Author: Press Room
I’ve been well aware of the significant financial advantages of waiting to start my Social Security benefits until age 70, having written and researched about the transition into retirement for the past twenty years. But until my wife and I were actually approaching our retirement years, this awareness was just in my head—I didn’t have the first-hand emotional experience that results from having to wait for a significant source of retirement income. Like many people, just having the knowledge about what’s best for me doesn’t always convince me to make the right decision. Over the years, I’ve learned about the…
This article was written byFollowHi there, welcome to my profile. My name is Eugenio Catone, I live in Italy and I am 26 years old. In 2023 I graduated in Business Administration and I am completing my studies. My interest in financial markets started about 5 years ago when I accidentally came across a video about trading. That was the spark that introduced me to a new world, but over time I realized that it was not my path: too many charts, lines, and not very concrete concepts for a pragmatic person like me. I needed something different and that…
Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Chinese economy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.China’s central bank has pumped a record amount of short-term funds into the financial system this week in an effort to pre-empt the cash crunch that usually accompanies the lunar new year holiday.Aimed at smoothing seasonal turbulence, the total cash injection of Rmb2.2tn ($300bn) through the 14-day reserve repo — a short-term liquidity tool — comes as millions of residents prepare to travel home, settle tax bills and hand out cash-filled red envelopes.While these injections are commonly seen during the holiday period,…
Many of us want to stay in our house for as long as we possibly can. But this may not be what we should do. Aging in place is defined as living in your own home safely, independently, and comfortably for as long as you can. We may want to stay in our own homes because of our image nursing homes and the people we knew who lived the last years of their lives there. Since these images are not positive, we resist moving out of our homes. But baby boomers have been changing that image. There are more 50+…
Mortgage rates finally broke a six-week streak of increases, but the decline will not provide much relief, as long-term rates dipped just below 7%. Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 6.96%, down from last week’s reading of 7.04%. The average rate on a 30-year loan was 6.69% a year ago. “After crossing the 7%-mark last week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage saw its first decline in six weeks,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “While affordability challenges remain, this is welcome news for potential…
SmartFinancial, Inc. (NYSE:SMBK) Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call January 22, 2025 10:00 PM ET Company Participants Nathan Strall – Director of StrategyBilly Carroll – President and CEORonald Gorczynski – CFORhett Jordan – EVP, Chief Credit OfficerMiller Welborn – Chairman Conference Call Participants Will Jones – KBWNick Lorenzoni – StephensSteve Moss – Raymond JamesStephen Scouten – Piper SandlerChristopher Marinac – Janney Montgomery Scott Operator Hello everyone, and welcome to the SmartFinancial Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call. My name is Ezra and I will be your coordinator today. [Operator Instructions] I will now hand you over to Nate Strall,…
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.China has told state-owned insurance funds to invest more in the country’s stock market as authorities push to restore confidence against a gloomy economic backdrop, sending shares up on Thursday.The announcement is the first time regulators have set explicit investment targets for mutual funds and state-owned insurance companies.Starting this year, state-owned insurers will be encouraged to allocate at least 30 per cent of new premium income each year to Chinese shares, said Wu Qing, chair of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, on…
This article was written byFollowI am mostly a trader engaging in both long and short bets intraday and occasionally over the short- to medium term. My historical focus has been mostly on tech stocks but over the past couple of years I have also started broad coverage of the offshore drilling and supply industry as well as the shipping industry in general (tankers, containers, drybulk). In addition, I am having a close eye on the still nascent fuel cell industry.I am located in Germany and have worked quite some time as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers before becoming a daytrader almost…
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the worldOpenAI and SoftBank on Tuesday said they would launch a massive US artificial intelligence infrastructure project, in a move Donald Trump lauded as a “declaration of confidence in America”. The joint venture, dubbed Stargate, plans to spend $100bn on Big Tech infrastructure projects, with the figure rising to as much as $500bn over the next four years, the groups said. It was not immediately clear how Stargate would obtain funding, but one person involved in the project said they intended to…
You’ve no doubt heard that the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period started January 1. Also going on right now is the General Enrollment Period (GEP). It is not as well known but it is very important for those who do not have complete Medicare coverage. These questions address the important points. What is the General Enrollment Period? It shares the same time frame as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, from January 1-March 31, but that is about the only thing these two periods have in common. The General Enrollment Period provides an opportunity to make up for a past…
