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All strategies mix good days and bumper years with bad days and market-lagging returns. For commodities traders in 2025, it was more of the latter.Conflict in the Middle East caused volatility in oil prices. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, and their uneven implementation, led to fluctuations in the prices of crops, such as soybeans. The growing use of data centers by artificial intelligence giants has changed the outlook for electricity demand so drastically that even top investors in the space are unsure what the future holds.As a result, commodity traders trailed most other asset classes.The average commodity hedge fund was up just…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kristin Patrick, the CMO at Marc Jacobs, about her daily routine in New York City. It’s been edited for length and clarity.I’ve never really been one to color inside the lines. My career has spanned the fashion, beauty, entertainment, and consumer goods industries.At PepsiCo, I built a content studio, produced films like “Uncle Drew” with Lionsgate, sparked music connections with artists like Diplo, and developed a World Cup program that combined sports and fashion.At Gap, I helped launch Project (RED). At Playboy, I expanded into China and shifted the business beyond…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aurora Bryant, 40, the senior legal data intelligence lead at Relativity. She’s based in New York. Her former and current employment have been verified by Business Insider. This piece has been edited for length and clarity.I didn’t expect my career to pan out this way.When I started reading John Grisham novels late into the night in fifth grade, I knew that I wanted to become a lawyer. I was drawn to the sense of justice in those books.I never strayed from my goal. I attended law school and spent 15 years in…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Justin Howells, Target’s group vice president for Pacific Northwest stores. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.I started as a Target team member 23 years ago, working part-time while attending college in San Diego.It was not supposed to be a career — I just needed book money and some extra cash.Over time, I grew up, got married, had kids, and my career expanded. I’ve led stores, opened stores, and done everything in between, from that entry-level job to where I am now as group vice president for the Pacific…

The original version of Betty Boop — as seen in this “Dizzy Dishes” cartoon — is one of many works from 1930 entering the public domain in 2026. Screenshot by NPR hide caption toggle caption Screenshot by NPR A new year means a new parade of classic characters and works entering the public domain. Under U.S. law, the copyright on thousands of creations from 1930 — including films, books, musical compositions and more — will expire at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, meaning they will be free to use, share and adapt after nearly a century. “I…

The US economy continues to surprise on the upside — except when it comes to jobs.Hot growth, as seen in this week’s GDP report, typically corresponds to stronger hiring and personal earnings, which then enable consumers to continue spending. However, this year, the trend has been the opposite. Spending is driving the economy, but the job market is stuck in a “Great Freeze.”As KPMG’s chief economist Diane Swonk wrote on Tuesday, “Growth and labor market outcomes have decoupled.”It’s shaping up to be the story of 2026. The US has found itself in what some are calling a “jobless boom.” Money…

Americans on Social Security could see new federal tax breaks in 2026 — and some states will stop taxing benefit income.The largest social safety net in the US provides monthly payments that help 74 million people afford essentials. Americans pay into the program during their working careers, which is also supplemented by the federal government.Beneficiaries’ final tax bill depends on their state, annual income, and eligibility for deductions.Federal Social Security taxesSocial Security income is typically taxed at the national level. Americans may pay taxes on up to 85% of their Social Security payments, depending on household income.But those who take…

I love going to the movies.It’s been called a dying pastime in the age of streaming, but, as one luminary — Nicole Kidman — said, “we come to this place for magic.”I’ve seen at least 34 movies in theaters this year, driven mostly by my AMC A-list subscription. It’s hard to nail down an exact count because some tickets were booked by friends or loved ones. My favorites included “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another,” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” On the other hand, “Jurassic World Rebirth” left something to be desired, although it was still pretty fun in Dolby…

For workers in 19 states, New Year’s won’t just mean festivities and futile resolutions — they’ll also be getting paid more as minimum wage increases kick in. For some, those raises will be historic: In six states, the minimum wage will reach at least $15 an hour for the first time.The 19 states hiking wages will impact over 8 million workers, an analysis from the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, found. Women, Black, and Hispanic workers are set to be disproportionately affected by the new increases, per EPI’s analysis, and workers in states like Missouri and Nebraska will…

Thousands of student-loan borrowers are stuck in limbo.President Donald Trump’s Department of Education provided an update on the progress it has made in processing student-loan borrowers’ income-driven repayment applications in a court filing last week. It seems the department still has a lot of work to do: 802,730 IDR applications are pending as of November 30.Per the court filing, the department discharged the loans of 170 student-loan borrowers who were on IDR plans in November, with another 280 discharges for borrowers who had completed their payments through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for government and…