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Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed. Japan's central bank keeps its monetary policy unchanged 12/19/2023 12:25am • BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Tuesday after a seven-week winning streak on Wall Street cooled. U.S. futures were flat and oil prices edged higher. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.9% to 33,063.00 after the Bank of Japan kept its ultra-lax monetary policy unchanged, as expected. The dol Will the Stock Market Crash in 2024? 7 Risk Factors 12/18/2023 07:00pm • Despite no shortage of chatter about an inbound recession, the U.S. stock market is going to end 2023 on an upbeat note, with the S&P 500 index up 23.5% as of Dec. 18. That's saying something given the downbeat vibe investors felt last January. "2023 may go down in history as the year that defie 10 Fun Things to Do in Your Free Time That Cost Nothing 12/18/2023 07:00pm • If you're financially wiped out from buying holiday gifts, going on a vacation or whatever you've been spending your money on lately, you may be looking for something fun to do in your free time that costs nothing. "You don't have to spend a fortune to have fun," says Katie Ross, executive vice pres What International Students Should Know About Financial Aid 12/18/2023 07:00pm • On top of tuition and fees, housing, books and other supplies, international students face additional costs compared to their domestic peers when studying at colleges in the U.S. Some of those supplementary expenses include visa application fees and international airfare. While earning an education Are You a Mini-Millionaire? 12/18/2023 07:00pm • Amassing a seven-figure net worth used to be an aspirational goal that most Americans could dream about but were unlikely to ever actually achieve. But in recent years, more Americans than ever before have officially reached millionaire status. Now, many classify themselves as "mini-millionaires." W After years of decline, the Biden administration says environmental enforcement is on the upswing 12/18/2023 06:30pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency conducted more on-site inspections of polluting industrial sites this year than any time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said Monday as it seeks to reinvigorate its enforcement program after more than a decade of budget cut Storied US Steel to be acquired for more than $14 billion by Nippon Steel 12/18/2023 05:33pm • U.S. Steel, the Pittsburgh steel producer that played a key role in the nation's industrialization, is being acquired by Nippon Steel in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $14.1 billion. The transaction is worth about $14.9 billion when including the assumption of debt. The combined company w How to manage holiday spending when you're dealing with student loan debt 12/18/2023 10:56am • NEW YORK (AP) — For Nicole Plauché and her family, Christmas is the time of the year where they can use their preferred love language: gift giving. This year, however, Plauché is worried about how much she can afford to spend on gifts. Her main struggle? Student loan payments. “It just does Klarna CEO Siemiatkowski says buy now, pay later is used by shoppers who otherwise avoid credit 12/18/2023 10:30am • NEW YORK (AP) — Sebastian Siemiatkowski is a co-founder and CEO of Klarna, the Sweden-based company that’s one of the world’s biggest providers of buy now, pay later services to customers. Klarna started off in Europe and entered the U.S. market in 2015. Buy now, pay later has become an increa Germany's economy seen shrinking again in the current quarter as business confidence declines 12/18/2023 07:48am • BERLIN (AP) — Germany's economy is likely to shrink again slightly in the current fourth quarter, the country's central bank said Monday, while a survey showed business confidence retreating unexpectedly. Europe’s biggest economy contracted by 0.1% in the third quarter after growing by the same Farmers protest against a German government plan to cut tax breaks for diesel 12/18/2023 03:27am • BERLIN (AP) — German farmers gathered in Berlin on Monday to protest against planned cuts to tax breaks for diesel used in agriculture, part of a deal reached by the government to plug a hole in the country’s budget. Leaders of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition last week agreed on m Recession 2024: What to Watch and How to Prepare 12/17/2023 07:00pm • The U.S. economy is on relatively solid footing heading into 2024 compared to a year ago. Inflation has cooled, labor markets have remained stable and the Federal Reserve has opened up to the possibility of decreasing interest rates at some point next year. Many economists, including Federal Open Ma 7 Oil Stocks to Buy Closely Tied to Crude Prices 12/17/2023 07:00pm • The energy sector has lagged the S&P 500 in 2023, and the International Energy Agency anticipates soft global oil demand in 2024. Oil and gas prices have declined recently, but WTI crude oil prices remain up more than 64% overall in the past three years. Stocks that are highly correlated to oil What Is a Purchase APR? 12/17/2023 07:00pm • Every credit card has certain terms and features you should be aware of -- and purchase APR is one of the most important. The APR, which stands for annual percentage rate, is the amount of interest you will pay if you carry a balance. While there are a few different types of APR, perhaps the most im Gift Card Do's and Don'ts 12/17/2023 07:00pm • As the name implies, gift cards are made for giving. These financial tools are loaded up with cash that the recipient can spend on what they want. They're widely available, both in stores and online, so they can be perfect when you need a last-minute gift and don't want to take chances on buying som