Investing for income through dividends and distributions

Market drops 2%, China starts closing off, Microsoft buybacks, Social Security COL, Wind power blows in the UK, and more!

Microsoft’s latest purchase scheme comes after two senior Democratic senators proposed a 2% tax on corporate stock buybacks as part of a bid to help fund a $3.5 trillion U.S. budget bill. The potential tax, announced on Friday, was released by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod…

The 68 million people — including retirees, disabled people and others – who rely on the benefits are likely to receive a 6% to 6.1% cost-of-living adjustment next year because of a COVID-19-related spike in inflation, according to the Senior Citizen League. Such a rise would far outpace 1.4% average bumps in Social Security payments…

Oil prices rose over $2 on Wednesday after industry data showed a larger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. crude inventories and on expectations demand will rise as vaccination roll-outs widen. Brent oil rose $2.14, or 3%, to $75.75 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $2.28, or 3.2%, to $72.74 a barrel. Brent hit its highest levels…

The San Ramon, Calif., oil giant is pledging to spend $10 billion through 2028 on biofuels, hydrogen production, carbon capture and other technologies, up from a prior commitment of around $3 billion. Mr. Wirth said in an interview that the spending boost reflects optimism in Chevron’s new energies unit, announced in July to oversee the…

I stand on the opinion that the best source of “carbon neutral” energy is nuclear. It’s reliable always-on energy that is safer than ever before with modern reactors that don’t produce much nuclear waste. The sudden slowdown in wind-driven electricity production off the coast of the U.K. in recent weeks whipsawed through regional energy markets.…