The healthcare sector is comprised of companies that offer medical services, manufacture medical equipment or drugs, provide medical insurance, or engage in activities that facilitate the provision of healthcare to patients. The most recent data available from 2020 show that spending on healthcare in the U.S. reached $4.1 trillion, representing close to 20% of the
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The U.S. Federal Reserve has announced its final guideline that might allow crypto banks to enter the banking system. The central bank will set up a three-tiered system for determining whether financial institutions have access. As part of the final guideline, institutions with novel financial products will have access to the fed’s “master accounts” and
What Is the S&P 500 Index? Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) is a market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. While it assumed its present size (and name) in 1957, the S&P actually dates back to the 1920s, becoming a composite index tracking 90 stocks in 1926. The average annualized return since
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced that it has passed the Pet Insurance Model Act, a model law that establishes clear rules for pet insurance sales and requires disclosures for pet owners. The new regulation comes on the heels of sharp growth in annual premiums and new policies in the U.S. Key Takeaways
What Is the Electronics Sector? The electronics sector produces electronic equipment and consumer electronics and manufactures electrical components for a variety of products. Common items in the electronics sector include mobile devices, televisions, and circuit boards. Industries within the electronics sector include telecommunications, networking, electronic components, industrial electronics, and consumer electronics. Key Takeaways Industries within the
Revenue generated from drug production by U.S. pharmaceutical companies both domestically and abroad is growing substantially, in part because of repetitive price increases. Drug companies pricing is relatively unregulated and they can often raise drug prices beyond inflation rates. This allows the drug companies to increase their revenues continually, even if the demand for one
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed in March 2021 that lowered premium costs for million of people. The legislation allowed people to claim higher tax credits if they have a health insurance plan purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. The net effect was that
Mortgage rates had a quiet day Monday, with most averages dipping just slightly lower or remaining flat. It follows a week-and-a-half period of dramatic up and down swings for the 30-year average. National averages of the lowest rates offered by more than 200 of the country’s top lenders, with a loan-to-value ratio (LTV) of 80%,
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a financing method that more Americans are using to make discretionary purchases, especially online ones. In fact, at least 39% of consumers have tried this option, also known as a point of sale installment loan, at least once, according to a 2021 survey from The Strawhecker Group. One of
Every bank-related financial transaction requires two critical pieces of information to identify customers: the routing number and the account number, both of which are assigned when you open an account. You can find both of these on the bottom of paper checks, and these numbers are also needed when you do electronic bank transfers or wires
If you are planning to start betting—be it in a casino, sports betting, or any other type—it’s essential to understand the odds. Placing bets intelligently requires having a good grip on the main types of betting odds and the ability to read and interpret their various formats. The three main types of betting odds are
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is designed to provide round-the-clock healthcare for babies who are born prematurely or with life-threatening health conditions. A NICU stay can be emotional and stressful for parents and there may be financial aftershocks once medical bills begin arriving. Newborn intensive care costs can be significantly higher than standard newborn
Updated: August 25, 2021 As of today, August 25, 2021, the benchmark 30-Year Fixed refinance rate is 3.15%, FHA 30-Year Fixed is 2.99%, Jumbo 30-Year Fixed is 3.32%; 15-Year Fixed is 2.44%, and 5/1 ARM is 2.54%. These rates are not the teaser rates you may see advertised online and based on our methodology should
Return on investment (ROI) is the key measure of the profit derived from any investment. It is a ratio that compares the gain or loss from an investment relative to its cost. It is useful in evaluating the current or potential return on an investment, whether you are evaluating your stock portfolio’s performance, considering a
Stochastic Oscillator vs. Stochastic Momentum Index: An Overview The Stochastic Oscillator and the Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI) are both tools used to indicate momentum and are often used by financial traders to understand psychological undercurrents and their relation to price movements. Although the two tools are not surefire ways to determine price direction, they can
An airline exchange-traded fund (ETF) can provide diversified exposure to the air travel industry, including aircraft manufacturers, airline operators, airports, and terminal services. The U.S. airline industry includes major carriers such as American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL), and Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV). The industry has begun to recover from more
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are publicly traded companies that allow individual investors to buy shares in real estate portfolios that receive income from a variety of properties. They allow investors to invest easily in the real estate sector, which includes companies that own, develop, and manage residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Among other requirements, REITs are required
The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government. It is responsible for crucial functions that help keep the government running, including paying all U.S. bills, collecting taxes, and managing federal finances. Another important role that the Department of the Treasury performs is overseeing national banks, which includes the
Is Social Security taxable? For most Americans, it is. That is, a majority of those who receive Social Security benefits pay income tax on up to half or even 85% of that money because their combined income from Social Security and other sources pushes them above the very low thresholds for taxes to kick in.
Barclays is a major bank providing a variety of financial products and services throughout the United Kingdom as well as Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and the Middle East. In addition to retail banking, the company offers investment banking and wealth management including investment services. It is based in London.