Author: Press Room

So far this year, China-based software concern Baidu (BIDU) twice conquered the $159 area – its highest level in more than 12 months – with the most recent trip up the charts taking place in late March. Following that peak, however, BIDU turned in five-straight losses, and was last seen on track for its sixth. Though the shares now sport a fractional year-over-year deficit, traders shouldn’t fret just yet, as they’re now trading near a trendline with historically bullish implications. Specifically, Baidu stock is within one standard deviation of its 50-day moving average. According to data from Schaeffer’s Senior Quantitative…

I spent 10 years in human resources and recruiting roles. Here are my top secrets to negotiate pay that employers don’t want you to know. Women of color too often set lower salary requirements than white men. I saw this firsthand when worked for several financial services firms and tech startups. Now as a money coach, I field questions from fellow women of color like this: “I have been working at this company for several years now. And I know for a fact that I am underpaid for my job. I know this because I do salary ranges for other…

A new rule under SECURE 2.0 creates a great opportunity for IRA owners 70 ½ or older with charitable inclinations to get a prospective valuable tax benefit and keep cash flow. The current law allows a charitable distribution from an IRA for individuals age 70 ½ or older (irrespective of the new Required Minimum Distribution of age 73) to make a distribution of up to $100,000 a year directly to a qualified charity. This is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD, and they are fantastic opportunities on their own. Now, SECURE 2.0 has introduced a provision that allows a…

Fresh off its success in thwarting an IRS attempt to cancel two advance pricing agreements, the emboldened Eaton Corp. has filed Tax Court petitions claiming the right to use the APA-approved transfer pricing method indefinitely. According to a pair of Tax Court petitions filed March 3, Eaton has found itself fighting the IRS in court yet again. Less than a year ago, the company came away with a decisive win over the IRS in Eaton Corp. v. Commissioner, 47 F.4th 434 (6th Cir. 2022), aff’g in part, rev’g in part, T.C. Memo. 2017-147. In Eaton, the Tax Court and Sixth…

The U.S. is more of a mortgage-ownership society than a home-ownership society. A 2022 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) study of 28 countries found the U.S. had the third lowest percentage of households that owned their homes “free and clear” with no mortgages, as “outright owners.” Free-and-Clear Homeownership Rate of Households Lithuania = 83% Slovak Republic = 69% Hungary = 68% Slovenia = 68% Poland = 66% Greece = 63% Latvia = 61% Italy = 60% Estonia = 57% Japan = 48% Spain = 48% Chile = 45% Ireland = 43% Portugal = 43% Luxembourg = 42% Korea…

Despite recent decreases in mortgage rates, buying a home is expected to become more expensive amid economic uncertainty, according to an analysis by Realtor.com.  The average interest rate on a 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.42% for the week ending March 23, a 0.18% decline from the previous week, according to Fredie Mac data. That rate is the lowest in more than a month, Realtor.com reported. “It’s a small reprieve and much-needed break for homebuyers, but don’t look for it to last,” Realtor.com said in its analysis. “When the Fed raises rates, mortgage rates usually rise in kind.” The Federal Reserve raised…

SoFi Bank N.A. is attempting to halt the Biden administration’s pause on federal student loan payments.  The private bank argues that the moratorium has no legal basis and has cost the bank. In a federal lawsuit filed Friday in Washington, D.C., SoFi asked a federal judge to overturn the latest extension of the pause.  Student loan payments were first halted under President Trump’s administration and the hold has been extended eight times over three years.  Ticker Security Last Change Change % SOFI SOFI TECHNOLOGIES 5.75 +0.01 +0.17% STUDENT LOAN REFINANCE INTEREST RATES EDGE UP FOR BOTH 5- AND 10-YEAR LOANS”We have…

Some consumers spending money for Valentine’s Day anticipate doing so for their other half might rack up credit card debt for them, according to a LendingTree survey. Twenty-seven percent of consumers in a relationship with intentions to make purchases for the romantic holiday said they expect they “may take on credit card debt,” the LendingTree survey released Monday found. Of that figure, 20% said “maybe,” while 7% said “yes.”AMERICANS PLAN TO INCREASE VALENTINE’S DAY SPENDING DESPITE SQUEEZED BUDGETS Nearly three-quarters, on the other hand, do not foresee doing so for Valentine’s Day, according to the survey. LendingTree said the amount…

Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, referred to as “Credible” below, is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we do promote products from our partner lenders who compensate us for our services, all opinions are our own. When you have debt with mounting interest charges, it can be easy to get tunnel vision. In many cases, paying off your debt should be your top priority. But being so focused on debt payoff can sometimes make it harder to meet other important financial goals, like building an emergency savings…

The surprise output cut by OPEC and its allies sent oil prices rallying — and analysts say major oil importers like India, Japan and South Korea will feel the most pain if prices hit $100 per barrel, as some have predicted.On Sunday, OPEC+ announced a production cut of 1.16 million barrels per day, in a move that oil markets were not expecting.”It’s a tax on every oil importing economy,” said Pavel Molchanov, managing director of private investment bank Raymond James.”It’s not the U.S. that would feel the most pain from $100 oil, it would be the countries that have no domestic petroleum resources:…