Investing News

Home shopping often starts in a lender’s office with a mortgage application and not at an open house. Most sellers expect buyers to obtain pre-approval for financing and are commonly willing to negotiate with those who prove that they can obtain a loan. Key Takeaways A home seller often asks for a mortgage pre-approval letter

19.62% The median rate of interest across all credit cards in the Investopedia card database for June 2022. The median credit card interest rate for all credit cards in the Investopedia database jumped 12 basis points to 19.74% at the beginning of June over it’s level the previous month, based on average advertised rates across

Cryptocurrencies are no longer just the domain of tech nerds. Nowadays, even our grandparents have heard of them, with their volatile price swings and surges in value making the news in pretty much every corner of the globe. Opinion on whether to invest in this asset class is varied. Plenty of experts warn that digital

Student loans and taxes: Two subjects that few people enjoy thinking about; however, if you have student loans, they are likely to impact your tax bill. Here’s what you need to know. Key Takeaways Up to $2,500 of student loan interest can be tax-deductible. Depending on the loan forgiveness program, you might have to pay

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find the week 104 release of the NYC Recovery Index, originally published August 30, 2022. Visit the NYC Recovery index homepage for the latest data. New York City’s economic recovery index posted significant gains for the week ending August 20, 2022, with the overall index score rising three points to 76

As the crypto market grapples with larger macroeconomic trends, the last week continued the up-and-down movement. However, one of the key developments the crypto world noticed was a jump in the Bitcoin mining difficulty. It’s generally a good sign when bitcoin mining becomes difficult because it means more miners have to verify cryptocurrency transactions, enhancing

The financial world, in all its incarnations, makes for great cinema. Tragedy, comedy, ingenuity, catastrophe, and redemption are all present in the many finance movies that Hollywood has produced over the years. While most of the finance movies portray financial professionals in a less than flattering light, the unbelievable stories of excess, risk-taking, and, of

After bolting Thursday to within just a few points of the highest level seen since 2008, the 30-year mortgage average knocked off much of that gain Friday. But despite declining almost two-tenths of a point, Friday’s average still remains solidly in 6% territory. Today’s National Mortgage Rate Averages A big jump in rates Thursday took

For a second week, the top nationwide rate in most certificate of deposit (CD) terms has remained flat. All major terms have the same top nationwide rate today as last Monday, with the exception of a small 5-basis point rise in the top 3-month CD rate. On July 27, the Federal Reserve hiked the federal

The aerospace sector, one of the largest and most powerful industries in the United States, supplies five markets: military aircraft, missiles, space, commercial airliners, and general aviation. The U.S. aerospace sector is considered the largest in the world and is the main supplier of both military and civil aerospace hardware to the rest of the

What Was the Byzantium Fork? The Byzantium hard fork was an update to Ethereum’s blockchain, implemented in October 2017 at block 4,370,000. It consisted of eight Ethereum Improvement Protocols (EIPs) designed to improve Ethereum’s privacy, scalability, and security attributes. The Byzantium hard fork was an essential and critical update to Ethereum’s blockchain. It was implemented

Do you feel weighed down by student loan debt? If so, you might consider consolidating or refinancing your loans to lower your monthly payments. In many cases, that can be a smart financial move. But before deciding to consolidate or refinance, it pays to take a close look at the pros and cons. Federal student

Crypto winter is an extended period of depressed cryptocurrency asset prices compared to prior peaks. Similar to a bear market in the stock market, a crypto winter can lead to widespread losses for investors. Here are several key insights on how to survive a crypto winter as an investor. Key Takeaways A crypto winter or

A company’s balance sheet, also known as a “statement of financial position,” reveals the firm’s assets, liabilities, and owners’ equity (net worth). The balance sheet, together with the income statement and cash flow statement, make up the cornerstone of any company’s financial statements. If you are a shareholder of a company or a potential investor, it

401(k) and 403(b) Plans: An Overview Named after sections 401(k) and 403(b) of the tax code, both 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans are tax-advantaged defined-contribution (DC) retirement vehicles offered by employers. The primary difference between the two is the type of employer sponsoring the plans—401(k) plans are offered by private, for-profit companies, whereas 403(b) plans are

You may have received non-employment income from a bank account that paid you interest. Or from a brokerage account with dividend-paying stocks. Or maybe you did some freelance work as an independent contractor. Or perhaps, you received unemployment benefits. Each type of non-employment income requires a different version of the 1099 form to report that

If you’re one of the millions of people who have struggled financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to know that help is available. Here is a brief overview of the assistance programs available to struggling Americans. Key Takeaways Numerous government assistance programs have been created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the $1.9

The adulthoods of millennials—who are between 26 and 41 years old—have been marked by some of the most monumental economic events in modern history. Though life experiences, debt burdens, and frequent money decisions have left many millennials quite stressed, The 2022 Investopedia Financial Literacy Survey found this generation is also the most confident and invested—literally—in

Former President Donald Trump drew intense criticism from many in the international community for his protectionist stance and strict adherence to an “America First” agenda on the matter of trade. Among other concerns for the Trump administration, one of the primary targets of the former president’s ire was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Millions of people nationwide are struggling to keep up with their bills. If you’re one of them, you may be considering making partial payments, thinking that some money is better than none, even if it’s less than the minimum due. Though partial payments can help reduce the interest that accrues on your debt, lenders typically