Latest news with #America
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon (AMZN)'s AI Push Could Fuel AWS Growth—And Wall Street Is Finally Noticing
Inc. (NASDAQ:) is one of the . On July 10, Citizens JMP analyst Andrew Boone raised the price target on the stock to $285.00 (from $250.00) while maintaining a 'Market Outperform' rating. Firm analysts are of the view that Amazon's AWS opportunity remains underappreciated. 'With reach across 100M + U.S. households, supported by a best-in-class logistics network, and ever-widening selection, we believe Amazon's ability to offer ever faster delivery can continue to unlock demand for additional retail categories and retail growth. "This retail network fuels Amazon's consumer data which is a key driver of its advertising business that we believe can continue to take share given Amazon's growing CTV business. Last, and maybe most important, we believe AI is a key driver of digital transformation and that AI can help drive AWS growth to accelerate, as the AWS opportunity remains underappreciated, in our view.' Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is an American technology company offering e-commerce, cloud computing, and other services, including digital streaming and artificial intelligence solutions. While we acknowledge the potential of AMZN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Two teenage boys, 16 and 17, die after car crashes into tree
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security recipients: Why your payment might be cut in half
Social Security payments for July are being distributed as scheduled, reaching over 71 million Americans. But if you've been overpaid by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and haven't started repaying, your monthly benefit could be noticeably smaller starting this month. The SSA is expected to begin withholding 50% of monthly benefits from individuals with outstanding overpayments beginning in late July 2025. This marks a new phase in the agency's effort to recover billions in accidental overpayments. While the SSA hasn't publicly confirmed how many beneficiaries are affected, records obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request show the agency attempted to reclaim overpayments from about 2 million people in the fiscal year ending September 2023, according to KFF and Cox Media Group. If you received more money than you were entitled to through Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and haven't arranged a repayment plan, your benefits could be reduced by half starting this month. This applies even if the overpayment wasn't your fault. Under its new policies, the SSA said it would begin issuing overpayment notices on April 25, 2025 and would start withholding 50% of the recipient's benefits after about 90 days (or approximately July 24, at earliest), until the overpayment is repaid. Withholding begins: Around July 24, 2025, depending on when you received your overpayment notice. Repayment options: Online bill pay, credit card, or check. Waiver requests: You can ask the SSA to waive the repayment if: The overpayment wasn't your fault You can't afford to repay Repayment would be unfair Waiver and repayment information is available on the SSA website. Most Social Security retirement benefits will follow the regular July distribution calendar: Thursday, July 3: For those who began receiving benefits before May 1997 Wednesday, July 9: Birthdates between the 1st and 10th Wednesday, July 16: Birthdates between the 11th and 20th Wednesday, July 23: Birthdates between the 21st and 31st Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for July were distributed on Tuesday, July 1. SSI recipients include people 65 or older or those with a qualifying disability and limited income or resources. The SSA recommends allowing up to three additional mailing days past your scheduled date before contacting them. About 99% of recipients now receive payments electronically, which helps reduce delays. If you believe your check is smaller due to an overpayment or have questions about your status, contact the SSA directly by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or visit a local SSA office. For those looking to visit an SSA office, here are some locations in New York (excluding NYC and Long Island): Westchester County: 1 Park Place, Peekskill; 297 Knollwood Road, White Plains; 20 S. Broadway, Suite 500, Yonkers Albany County: 11 A Clinton Ave., Room 430, Federal Building Broome County: 2 Court St., Suite 300, Binghamton Erie County: 478 Main St., Suite 200, Buffalo; 1900 Ridge Road, Suite 120, West Seneca Monroe County: 200 E. Main St. (second floor), Rochester; 4050 W. Ridge Road (second floor), Greece Onondaga County: 100 S. Clinton St., Federal Building (fourth floor), Syracuse Contributing: USA Today Network This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Social Security recipients: Why your payment might be cut in half
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I'm 26 and recently came into $50K. I've got a $27K car loan — should I pay that off or invest all the money?
A financial windfall in your 20s presents both a challenge and a powerful opportunity to build wealth early. Let's say you're 26, with no credit card debt, a $27,000 car loan at 8% interest, and minimal monthly expenses beyond rent and insurance. After taxes, you have $36,000 left over from the windfall to do what you want with. The decisions you make now could shape your financial future. So, what should you do with the money? I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Since you have $27,000 in car loan debt, paying off your $27,000 car loan might feel like the most obvious choice to make — especially since you have a fairly high interest rate at 8%. It makes good financial sense. Eliminating the debt would earn you an immediate 8% return on your money with zero risk. That's especially appealing since auto loan interest isn't tax-deductible. Let's say that you originally borrowed $32,000 on your car at 8% using a 48-month loan, and you have 40 months left to pay with a balance of $27,348.42. If you paid off your full balance next month, you'd save around $3,899.01 in interest. Getting the definite 8% ROI from avoiding auto loan interest is likely worthwhile. You could then redirect your former monthly car payment into savings or investments. Given how high the interest rate is on the auto loan, paying off the car loan might be the best decision, but you could choose to keep making payments on your vehicle and instead invest all $36,000 of the windfall. Alternatively, you could pay off the car loan, and then invest the remaining $8,651. Either way, putting at least part of the windfall into the market can help your money grow. Although the stock market isn't risk-free, you can generally expect around a 10% average annual return over the long term by investing in an S&P 500 index fund. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Whether you choose to pay off the car or invest part of the money, there are other important financial considerations, too. For example: Retirement contributions: If you haven't maxed out your 401(k) or IRA for the year, consider using the windfall to boost your long-term savings. Emergency fund: Having three to six months of living expenses in a dedicated fund can protect you in case of a job loss or unexpected expense. Short-term savings goals: If you're planning to buy a home or make another big purchase in the near future, you may want to keep some of the money in a high-yield savings account.* It may also be worth speaking with a financial advisor to create a personalized strategy, especially when dealing with a large sum of money at a young age. With the right approach, a $50,000 windfall could be more than just a lucky break — it could be the foundation for a stronger financial future. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are the 6 levels of wealth for retirement-age Americans — are you near the top or bottom of the pyramid? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Labor Secretary Robert Reich Says, 'If We Want To Make Housing Affordable For Working People, We Must Get Wall Street Out Of Our Homes'
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A growing number of U.S. homes are being bought up by investors instead of regular homebuyers, and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich says that's pushing working Americans out of the housing market. 'If we want to make housing affordable for working people, we must get Wall Street out of our homes,' Reich said in a recent post on X. He shared the comment alongside a video in which he lays out how hedge funds and private equity firms have taken over a larger share of the housing market over the past decade. Don't Miss: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here's , starting today. $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. Referencing a recent BatchData report, Reich noted that nearly 27% of all U.S. homes sold in the first quarter of this year were purchased by investors—the largest share recorded in over five years. Between 2020 and 2023, the average was 18.5%, according to the translates to 265,000 homes purchased by investors in just the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, many would-be buyers are sitting on the sidelines due to high mortgage rates and rising prices. 'Rent is skyrocketing and home buying is out of reach for millions,' Reich said in the video he posted on X alongside his comments. 'One big reason why? Wall Street.' Trending: It's no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — Reich, who served in the Clinton administration, pointed out that investors started ramping up their home purchases after the 2008 financial crisis. "The Street's excessive greed created a housing bubble that burst. Millions of people lost their homes to foreclosure," he said. "Did the Street learn a lesson? Of course not. It got bailed out. Then it began picking off the scraps of the housing market it had just destroyed." Reich said investor activity peaked in 2022 and has recently shifted to buying more modestly priced homes, especially in bigger cities and Sun Belt states areas where affordability is already stretched. He also noted that these investors often target neighborhoods with large communities of color. "In one diverse neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wall Street-backed investors bought half of the homes that sold in 2021 and 2022," Reich said. "On a single block, investors bought every house but one and turned them into rentals."Reich warns that this trend is creating a 'vicious cycle.' "First, you're outbid by investors," he said. "Then you may be stuck renting from them at excessive prices that leave you with even less money to put up for a new home. Rinse, repeat." In 2024, Reich supported a Democratic bill that aimed to ban hedge funds and private equity firms from buying or owning single-family homes. "If signed into law, this could increase the supply of homes available to individual buyers," he said in the video. It's now up to President Donald Trump and the current Congress to decide whether any such policies move forward. Read Next: Over the last five years, the price of gold has increased by approximately 83% — Investors like Bill O'Reilly and Rudy Giuliani are . This article Ex-Labor Secretary Robert Reich Says, 'If We Want To Make Housing Affordable For Working People, We Must Get Wall Street Out Of Our Homes' originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
