The numbers: The U.S. federal budget deficit widened to $129 billion in December, up from $85 billion in the same month last year, the Treasury Department said Thursday. For the first three months of the fiscal year, the deficit widened to $510 billion, up from $421 billion in the same period last year. Key details:
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CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images The bitcoin exchange-traded funds launching Thursday after the SEC’s long-awaited approval come at a wide variety of price points, with signs that a fee war is already underway. The Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) has the lowest expense ratio of all the new bitcoin funds, at 0.20%. Several other
Gary Gensler, chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), during an interview in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler’s statement on why the agency has approved the listing and trading of a group of spot bitcoin ETFs
The great advances and improvements in the treatment of diseases and the effectiveness of these medicines are undoubtedly due to technological progress and how biotech companies take advantage of it for their growth and development. Without the work of these companies, we would still be using very old and ineffective medicines. This new year brings
The shares of battery maker QuantumScape (NYSE:QS) rocketed higher earlier this month on news that its solid-state battery can be charged over 1,000 times without degrading. Unfortunately for the long-term outlook of QS stock, this characteristic, while certainly positive, does not address the main “pain points” facing drivers and automakers. Moreover, QS has at least
Calling all income investors to witness the magic of dividends—a powerful force in minimizing portfolio risk and volatility. These payouts not only offset stock losses but also bring a satisfying reward for having a stake in a company. Amid the Federal Reserve’s persistent battle against inflation, any hopes for a “Fed pivot” remain distant. High-interest
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his high-profile battle against the Walt Disney Co. during a debate on Wednesday night, while rival Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley criticized his treatment of the entertainment giant. “The proper role of government, if it means anything, it’s to protect our kids, and I’ve stood for the innocence of our
Chesnot | Getty Images The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday approved rule changes to allow the creation of bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the U.S., a long-awaited move that will give regular investors access to the controversial and volatile cryptocurrency. The decision will likely lead to the conversion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which
Safety is never guaranteed in the financial markets. However, it’s a reasonably safe bet that Mastercard (NYSE:MA) will continue to reward its loyal investors with dividend distributions, quarter after quarter. Mastercard is a premier, blue-chip company that respects its shareholders, so my top dividend-grower pick for this year is MA stock. At the same time,
Many investors try to buy stocks that are benefiting a great deal from current trends and those poised for a significant lift from future trends. The inverse of that statement is also true. Specifically, you should try to avoid stocks that are not benefiting much from current trends and probably won’t be helped much by
Apple is currently the world’s most valuable stock with a market capitalization of $2.86 trillion. It was the first company to reach that threshold and to this date is the only one to have done so. Apple first passed the $3 trillion mark in June of 2023. It remained there through July until ultimately dipping
Efforts at the state and local level to compensate descendants of enslaved people with reparations are counterproductive, a leading reparations scholar said — because they fall short of what a federal program could accomplish. Meanwhile, the total cost of such a federal program continues to rise, said William “Sandy” Darity, an economist and professor of public policy at Duke University. A nationwide
Representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin are placed on a PC motherboard in this illustration taken June 16, 2023. Dado Ruvic | Reuters Crypto investors are waiting for the Securities and Exchange Commission to approve a raft of spot bitcoin applications, likely Wednesday With a spot bitcoin ETF now looking very real, attention is turning to the
Hydrogen stocks are likely to continue to be in focus this year thanks to continued worries about global warming. Countries around the world remain committed to reaching net zero, which will require a combination of energy-saving measures, a push for renewable energy development, and the development and deployment of low-carbon solutions like hydrogen energy. It’s
With the “risk on” mentality of late 2023 fading fast thus far in 2024, it may be a good time to decide what are the meme stocks to sell. Mostly, because even if the macroeconomic picture improves this year, many of the most popular meme plays lack the fundamentals necessary to sustain their current stock
Today, identifying investments with promising growth potential is a quest every investor undertakes. Within the loud noises of the stock market, three standout companies are making waves. Their strategies and innovations forecast substantial gains, promising a 2X capital level by 2025. The first one on the list is a pioneer in digital payments, emphasizing enhanced
This story has been updated to remove incorrect details about the type of loan rate Barr was discussing and when banks could refinance under of the Bank Term Funding program. The Federal Reserve has no plans to extend an emergency loan program it launched last year to bolster the capacity of the banking system in
The stock market becomes a labyrinth in the quest for wealth ascendancy, concealing treasures within strategic investments and market acumen. Within this labyrinth lie seven stocks—not mere tickers but gateways to potential millionaire status. Each embodies a chapter in the modern saga of wealth creation—a saga intricately woven with the first one’s staggering returns, the
The stock market remains volatile to start the New Year. Investors and analysts continue to look for clues as to whether the downturn seen during the first trading week of the year is a sign of bigger problems to come or if the bull market seen in the final months of 2023 will continue. In
Despite a downturn to begin 2024, certain stocks continue to stand out. While they might be divided on the overall direction of the market, analysts remain bullish on many individual stocks. They share common attributes. That includes solid earnings, strong competitive advantages, and catalysts that are expected to drive their share prices higher. Investors looking