Today: 7 February 2026
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Personal Finance News 14 January 2026 - 26 January 2026

Bigger tax refunds in 2026? IRS opens filing season as Trump tax breaks hit returns

Bigger tax refunds in 2026? IRS opens filing season as Trump tax breaks hit returns

The IRS began accepting 2025 federal tax returns Monday, requiring a new Schedule 1-A for several deductions under Trump’s tax law. Refunds may rise sharply, with the average projected at $3,800, as employers used outdated withholding tables. New deductions include extra amounts for seniors, reported tips, and overtime. The IRS urges e-filing and direct deposit to speed refunds.
26 January 2026
Intuit stock rises again as tax season nears; KeyBanc trims target for TurboTax owner

Intuit stock rises again as tax season nears; KeyBanc trims target for TurboTax owner

Intuit shares rose about 2.5% by midday Friday, outpacing the broader market ahead of the IRS opening the 2026 tax-filing season on Monday. KeyBanc cut its price target for Intuit to $750 from $825 but kept an Overweight rating. Intuit traded near $562 after starting the day around $547. Rival H&R Block slipped 0.6%.
23 January 2026
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Charles Schwab stock climbs as record client inflows lift SCHW after earnings

Charles Schwab stock climbs as record client inflows lift SCHW after earnings

Charles Schwab shares rose 2.3% to $104.15 Thursday after reporting record quarterly client inflows and a 25% jump in net interest revenue. Net income climbed to $2.46 billion, while net revenue reached $6.34 billion, just below analyst forecasts. Margin loan balances increased 34% to $112.3 billion. Investors await next week’s Fed decision and a shareholder vote on Schwab’s proposed Forge deal.
22 January 2026
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Canada debt survey: 71% expect cost of living to worsen in 2026, MNP index shows

Canada debt survey: 71% expect cost of living to worsen in 2026, MNP index shows

Seventy-one percent of Canadians expect the cost of living to worsen in 2026, according to MNP’s Consumer Debt Index. Forty-one percent are just $200 away from missing bill payments. In Atlantic Canada, 61% foresee greater housing pressures, but few seek professional help. Many are cutting expenses, while about a third avoid addressing financial issues.
21 January 2026
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Intuit stock sinks for a 7th day — what to watch before TurboTax’s biggest weeks

Intuit stock sinks for a 7th day — what to watch before TurboTax’s biggest weeks

Intuit shares fell 3% to $528.95 Tuesday, marking a seventh straight decline and their lowest close since November 2023. The drop comes ahead of the IRS opening the 2026 tax filing season on Jan. 26, a key period for TurboTax demand. Trading volume exceeded the 50-day average. Investors await early tax-season data and Intuit’s next earnings update.
21 January 2026
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CRA locks in the 2026 TFSA limit at C$7,000 — and warns your room number may be wrong for months

CRA locks in the 2026 TFSA limit at C$7,000 — and warns your room number may be wrong for months

The Canada Revenue Agency set the 2026 TFSA contribution limit at C$7,000 and warned that 2025 records won’t be updated until April. Early deposits may risk over-contribution penalties if savers miscalculate their available room. Investors are favoring low-cost funds and dividend stocks such as Fortis and Bank of Montreal, both offering yields above 3%.
18 January 2026
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EPFO’s UPI withdrawal plan could roll out by April — plus “Suvidha” helpers to fix PF snags

EPFO’s UPI withdrawal plan could roll out by April — plus “Suvidha” helpers to fix PF snags

India’s EPFO will enable provident fund withdrawals via UPI by April, allowing direct transfers to members’ bank accounts with UPI PIN authentication, officials said Friday. The agency is piloting licensed “Suvidha Providers” to help members file claims and resolve issues. Faster processing will still require verified KYC and fraud safeguards. A Central Board of Trustees meeting in February will review the proposals.
17 January 2026
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Mortgage rates today: Rocket stock wobbles as refi demand jumps

Mortgage rates today: Rocket stock wobbles as refi demand jumps

New York, Jan 15, 2026, 06:32 EST — Premarket Rocket Companies shares were down about 0.4% in premarket trading on Thursday, lagging UWM Holdings and PennyMac Financial, as investors weighed a sharp pickup in mortgage demand against fresh volatility in U.S. rates markets. LoanDepot slipped and homebuilder ETFs also edged lower. The moves matter because mortgage stocks tend to follow rate expectations more than broad equity indexes. A small drop in mortgage rates can pull sidelined borrowers back into refinancing and home-shopping, lifting volume for lenders whose revenue depends on originations. But the trade has been jumpy. Mortgage rates can
15 January 2026
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IRS tax filing season starts Jan. 26 — refunds, W-2 deadline and 2026 tax brackets: what to know

IRS tax filing season starts Jan. 26 — refunds, W-2 deadline and 2026 tax brackets: what to know

WASHINGTON, Jan 15, 2026, 02:09 EST The Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday urged taxpayers to act now before the 2026 filing season kicks off on Jan. 26. The agency recommends setting up an online account and preparing for direct deposit, as paper refund checks are being phased out. (IRS) This is significant since filing season now overlaps with fresh tax rules and a strict deadline: many rush to file once their documents arrive, and the IRS anticipates another busy year for returns. Tax experts and the IRS’ independent watchdog caution that the upcoming filing season could be tougher, with new
15 January 2026
Verizon dividend yield breaks 7% as VZ slides — what $1,000 a year in payouts now takes

Verizon dividend yield breaks 7% as VZ slides — what $1,000 a year in payouts now takes

New York, Jan 14, 2026, 13:56 (EST) Verizon Communications’ dividend yield climbed above 7% Tuesday when the stock hit $38.90, holding near that price on Wednesday. By early afternoon in New York, Verizon had risen roughly 1.6% to $39.65. Shares of AT&T and T-Mobile also edged higher. (Nasdaq) This shift is significant today because such a jump in yield typically reflects price changes, not increased payouts. Dividend yield equals the annual cash payment per share divided by the stock price, so if shares drop, the yield can spike sharply without the company altering its dividend. Verizon declared its most recent
14 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Lloyds share price steadies after buyback update and BoE rate jitters — what to watch next week

Lloyds share price steadies after buyback update and BoE rate jitters — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
LONDON, February 7, 2026, 08:48 GMT — Market closed Lloyds Banking Group shares finished Friday higher after the lender flagged another round of share buybacks, helping to steady the stock at the end of a volatile two-day swing driven by shifting expectations for UK interest rates. With London markets closed for the weekend, the focus moves to Monday’s open and whether rate-cut pricing keeps easing pressure on bank earnings. Lloyds is a UK-focused lender, and investors tend to treat it as a clean play on domestic growth, mortgages and the direction of Bank Rate. That makes the stock quick to
Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

7 February 2026
Vodafone shares rose 1.47% to 110.60p Friday, recovering part of Thursday’s 4.68% drop after a Q3 update. Group revenue climbed 6.5% to €10.5 billion, but Germany’s 0.7% service revenue growth missed some forecasts. Vodafone launched a new €500 million buyback tranche, bringing total buybacks since May to €3.5 billion. Investors remain focused on Germany’s pace and cash flow execution.
NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

7 February 2026
NatWest shares closed up 1.45% at 659.4 pence Friday, buoyed by a buyback of 797,428 shares and a new digital mortgage deal with Rightmove. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but signaled possible cuts, with markets pricing in two reductions for 2026. NatWest plans to expand its Accelerator community to 50,000 members by 2026. Annual results are due Feb. 13.
Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

7 February 2026
Unilever shares closed flat at 5,250p in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.6% gain. The company issued 4.2 million new shares for employee plans, bringing total shares to over 2.18 billion. Investors await Q4 and full-year results on Feb. 12, with analyst consensus pointing to 3.9% Q4 sales growth. Unilever’s U.S. ADR rose 0.8% to $72.12.
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