For: August 24, 2026
>>Watching Wall Street
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Friday despite what was overall a losing week. Stocks rebounded Friday following a steep sell-off driven by rising Treasury yields and inflation fears. Still all three major indexes lost ground last week with investors now looking ahead to this week's speech from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. Also on tap this week: the latest data on consumer confidence, new home sales, personal income and consumer spending as well as weekly jobless claims. At Friday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 517 points to 53-277. The S&P 500 rose 33 points to 76-74. The Nasdaq climbed 113 points to 26-180.
>>Meta Federal Trial Continues As TikTok Agrees To $400M Settlement
(Oakland, CA) -- As a landmark trial continues today against Meta in federal court in California, TikTok is now agreeing to pay 400-million to settle a U.S. government lawsuit. The suit alleges the company violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The law requires websites and online services directed at children to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from users under 13. The Justice Department announced Friday that TikTok will pay 300-million dollars immediately to the U.S. government, with an additional 100-million due after a court order vacates an earlier consent decree entered against TikTok's predecessor "Musical.ly"
>>AI Companies Accused Of Hoarding And Destroying Books
(Undated) -- Over a dozen public interest and consumer advocacy groups are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate AI developers for destroying books used to train their language models. In a letter to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson on Friday, the Demand Progress Education Fund and other groups said AI companies are buying books in bulk and destroying physical copies. The letter says in some cases, the destroyed books are among the last surviving copies of original works. The group argues that could make it harder for the public and other AI companies to access essential source material. They also claim the practice violates Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bars unfair or deceptive acts in commerce.
>>Experts Warn Used Car Buyers About VIN Cloning
(Undated) -- If you're shopping for a used vehicle, experts say there's a growing scam you should know about. It's called VIN cloning, and it happens when criminals copy the vehicle identification number, or VIN, from a legitimate car and place it on a stolen or damaged vehicle. The practice can make a car appear clean on paper even if it has a hidden history. iSeeCars reports buyers may not learn they've purchased a cloned vehicle until police seize it, an insurance claim is denied, or registration problems arise. Experts recommend comparing VIN numbers in multiple locations on a vehicle and checking history reports before making a purchase. They also say deals that seem too good to be true often deserve a closer look.
>>Walmart To Let Shoppers Use Tap-To-Pay Methods
(Bentonville, AR) -- Walmart will soon let customers make purchases with tap-to-pay methods including Apple Pay. The retail giant said Friday that starting on August 24th, customers at select Walmart stores will be able to choose a tap-to-pay option at checkout. The company said it plans to roll out tap-to-pay at all Walmart and Sam's Club locations by the end of 2026.
