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What you need to know before making financial gifts

Whether you’re giving cash or investments, be aware of the logistics and tax implications. If you have gifting to loved ones on your mind, here are some considerations related to taxes and logistics. Gifting logistics Unless you’re writing a check from your bank account, the logistics of gifting funds can get a bit complicated. If you want to gift from your IRA, your only option is to sell a chunk of it, then pay any taxes due, then write a check. That’s not terrible, so long as you understand the tax implications. IRA withdrawals are typically subject to ordinary income ...

US stocks soar to best day since May as Dow tops 50K

NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market roared back on Friday, as technology stocks recovered much of their losses from earlier in the week and bitcoin halted its plunge, at least for now. The S&P 500 rallied 2% for its best day since May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,206 points, or 2.5%, and topped the 50,000 level for the first time, while the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%. Chip companies helped drive the widespread rally, and Nvidia jumped 7.8% to trim its loss for the week, which came into the day at just over 10%. Broadcom climbed 7.1% and erased its drop for the ...

Nominations invited for ‘20 Under 40’

The Mirror is accepting nominations for its 19th edition of 20 Under 40, which will recognize 20 deserving community members younger than 40 years old in the June edition of Blair Living. Criteria for nomination include business success, entrepreneurial spirit and community service of those ...

Briefcase: Tourism campaign begins

BEDFORD The Bedford County Visitors Bureau has officially launched its most comprehensive and targeted tourism campaign to date. “For the first time in our history, we’re executing a truly regional, digital-first strategy that brings Bedford County to the forefront of the traveler’s experience,” said Brooke Kelly, executive director of the Visitors Bureau. “This isn’t just more exposure. It’s a more targeted and strategic approach to reaching the right audiences at the right time.” The 2026 Bedford County Visitor Guide is being distributed across five key states ...

Anthropic, OpenAI rivalry spills into new Super Bowl ads

The two artificial intelligence startups behind rival chatbots ChatGPT and Claude are bracing for an existential showdown this year as both need to prove they can grow a business that will make more money than they’re losing. The fiercest competition between the two AI developers, along ...

Ticker: Falling tech stocks hit Wall Street

Sharp drops hit Wall Street as technology stocks sank and bitcoin plunged again to roughly half its record price set in the fall. Several discouraging reports on the U.S. job market also knocked down yields in the bond market on Thursday. The S&P 500 fell 1.2% for its sixth loss in the seven days since it set an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%. Amazon’s shares fall, but posts strong 4Q sales Amazon sales surged 14% during the fourth quarter, helped by strong holiday spending and a better-than-expected growth in its ...