For: April 23, 2026
>>Ahead Of The Bell
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street yesterday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 340 points to 49-490. The tech-heavy Nasdaq and S&P 500 both finished at a record high. The S&P 500 climbed 73 points to 71-37 and the Nasdaq rose 397 points to 24-657.
>>Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac To Allow Rent Payments In Credit Score
(Washington, DC) -- Paying your rent on time may now improve a homebuyer's credit score. Federal mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now allowing credit scores based on rent and utility payments, to make it easier to qualify for a mortgage. The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, William Pulte, made the announcement Wednesday at a press conference. Pulte said, "If you pay your rent on time, you are more likely to pay your mortgage on time," adding that for decades, the housing system "ignored that simple fact." On Wednesday he said "that's nonsense, because credit history should include rental history."
>>Tesla Reports Q1 Earnings
(Austin, TX) -- Tesla is reporting first-quarter earnings that beat analyst expectations. Revenue, however, came in weaker than predicted. The electric automaker reported Wednesday that revenue was 22-point-39 billion dollars, compared with expectations of 22-point-64 billion. Earnings were at 41 cents a share, above the 37 cents expected.
>>EV Sales Drop Sharply In California
(Sacramento, CA) -- California's plan to have all new cars be electric by 2035 is facing challenges. A new report shows sales of electric cars in California have dropped sharply, with zero-emission vehicles making up just under 14 percent of new car sales, a significant decrease from last year. Registrations are also down more than 40 percent, partly because a 75-hundred federal tax credit went away. Meanwhile, hybrid car sales are rising, now making up over 20 percent of the market. Experts say many buyers like the savings of electric cars but prefer the ease of transitioning into a hybrid.
>>Reports: Trump Administration Close To Rescue Package For Spirit Airlines
(Dania Beach, FL) -- Spirit Airlines may soon find itself on the receiving end of a financial lifeline from the federal government. Multiple reports say the Trump administration is close to a rescue deal for the troubled airline. The discount airline is reportedly facing the risk of liquidation.
>>Microsoft Cuts Game Pass Subscription Rates
(Redmond, WA) -- Microsoft is cutting the price of its Game Pass subscriptions. The company said Tuesday that the cost of its Game Pass Ultimate service, which allows users to download and stream video games, is being cut from nearly 30 dollars per month to 22-99. The limited PC Game Pass is also being cut, to just 14 dollars a month. The price cut comes after the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Asha Sharma, told employees in a memo earlier this year that Game Pass had become too expensive.
