Category: United States

As we consider how the war in Ukraine will end, we must first understand how it began. Russia invaded for geostrategic reasons — having Ukraine as a buffer state safeguards Moscow from invasion from the west — and for economic reasons, which have often gone overlooked. The transition from the Soviet Union to the Russian […]

Billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel on Thursday called billionaire investor Warren Buffett a top “enemy” of bitcoin and part of a “finance gerontocracy” that has held back the cryptocurrency’s adoption. Bitcoin BTCUSD, -0.05% could have a market capitalization that matches the $ 12 trillion gold market and even the $ 115 trillion public equity market, Thiel […]

Amazon.com Inc. plans to appeal its loss last week against union organizers in New York, where workers voted to establish the company’s first U.S. union. The company’s intention was made in a legal filing made public Thursday. Roughly 55% of the workers from a Staten Island facility named JFK8 voted to side with Amazon Labor […]

Alert to sports bettors: Beware of the taxman. Over $ 113 billion has been legally wagered on sports since the Supreme Court struck down the ban on sports betting in 2018. Thirty U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. offer some form of legalized sports betting, according to the latest count from the American Gaming Association. If you placed bets through […]

The numbers: New U.S. jobless claims matched a 54-year low of 166,000 in early April — the second lowest reading in history— during a period of remarkably strong hiring and the lowest layoffs on record. New filings for unemployment benefits declined by 5,000 from a revised 171,000 in the prior week,  the Labor Department said Thursday. […]

When most people hear the term palliative care, they look worried or confused. Introducing myself to patients and families as a palliative medicine physician, I commonly hear things like, “Does this mean I am dying?” or “I am not ready for hospice.” I respond by acknowledging these common fears, but emphasizing that palliative care and hospice […]

The Social Security claiming decision is one of the most complex—and contentious—choices that retirees have to make. I was reminded of that in December, while at a Christmas party. Two former colleagues were discussing their Social Security decision. Both are male, single, childless, retired engineers. Each has a traditional pension, a paid-off home and significant retirement […]

By Jaime Llinares Taboada Shell PLC on Thursday warned that it will book post-tax impairments of $ 4 billion to $ 5 billion in the first quarter related to its activities in Russia. The oil-and-gas major said pretax depreciation will be $ 1.2 billion-$ 1.4 billion for the integrated gas division, $ 2.8 billion-$ 3.1 […]

Are you newly self-employed? Welcome aboard, but it’s important to understand the tax implications. For the basics on that, see my earlier column on what to know about taxes if you’re thinking about becoming your own boss.   In this column, let’s focus on setting up a tax-saving retirement plan. You need to know your options. […]

Days after workers voted to unionize at an Amazon warehouse in New York City, new federal data show more people want votes on the formation of unions at their own workplaces. The number of petitions for union representation jumped 57% in the first half of fiscal 2022 compared with the first half of the 2021 […]

Hi, MarketWatchers. Don’t miss these top stories. Disney’s latest Florida attraction: Affordable housing As Orlando rents skyrocket, Disney will hire a developer to build around 1,300 housing units on Walt Disney World’s property. Read More Oil companies say they’re not gouging drivers, but Americans are bracing for higher gas prices, especially those who don’t have […]

Wells Fargo has taken another look at what may be coming in 2022, and sees challenges ahead for the fashion and retail sectors. Analysts there downgraded Ralph Lauren Corp., Vans parent VF Corp. and off-price retailer TJX Cos. to equal weight from overweight and cut the price targets for many across its “softlines” universe. Ralph […]

So much for the Fed put. “‘It’s hard to know how much the U.S. Federal Reserve will need to do to get inflation under control. But one thing is certain: To be effective, it’ll have to inflict more losses on stock and bond investors than it has so far.’” — Bill Dudley, former New York […]

Executives from major oil companies look set to defend themselves on Wednesday at a House hearing titled “Gouged at the Gas Station: Big Oil and America’s Pain at the Pump.” “I want to be absolutely clear: We do not control the market price of crude oil or natural gas, nor of refined products like gasoline […]

The trend of people, on average, living longer, healthier lives has important implications for the U.S. retirement system, including one of the most vital pieces of it: Social Security. Because of average longevity increases, Social Security funds retirement benefits throughout longer claiming periods—that is, the postretirement period when a person starts drawing their benefits. Since […]

Oil-company executives will be on the hot seat Wednesday at a House subcommittee hearing as U.S. consumers across the country allege gasoline-price gouging at the pump, where drivers last month paid record-high prices per gallon. The rise in the cost for gasoline came amid a spike in crude-oil prices CLK22, +0.07% CL.1, +0.07% to their […]

Dear Quentin, My wife and I currently make $ 250,000 a year, which will climb north of $ 500,000 in the next few years. I have a currently unemployed sister and a brother who makes $ 40,000 annually with three kids. We are all in our early to mid-30s. When thinking 10 to 30 years […]

Tough talk Tuesday on the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet from a key policy maker could signal rough sledding ahead for equity investors, a Wall Street economist warns. “Fedspeak has become increasingly more hawkish with a noted dove hinting that balance-sheet reduction could begin as soon as next month,” said Joe LaVorgna, chief economist for the […]

Elon Musk filed a new disclosure on his Twitter Inc. stake with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, admitting that he invested in the company with the goal of effecting change and that his stock purchases began months ago. Musk disclosed Monday morning that he had purchased 9.2% of Twitter’s TWTR, +2.02% outstanding stock, […]

Markets have been craving information about how the Federal Reserve plans to shrink its massive $ 9 trillion balance sheet. They will get their wish Wednesday when the Fed releases minutes of its March meeting. Last month, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank made “excellent progress” on the balance sheet and the parameters […]