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☆ Oil prices near $100 per barrel raise questions over demand destruction
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

boonchai wedmakawand | Moment | Getty ImagesSupply cuts from heavyweight crude producers have helped drive oil prices near $100 per barrel — fueling some to consider the potential for future demand destruction. Seven European refiners and traders, who spoke under anonymity because of contractual obligations, told CNBC that local buyers can withstand oil prices veering into triple digits without lowering their output runs. Some European market participants polled by CNBC doubted triple-digit oil prices are sustainable in the long term, with three pointing to possible demand destruction — where customers gradually answer persistently high prices with fewer purchases. "Sometimes high oil prices can become a self-fulfilling prophecy," Indian Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Puri warned in August. The oil price hike has benefitted Moscow despite sanctions.

Persons: boonchai, Sushant Gupta, Wood Mackenzie, Topping, Ukraine —, refiner, Hardeep Singh Puri, Giovanni Staunovo Organizations: Brent, ING, Organization of, Petroleum, CNBC, U.S . Energy, Administration, Indian Energy, UBS Locations: London, Asia, Wood, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Europe, Ukraine, U.S, Moscow, Washington, Israel, East, Riyadh, Iran, Beijing

☆ Start an 'opportunity fund' for goals that will bring you happiness, experts say. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Identifying such opportunity fund goals can be a financial wake-up call. Carolyn McClanahan, a CFP and founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida, said she gives a talk titled, "Are you happy now?" To find ways to build an opportunity fund to improve your life, three tips may help. From there, start to identify what kind of contributions you may need to help achieve your goals. However, McClanahan said it can be OK to keep liquid funds for both emergencies or near-term life goals together.

Persons: Weiss, Carolyn McClanahan, McClanahan Organizations: Getty, Planning Partners, CNBC FA Locations: Jacksonville , Florida

☆ As Social Security official warns of A.I. fraud risks, one expert says criminal activity is 'here right now'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Courtney Keating | E+ | Getty ImagesWhile scrolling social media, you may find a video of President Joe Biden urging you to sign up for extra Social Security benefits for which you are eligible. The Social Security Administration is working with OIG to take appropriate steps to combat fraud, an agency spokesman said. "The agency has techniques to identify and react to suspicious bad actors," said Social Security Administration spokesman Mark Hinkle. "We look forward to continuing to work with the OIG on the evolution of AI and courses of action regarding AI fraud." Other steps can also help protect your personal financial information and Social Security beneficiaries' monthly income, according to Talcove.

Persons: Courtney Keating, Joe Biden, Kathy Stokes, Stokes, A.I, Gail Ennis, Ennis, Haywood Talcove, Talcove, OIG, Mark Hinkle, Maria Freese, Freese, Boonchai, AARP's Stokes, It's Organizations: Social, Watch, Finance, Big, Social Security, Social Security Administration Office, LexisNexis, Social Security Administration, Solutions, Security, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, Getty Locations: Ennis

☆ Here's how the Federal Reserve's latest quarter-point interest rate hike impacts your money
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Federal Reserve Bank building Kevin Lamarque | ReutersWhat the federal funds rate means to youThe federal funds rate, which is set by the U.S. central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. On the flip side, higher interest rates also mean savers will earn more money on their deposits. As the federal funds rate rises, the prime rate does, as well, and your credit card rate follows suit within one or two billing cycles. With this rate increase, consumers with credit card debt will spend an additional $1.7 billion on interest, according to an analysis by WalletHub. Interest rates for the upcoming school year will be based on an auction of 10-year Treasury notes later this month.

☆ 10 ways to stop self-sabotaging behaviors that cost you time, money, and happiness
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( John Rampton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Self-sabotage habits aren't easy to avoid, but they're essential to growing up healthy. However, identifying negative habits needs to be a priority. What causes self-sabotaging behavior? We may even model negative habits.. Self-sabotage can be influenced by growing up in a dysfunctional family. Make a plan — then follow throughYou'll need to come up with a plan for how you'll break negative behavior patterns.

☆ Supreme Court challenges to Biden student loan plan hinge on overreach, financial harm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The law is a product of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an earlier version of it provided relief to federal student loan borrowers impacted by the attacks. However, the states counter that the Heroes Act allows the Education secretary only to modify the federal student loan system to keep certain borrowers from being in a worse-off position with their loans because of a national emergency. In other words, higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz said, the states are asserting that Biden is using Covid as an excuse to pass his plan. The states also argue that Biden's plan would cause financial harm to their states, including a loss of profits for the companies that service federal student loans. The attorneys also denied the claim that the Biden administration was overstepping its authority, laying out the White House's argument that it is acting within the law under the Heroes Act of 2003.

☆ The Federal Reserve is likely to hike interest rates again. What that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

What the Fed's rate hike means for youThe federal funds rate, which is set by the central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. As the federal funds rate rises, the prime rate does, too, and credit card rates follow suit. After rising at the steepest annual pace ever, the average credit card rate is now 19.9%, on average — an all-time high. Student loans Federal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers won't be impacted immediately by a rate hike. Savings accounts On the upside, the interest rates on some savings accounts are higher after a run of rate hikes.

☆ New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's resignation shows burnout is still going strong. Here's how to know when you're there and why calling it quits might be the right thing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The resignation of New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern is shedding light on burnout among top global leaders. "I no longer have enough in the tank to do the job justice," Ardern said on Thursday. Insider spoke to experts to discuss how to identify burnout and when quitting might be the best option. Here's how to assess burnout and recognize when it might be time to hit the road, according to experts. "The reality is that burnout really happens in the shadows.

Bangkok/Hong Kong CNN —For years, Thailand welcomed legions of Chinese tourists to its golden beaches, shopping districts and striking temples. Three government ministers headed to Bangkok’s international airport earlier this week to personally greet the first group of Chinese tourists to arrive after China lifted travel restrictions. Amazing Thailand always warmly welcomes our Chinese family.”Travelers from a Xiamen Airlines flight being welcomed by Thai officials upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Jan. 9, 2023. “The arrival of tourists from China, as well as from countries around the world, to Thailand is expected to increase continually. In Thailand, that’s been no exception, with travel companies beginning to reactivate Chinese social marketing campaigns and increase staffing, according to Barnett.

☆ Upgrading your phone every few years has a huge environmental impact. Here's how to make your device last longer.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Do you really need a new phone, or do you simply have the urge to get the new, shiny tech? The climate footprint of an average refurbished phone from Swappie in 2021 was 78% less than an average new phone, the company reported. A broken or malfunctioning phone can often be fixed through easy repairs that could cost less than replacing it. Apple this year opened its self-service repair store, providing manuals and parts for consumers seeking do-it-yourself fixes for their iPhones. If your phone is completely broken and cannot be sold or donated, you can still recycle it properly.

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