US Treasury To Partner With Education Department To Collect Student Loan Debt Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Education (ED) jointly announced a new partnership under which the Treasury will assume responsibility for collecting on defaulted federal student loan debt , according to a March 19 joint stateme...
US Treasury To Partner With Education Department To Collect Student Loan Debt Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Education (ED) jointly announced a new partnership under which the Treasury will assume responsibility for collecting on defaulted federal student loan debt , according to a March 19 joint statement from the departments. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Jan. 13, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times The Federal Student Assistance Partnership will enhance the administration of student aid programs, mitigate any fallout and cost to taxpayers from mismanagement of the federal student loan portfolio, and facilitate the return of defaulted borrowers to repayment. “ As student loan debt nears $1.7 Trillion, it’s clear that [the ED] was never intended to serve as our nation’s fifth largest bank, ” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a March 19 post on X. “That’s exactly why we are partnering with [the Treasury] to restore fiscal sanity and better align student aid programs with students, families, and borrowers.” According to the statement, the Treasury will provide operational support to the ED’s efforts to return borrowers to repayment. McMahon said that Treasury’s finance expertise will be leveraged to activate “functioning programs” that manage student loan borrowers who are in default. Treasury has the unique experience, the operational capability, and the financial expertise to bring long overdue financial discipline to the program and be better stewards of taxpayer dollars,” U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said of the new partnership. Dismantling Education Department The latest move by the ED is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal department and return the function of education to the states. McMahon had previously announced transferring cer...
Asia’s busiest earnings week is offering investors an early test of whether the hype around artificial intelligence is yielding real profits and if consumer demand is showing signs of a more sustainable recovery. About 180 companies of the 1,200-odd members of the MSCI Asia Pacific Index — including Chinese technology heavyweights Meituan, Xiaomi Corp. and Kuaishou Technology — are set to report t...
Asia’s busiest earnings week is offering investors an early test of whether the hype around artificial intelligence is yielding real profits and if consumer demand is showing signs of a more sustainable recovery. About 180 companies of the 1,200-odd members of the MSCI Asia Pacific Index — including Chinese technology heavyweights Meituan, Xiaomi Corp. and Kuaishou Technology — are set to report this week. Consumer giants Laopu Gold Co. and Pop Mart International Group Ltd. will also release results for the three months ending in December. For tech investors, one key area of focus will be how companies plan to direct their increased AI capital spending and if it’s already translated into revenue. Analysts will also watch whether shoppers and businesses loosened their purse strings and more concrete signs of China emerging from a prolonged downturn in consumption. The results may offer the next catalyst for the Asia Pacific gauge, which has been under pressure this month amid a global selloff from the escalating conflict in Iran. Other big names that are scheduled to report in the week include software company Oracle Corp. Japan, electric vehicle maker BYD Co. and health-care firm WuXi AppTec Co.
Claiming Social Security at the ideal age can transform your retirement. Nearly 30% of retirees say they depend on their benefits as their exclusive source of income, according to The Motley Fool's Annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment Survey, and 54% of retirees report going back to work because their benefits are insufficient. Research suggests that there's one particular age claim th...
Claiming Social Security at the ideal age can transform your retirement. Nearly 30% of retirees say they depend on their benefits as their exclusive source of income, according to The Motley Fool's Annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment Survey, and 54% of retirees report going back to work because their benefits are insufficient. Research suggests that there's one particular age claim that outshines the rest, and it could boost your lifetime income by over $100,000. However, there's a big caveat to consider. What the data says about your claiming age A 2019 report published by United Income examined the relationship between retirees' claiming ages and their lifetime income, aiming to determine how much money older adults are leaving on the table by filing at a "sub-optimal" age. Researchers found that 57% of retirees could generate more wealth over a lifetime by filing for Social Security at age 70. Furthermore, only 6.5% of retirees could maximize their lifetime wealth by claiming before age 64. The impact of claiming at the optimal age is significant, too. Collectively, retirees will forego around $3.4 trillion in lifetime wealth by filing at the suboptimal age, researchers found. That works out to around $111,000 for the average retired household. The answer isn't as straightforward as it seems On the surface, age 70 may seem like the clear winner when it comes to choosing a claiming age. However, the research considers only the financial side of this decision. While finances are an important factor to consider, your unique priorities will play a much bigger role in your choice. For some people, finances are the top priority. If you know you're going to be relying on Social Security for most or even all of your income in retirement, delaying claiming until 70 to earn larger checks is a smart move. The average retiree receives around $850 more per month in benefits at age 70 than at 62, according to December 2025 data from the Social Security Administrat...
Bloomberg Asia’s busiest earnings week is offering investors an early test of whether the hype around artificial intelligence is yielding real profits and if consumer demand is showing signs of a more sustainable recovery. About 180 companies of the 1,200-odd members of the MSCI Asia Pacific Index — including Chinese technology heavyweights Meituan, Xiaomi Corp. and Kuaishou Technology — are set t...
A giant inflatable Labubu toy floats on the water at Victoria Harbour on October 25, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images 28-year-old Rebecca Zhou, born in China's Sichuan province, owns an assortment of Moomin merchandise — bags, mugs, and figurines featuring the white hippo-looking cartoon character from Finland — that she has accumulated over the years. By her own a...
A giant inflatable Labubu toy floats on the water at Victoria Harbour on October 25, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images 28-year-old Rebecca Zhou, born in China's Sichuan province, owns an assortment of Moomin merchandise — bags, mugs, and figurines featuring the white hippo-looking cartoon character from Finland — that she has accumulated over the years. By her own admission, many of these purchases may seem "childish", but "it is [just] nice to treat yourself to something fun, even if it is not the most value-for-money," Zhou said. Zhou is not alone. Data from analysts and official sources show that Chinese consumers are increasingly spending on goods and experiences chosen for their emotional resonance over practical value — everything from theme parks to jewelry . But what may once have been a fairly unsurprising consumer impulse is now being taken seriously by China's business leaders and policymakers. 'A sense of connection' China's "emotional economy" first entered into public discourse in 2024, after a craze over Pop Mart 's Labubu figurines appeared to signal shifts in Chinese consumer behavior, where a consumer group once characterized by norms of frugality and pragmatism appeared just as willing to splurge on self-indulgence. "People are not just buying things," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of digital consultancy ChoZan told CNBC in a phone call. "They're buying feelings, they're buying identity, they're buying a sense of connection." Over the recent Chinese New Year holiday, data from ChoZan shows that consumers spent significantly less on traditional staples like festive food gifts (known as nian huo), and more on unconventional expenses, like travel experiences and cosmetics compared to the same period in 2023. "What people used to buy back in the day, like liquor and bulk nuts ... were all about social obligations and tradition. Right now, people buy gift boxes, they buy designer toys ... and people don't frown upon tha...
The housing department has now said five of these areas - plus a proposal in South Barking that was also assessed by officials - will not be taken forward "at this stage".
The housing department has now said five of these areas - plus a proposal in South Barking that was also assessed by officials - will not be taken forward "at this stage".
Key Points The market is skeptical about artificial intelligence (AI) spending. Nvidia told investors to expct $1 trillion in combined system sales through 2027. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is at a unique point in history. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, Nvidia has transformed into a new company since 2023, and each year, the same trend ...
Key Points The market is skeptical about artificial intelligence (AI) spending. Nvidia told investors to expct $1 trillion in combined system sales through 2027. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is at a unique point in history. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, Nvidia has transformed into a new company since 2023, and each year, the same trend happens with the stock. At the start of the year, Nvidia tells investors about all the growth it's going to generate and how high AI demand is. Every year, the market doubts Nvidia, then the growth comes, and in the second half of the year, the stock soars. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » I see that same trend starting this year, and fortunately for investors, the market hasn't caught on quite yet. This disconnect creates a huge opportunity to buy the stock now and profit from history. Investors shouldn't delay, as the stock could easily start its rally at any time. Nvidia's growth usually starts around its Q1 earnings release Starting in 2023, you have to remember that the consensus was that the economy was heading into a recession in late 2022 and early 2023. As a result, optimism was not high. Furthermore, the market was coming off a cryptocurrency crash, which created an inventory excess for Nvidia, causing its earnings to plummet. As a result, Nvidia entered 2023 on a relatively grim outlook, but all of that changed in Q1 when it told investors about huge AI demand. Unfortunately, I don't have the price of forward earnings data dating back to 2023, but I do have it for 2024. That year, the same thing happened. Investors assumed Nvidia's growth wouldn't live up to the hype, so the stock traded at low expectations for a few months. Then, it rocketed higher throughout the rest of the yea...
Over the past three years, artificial intelligence (AI) stocks spent most of the time doing one thing in particular: marching higher. The S&P 500, over that period, soared more than 78%. But in recent weeks, the stock market has been a rocky place, with the famous benchmark shifting from gains to losses. This is amid a wide range of concerns -- such as uncertainty about the AI revenue opportunity ...
Over the past three years, artificial intelligence (AI) stocks spent most of the time doing one thing in particular: marching higher. The S&P 500, over that period, soared more than 78%. But in recent weeks, the stock market has been a rocky place, with the famous benchmark shifting from gains to losses. This is amid a wide range of concerns -- such as uncertainty about the AI revenue opportunity in relation to today's spending levels and worries about the geopolitical and economic environment. Against this backdrop, investors haven't been feeling confident. In fact, the market's fear gauge just spiked to 24. History says this is what happens next for AI stocks... AI stocks have led market gains Before we take a look at what history tells us, however, let's talk a bit more about the current market situation. As mentioned, the S&P 500 was flying high in recent years, led by well-known AI stocks such as Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Meta Platforms. Expand SNPINDEX : ^GSPC S&P 500 Index Today's Change ( -1.51 %) $ -100.01 Current Price $ 6506.48 Key Data Points Day's Range $ 6473.52 - $ 6594.66 52wk Range $ 4835.04 - $ 7002.28 Volume 7B Investors recognized the game-changing power of AI and aimed to bet on players that could benefit. These are companies that develop, sell, and/or use this technology. AI has the potential to improve everything from office organization to factory operations -- and supercharge innovation too. These and other uses of the technology could lower costs, increase revenue, and significantly boost earnings over time. Investors were eager to get in on winning players early to benefit from this story, and companies have been spending billions of dollars to support their AI businesses. For example, big tech companies have pledged nearly $700 billion in capital spending this year -- a great deal of this investment will support building out AI infrastructure. But as this spending unfolds, some investors worry about the future revenue opportunity...
Key Points The VIX, a “fear” gauge, shows whether investors expect market volatility. The S&P 500 has shifted from gains to losses many times in recent weeks. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › Over the past three years, artificial intelligence (AI) stocks spent most of the time doing one thing in particular: marching higher. The S&P 500, over that period, soared more than 78%. But in r...
Key Points The VIX, a “fear” gauge, shows whether investors expect market volatility. The S&P 500 has shifted from gains to losses many times in recent weeks. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › Over the past three years, artificial intelligence (AI) stocks spent most of the time doing one thing in particular: marching higher. The S&P 500, over that period, soared more than 78%. But in recent weeks, the stock market has been a rocky place, with the famous benchmark shifting from gains to losses. This is amid a wide range of concerns -- such as uncertainty about the AI revenue opportunity in relation to today's spending levels and worries about the geopolitical and economic environment. Against this backdrop, investors haven't been feeling confident. In fact, the market's fear gauge just spiked to 24. History says this is what happens next for AI stocks... Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » AI stocks have led market gains Before we take a look at what history tells us, however, let's talk a bit more about the current market situation. As mentioned, the S&P 500 was flying high in recent years, led by well-known AI stocks such as Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Meta Platforms. Investors recognized the game-changing power of AI and aimed to bet on players that could benefit. These are companies that develop, sell, and/or use this technology. AI has the potential to improve everything from office organization to factory operations -- and supercharge innovation too. These and other uses of the technology could lower costs, increase revenue, and significantly boost earnings over time. Investors were eager to get in on winning players early to benefit from this story, and companies have been spending billions of dollars to support their AI businesses. For example, big tech compan...
Hong Kong’s shrinking school-age population continues to put the education system to the test, with more subsidised institutions facing the axe or being forced to go private or merge with others. The closure option, once regarded as a last resort, is fast becoming an inevitable fate rather than an exception. A smooth transition, or a “soft landing”, looks increasingly difficult as more schools fin...
Hong Kong’s shrinking school-age population continues to put the education system to the test, with more subsidised institutions facing the axe or being forced to go private or merge with others. The closure option, once regarded as a last resort, is fast becoming an inevitable fate rather than an exception. A smooth transition, or a “soft landing”, looks increasingly difficult as more schools find themselves on the brink amid intensifying consolidation spurred by the city’s declining birth rate The situation is worrying, with a record 15 primary schools barred from running a Primary One class next academic year after they failed to enrol at least 16 pupils as required for public subsidy. The surge from just two schools with insufficient enrolment this year is hardly a cyclical fluctuation, as the number joining the allocation system for the 2026-27 school year has dropped by 4,000. According to the Education Bureau, the number of six-year-olds is forecast to further decline from this year’s figure of 47,000 to 38,300 in 2035. Behind the figures are individual school communities looking at closures or mergers with complex emotions. While the outcome does not come as a surprise to those that have been struggling to survive in recent years, there is more than sorrow and nostalgia involved. For teachers, parents and pupils, the problem extends beyond acquiring a new school uniform or teaching at a different campus next year. Hard choices have to be made. Advertisement The government has rightly sought to soften the impact of under-enrolment with financial support and grace periods for consolidation. Additionally, merged schools will be allowed a one-time exemption from submitting survival plans if they fail to admit enough pupils to operate one Primary One class in the first three years of the merger. The plea by the authorities for schools to plan ahead should be taken seriously. For schools that have had trouble securing the minimum intake in recent years, the issue ...
Western Union (WU 1.74%) has an iconic, trusted name and a business dating back to the mid-1800s. That didn't protect the company from competitors who used the internet to offer lower costs and easier-to-access money transfer services. Since 2020, Western Union's stock has lost roughly two-thirds of its value. But a turning point for the business could be on the horizon. Western Union has struggle...
Western Union (WU 1.74%) has an iconic, trusted name and a business dating back to the mid-1800s. That didn't protect the company from competitors who used the internet to offer lower costs and easier-to-access money transfer services. Since 2020, Western Union's stock has lost roughly two-thirds of its value. But a turning point for the business could be on the horizon. Western Union has struggled Wall Street didn't miss any memos; Western Union's revenues have been heading lower for years. There was a slight uptick during the coronavirus pandemic, but demand for its services has clearly been in decline. Earnings, meanwhile, have been volatile. One of the biggest problems is that competitors have used the internet to offer competing services. Upstarts often attempt to undercut existing companies on price, siphoning off customers. That has had a predictable impact on Western Union's business. And the increased competition has forced Western Union to invest in improving its own offering to compete with the upstarts. Western Union is a different company today A lot of heavy lifting has taken place at the financial services provider. Most notably, Western Union has leaned heavily into modernizing its technology, shifting toward the web while still maintaining its highly visible physical presence. That means it still has wide brand recognition, but now it also has a better ability to take on the start-ups that were pulling its customers away. Expand NYSE : WU Western Union Today's Change ( -1.74 %) $ -0.16 Current Price $ 9.02 Key Data Points Market Cap $2.8B Day's Range $ 8.97 - $ 9.21 52wk Range $ 7.85 - $ 10.70 Volume 23M Avg Vol 8.5M Gross Margin 32.79 % Dividend Yield 10.42 % However, the bigger story for investors is the company's adjusted operating margin. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Western Union's margin was 17%. It jumped to 19% in the first half of 2025 and then rose to 20% in the second half. Year over year, the company's adjusted operating margin increas...
Key Points Western Union helps people transfer money worldwide. Competition has increased, but Western Union has been fighting back. 10 stocks we like better than Western Union › Western Union (NYSE: WU) has an iconic, trusted name and a business dating back to the mid-1800s. That didn't protect the company from competitors who used the internet to offer lower costs and easier-to-access money tran...
Key Points Western Union helps people transfer money worldwide. Competition has increased, but Western Union has been fighting back. 10 stocks we like better than Western Union › Western Union (NYSE: WU) has an iconic, trusted name and a business dating back to the mid-1800s. That didn't protect the company from competitors who used the internet to offer lower costs and easier-to-access money transfer services. Since 2020, Western Union's stock has lost roughly two-thirds of its value. But a turning point for the business could be on the horizon. Western Union has struggled Wall Street didn't miss any memos; Western Union's revenues have been heading lower for years. There was a slight uptick during the coronavirus pandemic, but demand for its services has clearly been in decline. Earnings, meanwhile, have been volatile. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » One of the biggest problems is that competitors have used the internet to offer competing services. Upstarts often attempt to undercut existing companies on price, siphoning off customers. That has had a predictable impact on Western Union's business. And the increased competition has forced Western Union to invest in improving its own offering to compete with the upstarts. Western Union is a different company today A lot of heavy lifting has taken place at the financial services provider. Most notably, Western Union has leaned heavily into modernizing its technology, shifting toward the web while still maintaining its highly visible physical presence. That means it still has wide brand recognition, but now it also has a better ability to take on the start-ups that were pulling its customers away. However, the bigger story for investors is the company's adjusted operating margin. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Western Union's margin ...