For: July 31, 2026
>>Ahead Of The Bell
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday. Microsoft helped drive gains after reporting growth from its Azure business. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 613 points to 52-208. The S&P 500 gained 121 points to 74-37. The Nasdaq rose 679 points to 25-122.
>>Economy Slowed More Than Expected
(Washington, DC) -- The economy has been slowing more than expected due to the conflict in Iran. The latest GDP report found the economy grew at a yearly rate of one-and-a-half-percent during the three month period that ended in June. That's against growth of two-point-one over the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate has risen to three-and-a-half-percent.
>>Yum Brand Says Taco Bell Took Hit From Cyclospora Outbreak
(Louisville, KY) -- Yum Brands is reporting mix results for the quarter. The company, which owns Taco Bell, said Thursday that the recent worry over the cyclospora outbreak hurt sales at the chain. Traffic fell by double-digits at Taco Bell after the FDA liked the gastrointestinal outbreak to lettuce served at the restaurant. But, the company said sales have been improving over the last ten days.
>>Amazon's Zoox Gets U.S. Approval
(Washington, DC) -- Amazon's Zoox is set to become the first company to receive federal approval to commercially operate a steering-wheel-free robotaxi. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cleared Zoox to begin charging for rides, with service expected to launch in Las Vegas after state approvals. Federal officials say the custom-built driverless vehicles meet safety standards, but Zoox will face strict reporting requirements and ongoing oversight as the rollout expands. The decision marks a significant step for the autonomous vehicle industry, even as regulators continue to monitor safety concerns surrounding driverless technology.
>>Joe Rogan Tops Forbes List Of Highest-Paid Podcasters
(New York, NY) -- Joe Rogan is the top-paid podcaster of 2026. On Thursday, "Forbes" released its list of the highest-paid podcasters from June of last year to June of 2026, and Rogan once again came out on top, making an estimated 82-million dollars. Coming in at number two are the hosts of the Technology Business Programming Network, or TBPN, who made 70-million dollars. At number three is the "Diary of a CEO" host Steven Bartlett, followed by Ashley Flowers of "Crime Junkie" at number four. Rounding out the top five on the Forbes list are Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes of "Smartless."
