Understanding options ‘skew’ and how to use it to your advantage trading stocks or bitcoin
Options skew refers to the difference in implied volatility (IV) across various strike prices or expiration dates for options on the same underlying asset. It reflects the market’s perception of risk and the demand for specific options, often indicating how traders anticipate potential price movements. Typically, skew arises because out-of-the-money (OTM) options — puts or […]
How to boost your money motivation
Know what you want financially but sometimes lose the will to make it happen? Frances Cook has some motivation tips to keep on track, even when you least feel like it. Money motivation is a weird thing. One day, you’re all fired up, ready to automate your savings, track your spending, and finally open that […]
How to score the ‘absolute best deal’ at estate sales
Maddy Brannon never set out to become the queen of Washington, D.C.-area estate sales. In 2020, the stand-up comedian and her husband had just bought a new home that was feeling conspicuously empty. “I was looking at other people’s Instagrams and being like, ‘How can they afford furniture?’ We were just trying to buy stuff,” […]
A stock poised to break out as copper prices climb — How to play it
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is set for a potential breakout as copper prices approach their 52-week highs, driving renewed interest in the largest global copper mining company. FCX, which generates most of its revenue from copper, is starting to outperform both the S & P 500 and its sector, signaling a bearish-to-bullish turnaround. The company’s recent earnings […]
Bitcoin proxy MicroStrategy is outperforming the crypto market. How to profit if it reverts back
Heralded as the flagship cryptocurrency, bitcoin disrupts traditional finance as a decentralized, borderless currency immune to government control or inflation. Its fixed supply of 21 million coins — capped by code — positions it as “digital gold,” a hedge against fiat currency devaluation, especially as global debt rises and central banks print money. Adoption is […]
Home slow to sell? How to be a smart seller in a buyer’s market
Trying to sell a house right now? Stay alert, because with the number of houses on the market up, prices down and sales slow, your buyer is holding a great hand of cards right now. Frances Cook has some tips. Figures from realestate.co.nz show that while the number of properties on the market has rapidly […]
Investment fraud is on the rise. Here’s how to protect yourself
South_agency | E+ | Getty Images Consumers lost $5.7 billion to investment scams in 2024 — more than in any other type of fraud and up 24% from 2023, according to new data from the Federal Trade Commission. Investment scams generally involve claims that a consumer will get big returns by investing in a hot […]
How to recession-proof your finances, according to CFPs
U.S. investors are beginning to worry that a recession is on the horizon. President Donald Trump’s mercurial tariff policies threaten to roil the global economy, resulting in unrest in the stock market. The S&P 500 has fallen more than 10% from the index’s February high. And in a Sunday interview on Fox News, Trump hinted […]
50% declines are commonplace for Tesla shares. How to trade the stock from here
Tesla (TSLA) , the electric vehicle giant led by Elon Musk, has long been a darling of investors seeking growth in the innovative technology and sustainable energy sectors. However, a recent sharp pullback in high-flying tech stocks has particularly hit Tesla shares. Tesla’s stock price declined by approximately 50% from its peak. While this drop […]
How to price your home to sell in 2025
Lifestylevisuals | E+ | Getty Images Selling a house involves much more than just putting up a “for sale” sign. In addition to some key things to consider — like knowing market conditions, preparing your home for showings and deciding whether to work with a real estate agent — it’s important to get the right […]