Investing News

What Is the S&P 500 Index? Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) is a market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. While it assumed its present size (and name) in 1957, the S&P actually dates back to the 1920s, becoming a composite index tracking 90 stocks in 1926. The average annualized return since

What Is the Electronics Sector? The electronics sector produces electronic equipment and consumer electronics and manufactures electrical components for a variety of products. Common items in the electronics sector include mobile devices, televisions, and circuit boards. Industries within the electronics sector include telecommunications, networking, electronic components, industrial electronics, and consumer electronics. Key Takeaways Industries within the

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed in March 2021 that lowered premium costs for million of people. The legislation allowed people to claim higher tax credits if they have a health insurance plan purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. The net effect was that

There are a growing number of financial websites offering a plethora of expert advice on investing. Although there are many common characteristics, each website has its unique appeal. Two websites that have particularly high visibility are The Motley Fool and TheStreet. Key Takeaways Among the growing number of financial websites offering expert advice on investing, two websites with particularly high

Mortgage rates had a quiet day Monday, with most averages dipping just slightly lower or remaining flat. It follows a week-and-a-half period of dramatic up and down swings for the 30-year average. Today’s National Mortgage Rate Averages The 30-year average took a relative breather Monday, with only its second day in 12 registering a minimal

Every bank-related financial transaction requires two critical pieces of information to identify customers: the routing number and the account number, both of which are assigned when you open an account. You can find both of these on the bottom of paper checks, and these numbers are also needed when you do electronic bank transfers or wires

Jobs in the financial sector can be highly lucrative, which helps explain why they’re in such great demand. Of course, breaking into the world of finance isn’t easy, as entry qualifications can be as lofty as the salaries. At a minimum, most jobs require a four-year degree, and many professionals have advanced degrees in business,

If you are planning to start betting—be it in a casino, sports betting, or any other type—it’s essential to understand the odds. Placing bets intelligently requires having a good grip on the main types of betting odds and the ability to read and interpret their various formats. The three main types of betting odds are

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is designed to provide round-the-clock healthcare for babies who are born prematurely or with life-threatening health conditions. A NICU stay can be emotional and stressful for parents and there may be financial aftershocks once medical bills begin arriving. Newborn intensive care costs can be significantly higher than standard newborn

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

The U.S. airline industry today is arguably an oligopoly. An oligopoly exists when a market is dominated by a small group of companies, often because the barriers to entry are significant enough to discourage potential competitors. In the U.S. airline industry the barriers to entry include high startup costs, infrastructure constraints limiting the availability of

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

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