Market Performance: December 18, 2023.

NEW YORK — Wall Street drifted through mixed trading on Friday to put a quiet end to another rocking week. The S&P 500 finished nearly unchanged for the day, down 0.36, or less than 0.1%, at 4,719.19.

But it’s still hanging within 1.6% of its all-time high set early last year, and it closed out a seventh straight winning week for its longest such streak in six years.

Costco helped lead the market with a 4.4% gain. It reported stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected and said it will send $6.7 billion in cash to its shareholders through a special $15 dividend.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks a smaller slice of the U.S. stock market, rose 56.81 points, or 0.2%, to 37,305.16 and set a record for the third straight day.

Is a joint savings account a good idea?

A joint savings account can be a good way to build up money for shared financial goals like holidays or a house deposit. We weigh up the pros and cons.

A joint savings account is different to a joint current account, which many couples use to split shared costs like household bills and mortgage repayments. Find out if getting a joint savings account could help you reach your financial goals.

The pros

Joint savings can be really useful in some circumstances, especially if you are wanting to save towards a shared financial goal such as a house deposit or a large specific purchase, such as a new kitchen.

Savings accounts do not count towards your credit score history, unlike current accounts and credit cards. If you and your partner take out a joint credit card or other types of debt and then fail to pay it off then it could affect both of your credit scores.

Passive Income Ideas To Help You Make Money In 2023

Passive income can be a great way to help you generate extra cash flow, whether you’re running a side hustle or just trying to get a little extra dough each month, especially as inflation takes its toll. Passive income can help you earn more during the good times and tide you over if you suddenly become unemployed, if you voluntarily take time away from work or if inflation keeps chipping away at your purchasing power.

With passive income, you can have money coming in even as you pursue your primary job, or if you’re able to build up a solid stream of passive income, you might want to kick back a little. Either way, a passive income gives you extra security.

And if you’re worried about being able to save enough of your earnings to meet your retirement goals, building wealth through passive income is a strategy that might appeal to you, too.

Alternative Investing