Matt Levine explores Wall Street and finance through the incentives, contracts and unusual situations behind the headlines, with room for curiosity and humor.

Newsletter
Need to Know
MarketWatch's morning newsletter highlights an investing argument and the market developments readers should understand before the US trading day gets underway.
Explore the full newsletter profileWhy it’s on the Desk
Write down the lead argument's key assumption before deciding whether the evidence changes your view.
Read it with this in mind
Need to Know email signup is free. Opening linked MarketWatch articles may require registration or a paid MarketWatch subscription.
Go to the original
Read, watch, listen, or subscribe directly with the publisher. Their current prices, terms, and availability apply.
Visit Need to KnowSource: the publisher’s linked website. Listing checked 2026-09-18. Our selection notes are editorial opinions; no affiliation is implied.
A BETTER READING ROUTINE
A good read is worth passing on.
Join the launch list for our curated financial digest. Choose the topics you want to follow.


