Wed, February 19, 2025

by: Bloomberg

South Africa Budget Under Added Scrutiny Given Trump Aid Tensions

South Africa's finance minister is under pressure to chart an economic course that navigates the hazards unleashed by Donald Trump's trade war.

by: Fortune

Tax season 2025 scorecard: Americans are waiting longer to file and are receiving bigger refunds

The IRS's update on the progress of tax season this year so far shows that average tax refund amounts are up 18.6% versus the same time last year, total filings down slightly to date.

by: CNBC

Here's what happens if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac go private

The U.S. government may soon return Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to private markets less than two decades after turmoil nearly toppled the mortgage industry.

by: LionhearTV

Igloo kicks off 2025 with multi-market partnership wins and Chief Distribution Officer appointment

Leading regional insurtech Igloo enters 2025 with a strong push, launching new partnerships, introducing new products with existing partners across the region, and appointing a Chief Distribution Officer to grow its embedded insurance and sales intermediaries business lines.

by: Kiplinger

7 of Warren Buffett's Biggest Misses

Warren Buffett's investing wins are highly regarded across Wall Street, but no one can bat a thousand. Here are some of Buffett's biggest misses.

by: AOL

Gas prices are headed higher, and a 'ripple effect' could make it worse in certain regions

According to one forecast, prices at the pump could jump by as much as $0.60 a gallon between now and mid-April.

by: Kiplinger

Why Toll Brothers Stock Is Falling After Earnings

Toll Brothers stock is lower Wednesday after the homebuilder missed expectations for its first quarter. Here's what you need to know.

by: CNBC

5 tax scams in 2025 and how to avoid them

These scams usually come via email with catchy subject lines like "Unclaimed Refund" or "Tax Refund Payment," often with a fake version of the IRS logo. Typically, you're asked to click a link and provide your Social Security number, birthday, address and driver's license to "claim" your refund.

by: Kiplinger

Legislation Cracking Down on IRS Tax Refund Mail Theft Advances

A string of bipartisan measures targeting taxpayer refunds, rights, and protections move forward on Capitol Hill.

by: News24

LIVE | Budget postponed to 12 March following Cabinet clash over VAT hike to 17%

The government is scrambling for extra revenue to keep a lid on South Africa's growing debt burden while continuing to fund the machinery of state amid rising healthcare and social services costs and a public sector wage hike.

by: AOL

Bausch and Lomb's dealmaking CEO Brent Saunders: No deal for company is imminent

After completing $300 billion in healthcare deals over several decades, there is one deal Bausch and Lomb ( BLCO) chairman and CEO Brent Saunders won't be making in 2025. The one for his contact lens maker with a history dating back to the 1800s.

by: Forbes

Financial Technology Trends And Vertical AI Technology

By infusing domain-specific knowledge into a standard AI framework, we can create responses that are finely tuned to specific industries or processes. This refined AI approach is referred to as "vertical AI," which provides a concentrated understanding of the complexities inherent in financial operations, resulting in more informed decision-making.

by: sanews

Budget speech postponed

In an unprecedented moment for the South African Parliament and the country, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza announced this afternoon, that the tabling of the Budget Speech for 2025/26 has been postponed to a later date.

by: Forbes

AI Bridges The Trust Gap: How Explainable AI Aligns Modelers And Business Leaders

• Collaboration is deepened. Regular cross-functional dialogue creates a feedback loop that continuously refines both AI models and business strategies. • Innovation is fostered. With clear insights into model behavior, AI becomes a collaborative partner in driving growth and innovation.

by: Reuters

Exclusive: Vanguard pauses corporate meetings over new ESG guidance

Top mutual fund manager Vanguard has paused meetings with portfolio companies while it reviews the impact of new guidance on investor activism from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people familiar with the matter.

by: manilatimes

Enlight Renewable Energy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. (NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2024. The Company's earnings conference call and webcast will be held today at 8:00 AM ET.

by: Zawya

Al Masraf and Finneva sign agreement to boost UAE SME growth

Al Masraf (The Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade) has signed an agreement with Finneva Information Technologies LLC (Finneva) to introduce innovative Supply Chain Finance solutions for Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE.

by: MSN

Reserve Bank cuts OCR by 50 basis points to 3.75%

The 50 basis-point cut sends the OCR to a two-year-low of 3.75%

by: Forbes

Best Business Checking Accounts Of February 2025

Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. One of the most important decisions small business owners face is choosing the right business banking relationship. For many ...

by: AOL

Why Trump economic advisers are more focused on Wall Street than the Fed

National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett hopes to bring down borrowing costs via 10-year Treasury yields, echoing the stance of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

by: Zawya

ECI highlights its role in empowering exports and supporting non-oil GDP

During the event, which was held on February 18 and 19, 2025 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, ECI exhibited its advanced credit services at a dedicated pavilion and launched various initiatives designed to support the country's manufacturers and exporters.

by: MSN

Edmonds School District faces estimated $8.5 million deficit

The shortfall is lower than previous years, but the effects are "cumulative," Superintendent Rebecca Miner said.

by: Reuters

Devon Energy beats fourth-quarter profit estimate on higher production

Oil and gas firm Devon Energy beat analysts' estimate for fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, as higher production helped counter the impact from lower prices.

by: Mint

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: What's new and what stands out

Available for ₹3,612 per month, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is designed for professionals needing efficiency and security in a high-performance smartphone.

by: MSN

Budget 2025 | Parties, unions warn against tax hikes

Unions and political parties are warning against tax increases when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presents the budget.

by: Reuters

HSBC to sell Bahrain retail banking operations as restructuring progresses

HSBC on Tuesday agreed to sell its retail banking operations in Bahrain to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) amid a global restructuring at the bank.
Tue, February 18, 2025

by: Variety

Angel City FC Names Carmen Bona President of Business Operations, Promotes Julie Uhrman to CEO

NWSL club Angel City FC has hired Carmen Bona as its president of business operations and promoted Julie Uhrman to CEO ahead of the 2025 season.

by: Yahoo

"We were prepared, but not ready;" Small business owners recovering from flooding

by: Mint

Quality Power IPO Day 3 Highlights: Issue booked 1.29x. Check GMP, key dates, review, subscription status

Quality Power Electrical Equipments IPO price band is set at ₹401 to ₹425 per share. Subscription kicked off on February 14 and closes on February 18. Quality Power operates in the domain of energy transition technology and electrical solutions.

by: Fortune

Southwest to cut 15% of corporate jobs in first-ever layoffs

The layoffs challenge Southwest's philosophy that happy employees would lead to happy customers, profitability and happy Southwest shareholders.

by: Indiatimes

India Live News Updates: India, Qatar agree to enhance cooperation in information and intelligence sharing

India, Qatar agreed to enhance cooperation in information and intelligence sharing; developing, exchanging best practices

by: Kiplinger

Why You May Owe More Tax Soon on Popular Employee Benefits

The proposal is estimated to save $50 billion in spending over 10 years. Kate is a CPA with experience in audit and technology. As a Tax Writer at Kiplinger, Kate believes that tax and finance news should meet people where they are today, across cultural, educational, and disciplinary backgrounds.

by: ABC

Judge approves emergency plan to keep Britain's largest water company afloat

A judge has approved an emergency plan to keep Britain's largest water company afloat and averted a possible temporary government takeover

by: Nairametrics

Klak Unveils Cash Management Platform for SMBs in Nigeria and Kenya

Klak, a leading B2B SaaS provider, has officially launched its innovative cash flow management and finance automation platform designed to

by: Forbes

Banks Are Gaining Access To A Growing Amount Of Data: Here's How To Use It

As banks gain access to new data and realize opportunities to analyze this data at scale, they can use the resulting insights to deliver on consumers' growing demands.

by: bnnbloomberg

Colombia Suffered a Low Growth 2024 as Energy Sector Lagged

Colombia suffered another year of weak economic growth as the oil, gas and coal sectors contracted while tight monetary policy held back manufacturing.

by: Forbes

Gold Is Booming: It's Time To Invest Like It's WWIII

Gold is for War. That is why governments stack it - gold is for bullets, tanks and ships when the chips are down. So, it is not a happy moment to watch gold go vertical.

by: News24

News24 invites you to unpack the Budget with Godongwana and Kieswetter

News24 writer-at-large Carol Paton will unpack the Budget with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, SA Revenue Service Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, and Standard Bank chief economist Goolam Ballim.

by: MSN

Stocks Set to Open Higher as Investors Await Fed Minutes and U.S. Economic Data

S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESH25) are up +0.28%, andMarch Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQH25) are up +0.36% this morning, with investors looking ahead to the publication of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting,

by: MoneyWeek

Saba seven becomes four: what now for UK investment trusts?

Having been defeated by seven UK investment trusts' shareholders, Saba's new approach poses the question of what investment trusts mean to retail investors

by: Edie

TNFD launches upskilling platform to help corporates master nature disclosure

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has introduced new online platforms to help organisations and individuals build capacity and knowledge on nature and business risks and opportunities.

by: Kiplinger

Why 'Standard' Digital Background Checks Can Be So Unreliable

Missing online data, as well as stringent federal and state privacy rules, make it difficult to discover a prospective employee's or tenant's criminal past.

by: Zawya

Mamo and Paymentology join forces to drive financial inclusion for SMEs across UAE

Mamo partners with Paymentology to work towards closing the financial inclusion gap for SMEs, providing them with virtual Visa prepaid cards linked to Mamo's single platform. The solution empowers businesses to efficiently manage payments, expenses, and financial operations in a streamlined manner

by: MSN

Fortis Inc. (NYSE:FTS) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript February 14, 2025 Fortis Inc. beats earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $0.583, expectations were $0.57. Operator: Thank you for standing by. This is Betsy, the conference operator.

by: Oneindia

India To Cut Import Duties Amid US Tariff Concerns, Says Finance Minister Sitharaman

A 15 per cent to 20 per cent average increase in tariffs could reduce India's exports to the US by 3-3.5 per cent

by: Reuters

Aussie "Big Four" banks cut rates, mirroring central bank

Australian "Big Four" lenders cut their interest rates by 25 basis points on Tuesday, in tandem with the central bank cutting its rates for the first time since November 2020.

by: WFMJ

Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance at YSU set as site for VITA Program

The VITA Program began on February 7 and will continue every Friday until April 11. Appointments must be made to participate in the VITA Program as no walk-ins are accepted.

by: Reuters

Mexican tequila makers fret as US tariffs threaten their business

With the threat of a 25% U.S. import tax hanging over them, Mexican tequila manufacturers are anxious that businesses they've spent years building will have the rug pulled out from under them.

How To Protect Your Real Estate And Hard Assets

At its core, asset protection is a meaningful way to safeguard your future and demonstrate care for yourself, your loved ones and the legacy you've worked hard to build.

The article from Forbes Finance Council, published on February 18, 2025, titled "How To Protect Your Real Estate And Hard Assets," provides insights from various financial experts on safeguarding real estate and other tangible assets. Key strategies discussed include diversifying investments to mitigate risks, ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage, employing legal structures like LLCs or trusts to shield assets from liabilities, and staying informed about market trends and economic conditions. Experts also emphasize the importance of regular property maintenance, understanding local laws and regulations, and considering the use of technology for security enhancements. Additionally, the article touches on the benefits of having a robust estate plan, engaging in proactive tax planning, and the potential of using financial instruments like annuities or life insurance to protect wealth. The overarching theme is the proactive and strategic management of assets to ensure their longevity and security in an ever-changing economic landscape.

Read the Full Forbes Article at:
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2025/02/18/how-to-protect-your-real-estate-and-hard-assets/