Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Silver futures exploded nearly 9% on Thursday, February 20, 2026, while gold cleared $5,100 per troy ounce for the first time, as a Supreme Court decision striking down President Trump’s global tariffs collided with escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and a sharply weaker GDP print. The twin shocks to trade policy and economic confidence triggered one of…
A federal judge in Texas has struck down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rule capping credit card late fees, removing a consumer protection measure at a time when multiple indicators suggest household financial stress is rising. The ruling arrived just as fresh Federal Reserve survey data revealed worsening credit confidence and rising denial rates among…
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara approved a temporary 17% emergency rate increase for State Farm homeowners policies, adding to a cascade of rising household costs that are squeezing residents across the state. The decision arrived after months of regulatory scrutiny over the insurer’s financial health, and it lands alongside surging utility bills, climbing food prices,…
The U.S. Supreme Court on February 20, 2026, struck down most of President Trump’s global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a decision that could force the federal government to return up to $175 billion in duties already collected from importers. The ruling, grounded in separation-of-powers and major-questions doctrine, invalidates tariff programs…
Microsoft announced on February 18, 2026, that it is on pace to invest $50 billion in AI infrastructure across the Global South, a commitment that is accelerating the company’s already aggressive push to lock down clean energy for its expanding network of data centers. That spending target, aimed at the world’s fastest-growing digital markets, sits…
Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart as the world’s largest company by revenue, ending a 13-year streak in which the Arkansas-based retailer held the global sales crown. The shift, confirmed by financial data published on February 19, 2026, reflects not just the growth of online shopping but the rising weight of cloud computing and digital services…
The Supreme Court may rule as soon as this Friday on whether President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, imposed under emergency powers, can legally stand. A lower court has already declared the duties an illegal use of executive authority, yet left them in place while the case moves through appeals. The outcome will determine whether American…
A wave of price increases is building across the U.S. auto industry and its sprawling supply chain as companies absorb the impact of 25% tariffs on imported automobile parts signed into effect by President Trump in spring 2025. While few firms have publicly announced sticker-price hikes, the regulatory machinery now in motion, from White House…
The Supreme Court is weighing whether President Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are legal, and the outcome could rip a massive hole in the federal budget. The case, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (docket 24-1287), has already drawn sharp analysis from economists and legal scholars who warn that striking…
Soros Fund Management LLC, the investment vehicle tied to billionaire George Soros, reported about $137 million in holdings tied to AI chipmakers while paring back its position in Alphabet, according to the firm’s latest quarterly securities filing. The moves, disclosed in a Form 13F-HR covering the quarter ended December 31, 2025, show a shift in…