Investing News

Key Takeaways U.S. comparable sales, excluding fuel, rose at a faster pace than analysts expected. U.S. comparable sales indicate the sales generated by the company’s U.S. stores and clubs that have been open for at least one year, including e-commerce sales. Walmart said that it had made good progress on containing costs in its supply

The U.K. left the European Union (EU) on Jan. 31, 2020. As such, it’s no longer a member state. But prior to its exit, it was the most notable member of the European Union that elected not to use the euro. Rather, the U.K. continued to use the British pound sterling as its national currency.

People who are affected by infertility do have options to try, but in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the diagnostics, medication, surgery, and other treatments can be expensive. In some cases, medical insurance will cover many of the costs, but in other cases it won’t. On a global scale, 15% of reproductive-aged couples are impacted by

Barclays is a major bank providing a variety of financial products and services throughout the United Kingdom as well as Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and the Middle East. In addition to retail banking, the company offers investment banking and wealth management including investment services. It is based in London.

The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government. It is responsible for crucial functions that help keep the government running, including paying all U.S. bills, collecting taxes, and managing federal finances. Another important role that the Department of the Treasury performs is overseeing national banks, which includes the

Is Social Security taxable? For most Americans, it is. That is, a majority of those who receive Social Security benefits pay income tax on up to half or even 85% of that money because their combined income from Social Security and other sources pushes them above the very low thresholds for taxes to kick in.

The energy sector provides unique opportunities for individuals interested in investing, especially with companies that operate under the oil and gas drilling category. The oil and gas drilling sector focuses on the companies that explore the world for reservoirs of raw materials that can be refined into usable oil and then drill to extract that

Stochastic Oscillator vs. Stochastic Momentum Index: An Overview The Stochastic Oscillator and the Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI) are both tools used to indicate momentum and are often used by financial traders to understand psychological undercurrents and their relation to price movements. Although the two tools are not surefire ways to determine price direction, they can

You can place bets on the world’s currencies through forex (foreign exchange) brokerage accounts, buying or selling currency pairs that react to economic developments all over the globe. The forex market operates 24/6, opening on Sunday afternoon in the U.S. and closing after stock traders complete their business on Friday afternoon. The volume of currency

Marijuana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide investors with exposure to equities of companies that engage in the cultivation, distribution, and sale of marijuana and related products. Products of marijuana companies include dried flowers, oils, seeds, edibles, and more. Still prohibited as an illegal substance in many parts of the world, marijuana is gaining wider acceptance for

Companies in the consumer discretionary sector sell nonessential goods and services, such as appliances, cars, and entertainment. Consumer discretionary companies tend to be more sensitive to the overall business cycle because consumers are more likely to reduce or postpone discretionary purchases when times are tough. Therefore, discretionary stocks outperform the overall market during economic expansions,

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are publicly traded companies that allow individual investors to buy shares in real estate portfolios that receive income from a variety of properties. They allow investors to invest easily in the real estate sector, which includes companies that own, develop, and manage residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Among other requirements, REITs are required

Bank exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer investors exposure to the banking and financial sector of the economy. Banking services can range from taking deposits, making loans, and facilitating payments to investment management, retirement planning, insurance, and brokerage services. Aside from charging fees for these services, banks earn profits by charging higher interest rates on the loans

An airline exchange-traded fund (ETF) can provide diversified exposure to the air travel industry, including aircraft manufacturers, airline operators, airports, and terminal services. The U.S. airline industry includes major carriers such as American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL), and Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV). The industry has begun to recover from more

South Korea is one of the Four Asian Tigers, along with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, a group known for decades of rapid economic expansion. Since the 1960s, very few countries have boasted as consistent and explosive economic growth as South Korea, which is the fourth-largest economy in Asia behind India, Japan, and China. While

Make that four weeks in a row of gains for the U.S. stock market, as the rally has become undeniable. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both climbed more than 3% last week, with the the Dow up 2.9%. The S&P 500 has now climbed 15% from its lows in mid-June, while the Nasdaq has

Various internal and external factors can change the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for a company over time. One such external factor is the fluctuation of interest rates. Key Takeaways The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the average after-tax cost of a company’s various capital sources. The interest rate paid by the

Warren Buffett has built Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) into one of the most recognizable companies in the world. Despite Berkshire’s phenomenal success, the company has risks for investors. These risks include the choice of a successor who will run the company after Warren Buffett is no longer serving as chair and chief executive. There’s also

How Your Roth IRA Contribution Limit Is Calculated The primary factors for determining your contribution limit are your filing status and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is your income after considering certain allowable deductions and tax penalties. Based on these two factors, you may be eligible to contribute the max, a reduced amount, or

Mike Ashley is a British billionaire and retail entrepreneur in the sporting goods market. He founded Sports Direct, later the Frasers Group PLC, and served as the company’s chief operating officer until 2022. As of 2022, his net worth is estimated to be around $5.3 billion. Key Takeaways Michael Ashley is the founder of the