home Equity Products Overview - A HELOC allows homeowners to draw from an approved line of credit as needed, while a HEL provides a lump sum [3] - Homeowners with low primary mortgage rates may find HELOCs or HELs beneficial to access their home equity without losing their favorable mortgage rate [4] Market Conditions - The Federal Reserve estimates that homeowners have approximately $36 trillion in equity locked in their homes, indicating a significant opportunity for second mortgages [4] - Home equity interest rates differ from primary mortgage rates, often based on an index rate plus a margin, with current prime rates at 6.75% [5] Lender Considerations - Lenders have flexibility in pricing second mortgage products, making it essential for borrowers to shop around for the best rates [6] - HELOCs may feature below-market introductory rates that last for a limited time, after which rates can become adjustable [6][7] Finding the Best Lender - The best HELOC lenders typically offer low fees, fixed-rate options, and generous credit lines, allowing homeowners to utilize their equity flexibly [8] - For home equity loans, the fixed rate simplifies the borrowing process, as there are no draw minimums to consider [10] Current Rate Benchmarks - Current rates for HELOCs range from nearly 6% to 18%, with national averages at 7.44% for HELOCs and 7.59% for HELs serving as benchmarks [11] - Homeowners with significant equity and low primary mortgage rates are encouraged to consider HELOCs or HELs for various financial needs [12] Payment Structure - For a $50,000 HELOC at a 7.50% interest rate, the monthly payment during the 10-year draw period would be approximately $313, but rates are variable and can increase during the repayment period [13]

Core Insights - Shenzhen's "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizes the establishment of five key centers: advanced manufacturing, industrial technology innovation, financial services, consumption, and logistics, aiming to enhance its global competitiveness [1][2] Group 1: Advanced Manufacturing - Shenzhen aims to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing by expanding emerging industries such as information technology, new energy, and smart home systems, while also upgrading traditional sectors like clothing and jewelry [1][5] - The city has achieved significant industrial performance, with the added value of advanced manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing accounting for 68.2% and 58.2% of the total industrial output value, respectively [5] - The focus on future industries includes the development of 6G technology, biomanufacturing, and quantum technology, which are expected to drive economic growth [6][7] Group 2: Financial Services - Shenzhen's financial sector has become the largest service industry, with an average annual growth rate of 6.9% during the "14th Five-Year Plan," contributing approximately 14% to the GDP [13] - The city is enhancing its financial services to support technological innovation and the real economy, with a significant increase in technology loans reaching 2.28 trillion yuan, a 14.24% growth from the beginning of the year [13][14] - Collaboration with Hong Kong is seen as a key strategy to boost Shenzhen's financial influence globally, leveraging both regions' strengths [14] Group 3: Consumption - Shenzhen has entered the "trillion-dollar club" for consumption, with plans to enhance its role as a global consumption center by developing international trade, exhibitions, and tourism [16] - The city aims to improve consumer conditions and innovate consumption scenarios to align with global supply and demand [16] Group 4: Logistics - Shenzhen Airport has become a major logistics hub, achieving over one million tons in annual cargo throughput, with 63 cargo routes, including 43 international destinations [18] - The city plans to enhance its logistics capabilities by building an international aviation hub and improving multi-modal transport networks to serve national and regional markets [18]

Many think of investing as capital appreciation, i.e. buying low and selling high.However, this is only one side of wealth accumulation. Often underestimated is the power of dividends and dividend reinvesting.Instead of merely using dividends as cash payouts, reinvesting dividends creates a snowball effect where wealth grows at an accelerating pace without further cash outlay from you.Why Reinvesting Dividends MattersDividends are real, tangible returns that put cash in an investor’s hands. When reinvested, ...

会议还听取了有关人事任免事项的报告，并对相关人事任免事项进行了分组审议。 市人大常委会副主任郑钢淼、周慧琳、宗明、陈靖、徐毅松出席。副市长解冬，市监察委、市高 院、市检察院、各区人大常委会负责同志及部分市人大代表列席。 记者 王海燕 市十六届人大常委会第二十六次会议昨起召开，听取了《上海市浦东新区自贸离岸债业务发展若干 规定（草案）》等4项法规草案的审议结果报告，并对4项法规草案修改稿进行了分组审议。市人大常委 会主任黄莉新主持全体会议。 《上海市浦东新区自贸离岸债业务发展若干规定（草案）》修改稿，明确自贸离岸债工作机制和业 务规则，规范和促进自贸离岸债市场健康有序发展，将为加快建设上海国际金融中心提供有力制度支 撑。《上海市促进邮轮经济发展若干规定（草案）》修改稿，聚焦邮轮经济全链条发展的裉节难点创新 制度供给，有利于助力提升本市邮轮产业发展能级、加快建成具有全球资源配置能力的亚太区域邮轮经 济中心。《上海市历史文化名镇保护条例（草案）》修改稿，贯彻中央城市工作会议和本市贯彻落实大 会精神，突出本市历史文化名镇空间格局、城市肌理、文化文物的整体保护，将为赓续城市历史文脉、 激发名镇发展活力提供法治保障。《上 ...