>>Ahead Of The Bell
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday with the S&P 500 notching another record close. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 71 points to 44-627. The S&P 500 rose by 14 points to 61-44. The Nasdaq gained 15 points to 20-056.
>>Federal Reserve Officials Concerned Over Tariffs' Effect On Inflation
(Washington, DC) -- Federal Reserve officials are concerned about the impact President Trump's recent tariffs will have on inflation. Meeting minutes released Wednesday reveal policymakers decided last month they'd need to see inflation decrease further before cutting interest rates, and they're worried how tariffs could impact this process. The Federal Open Market Committee ultimately opted to hold rates steady during the meeting. The Fed made multiple cuts last year that totaled a full percentage point.
>>Reports: IRS To Lay Off Thousands of Employees
(Washington, DC) -- The IRS is preparing to layoff some six-thousand employees starting today. This comes at the busiest time of the year for the tax collecting agency. The IRS will be primarily letting go of probationary workers as part of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal government workforce. It also comes as multiple reports say Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency is looking to get access to the IRS' taxpayer data system. The IRS increased its staff under the Biden administration in an effort to increase audits of corporations and the wealthy.
>>Meta Eyes World's Longest Undersea Internet Cable
(Menlo Park, CA) -- Meta plans to build the longest undersea Internet cable in the world. The Facebook and Instagram parent company expects the multi-billion dollar project to be completed by the end of the decade. The more than 31-thousand-mile cable will connect the United States, India, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions. About 95 percent of all global Internet traffic is delivered on undersea cables.
>>Apple Unveils iPhone 16e
(Cupertino, CA) -- Apple is unveiling it's newest iPhone model. The tech giant put a spotlight on the iPhone 16e on Wednesday. It's aimed to be a more cost-friendly version of the company's current mobile lineup, but is still equipped with Apple's A18 chip - the same processor used in the more expensive iPhone 16 models. Other features include Apple Intelligence and the company's first cellular modem. The 16e starts at just under 600-dollars and is set to hit shelves on February 28th.
>>Luxury Retailer Neiman Marcus Closing Iconic Dallas Flagship Store
(Dallas, TX) -- Neiman Marcus is closing its flagship store in downtown Dallas. The luxury retailer has called the location home since 1914. This week's news comes just one year after Neiman Marcus' merger with Saks Fifth Avenue.
