>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed to wrap up a positive week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a fresh record after new data showed inflation cooling in August. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 137 points to 42-313. The S&P 500 lost 7 points to 57-38. The Nasdaq fell 70 points to 18-119.

>>What To Watch For In Business News

(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week ahead, things start off with remarks from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell today. He'll be speaking before the National Association for Business Economics in Nashville, Tennessee following this month's decision to lower interest rates for the first time in four years. Tuesday brings data on job openings and construction spending. The ADP employment report comes out the following day, with weekly jobless claims on Thursday. The week wraps up Friday with the always highly-anticipated monthly jobs report. Analysts aren't expecting much change, with predictions of 144-thousand new jobs created, up a couple thousand from the month prior. The unemployment rate is forecast to remain steady at four-point-two-percent.

>>Biden Says He Wouldn't Intervene In A Dockworkers Strike

(Dover, DE) -- President Biden says he wouldn't intervene to stop a potential dockworkers strike. While speaking to reporters in Delaware, Biden says he doesn't believe in the Taft-Hartley Act, a law that would allow him to delay a strike with a court order. Thousands of longshoremen are set to strike this week amid stalled labor contract talks with the U.S. Maritime Alliance. A strike would likely disrupt commercial trade on a massive scale and seriously impact the U.S. economy with just over a month remaining until the presidential election.

>>Meta's Mark Zuckerberg Joins $200 Billion Club

(Undated) -- Meta mogul Mark Zuckerberg just joined the ranks of the top of the one-percent. Numbers from Bloomberg's Billionaire Index project the growth of Zuckerberg's personal wealth in 2024 to be 201-billion-dollars making him the fourth richest person globally. The Meta CEO is now in the 200-billion-dollar club with only three other members. The other members include Elon Musk Tesla and X CEO, Jeff Bezos founder of Amazon and Bernard Arnault CEO of luxury brand LVMH.

>>Toyota Recalls Certain SUV Models Over Potential Safety Issues

(Undated) -- Toyota is recalling 50-thousand vehicles over a possible safety issue in some newer models. The recall was announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday and is only for 2023 and 2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles. Toyota said the issue could cause some Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles to brake suddenly in some cases. Toyota is notifying owners of when to take their vehicles in for repairs.

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The bell rings this morning after stocks saw a higher close yesterday.  Unemployment numbers came in lower than expected and the final report of second quarter GDP came in unrevised at three-percent.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 260 points to 42-175.  The S&P 500 rose 23 points to 57-45.  The Nasdaq jumped 108 points to 18-190.

>>Port Workers To Strike Next Week From East To Gulf Coast

(New York, NY)  --  Workers at ports from Maine to Texas are set to strike in what could be the most disruptive walk-out to the U.S. economy in decades. It could stop the flow of fruit, household goods, clothing, toys, cars and just about anything you can imagine.  The International Longshoremen's Association says they'll walk out in a matter of days unless there's a new contract.  The White House says it will not invoke its legal powers to intervene.  JP Morgan says the cost to the country if a strike happens will be roughly five-billion-dollars a day. 

>>Negotiations Set To Resume In Boeing Strike

(Seattle, WA)  -- Negotiations are set to resume today in the strike against Boeing by machinists.  Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers walked off the job two weeks ago after rejecting a deal that union leaders thought they'd approve.  Boeing made it's best and final offer this week, which includes raises of 30 percent over four years.  Union members want 40 percent and a pension.  Both sides will sit down at the bargaining table with federal mediators as they try to reach agreement on a new contract to end the strike.

>>Uber, DoorDash Win In NY

(San Francisco, CA)  --  A federal court is ruling in favor of food delivery companies like Uber and DoorDash.  Earlier this week, a judge ruled that a New York law requiring delivery companies to share customer data with restaurants violates the First Amendment.  New York enacted the law in 2021 to help restaurants recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

>>PayPal Allows US Merchants To Buy, Hold, And Sell Crypto

(San Jose, CA)  --  PayPal announced this week that it will allow merchants in the U.S. to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency.  Merchants can also transfer cryptocurrency to third-party eligible wallets directly from their business account.  The service is initially available in all states except New York. 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after an up and down day for stocks on Wall Street Wednesday.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 300 points, reversing earlier gains.  It was seen as investors showing they're still fearful of a slowing economy after last week's interest rate cut by the Fed.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 293 points to end at 41-914.  The S&P 500 dropped ten points to 57-22.  The Nasdaq rose seven points to 18-082.  Despite yesterday's numbers, the three major averages are still on track to record a positive month.  Today, we'll be keeping an eye out for revised gross domestic product data, weekly jobless claims and pending home sales.   

>>Big Jump in Mortgage Refinancing Applications

(Undated)  --  Applications to refinance a home are surging.  According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index, applications to refinance a home loan rose 20-percent last week from the week before.  Compared to the same week a year ago, demand is a whopping 175-percent higher.  This comes after a steady decline in mortgage rates to two-year lows.  Average rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances decreased from six-point-13 percent from six-point-15. 

>>Boeing, Union To Resume Talks Friday

(Undated)  --  Boeing and its largest union say contract talks will resume Friday.  The news comes almost two weeks after more than 32-thousand workers in the Seattle area and Portland, Oregon walked off the job.  The strike by the machinists union is its first since 2008.  The walkout has halted production of airplane models, including the 737 MAX, Boeing's best seller.  Earlier this week, Boeing presented the union what it called its best and final offer.  It's said to include a 30-percent raise over four years and restores a performance bonus.

>>FTC Cracks Down On Companies Using AI Technology In Deceptive Ways

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against five companies for allegedly using or selling A.I. technology in "deceptive and unfair ways." The agency accuses the five companies named of relying on artificial intelligence to "supercharge" such actions. The companies include Rytr, an A.I. "writing assistant" that gave feedback with false information to get customers to buy the product. Another business, DoNotPay, claimed to be "the world's first robot lawyer" and failed to actually produce valid legal documents.

>>Disney Global Cuts 300 Jobs

(Burbank, CA)  --  Some 300 people are out of a job at Disney Global, and more cuts are expected.  A spokesman said the layoffs were in the name of efficiency.  All of the layoffs announced this week were in the U.S.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after a higher close on Wall Street yesterday. A sharp rise in Nvidia shares helped boost markets despite economic worries. Stocks struggled after the Conference Board's consumer confidence index suffered its biggest monthly decline in more than three years. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 83 points to 42-208. The S&P 500 added 14 points to 57-32. The Nasdaq rose 100 points to 18-074.

>>Cuban Criticizes Trump Tariff Plan

(Undated) -- Billionaire Mark Cuban is criticizing former President Trump's ideas on tariffs. Trump on Monday threatened tractor manufacturer John Deere with 200 percent tariffs if it sends some of its manufacturing to Mexico. Cuban posted on X that the plan is insane, and shows a lack of understanding of business. Cuban said such a move would make it cheaper for China to sell its products in the U.S.

>>Consumer Confidence Hits 3-Year Low In September

(New York, NY) -- Consumer confidence slipped to its lowest level in three years in September. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell nearly seven points from August's upwardly revised reading. The board's chief economist said the drop was steepest for consumers aged 35-54 with a broad decline across most income groups. The survey noted concerns about prices and inflation continue to affect consumers' views of the economy.

>>DOJ Sue Visa For Monopolizing Debit Markets

(Washington, DC) -- The Department of Justice is suing Visa over alleged antitrust violations. Visa is accused by the DOJ of monopolizing debit markets. Prosecutors say Visa controls debit network markets by using agreements with merchants, card issuers and competitors. Attorney General Merrick Garland said, "Visa's unlawful conduct affects not just the price of one thing, but the price of nearly everything." The DOJ said over 60-percent of U.S. debit transactions run on Visa's network with Visa raking in more than seven-billion dollars in processing fees each year.

>>Former Crypto Executive Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison

(New York, NY) -- A former cryptocurrency executive connected to FTX will be spend two years in prison. Caroline Ellison ran a hedge fund connected to FTX and was the star witness in the prosecution of FTX founder and her ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried. She is also being ordered to forfeit eleven-billion dollars. Ellison agreed to a plea deal in 2022, pleading guilty to conspiracy and financial fraud charges. She had faced up to 110 years behind bars for her crimes. Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence.

>>Coca-Cola Discontinues Spiced Flavor

(Atlanta, GA) -- Coca-Cola is discontinuing its new Spiced flavor just six months after its release. According to a statement from the company, it's looking to introduce a new flavor instead next year. Coca-Cola initially introduced the Spiced flavor as a permanent addition to shelves. It didn't add a reason for its walk back, but lack of recognition and complaints that it's not really spiced have been cited as possible reasons.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher Monday with the S&P 500 hitting a new record to start the new week.  Stocks rose as markets added to last week's gains following the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut.  On top of that, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee signaled that more rate cuts are likely as inflation continues to fall.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 61 points to 42-124.  The S&P 500 added 16 points to 57-18.  The Nasdaq rose 25 points to 17-974.

>>X To Change "Block" Feature

(San Francisco, CA)  --  X is set to change how its block feature works.  Owner Elon Musk says users blocked by a public account will now still be able to view posts from that account.  However, they will not be able to engage with any of the posts from the account that blocked them.  Musk said it was "high time this happened."

>>Exxon Responds After California Sues It Over Plastic

(Sacramento, CA)  --  Exxon is firing back at California's lawsuit about alleged deceptive marketing message involving plastics.  In the lawsuit, Attorney General Rob Bonta accuses the oil giant of convincing the public that recycling plastic is safe for the environment while increasing its production of the polymers that go into single-use plastics.  Late Monday, Exxon said  "For decades, California officials have known their recycling system isn't effective.  They failed to act, and now they seek to blame others."  The statement adds, "To date, we've processed more than 60-million pounds of plastic waste into usable raw materials, keeping it out of landfills." 

>>Reports:  Stellantis Searching For Successor To CEO Carlos Tavares

(Auburn Hills, MI)  --  Stellantis is reportedly looking for a new CEO to succeed Carlos Tavares.  The automaker has been struggling to sell vehicles in the U.S. and Tavares has been intensely criticized in recent weeks by the United Auto Workers union and American auto dealers.  The contract with the current CEO expires in January 2026.  Stellantis chief financial officer Natalie Knight told Bank of America analysts yesterday that they will cut inventory by 100-thousand vehicles by January and says they have seen better sales figures in August. 

>>Gen Zers Say They're Paid Too Little

(San Diego, CA)  --  Gen Zers are saying they're underpaid and feeling the squeeze.  Gen Zers are 18 to 27 years old.  A new survey is out from "Resume Templates Dot Com," and it shows 87-percent feel underpaid, especially with the rising cost of living.  They may really be underpaid, according to some experts but there are several factors to consider.  A Gen Zer with a college degree should probably earn 50-60-thousand, but in fields like education and non-profit, salaries under 50-thousand are common.  When you live in large cities, anything under 100-thousand is likely to feel too little, according to respondents.  

>>Last Full-Size K-Mart Store In US To Close

(Bridgehampton, NY)  --  The last full-size K-Mart store in the country is closing its doors.  The K-Mart in Bridgehampton, New York will shut for good on October 20th.  A smaller Kmart store in Miami still stands.  There were about 23-hundred locations in the U.S. at its height.

>>NYC Is Priciest U.S. City For Retirees

(New York, NY)  --  A new study shows New York City is the priciest city in the U.S. in which to retire.  WalletHub says if you want to retire in the city that never sleeps it'll cost you big time:  45-hundred-dollars for an average one-bedroom New York City apartment.  Honolulu and Pearl City, Hawaii are tied for second priciest retirement destinations.  Boston is third, Seattle is fourth and Yonkers, New York is fifth.  Rounding out the top ten:  Santa Rosa, California, in sixth place, then Bridgeport, Connecticut.  San Francisco and Fremont, California are tied for eighth place, Jersey City is in ninth and Burlington, Vermont is in tenth place. Retiree tax-friendliness was considered as well as housing costs. 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Friday to cap a big week.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher to close at a new record above 42-thousand following the Federal Reserve's half-point interest rate cut.  All three major indexes posted weekly gains of more than one percent.  At the closing bell, the Dow gained 38 points to 42-063.  The S&P 500 lost 11 points to 57-02.  The Nasdaq fell 65 points to 17-948.

>>Johnson Announces Vote On Bill To Avoid Govt Shutdown

(Washington, DC)  --  House Speaker Mike Johnson says his chamber is planning to vote this week on a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government open through December 20th.  The government is set to begin a shutdown at the beginning of next month if no action is taken.  Johnson said in a letter to colleagues that legislation will be a "very narrow, bare-bones" continuing resolution that addresses only absolutely necessary extensions.

>>FTC Takes Action Against Pharmacies Inflating Insulin Prices

(Washington, DC)  --  The three biggest pharmacy benefit managers are being accused of artificially inflating insulin prices. The FCC says CVS Health's Caremark Rx, Cigna's Express Scripts and United Health Group's OptumRx created a system that puts importance on high rebates from drug manufacturers, leading to high list prices for insulin. The companies excluded available insulin products with lower prices that would have been more affordable for patients in favor of higher-priced versions of the drug.

>>Motel 6 Sold To Indian Hotel Operator  

(Undated)  --  Motel chain Motel 6 is being bought out by the parent company of Oyo [[ O-YO ]], a hotel contractor based in India.  Blackstone investment firm, which owns Motel 6's parent company G6 Hospitality, announced Friday the all-cash deal is worth 525-million-dollars.  The contract will be finalized by the end of the year.  Oyo has been increasing its scope in the U.S. over the past few years. 

>>Low Brake Fluid Warning Malfunction Prompts Recall

(Detroit, MI)  --  Close to a half-million GM pickup trucks and SUVs are being recalled due to issues with the low brake fluid warning system.  The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Friday that a software malfunction might prevent vehicles from displaying a warning light if brake fluid is low.  The recall includes several different 2023 or 2024 models, such as the Chevrolet Silverado 15-hundred, GMC Sierra 15-hundred, Chevy Tahoe, and Suburban.  Also on the recall list are the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV models.

>>"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" Narrowly Beats "Transformers One"

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is just barely holding on the top spot at the box office.  The sequel to the cult-classic horror-comedy is projected to take in 26-million dollars in its third weekend at number one.  After making less than ten-million dollars from preview screenings and opening day, "Transformers One" looks to fall short of industry projections with an estimated 25-million-dollar debut.  Meanwhile, "Speak No Evil" will land at third in its sophomore outing with an estimated five-point-nine-million dollars.  Halle Berry-led horror film "Never Let Go" looks to debut in fourth place with four-point-five-million.  And finally "Deadpool & Wolverine" is still holding on to a spot in the top five.  It's expected to take fifth with three-point-eight million.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower yesterday on Wall Street.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 103 points to 41-503.  The S&P 500 dropped by 16 points to 56-18.  The Nasdaq lost 54 points to 17-573.

>>Fed Cuts Interest Rate

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates for the first time in more than four years.  The Central Bank cut rates by half-a-point in its announcement on Wednesday.  The decision lowers the federal funds rate to a range between four-point-75-percent to five-percent.  The Fed had maintained a goal of seeing inflation get down to two-percent before moving to cut rates.  August saw the 12-month inflation rate fall to two-and-a-half-percent, its lowest level since February 2021.

>>Coming Up Today

(Undated)  --  We'll get a look at weekly jobless claims today, with not much change expected.  Most analysts see today's number coming in at right around 229-thousand, which would mark a drop of only about one thousand from the previous week.  Also set to be released today is data on existing home sales.

>>Survey: Remote Workers Do Chores While Working

(Undated)  --  A new survey shows a lot of remote workers are doing household chores while on the job.  SurveyMonkey polled over three-thousand full-time workers in the U.S. last month and found that nearly half of those who work from home are doing laundry and other items on their to-do list.  About one third said they run errands while remote working, while others like to take a nap.  About 17 percent said they watch TV or play video games.  The survey also showed a lot of multitasking during Zoom calls, with nearly a third admitting they have used the bathroom during a Zoom call.  

>>Boeing Announces Layoffs

(Seattle, WA)  --  Boeing is announcing temporary layoffs of thousands of employees.  CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees Wednesday the furloughs will begin "over the coming days."  The furloughs will happen on a rotating basis with employees being off for one week every four weeks.  This comes as 33-thousand International Association of Machinists at Boeing are on strike.  Ortberg said he and other executives will take a pay cut for the duration of the strike.

>>23andMe's Entire Board Of Directors Resigns

(Sunnyvale, CA)  --  All members of the Board of Directors at 23andMe have resigned, effective immediately.  The mass departure on Tuesday took CEO Anne Wojcicki [[  woh-JISS-kee  ]] by surprise, and she says she is disappointed.  The genetic family tree company has been struggling, and the Board was trying to find a path forward. 

>>Tupperware Files For Bankruptcy

(Orlando, FL)  --  Tupperware is filing for bankruptcy.  The company that makes the iconic plastic food storage containers released a statement Tuesday saying its "financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment" over the past few years.  CEO Laurie Ann Goldman said filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy will allow Tupperware to "pursue strategic alternatives" to support its transformation into a "digital-first, technology-led company."  Tupperware became famous in the 1950s for its direct-marketing strategy known as "Tupperware parties," a business model that has been less popular in recent years.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed Tuesday with investors awaiting word on the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates later today.  Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 reached all-time highs early on in yesterday's trading session.  By the closing bell the Dow had stumbled, losing points to 41-606.  The S&P 500 rose a point to 56-34.  The Nasdaq gained 35 points to 17-628.  

>>Meta Rolling Out Teen Accounts On Instagram

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  "Teen Accounts" are coming to Instagram.  Parent company Meta Platforms is rolling out the new option with built-in protections.  Parents can limit who can contact their teenage children and set a timer on their screen time. The feature is for both new and existing accounts.  Current teenage users will be notified that their profiles will be migrated over to the Teen tier. 

>>Retail Sales Rise Slightly In August

(Washington, DC)  --  Retail sales were stronger than expected in August.  Figures from the Commerce Department showed an increase of a tenth percent for the month surprising many economists.  Spending rose for stores and online retailers which helped to offset declines in auto sales, clothing and gas prices.  Analysts say the data indicates consumers are still spending despite worries of an economic pullback. 

>>UAW Plans To Hold Stellantis Strike Authorization Vote

(Detroit, MI)  --  The United Auto Workers union is planning to hold a strike authorization vote against Stellantis.  UAW president Shawn Fain says the automaker is not meeting the agreements of the contract that was approved last year.  The union is pushing Stellantis to follow through with its promise to reopen a plant in Belvidere, Illinois and is protesting plans to cut 250 jobs at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan.  The automaker says Fain "continues to allege that the company has violated the contract but, to date, has provided no data or information to back up his claims."

>>Google AI-Powered Satellites Will Better Detect Wildfires

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Google is working on satellite technology that will improve the detection of wildfires.  The search giant is investing in an artificial intelligence-powered enhancement to its camera network in space, allowing users to see fire activity on Google Maps.  The company is spending 13 million dollars to improve current satellite imaging to pick up flames in an area as small as 16 square feet.  The upgraded system is expected to be ready as soon as next year.  
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Monday ahead of this week's highly anticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a new all-time high in afternoon trading as shares of Intel gained nearly four percent.  Apple shares and chip stocks like Nvidia declined as investors took profits.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 228 points to 41-622.  The S&P 500 rose 7 points to 56-33.  The Nasdaq lost 91 points to 17-592.

>>TikTok Ban Challenge Lands In Court 

(Washington, DC)  --  TikTok and parent company ByteDance set out to make their case Monday in a court hearing that could determine the fate of the hugely popular social media app.  A law passed earlier this year calls for the China-based ByteDance to sell the social media app by January 19th or have it banned in the U.S.  Oral arguments on legal challenges were heard yesterday with TikTok and ByteDance claiming the law is unconstitutional and violates free speech rights.  The White House and other supporters of the law have said the measure isn't a move to eliminate the app, but is rather a challenge to Chinese-based ownership of TikTok.

>>Boeing Announces Sweeping Cuts As Strike Halts Production

(Seattle, WA)  --  Boeing is announcing sweeping cuts to conserve cash as it deals with a factory workers strike.  The company said on Monday that that includes a hiring freeze, a pause on non-essential travel and a reduction on supplier spending.  In a note to staff, CFO Brian West said Boeing will stop most purchase orders for its 737 Max, 767 and 777 jetliners. He also said the company is "working in good faith" to reach a new contact agreement and enable operations to resume.  More than 30-thousand factory workers walked off the job Friday after rejecting a tentative labor deal.

>>Back To The Office For Amazon Workers

(Seattle, WA)  --  It's back to the office for Amazon workers starting next year.  Amazon has been increasing the number of days employees were required to be in the office.  Since May, they needed to be in the office at least three days a week.  Starting January 2nd, they'll need to be in the office the entire week.  CEO Andy Jassy says there will be exceptions, just like there were before the pandemic.  That includes taking care of a sick child, various other emergencies, or being on the road to see customers.

>>FDA OKs Apple's Sleep Apnea Detection Feature

(Undated)  --  Just days after getting its hearing aid software approved, Apple now has the thumbs up on sleep apnea detection.  The FDA gave its approval Monday for the feature, which will debut on the Apple Watch Series Nine, Ten and Ultra Two models. It's part of the latest watchOS Eleven update and records wrist movements during sleep in order to detect the condition.  Earlier this year, the FDA gave its approval for Samsung's Sleep Apnea detection on its Galaxy Watch line. 

>>Trump Unveils Crypto Venture

(Undated)  --  Former President Trump is getting into the world of crypto.  Trump and his children unveiled a new cryptocurrency business called World Liberty Financial Monday during a spaces event on X, with Donald Jr. suggesting it will give opportunities for people who are unable to secure traditional financing from banks.  Few other details were given.  The former president said he was not too interested in crypto at first, but sales of his NFT trading cards made him re-think his position.  

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher Thursday as traders anticipate a rate cut by the Federal Reserve next  week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 235 points to 41-096.  The S&P 500 rose 41 points to 55-95.  The Nasdaq gained 174 points to 17-569.

>>Trump Proposes No Taxation On Overtime Pay

(Undated)  --  Donald Trump is proposing to end taxation on overtime pay.  On Thursday, the former President spoke at a rally in Arizona where he promised to "end taxes on overtime" if re-elected.  He didn't offer further details on how the plan would work but the proposal would require congressional action.  In recent months Trump has also proposed ending taxes on tipped wages and Social Security benefits.  Vice President Harris has the same sentiments, and has called for eliminating taxes on tipped work and an increase in the minimum wage. 

>>Boeing Says It's Ready To Renegotiate After Workers Vote To Strike

(Seattle, WA)  --  Boeing says it's ready to renegotiate after its workers voted to go on strike.  Thousands of aircraft employees at the manufacturing plants in Seattle and Portland rejected the Boeing contract offer on Thursday and voted to walk out Friday at midnight Pacific time.  Union leaders gave their approval to the contract, which was rejected by 95-percent of union members.  In a statement, Boeing said "The message was clear" that the tentative agreement was not acceptable to the members, and they are "ready to get back to the table" to reach a new agreement.

>>United States Bans Navient From Servicing Federal Student Loans

(Washington, DC)  --  The United States is banning Navient from servicing federal student loans.  The company must also pay 120-million-dollars in fines.  This agreement settles a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lawsuit from 2017 that alleged the company processed borrowers' payments incorrectly and misled them.  Navient was one of the largest federal student loan companies at the time contracted by the Department of Education.

>>JPMorgan, Bank Of America To Monitor Work Hours More Closely

(New York, NY)  --  JPMorgan and Bank of America are imposing new measures to help keep junior bankers from working too many hours.  JP Morgan is instituting a 80-hour weekly cap and Bank of American is going to start using a new timekeeping system to better monitor hours worked.  The moves come after allegations that junior bankers have been pressured to falsify their working hours, making it seem like they worked fewer hours to avoid triggering reports to HR.

>>Consumer Spending Projected To Be Down This Holiday Season

(New York, NY)  --  Consumer spending for the upcoming holiday season is expected to be down from last year.  Deloitte is out with its first holiday forecast and projects that retail sales will increase by as much as three-point-three-percent, but that's down from a growth of four-percent in 2023.  Even with the decrease, it works out to roughly one-point-six-trillion-dollars.  With only 27 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, retailers are expected to launch holiday deals even earlier this year.

>>NE Is #1 State In Financial Literacy

(Omaha, NE)  --  When it comes to finances Nebraska is the most literate state in the country.  Online site Credit Secrets analyzed nine metrics including education, economic habits, average credit scores and financial stability.  The average credit score in Nebraska is 731.  The state earned high marks for creating a law designed to improve the personal financial skills of students.  A personal finance literacy course worth a half-credit is required for high school graduation in the Cornhusker state.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a roller coaster trading day ended with stocks closing higher.  Tech shares led a mid-day rebound after the latest inflation report led to a big sell-off.  Stocks tumbled early after the consumer price index for August rose slightly more than expected.  The Labor Department reported earlier in the day the CPI rose point-two percent last month.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 124 points to 40-861.  The S&P 500 rose 58 points to 55-54.  The Nasdaq gained 369 points to 17-395.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for the producer price index, which also helps inform the state of inflation, as well as weekly jobless claims.   

>>Trump Media Stock Plummets 

(New York, NY)  --  Investors in Trump Media stock are hoping for a rebound after shares closed at a record low Wednesday.  A day after Tuesday's debate, shares in the company that owns former President Trump's Truth Social platform plummeted more than 17-percent.  That's the stock's lowest value since the company went public in late March.  It ended the day down ten-percent.  

>>Boeing Strike Looms As Workers Get Set To Vote

(Seattle, WA)  --  Boeing factory workers could end up walking off the job if they don't approve the latest contract proposal.  Some 33-thousand workers are due to vote on the deal today, and if they reject it, they could strike as early as Friday.  Earlier this week, the aviation giant and the union agreed on a contract that includes a 25-percent pay raise over four years.  Machinists union leader Jon Holden told The Seattle Times he expects rank-and-file members will reject the deal and vote to strike.  On Wednesday, new Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg sent a letter to workers urging them not to go on strike as it would jeopardize the company's recovery. 

>>DOJ's Antitrust Trial Continues

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Prosecutors began introducing evidence Wednesday on the third day of the trial involving the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust allegations against Google.  Prosecutors say the Alphabet company's online ad technology prevents smaller companies from competing - something Google denies.  However, in notes outlining their strategy as far back as late 2008 or early 2009, Google's former president of display advertising, David Rosenblatt, apparently bragged that they would - in his words - "be able to crush the other networks and that's our goal."  The case is being heard without a jury and is expected to last several weeks before a judge issues a ruling.  

>>Campbell Soup Company To Change Its Name

(Camden, NJ)  --  The iconic Campbell Soup Company is changing its name.  After 155-years, the company is dropping "soup" from its corporate name and will be called The Campbell's Company.  It comes at a time when more consumers are reaching for snacks, rather than soup.  Last year, the company says its snack sales grew 13-percent, while its soups grew three-percent.  Campbell currently owns many snack brands, including Goldfish, Snyder's of Hanover, Cape Cod and Pepperidge Farm.
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed yesterday. Tech shares edged higher while bank stocks fell putting pressure on the broader market. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 92 points to 40-736. The S&P 500 rose 24 points to 54-95. The Nasdaq gained 141 points to 17-025.

>>Coming Up: Consumer Price Index

(Undated) -- The consumer price index, the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge, is due to be released today. The producer price index comes out the following day and both will mark the Fed's last look at the key readings before announcing its highly-anticipated decision on interest rates next week.

>>EU Orders Apple To Pay $14 Billion In Back Taxes To Ireland

(Brussels) -- Europe's top court is ordering Apple to pay 14-billion-dollars in taxes to Ireland. The European Court of Justice issued the ruling yesterday in the tech giant's ten-year court battle with the Irish government. The case stems back to a 2016 decision by the European Commission to open an investigation into Apple's tax payments in Ireland which is where the tech giant's EU headquarters is located. The ruling comes a day after the company unveiled its new iPhone and Apple Watch products.

>>Shakeup On Budget Carrier Board

(Dallas, TX) -- The chairman of Texas-based Southwest Airlines is retiring. Gary Kelly made the announcement Tuesday and said it was voluntary. This is the latest in a shakeup for budget carrier. In addition to Kelly, six board members are also stepping down. A hedge fund, which holds ten-percent of Southwest stock, has been pushing for major changes to what they called a "decades-old approach" to doing business. Some of that has already been unveiled. The company is moving from their trademark "open seating" to "assigned seats."

>>U.S. Wireless Data Use On The Rise

(Washington, DC) -- Americans are using more wireless data. An survey released by the Cellular Telephone Industries Association Tuesday showed American used just over 100-trillion megabytes of wireless data last year. That's a 36-percent jump from 2022. It marks the largest one-year rise in wireless data use. The usage increase comes as more and more 5G devices are being used in the country. The number of wireless connections in the U.S. last year saw an uptick of six-percent to 558-million.

>>Brigham And Women's Nurses Ratify New Contract

(Boston, MA) -- Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have voted to ratify a contract agreement reached last month. The union represents around four thousand nurses at the hospital, who will now receive raises of up to 30-percent. The union voted to authorize a one-day strike in July, and an agreement was announced in early August. The deal was finalized with the vote to ratify that was finalized this week.

>>Sony Reveals PlayStation 5 Pro Console

(San Mateo, CA) -- Sony is giving gamers their first look at the PlayStation 5 Pro. The latest iteration of the popular video game console was unveiled Tuesday. It features upgraded graphics processing that will deliver graphics at high frame rates. The PS5 Pro won't come with a disc drive, but will have two terabytes of storage space. The console will retail for 700-dollars with preorders starting September 26th ahead of its November 7th launch date.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street rallied its way to a higher close to start off the week. Tech shares and airline stocks were among the top performers as markets rebounded from last week's steep selloff. Financial and retail shares also posted solid gains as investors anticipate a Federal Reserve rate cut later this month. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 484 points to 40-829. The S&P 500 added 62 points to 54-71. The Nasdaq rose 193 points to 16-884.

>>CPI, PPI Due Out This Week

(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week, we're set to get a couple of looks at where things stand inflation-wise. Tomorrow brings the release of the consumer price index, followed by the producer price index the next day. Fast forward to next week and the Federal Reserve will announce its highly-anticipated decision on interest rates on Wednesday. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will deliver remarks after the initial announcement is made.

>>Apple Introduces New Products At Event

(Cupertino, CA) -- Apple is introducing a lineup of new products that includes the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. At an event at its Cupertino, California headquarters Monday, the tech giant the iPhone 16 starts at 799-bucks and the iPhone 16 Plus starts at 899. The company also announced its new Apple Watch Series 10, which has an updated design, and AirPods 4 along with updated AirPods Max in new colors with USB-C charging.

>>DOJ's Anti-Trust Case Against Google Gets Started

(Mountain View, CA) -- The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google got underway Monday in Virginia. Prosecutors allege the Alphabet company's online ad technology inhibits smaller companies from competing. In his opening statement, an attorney for the DOJ said Google used classic monopoly-building tactics to "crush competition." Google denies the DOJ's claims, saying there is plenty of competition in apps and connected TV.

>>Big Lots Files For Bankruptcy Ahead Of Store Closures

(New York, NY) -- Big Lots is filing for bankruptcy just over a month after it announced it would be closing hundreds of stores. The discount retailer said in a statement that high inflation and interest rates have hurt customer spending, and the Ohio-based company is set to be sold to Nexus Capital Management. Big Lots previously announced it was closing 300 stores across the U.S.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed sharply lower on Friday to cap a losing week that was shortened by the Labor Day holiday. Tech stocks led the decline as lower than expected August jobs data fueled concerns of a slowing labor market. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 410 points to 40-345. The S&P 500 fell 94 points to 54-08. The Nasdaq dropped 436 points to 16-690.

>>Apple To Stream Glowtime Event

(Cupertino, CA) -- You don't have to attend Apple's Glowtime event to watch it. Apple plans to stream today's event on its website and YouTube. The iPhone maker is expected to announce its newest product lines with AI enhancements and capabilities. >>Biden Sign Labor Executive Order (Ann Arbor, MI) -- President Biden has signed what's being dubbed a "Good Jobs" executive order. He signed the "Investing In America and Investing In Americans" order on Friday while visiting a union training center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The White House says the move promotes "strong labor standards," such as family-sustaining wages, workplace safety, and the free and fair opportunity to join a union.

>>Fed's Waller Supports September Rate Cut

(New York, NY) -- It's looking more likely the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates soon. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he's in favor of a rate cut at the central bank's upcoming September meeting. Waller noted progress on inflation and "moderation in the labor market" as key reasons for easing policy in a speech in New York late last week. He also echoed Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comment that the "time has come" for adjustments to monetary policy. Waller's remarks followed Friday's release of a weaker-than-expected jobs report.

>>Largest Boeing Union Tentatively Agrees On Contract

(Seattle, WA) -- Boeing's largest union has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents 33-thousand Boeing employees. Under the four-year contract, workers will get raises of 25 percent. Due to seniority step increases, the average increase will be 33 percent. The union wanted 40 percent. Workers will also get lump sum payments of three-thousand dollars, lower health care costs and up to 41-hundred dollars in 401K contributions. The union cut a demand to have a pension plan restarted.

>>Waffle House CEO Dies

(Atlanta, GA) -- Waffle House president and CEO Walt Ehmer is dead at age 58. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced Ehmer's passing Sunday morning and said he leaves behind a "remarkable legacy." Ehmer joined Waffle House back in 1992 and became CEO in 2012. A cause of death hasn't been reported.

>>Report: Bill Belichick Hopes To Return To NFL In 2025

(Undated) -- A legendary head coach is looking to make a return to the NFL. According to ESPN, Bill Belichick would like to return to coaching in 2025 if the right situation with a good job becomes available. Belichick had numerous opportunities to join various staffs this past offseason, but opted to take the year off. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams were among the teams reported to have interest. The 72-year-old and the Patriots parted ways following the 2023 season after 24 years and six Super Bowl championships. Belichick is 15 regular season or postseason wins away from breaking the all-time record held by Don Shula.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed yesterday.  This comes after a sell-off on Tuesday to start the new  month.  Investors are prepared for more volatility this month, with some getting ready for a pullback of five-percent or more.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 38 points to 40-974.  The S&P 500 fell by eight points to 55-20.  The Nasdaq dropped by 52 points to 17-084.

>>Biden Expected To Block U.S. Steel Takeover

(Washington, DC)  --  President Biden is expected to block the proposed 15-billion-dollar acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's largest steelmaker.  While the White House hasn't confirmed the move yet, the Washington Post on Wednesday cited three people familiar with the matter.  Nippon [[ Nih-PAWN ]] Steel's purchase of U.S. Steel has been opposed by both former President Trump and Vice President Harris on the campaign trail, with the Democratic presidential nominee arguing the historic company should remain in American hands.  At the same time, the CEO of U.S. Steel is warning that blocking the deal would likely cause the company to close plants and move its headquarters out of Pittsburgh.

>>Marathon Petroleum Refinery Employees Strike

(Detroit, MI)  --  Members of Teamsters Local 283 in Detroit hit the picket lines today at a Marathon Petroleum Refinery.  More than 200 strikers were out in force before the sun was up.  The union and Marathon began contract talks last December.  Workers say they want better pay and safer working conditions.  Plant officials say operations and supply are unlikely to be affected by the strike.  

>>SpaceX Hoping For Launch Today 

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  Bad weather got in the way of SpaceX's plans this week.  The company had to move yesterday's planned launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to this afternoon because of unfavorable conditions in the Atlantic Ocean.  The plan is to send another batch of nearly two dozen Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Tuesday saw a sharply lower close to kick off a holiday-shortened trading week.  Stocks slid in a broad sell-off after weak manufacturing data reignited fears of an economic slowdown.  All three major averages tumbled with the tech-heavy Nasdaq down more than three percent for the session.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 626 points to end at 40-936.  The S&P 500 dropped 119 points to 55-28.  The Nasdaq plunged 577 points to 17-136.  

>>Harris To Unveil Small Business Tax Plan

(Portsmouth, NH)  --  Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce an economic proposal to help small businesses today.  Harris will be on the campaign trail in New Hampshire where she'll outline proposed tax deductions for small business startups.  Her plan would increase the deduction from five-thousand to 50-thousand dollars.  Harris is also expected to put forward a plan to cut the red tape small business owners have to deal with.

>>Hotel Worker Strike Could Grow 

(Undated)  --  Hotel workers around the country are threatening to expand their strike after their union and hotel companies failed to reach a contract deal.  Around ten-thousand people hit the picket lines in places like San Francisco, Seattle and Boston during the long Labor Day holiday.  The workers are demanding better pay and benefits.  The hotel chains affected include Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott.  Some of the union workers are back on the job today, but guests are complaining about the lack of standard services. 

>>United Airlines Raises Concerns About Potential Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Merger 

(Honolulu, HI)  --  United Airlines is raising concerns about the pending merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.  In a letter recently sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation, United Airlines says the merger could have a negative impact on its partnerships with Hawaiian.  One of its concerns is a deal that allows passengers to collect miles on both airlines.  The U.S. Department of Justice okayed the one-point-nine-billion-dollar merger last month.  But, now its fate is in the hands of the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

>>Chase Bank Calls Viral TikTok Trend "Fraud"

(New York, NY)  --  Chase Bank says a viral TikTok trend is really just check fraud.  Over the weekend, videos on the popular social media app showed users depositing fake checks for large amounts of money and quickly withdrawing the cash from their accounts.  Some users claimed a glitch in the bank's system allowed people to get the cash from the deposited checks.  Instead, those who tried to take advantage of the so-called "glitch" later ended up seeing large negative balances on their accounts.  In a statement, Chase said the incident has been addressed and added, "Regardless of what you see online, depositing a fraudulent check and withdrawing the funds from your account is fraud, plain and simple."

>>Holiday-Shortened Trading Week Kicks Off

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street following the Labor Day holiday, making for an abbreviated trading week. As things wound down Friday, stocks rose after the Federal Reserve's primary inflation gauge showed price pressures continued to cool in July. At the closing bell, the Dow gained 228 points to 41-563. The S&P 500 rose 56 points to 56-48. The Nasdaq climbed 197 points to 17-713.

>>What's Coming Up This Week In Business News

(Undated) -- Coming up this week in business news, notable reports start to roll out on Wednesday. That's when we'll get a look at data on job openings, the U.S. trade deficit, the Fed Beige Book and also auto sales numbers. Thursday brings the ADP employment report and weekly jobless claims. The week wraps up with the highly-anticipated monthly jobs report on Friday. Most analysts are forecasting an increase from last month.

>>Hotel Workers Go On Strike

(Undated) -- Some hotel workers around the country could be going back to work today after their union and hotel companies failed to reach a contract deal and they walked off the job Sunday. Around ten-thousand people hit the picket lines in places like San Francisco, Seattle and Boston. The Unite Here union represents the workers, and says they are demanding better pay and benefits, along with fair work schedules and increased staffing. The strike, authorized for three days in some places, was called during a period when many people were traveling for the Labor Day holiday.

>>AT&T Strike Continues

(Lexington, KY) -- The Communications Workers of America is walking away from the table in negotiations with AT&T. The union released a statement Monday evening saying it's no longer interested in mediation with the communications company. The union believes mediation was a "delay tactic" and asks AT&T "to get serious" so that employees can get back to work. Over 17-thousand employees are on strike in the Mid-South including Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

>>Volkswagen Warns Of Possible Plant Closings In Germany

(Wolfsburg, Germany) -- Volkswagen is considering major cuts that may include layoffs and plant closures. The German automaker said Monday it could take the unprecedented step to close production sites in Germany as part of a major restructuring. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume cited a "very demanding and serious situation" in the European market. Germany's powerful trade unions sharply criticized the company's cost-cutting plan as being "irresponsible" and "short-sighted."