Category: personal finance

New York Drivers to Be Charged to Enter Lower Manhattan in 2024

Drivers in New York City will soon be charged to enter Manhattan, marking a win for environmental activists who say the move will help reduce congestion and improve air quality, but raising concerns over the impact on business owners, including taxi drivers. Announcing the news in a June 27 press release, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat,…


Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold, and Other Commodities (June 27)

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery fell $1.67 to $67.70 a barrel Tuesday. Brent crude for August delivery fell $1.92 to $72.26 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for July delivery fell 2 cents $2.52 a gallon. July heating oil fell 4 cents to $2.40 a gallon. July natural gas fell 3 cents to $2.76 per…


How Major US Stock Indexes Fared June 27

Wall Street rallied after a round of reports suggested the economy is in better shape than feared. The S&P 500 rose 1.1 percent Tuesday, resuming its upward climb following a weeklong pullback after hitting its highest level in more than a year. The Dow and the Nasdaq also rose. Airlines helped to lead the way…


Political Litmus Test at Fidelity Charitable? Analysis

Florida will soon block banks from denying services based on political opinions or religious beliefs. The new law takes effect on July 1 and will affect all financial institutions in the state. Recently, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody accused one of the largest financial services companies in the United States, Fidelity Charitable, of sometimes refusing…


Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold, and Other Commodities (June 26)

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery rose 21 cents to $69.37 a barrel Monday. Brent crude for August delivery rose 33 cents to $74.18 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for July delivery rose 2 cents $2.54 a gallon. July heating oil rose 3 cents to $2.44 a gallon. July natural gas rose 6 cents to…


How Major US Stock Indexes Fared June 26

Stocks drifted lower as Wall Street’s pullback from its recent rally carried into a second week. The S&P 500 fell 0.4 percent Monday. The index remains close to its highest level in a year. Tech stocks were the heaviest weights on the market and helped drag the Nasdaq to a loss of 1.2 percent. The…


Will Switching Car Insurance Companies Give You a Better Deal?

Car insurance rates have changed considerably during the pandemic. It has made many drivers uncomfortable with their current car insurance company, causing them to switch insurers for a better price. One company, CarInsurance, reported that from 2020 to 2023, so far, the average cost of car insurance premiums had increased by 14 percent. In the…


Pull From Stocks and Put Toward Mortgage?

Dear Dave, I bought a house about a year ago. Currently, I have $45,000 sitting in an account with a money manager. I’ve had this account for a little over three years, and the investment hasn’t grown much, if at all. Under the circumstances, and being single, too, would it be better to pull the…


Shopping on Social Media the Smart Way

When Ziwei Cong bought some sweatpants that caught her eye during a livestream shopping event on social media, she was disappointed when they arrived and didn’t fit well. “It’s very easy for me to become irrational during these kinds of shopping events,” says the assistant professor of marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business….


Bank Regulators Want New Powers to See What Many Say Should Have Been Obvious

In the wake of the failure of several regional banks, lawmakers are furiously at work drafting new bills to give regulatory authorities more control over banks. But some experts say that bank regulators already had all the power they needed, but failed to use it effectively. “Every time we have a crisis on our hands,…