The legendary Warren Buffett steps back this week

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Greg Abel faces the challenge of taking over Berkshire Hathaway from the legendary Warren Buffett later this week. Many regard Buffett as the world’s greatest investor after he grew Berkshire from a struggling New England textile mill that he starting buying up for $7.60 a share in 1962, to the massive conglomerate it is today.

Meta buys startup Manus to advance its AI efforts

DETROIT (AP) – Meta is buying artificial intelligence startup Manus, as the owner of Facebook and Instagram continues an aggressive push to amp up AI offerings across its platforms. The California tech giant declined to disclose financial details of the acquisition. But The Wall Street Journal reported that Meta closed the deal at more than $2 billion.

7 things you may not know about dividends

I recently dug into the pros and cons of dividend reinvestment. Readers of the article sent me questions about other dividend-related topics. Here are some of the most common questions I got. Reinvesting dividends means purchasing additional shares, which can complicate sales or tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

China's economy looks more resilient than it feels

HONG KONG (AP) – By some measures, China’s economy is looking resilient, with strong exports and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. But that’s not how it feels for many ordinary Chinese, who have been enduring the strain from weak property prices and uncertainty over their jobs and incomes.

Surging Silver and Gold Slide After CME Raises Margin Requirements

NEW YORK (AP) – Silver and gold futures fell sharply Monday after the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, one of the world’s largest trading floors for commodities, asked traders to put up more cash to make bets on precious metals with prices surging this year.

Trump launched global tariff wars in 2025. Here's a recap

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for U.S. trade policy. President Donald Trump launched a barrage of new tariffs in 2025, plunging the U.S. into trade wars with nearly every country in the world. Volley after volley of threats and steeper import taxes often arrived erratically – with Trump claiming that such levies needed to be immediately imposed.

How to build an emergency fund in 2026

NEW YORK (AP) – Find inspiration for achieving your financial resolutions and money goals in 2026. The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals like eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. Many resolutions also focus on financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt, saving for a new house, or simply getting more educated about money.

Amid a battery boom, graphite mining gets a fresh look in the US

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. (AP) – Graphite mines in the United States largely closed down seven decades ago. Mining the ubiquitous mineral found in everything from nuclear reactors to pencils seemed to make little sense when it could be imported inexpensively from other nations, especially China.