Top Financial News provided by CBS Marketwatch©

• We’re in our 60s with $1.5 million. Would a trust be more effective than a will to prevent conflict among our heirs?
  “I realize that probate can be lengthy, public and expensive.”
• My girlfriend is 62. Can she claim her late husband’s full Social Security benefit — or does she have to wait?
  “Her husband passed away 10 years ago. They had been married for more than 20 years.”
• Here’s what’s worth streaming in August 2026 on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and more
  Turn off your brain and enjoy new seasons of Apple’s ‘Ted Lasso,’ Amazon’s ‘Reacher,’ Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks’ and much more
• My ex-husband’s sister died — so why is Fidelity asking me for her death certificate?
  “Part of me jokes that paying for a death certificate would be like buying a lottery ticket.”
• S&P 500 profit growth is getting even wilder as Amazon makes its mark
  Amazon is the latest Big Tech company to report abnormally large earnings growth, thanks to paper gains on Anthropic investments.
• If Social Security’s funding crisis is the elephant in the room, this is the mouse everyone has overlooked. You have been warned.
  “Delaying Social Security until 70 results in an increased monthly payment — and that comes with proportionally higher cost-of-living adjustments.”
• ‘We have always been civil’: My sister refuses to replace me as executor. Can I step down before she dies?
  “I haven’t seen my sister since our mother’s funeral more than 20 years ago.”
• How Apple’s cheap MacBook Neo sparked a war in budget laptops
  Apple’s gamble on the budget MacBook Neo is paying off and forcing rivals to rethink their offerings.
• Investors are rotating into financial stocks. The Fed’s next move could determine how far the rally runs.
  Financial stocks have been among the market’s best performers this month. The Fed’s next move, however, may determine how much further the rotation can run.
• Financial stocks are crushing it. These charts show why the ‘breakout’ rally may have just begun.
  The breakout to record highs by bank stocks, plus their strong earnings and favorable valuations, suggest more good times ahead for the financial sector.

Wall Street Journal Market News©

• Stocks Sink in Broad AI Rout Sparked by China's DeepSeek
  U.S. stocks were mostly lower, with the Nasdaq leading declines as makers of AI infrastructure suffered steep falls, many in the double digits. Nvidia was down 16%.
• Comex Gold, Silver Settle Lower
  Gold settled 1.4% lower, down two of the past three sessions, and silver fell 2.5%, down three of the past four sessions.
• DeepSeek Won't Sink U.S. AI Titans
  Panic fueling the selloff of Nvidia, Broadcom and other tech giants is overblown.
• Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
  Gain insight on Experian, SoFi Technologies and more in the latest Market Talks covering Financial Services.
• Arabica Coffee Prices Hit Record on U.S., Colombia Tariff Spat
  Arabica coffee prices hit a record level, as traders digested the withdrawal of President Trump’s threats to impose tariffs and economic sanctions on Colombia.
• Swiss franc, Japanese yen Rise as DeepSeek News Boosts Safe Havens
  The Yen and Swiss Franc were stronger against the dollar as investors sought safe havens after Chinese start-up DeepSeek’s new AI model hit U.S. tech stocks.
• Natural Gas Falls on Shifting Weather Forecasts
  U.S. natural gas futures fell after weekend updates took some of the chill out of early February weather forecasts.
• Building-Products Distributor QXO Launches Hostile Bid for Beacon
  QXO is taking its offer directly to shareholders after being rebuffed on several occasions.
• Natural-Gas Firm Diversified Energy Strikes Deal for Permian Basin Player
  Maverick Natural Resources has operations in Texas and Oklahoma.
• What's New This Tax Season That Can Save You Money
  There are some new wrinkles, especially for those who sell things online or bought an EV.
• Chinese Investors With Few Options Turn to Dividends
  Companies with good payouts are now the hottest bet in China markets.
• U.S. Treasury Yields Fall But Direction for Long-End Yields Still Seen Upward
  The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell and ING said the the long end of the Treasury curve will continue trading at higher yields even as Trump hasn’t delivered anything to shock markets so far.
• Russia's Crude Exports Fairly Stable Despite U.S. Sanctions, Goldman Says
  Oil edged lower in early trade as Goldman Sachs said the latest round of U.S. sanctions against Russia haven’t had a significant impact on the country’s oil exports.
• The Extra Reward for Owning Stocks Over Bonds Has Disappeared
  There is little sign of crimped demand for equities among individual investors, who remain bullish after two years of blockbuster gains.
• Heard on the Street's Stock-Picking Series
  Check out the stocks Heard on the Street writers favor in their eighth annual stock-picking contest.
• What Will It Take for Home Buyers to Start Asking for a Disaster Discount?
  The real costs of owning a house in neighborhoods that are vulnerable to flooding and wildfires are becoming clearer.
• Now Wanted in Silicon Valley: Ho-Hum Businesses With Thin Profit Margins
  Venture-capital firms are bringing AI and dealmaking to accounting, property management and other unglamorous fields.
• In China, a Cat-and-Mouse Game to Rein In Crypto
  Recent court cases reveal how middlemen are facilitating a booming trade, eluding a crackdown.
• One House, Three Owners: The Ballooning Cost of the American Dream
  The story of home affordability in the U.S. told from a single front porch.
• Trump Adds Fuel to Claims That Big Banks Discriminate Against Conservatives
  The president has told Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase to stop cutting conservatives off from doing business.