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Private investors' commitment potentially marks the highest-ever annual commitment from the private sector in India’s roads sector. The push signals a renewed push to crowd in private capital after years of limited activity under BOT model. View More

Although gold is generally viewed as a safe-haven investment during turbulent times, it's important to know what you're investing in before jumping in. View More

In this articleGLDFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Frame Studio | Moment | Getty Images With the Middle East war rattling global markets, gold is once again drawing attention as a potential safe-haven investment. The precious metal is generally viewed as a diversifier and store of value in turbulent times. However, it's important to know what you're investing in, and why, before jumping in."Gold may be one of the ways to invest against the geopolitical shock, but certainly there are others," such as global energy and defense stocks, said certified financial planner Barry Glassman, founder and president of Glassman Wealth Services in Vienna, Virginia, and a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council. "It'll be interesting to see which parts of portfolios hold up during this volatility." Gold prices have been on a run-up Gold's price has jumped in recent days due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East sparked by the joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran, which were met with retaliatory attacks on Israel and other U.S. allies around the Gulf region. The price for a troy ounce of gold shot above $5,400 overnight before settling back in the $5,300 range by Monday afternoon. More from Financial Advisor Playbook:Here's a look at other stories affecting the financial advisor business.Student loan forgiveness is taxable again. How to plan for a five-figure IRS billTrump accounts have 'more unanswered questions than answered,' expert saysHome sellers start getting lower prices at 70, research shows — here's whyBigger SALT cap may 'drive higher refunds,' tax expert says — who benefitsTrump accounts could grow to $50,000 or more, president says. Advisors weigh inHousing affordability isn't just hurting buyers: More homeowners are falling behindIn an affordability crunch, Gen Z adults lean on their parents for financial helpPenalty-free withdrawals from 401(k)s can now pay for long-term care insuranceTax changes Social Security beneficiaries may see based on new laws53% of investors with a required withdrawal for 2025 still haven't taken it: FidelityThe first step workers should take after a layoff, as job losses soar While down from its record high of $5,594 on Jan. 29, experts say gold's price may still have upside potential this year. Analysts at J.P. Morgan said in a new research note that "conflict-driven surges in gold come and go, though geopolitical risks broadly are likely to stay on the boil," which partly contributes to their forecast of gold reaching $6,300 by the end of 2026."The market tends to give you clues on what might be good asset classes to hold during downturns and global uncertainty," said certified financial planner Patrick Huey, owner and principal advisor with Victory Independent Planning in Naples, Florida. "As long as we still see global upheaval, I think gold will continue to do well."Already this year, gold is up roughly 23%. In 2025, it jumped about 64%. That compares to the S&P 500's gain of 16.4% last year. The surge in price has been attributed to a variety of factors, including increasing demand from both central banks and individual investors. How to incorporate gold in your portfolio It's important to know there's no guarantee that you'll make money if you invest in gold, Huey said. "Gold has had long periods where it's done absolutely nothing, and long periods when it's been very volatile," he said. "And you can certainly lose money in gold."Many financial advisors recommend keeping your alternative investments — which include gold — to a small share of your portfolio. Huey said he keeps alternatives to 5% to 10% in client portfolios.Many investors have chosen to invest in gold through exchange-traded funds rather than buying physical gold, which they need to store. With ETFs, investors can gain exposure to the precious metal without owning physical gold. Like all ETFs, they trade throughout the day like stocks. Most are passively managed, meaning they track an index and its performance, for better or worse. Gold ETFs may come with different tax treatment There are a few different types of ETFs that give you gold exposure, and it's worth knowing the tax treatment of them.Some ETFs invest directly in gold bullion, such as SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). Each ETF share represents a certain amount of that physical gold.If you invest in one of the ETFs through a taxable brokerage account, be aware that any profit when you sell may be taxed differently than gains on other investments like stocks and bonds, Huey said.Short-term capital gains — profits on assets held for a year or less — face ordinary income tax rates, which range from 10% to 37%. However, even if you hold on to your gold ETF for more than a year, typical long-term capital gains tax rates — 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your income — do not apply, Huey said.Instead, the IRS treats gold as a collectible, which comes with a maximum tax rate of 28%. That holds true even if you invest in gold through an ETF. Investors with incomes in higher tax brackets end up paying that rate. Alternatively, you can buy ETFs that invest in gold futures contracts, such as Invesco DB Gold Fund (DGL).These funds use derivatives instead of holding physical gold, which results in a different tax treatment, Huey said. Generally speaking, gains on these ETFs are subject to the IRS's so-called 60/40 rule: Whatever long-term gains tax you're subject to will apply to 60% of the gain, and ordinary tax rates will apply to 40% of it, no matter how long you've held the ETF.Another way to invest in gold via ETFs is through those that invest in gold-mining companies, such as VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX). Any profits earned with these ETFs would be taxed at normal short- and long-term rates.

Airlines and some hotel stocks fell after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliation strikes. View More

In this articleHLTDALAALUALNCLHFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT A display board shows canceled flights to Dubai and Doha amid regional airspace closures at Noi Bai International Airport, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 2, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. Thinh Nguyen | Reuters Airline and travel stocks slipped Monday after airspace closures throughout the Middle East forced carriers to cancel thousands of flights, disrupting trips as far as Brazil and the Philippines.Cruise lines stocks also fell sharply, with Royal Caribbean Cruises dropping 3% and Carnival Corp. losing more than 7%.Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' stock fell 10% after its earnings call disappointed investors. Elliott Investment Management said last month that it had built a more than 10% stake in the company and that it's seeking changes. New CEO John Chidsey told analysts that "our strategy is sound, our execution and coordination have not been, and a culture of accountability is essential and necessary going forward."Oil prices also rose, potentially driving up airlines' biggest cost after labor. Flights through the Middle East were grounded, including to destinations like Tel Aviv and Dubai.United Airlines, which has the most international exposure of the U.S. carriers, fell nearly 3%. Service to Tel Aviv, Israel, one of the airline's most profitable routes, was halted, but airlines were also was forced to pause flights to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, one of the busiest airport hubs in the world. Dubai is also a home base for the airline Emirates.Shares of American Airlines lost 4% while Delta Air Lines fell 2%.More than 11,000 Middle East flights have been canceled since the U.S.-Israeli strikes this weekend, according to aviation-data firm Cirium.International travel has been a bright spot in the travel sector. In January, international air travel demand jumped 5.9% from a year ago while domestic flight demand was nearly flat, the International Air Transport Association, an airline industry group, said in a report Monday.— CNBC's Contessa Brewer contributed to this report. Read more about military conflicts' impact on commercial flightsAirlines divert, cancel more Middle East flights after Iran attacks U.S. military baseAirlines cancel Israel flights, tour operators scramble to change trips after attacksRussia’s invasion of Ukraine is driving up air cargo costsNo-fly zones, canceled flights: How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is disrupting air travel

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The defense sector was a rare bright spot amid a broader market sell-off triggered by fears of a wider regional conflict following U.S. attacks on Iran. View More

In this articleLMTNOCRADA-ILITAXAR.STOXXHAG-DEBA.-GBHO-FRR3NK-DER3N-FFLDO-IT.SPXFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT People visit a Lockheed Martin booth displaying a model of a military transport plane during an arms fair, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Dec. 19, 2024.Khanh Vu | Reuters Global defense stocks jumped on Monday as investors reacted to a dramatic military escalation in the Middle East over the weekend. The sector was a rare bright spot amid a broader market sell-off triggered by fears of a wider regional conflict.Germany's Hensoldt and Britain's BAE Systems were among the top performers in the Stoxx 600, up close to 5% and around 6%, respectively. Defense name Renk rose more than 3%, and Leonardo gained more than 2%, paring earlier gains. The broader Stoxx 600 index fell more than 1%, touching a two-week low.Stateside, U.S. firms Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman rose more than 3% and about 6%, respectively. The S&P 500 traded just above the flatline, rebounding from earlier losses.With South Korean markets closed Monday, regional activity in Asia-Pacific defense sector was somewhat muted. Japan's defense heavyweights Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI rose roughly 3% each, while Singapore's ST Engineering climbed 2.8%.The moves come after the U.S. and Israel launched widespread attacks on Iran over the weekend that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ending his 36-year rule. Retaliatory strikes by Iran against U.S. bases in the Middle East killed three U.S. service members.Prospects of an escalation also led oil prices and energy companies' shares to surge."It's very much one of uncertainty at the moment that investors are grappling with," said Patrick O'Donnell, Chief Investment Strategist at Omnis Investments."Equity markets are a little bit more uncertain about just how long this is going to drag on, for the implication for both growth and inflation that it will have the longer that it goes on," O'Donnell told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Monday. "Really, it's a question of... what's the duration of this conflict?"The conflict with Iran entered a third day on Monday, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning of further American casualties and saying the conflict could last for up to four weeks. In June last year, the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes that damaged three Iranian nuclear sites. watch nowVIDEO10:4110:41U.S. strikes on Iran are a 'war of choice' — former Sweden PM Carl BildtSquawk Box Europe Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden and co-chair of ECFR's Council, said it was expected that Iran would strike back at the American military facilities in the Gulf region, "but now it seems like they are striking other targets across the Gulf as well.""That is surprising, but also highly disturbing, because, of course, the stability of the Gulf countries is important to us all, important to the global economy, important to the region," he said. Stock Chart IconStock chart iconDefense stocks have surged in recent years as geopolitical tensions mount Defense companies have already posted big gains over the past few years amid heightened geopolitical tensions, prompting governments to hike defense spending. European defense stocks in particular are sensitive to news on the development of the Ukraine-Russia war. A lack of earnings momentum European defense companies are approaching the end of this quarter's earnings season, and Barclays analysts said there have been "more negatives than positives so far this year" despite stocks' strong performance.While Sweden's Saab posted record results and backlogs, Barclays analysts said they "question the sustainability of its elevated growth," in a note to clients published Monday. Saab shares rose as much as 7% early Monday, to quickly pare gains and trade largely flat by noon London time (7 a.m. Eastern time)."Valuation is also at a significant premium and doesn't justify the longer-term earnings trajectory, which could normalise faster than most peers," they added.Rheinmetall and Thales have yet to report full-year earnings.— CNBC's Lim Hui Jie and Lee Ying Shan contributed to this report

Versant, the portfolio of pay TV networks previously owned by Comcast, will release its first earnings report since going public earlier this year. View More

In this articleVSNTFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Versant Media debuts it's IPO at the Nasdaq on Jan. 5th, 2026.The Nasdaq Versant Media Group will release its first earnings report as a public company on Tuesday, giving Wall Street its first glimpse inside a company made up primarily of pay TV networks. The Comcast spinoff — comprised of CNBC, MS Now, USA Network, Golf Channel, Syfy, E! and Oxygen, as well as digital properties including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and Sports Engine — debuted on the Nasdaq in January after one of the media industry's most significant transactions in recent years. The company's first-ever quarterly results will provide more detail into a portfolio of assets that were long embedded in Comcast's NBCUniversal TV results. They will also test Wall Street's appetite for cable TV at a time when the market has faced deep pressures. Ahead of going public, Versant released financials that showed declining revenue in recent years. Versant's assets generated $7.1 billion in revenue in 2024, down from $7.4 billion in 2023 and $7.8 billion in 2022, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Versant's stock has dropped about 25% since its January debut, weighed down by expected selling related to the spinoff. The company's market capitalization stands at roughly $4.8 billion. Pay TV pressure It's a rarity these days to see pure-play media stocks going public — especially those made up solely of TV networks. Last year Newsmax, the conservative cable news network, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Its shares initially soared before falling precipitously since its debut. Versant makes more than 80% of its overall revenue from pay TV distribution. While that business is still profitable, the longtime cash cow for the media industry has been declining as customers flee the bundle for streaming alternatives. "At Versant, 62% of our audience comes from live programming across sports and news," CEO Mark Lazarus said during the company's investor day in December. "We feel very confident in our position. And the last year, the deals we've done, I think bears that out," he added.Versant's sports- and news-heavy content slate has been a key part of its pitch to investors — as has its light debt load and its emphasis on digital properties as future drivers of revenue and earnings growth. Mark Lazarus, CEO of Versant, visits the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 21, 2025. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters "Sports and news focus is positive, as Versant has far fewer of the lower-value general entertainment networks that some peers do," Raymond James analysts wrote in a research note earlier this year. "While Versant lacks 'Tier One' sports like NFL, NBA, college football, etc., we think its sports lineup (significant golf rights, WWE, NASCAR, etc.) combined with MS NOW, CNBC, and other networks, supports VSNT's value to distributors." Before its spinout, NBCUniversal negotiated carriage agreements with most major distributors, like Charter Communications and Google's YouTube TV, that included Versant's networks. Those agreements hold for at least the next two years even after the spinout — an important cushion as these negotiations have become increasingly fraught and can lead to content blackouts."More than half of our pay TV subscribers are governed by agreements that go through 2028 and beyond … many of our sports agreements … go well past 2030," said Anand Kini, Versant COO and CFO, during the investor day. "We view this as really important because the long-term nature of these partnerships highlights the stability of our business and also provides great visibility in the years to come."Versant networks will face the first test on their own at the negotiation table this year when two distribution agreements come up for renewal, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly. A Versant spokesperson declined to comment on the upcoming discussions. Typically, news and sports networks hold more weight during such negotiations, but blackouts are becoming more common, even for those with top-tier rights such as the NFL. 'Business model transition' Yet the traditional TV bundle has shown a glimmer of stability recently, despite the focus on streaming. Charter, one of the largest distributors of the bundle in the U.S., reported an addition of cable customers in the quarter ended Dec. 31 — its first quarterly gain since 2020. Comcast and other distributors, however, still reported customer losses — albeit at a slower rate than recent declines. That's a sign of possible stabilization, according to Craig Moffett, analyst at MoffettNathanson. In light of its weight toward traditional TV networks, Versant's leadership has told Wall Street it's in the midst of a pivot. "We view 2026 as the first year of our business model transition," Kini said in December. Versant executives told Wall Street of their intention to invest in its direct-to-consumer products and ad-supported TV expansion, among other growth initiatives.Long term, executives are targeting a future in which 50% of Versant's revenue is derived from pay TV and the other 50% comes from digital, platform, subscription, ad-supported and transactional businesses. M&A is another part of the equation, although bulking up on linear TV networks is not in the plan, executives have said. Already, the company has announced deals such as the acquisition of Free TV Networks, a provider of free over-the-air digital broadcast networks, and Indy Cinema Group, a cloud-based cinema operating system, which was folded into Fandango.The question, however, is whether Wall Street has the patience to see the business evolve past its focus on the bundle. Comcast's spinoff of Versant's channels was an effort to separate itself from a deteriorating business. Warner Bros. Discovery started down a similar route — announcing it would split its TV networks from its streaming assets — before striking an agreement with Paramount Skydance to sell the entirety of the company. Analysts that have initiated coverage of Versant list the various highlights of the business, from strong free cash flow to a portfolio heavy on sports and news, while still voicing some hesitation. "We are Neutral-rated on VSNT given the secular challenges in the linear networks business, while [remaining] encouraged by the company's efforts in the platforms business," Goldman Sachs analysts said in research note in January.

The conflict involving Iran threatens another price spike that could undermine the president's central case for lower interest rates. View More

Gas prices at a Sunoco gas station in Media, Pennsylvania, US, on Monday, March 2, 2026. Oil surged the most in four years as the first impacts of the war in the Middle East began to be felt, with a near halt to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and disruption at a big refinery in Saudi Arabia underscoring the threat to supplies in one of the world's top producing regions. Photographer: Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesMatthew Hatcher | Bloomberg | Getty Images Just as President Donald Trump has been insisting that inflation is on the run, the war involving Iran threatens another price spike that could undermine his central case for lower interest rates.Oil prices jumped overnight as markets reacted to the escalation in the region, following a joint U.S.-Israel strike. West Texas Intermediate futures rose more than 5% while Brent crude futures gained about 6%, both off their overnight highs but still sharply elevated.The increase in oil prices adds another layer to recent indicators that, while inflation is well off its highs of a few years ago, underlying price pressures remain. Historically, surges in energy costs have often preceded broader inflation increases.Generally speaking, "war has proven to be 'inflationary,' as it is associated with negative supply shocks," wrote Thierry Wizman, global FX and rates strategist at Macquarie Group. "Indeed, even before the new U.S.-Iran war, oil prices were higher on hoarding, and since hostilities began, prices are being pushed up by higher insurance premiums and forced re-routing of maritime shipping."There also have been signs outside of energy markets that inflation pressures may be firming. watch nowVIDEO9:2709:27Famed energy investor Mark Fisher's take on oil prices, Iran conflictHalftime Report January's producer price index, a measure of wholesale costs and a proxy for pipeline inflation, rose a stronger-than-expected 0.8% excluding food and energy. That pushed the 12-month rate to 3.6%, still well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.In addition, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday that its manufacturing prices index showed that more than 70% of managers reported higher prices in February, an 11.5 percentage point jump from a month earlier. Even so, most economists say the impact from higher oil prices is difficult to gauge and could ultimately prove temporary, as has often been the case with past Middle East conflicts. Time is the key Economists say the duration of the war will be critical. Prolonged disruptions to shipping routes, higher insurance costs and supply chain rerouting could amplify inflationary pressures beyond the direct effect of higher gasoline prices."It is unclear at this time whether the price increase is sustainable over the medium term because the conflict is still in its early stages," said Ravikanth Rai, associate managing director for energy and natural resources at Morningstar. "It is difficult to determine if there will be a structural impact on oil and gas supply coming out of the region."Moreover, with the U.S. producing a larger share of its own energy, the broader economic impact of oil price spikes is not what it once was."In today's American economy, spikes in oil prices do not present the same significant downside risk to top-line economic growth or inflation as they did a half century ago," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. "The American economy is far less exposed to economic and inflation disruptions while its overall size has tripled."By one estimate, a $10 increase in oil prices would translate to roughly a 0.2 percentage point rise in inflation and a 0.1 percentage point drag on economic growth. With the current move in crude falling short of that threshold, the near-term economic impact is expected to be modest. Stagflation risks are back Still, crosscurrents remain. The U.S. labor market has shown signs of softening, while the outlook for tariffs and fiscal policy remains uncertain, adding to an economic picture that has been resilient but showed signs of cooling toward the end of 2025.Some economists warn of stagflation risks, in which higher prices coincide with slower growth."Given that growth in most regions is still recovering from pandemic, trade and geopolitical tensions, stagflation risks may reemerge depending on how long Middle East tensions last," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote.Together, the developments suggest inflation may be facing renewed pressure from both geopolitical shocks and underlying cost trends, complicating what had been a gradual return toward the Fed's 2% goal.Markets on Monday increased bets that the central bank will remain on hold at its March meeting and potentially into the summer, as officials weigh the competing forces of higher energy prices and uneven growth."While this conflict heightens stagflationary risks for the global economy, it is unfolding against a backdrop of favorable growth-policy mix and resilient earnings," said Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity strategy at Barclays.Cau added that if the conflict ultimately leads to greater regional stability, it could even prove "oil negative/growth positive in the medium term."All of that means the "rise in oil prices will of course receive attention from" the Fed, wrote Citigroup economist Andrew Hollenhorst. "But movements in commodity prices, especially if short lived, are typically 'looked through' by Fed officials, and may be modest in any case." watch nowVIDEO3:5403:54Richard Bernstein Advisors CEO on how the Fed should set policySquawk on the Street

Mortgage rates moved decidedly higher Monday, as the U.S. war with Iran pushed oil prices up and Treasury yields followed. View More

An aerial view of homes in San Francisco, Aug. 27, 2025.Justin Sullivan | Getty Images After falling below 6%, matching their lowest level in several years, mortgage rates reversed course Monday, hitting their highest point in two weeks.The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed loan rose 13 basis points to 6.12%, according to Mortgage News Daily. It had fallen to a recent low of 5.99% on Feb. 23 and pretty much sat there all week. The drop was welcome news as the all-important spring housing market gets underway. Potential buyers have been sidelined by high home prices and concerns over the broader economy. Mortgage rates crossing into the 5% range broke an emotional barrier for some, suggesting buyers might jump at the opportunity.Mortgage rates loosely follow the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury, which rose back above 4% on Monday. The growing conflict with Iran caused a spike in oil prices, raising inflation worries and pushing yields higher. Get Property Play directly to your inboxCNBC's Property Play with Diana Olick covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, delivered weekly to your inbox.Subscribe here to get access today. Oil prices, however, may not be what's driving mortgage rates up, according to Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily. "In fact, versus the 3pm CME close on Friday, bonds were flat until 7am. By that time, oil had already experienced almost all its volatility for the day," Graham said in emailed comments to CNBC. "The crux of the bond sell-off played out in a vacuum--STRONGLY suggesting Friday's yields were dragged down by month-end buying and this morning's selling is 'new month' positioning." This underscores the possibility that the bond market will view Monday's move as a technical bounce at the 4% level in 10-year Treasurys, Graham said. This means it could be more challenging for rates to move lower without meaningful motivation from economic data, which there is plenty of this week, including the monthly employment report set for Friday.

Travel insurance policies generally exclude coverage tied to military action, experts said. However, much depends on the fine print. View More

A traveler uses his mobile phone next to a departures board showing a cancelled Kuwait Airways flight, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, at Terminal 7 at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York City, U.S., March 2, 2026. Bing Guan | Reuters Airlines have canceled thousands of flights since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran over the weekend, disrupting plans for many travelers transiting through some of the world's busiest airports.But many people who bought travel insurance as a financial backstop to protect against such travel disruptions may be out of luck.That's because standard travel policies exclude coverage for disruptions tied to acts of war and military action, travel experts said. watch nowVIDEO2:0602:06Trump: U.S. military continues to carry out large scale combat operationsThe Exchange The upshot: Vacationers who miss some or all of their trip might not be reimbursed by their insurer for various nonrefundable costs like flights, hotels or tours. Those stranded abroad may not be compensated for out-of-pocket costs incurred for extra meals or hotel nights. "There are many situations where travel insurance will not cover you," said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. However, much depends on the specific insurer and the fine print of the insurance policy, experts said. For example, the "domino effect from military action" — such as delayed flights or missed connections — may be covered under certain policies with benefits for a travel delay, Lauren McCormick, a spokesperson for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, wrote in an e-mail to CNBC. How 'major U.S. military actions' affected flights A traveler looks at a departures board displaying a canceled Qatar Airways flight for Doha, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York City, U.S., March 2, 2026. Bing Guan | Reuters Airspace was closed over large parts of the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated attacks against Iran on Saturday, killing the nation's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top officials. Iran launched counterattacks against multiple cities in the Middle East, including Qatar and Dubai. "As a result, major airlines have suspended flights to and through the region, shut down major global travel hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha," McCormick wrote in a website post on Monday. Read more CNBC personal finance coverageGold price jumps on Middle East turmoil. What to know before investingWhat student loan borrowers need to know about judge's ruling on SAVE planAs Iran strikes disrupt flights, why travel insurance may fall shortHow the U.S.-Iran war could impact gas prices at the pumpMore low- and middle-income Americans are investing, report finds. Here's whyAverage IRS tax refund is up 10.2%, based on early filing dataIRS: Nearly 1 in 5 eligible filers miss a 'valuable' credit worth thousandsBlock cuts about half its workforce: How to move forward after a mass layoffTrump said tariffs may 'substantially replace' income taxes. What policy experts saySome student loan borrowers are getting Navient settlement checks — who qualifiesTrump accounts aren't exactly 'tax-free,' as the president said. How they workTrump said beef, egg and chicken prices are falling. Here's what the data showsTrump pitches new retirement plan with a match of up to $1,000 — who may benefitThink of active managers and index funds as portfolio 'teammates,' not 'rivals': CFPMany workers want a career change. Are you one of them?CNBC's Financial Advisor 100: Best financial advisors, top firms ranked Dubai and Doha are among the busiest airports in the world — Dubai International Airport is No. 2 globally in terms of passenger volume — "making this a serious event for international travel," McCormick wrote.Overall, thousands of flights were suspended due to the airspace closure over the weekend. The disruption continued on Monday as 1,560 flights were canceled, about 41% of those scheduled for arrival in Middle East countries, according to aviation data firm Cirium. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, United States, on March 2, 2026. Kyle Mazza | Anadolu | Getty Images It's unclear how long the military conflict will last. President Donald Trump, in his first public event since the conflict began, said Monday that it's projected to last four to five weeks but could go on "far longer than that."The travel chaos came less than a week after the Mexican army killed the cartel leader known as "El Mencho," leading airlines to halt flights to certain areas and cruise lines to reroute ships. They also come about two months after the U.S. operation to extract Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, snarling air traffic around the Caribbean."Two months into 2026, and we have already seen three major U.S. military actions in Venezuela, Mexico, and Iran, each of which boiled over to affect regional and travel routes," McCormick wrote. What travel insurance may cover in Iran strikes Qatar Airways and Emirates Airways plane is parked at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as some flights to Dubai and Doha cancelled following strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel, in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, March 1, 2026. Johannes P. Christo | Reuters Standard travel insurance policies exclude coverage for military action, acts of war, political unrest and government-related airspace closures, according to experts. This means many travelers affected by attacks in the Middle East may not qualify for financial reimbursement, experts said. However, each policy and travel situation is different, McCormick told CNBC. There may be certain instances when a policy covers military action, for example, so it's important to read a policy's fine print to see what applies, she said. For example, those coverage limitations often apply specifically to trip cancellation and interruption — meaning, respectively, if a traveler wants to cancel their trip outright before traveling or cut it short during the middle of the trip, McCormick said. watch nowVIDEO3:2303:23How war in Iran could reshape the Middle East’s balance of powerSquawk on the Street Certain travelers may be covered by their insurance policy if military action leads an airline to reroute flights due to factors like hub disruptions, crew rescheduling or mechanical issues caused by tighter turnaround schedules, McCormick said.Also, travelers who bought specific benefits — "cancel for any reason" or "interruption for any reason" coverage — may be able to recoup some of their trip costs. Cancel-for-any-reason policies apply to those who haven't yet departed, while interruption-for-any-reason coverage is for those in the middle of an excursion. These policies are generally more expensive and come with caveats, such as limits on how much money can be reimbursed and when a traveler can cancel. "If you have questions about your coverage, we recommend contacting your provider directly and saving all correspondence with both the insurer and the airline," McCormick wrote in an e-mail. Airlines offer 'flexible opportunities' to change plans Travellers check on a departure board displaying cancelled flights to Middle East countries amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, in Greater London, Britain, March 2, 2026. Isabel Infantes | Reuters Airlines are obligated to issue a refund to customers if they cancel a flight and the traveler chooses not to rebook. But many airlines are also giving fliers "really flexible opportunities" to change their flights due to the Middle East unrest, French said. For example, certain United Airlines passengers scheduled to fly through Dubai or Tel Aviv airports through March 7 can reschedule their trip without paying change fees or fare differences, according to a United travel alert.That flexibility extends to a broader roster of airports — Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Dubai, Erbil and Tel Aviv — for those scheduled to travel between March 8 and March 31, the United alert said. French recommends that travelers who can take advantage of such offers do so. "This is a better option than travel insurance anyway," she said. "Just go on their website and pick a new flight."However, this compensation won't necessarily cover all out-of-pocket expenses travelers incur, such as foregone tour or hotel fees. "The airline's not going to help you if you miss your safari," French said. "That's where something like travel insurance is going to have to be key."Such travelers should call their travel providers, like hotels and tour operators, and see if they're willing to be flexible in such cases, French said.

President Donald Trump touted economic wins during his State of the Union address. But Americans and economists say affordability is still a major issue. View More

During President Donald Trump's annual State of the Union address on Tuesday, he spoke about the economy and the state of affordability for Americans, saying conditions have improved during his second term."Our nation is back: Bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before," he said early in his speech. Many Americans don't seem to be feeling that way, however. Around 72% of Americans rate the U.S. economy as "fair" or "poor," a January poll of over 8,500 U.S. adults by Pew Research found. And overall consumer sentiment is down nearly 13% year-over-year as of February, according to the University of Michigan Survey of Consumers, which is released monthly.During his address, Trump pointed to falling inflation, job growth, tax cuts and stock market gains as evidence that the economy "is roaring like never before" under his leadership.In January, inflation came in at an annual rate of 2.4%, down from 3% at the same time last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and prices for eggs and gas are down 48% and 8% year-over-year, respectively, according to BLS data. Unemployment was at 4.3% in January, slightly higher than a year ago when it was around 4%, per the Labor Department, but it remains relatively low. Job growth was slow throughout 2025, but picked up in January with nonfarm payrolls rising by 130,000. The S&P 500 index was up 16% at the end of 2025, indicating a prosperous year for the overall stock market.However, despite these factors, many consumers are still feeling squeezed. When adjusted for inflation, wages have barely budged since 2020, according to analysis from January by The Hamilton Project, a nonpartisan economic research group.This discrepancy may be why Americans are so downbeat on the economy despite bright spots like stock market gains and relatively low unemployment, says Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. Costs for essentials like housing and health care keep rising, making it increasingly difficult for Americans to keep up or feel like they can get ahead."There is an ongoing affordability crisis in America, and it's been building for years," she says. "It was exacerbated by the pandemic and the inflation that came after, and in the past year … it really hasn't improved."In an emailed statement to CNBC Make It, White House spokesman Kush Desai said, "as the President also made clear in his State of the Union, much work remains." He said the administration is working on policies that would "put more money in Americans' pockets." How consumers are responding Broadly, consumer behavior is showing signs of distress, experts say. Take the personal savings rate, for instance. The average share of disposable income Americans sock away fell to 3.6% in December, the lowest level since 2022, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data. "Many households are becoming much more intentional with recurring expenses," says Jovan Johnson, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant who works primarily with small business owners. He says he has seen families take measures like having one spouse leave the workforce to stay home and reduce day-care costs. "I'm also seeing more meal prepping and a noticeable pullback in discretionary lifestyle spending — things like boutique fitness memberships and premium gyms are often being replaced with more affordable options," he says.Some consumers have continued to spend, however. Gross domestic product increased in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by consumer spending, according to BEA data. But it's the highest earners who are powering much of that spending: The top 20% of earners account for nearly 60% of all U.S. consumer spending, a recent analysis from Moody's Analytics found. Economists have labeled this a "K-shaped" economy to illustrate higher earners driving economic growth with continued spending while lower-income Americans pull back. However, Long sees 2026 as more of an "E-shaped economy," with three tiers, she says:High earners who are doing well and to whom retailers and credit card companies are catering with increasingly premium and luxury offerings.Middle-income earners who are "treading water." They're still keeping up with their bills, but switching to discount and wholesale retailers like Costco to stretch their dollars.Lower-income earners who rely on credit cards and Buy Now, Pay Later plans to get by. Incoming tax refunds, which Trump says will be the largest ever, may help individuals cover their expenses or boost their savings in the short term, Long says. As of Feb. 20, the average refund amount for individual filers was around $3,800, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Among Americans expecting a refund, 44% said they would put at least a portion in savings and 41% said they plan to spend it on necessities, a February Intuit TurboTax survey found. Over a quarter of those planning to save said they're doing so because they're worried about the state of the economy.Long says tax refunds are only a "temporary fix" for those who have have fallen behind on payments or struggled to save. How to fix the affordability crisis In his State of the Union address, Trump urged Congress to act on pending legislation to lower housing and health-care costs.While falling prices can help ease the affordability crisis, Long and other experts say wages need to go up and continue outpacing inflation to truly address the problem. "Unless you continue to see really, really strong wage growth, it's going to be harder for people to make all of their payments," Long says.Democratic leaders say the affordability crisis is far from over."As I campaigned for Governor last year ... I heard the same pressing concern everywhere: costs are too high," Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said while delivering the Democrats' response to the State of the Union on Tuesday. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent a letter to Trump on Wednesday saying the president's characterization of the economy is "at odds" with what Americans are experiencing. She asked Trump and his administration to provide evidence that his policies are lowering costs for Americans."Despite your claims, you have not 'solved' affordability or 'defeated' inflation," she wrote. "Instead, over the past year, prices have skyrocketed for American households." While the government has some power to affect prices in specific sectors, policy changes can also impact wage growth, something the general population doesn't typically consider, says Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute, a non-partisan think tank."The public sort of believes that inflation is a policymaker's fault, and that's actually almost never true," she tells CNBC Make It. "The other side of that is the people, when they're asked in surveys, they take personal responsibility for what happens to their wages, whether it's good or bad."Strengthening labor laws, increasing the minimum wage and improving social safety nets like unemployment insurance are a few ways the government could step in to address lagging wage growth, Shierholz says."Minimum wage is not moving at the federal level anytime soon," she says, adding that many states have recently raised or made plans to increase their minimums, however. Other actions in Congress like the Protecting the Right to Organize Act could help bolster protections for unionization efforts, although the act is not likely to pass anytime soon, Shierholz says.Want to improve your communication, confidence and success at work? Take CNBC's new online course, Master Your Body Language To Boost Your Influence. 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