Most payday lenders steer borrowers to higher-cost repayment options, consumer watchdog says

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Most payday loan borrowers aren’t using the lowest-cost repayment option in states where it’s available, perpetuating a cycle of high fees and debt, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday in a report. In some cases, payday lenders have withheld information about these “no-cost extended repayment plans” from borrowers to…

Teens are worried about the U.S. economy, but they’re still spending on Nike and Lululemon

In this article AMZN LULU NKE Athletic apparel sits on display inside a Lululemon Athletica store. Xaume Olleros | Bloomberg | Getty Images Teens are spending more and shifting their shopping habits, even as they worry about growing economic uncertainty, according to a new survey. Athletic apparel brands such as Lululemon and Nike that combine…

Key people from the Fed just spooked the markets — here’s what they said

The Federal Reserve building is seen before the Federal Reserve board is expected to signal plans to raise interest rates in March as it focuses on fighting inflation in Washington, January 26, 2022. Joshua Roberts | Reuters If there was any question about where the Federal Reserve stands on the key issue of the day…

Op-ed: Here’s what every woman needs to know about investing

Thomas Barwick | Getty Images Despite setbacks during the pandemic, the financial influence of women in the U.S. only stands to grow in the coming years. To that point, as more and more women embrace their economic power, they’re increasingly tackling the fundamentals of personal finance. McKinsey projects that by 2030, American women will control…

The myth about credit cards and credit scores that’s costing you

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images There’s a pervasive myth about credit-card balances and credit scores — and it may be costing you money. Sixty-five percent of Americans think carrying a small balance on their credit card each month will improve their credit score, according to a recent Lending Tree survey. The share is…

As tuition continues to climb, these are the top tax breaks for college expenses

Klaus Vedfelt | DigitalVision | Getty Images The cost of college can be a challenge for families, but a few tax breaks may lessen the burden, financial experts say.   For the 2021-22 academic year, the average tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students ranged from $10,740 (1.6% higher than the year before) for in-state public…

Cramer’s lightning round: Fisker is the ultimate speculative stock

Loading chart… Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp: “I think it’s fine. Remember, we’re in a market where the stock could go down 10% in a heartbeat, so you might slow it.” Loading chart… Nov Inc: “After some lean years, it’s time for the good years.” Loading chart… Fisker Inc: “Fisker is the ultimate [speculative] stock, they’re…

Stock futures inch higher ahead of Fed minutes release

Stock futures inched higher in overnight trading Tuesday as investors await the latest insights into the Federal Reserve’s policy tightening. Minutes from the Fed’s Tuesday meeting are slated for release Wednesday afternoon. Investors are bracing for new details about the Fed’s plan to reduce its balance sheet. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose…

Here’s how much power Elon Musk actually has at Twitter now — and what he might do with it

Elon Musk and Twitter have always been a volatile combination. That’s especially unlikely to change now, with Musk buying a 9.2% stake in the social media company and landing a seat on Twitter’s board of directors. The stake, which was disclosed in a regulatory filing on Monday, is valued at more than $3 billion. For…

Retirement savers could benefit from ‘Secure 2.0.’ But some parts of the proposed law need to be worked out

Itza Villavicencio Urbieta | Istock | Getty Images There’s a decent chance that Congress will pass a bill this year aimed at improving the U.S. retirement system — it just may look different from what cleared the House last week. Known as “Secure 2.0,” the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (H.R. 2954) was approved March…