>>Stocks Close Lower

(New York, NY) -- Wall Street closed Wednesday with stocks lower. This comes as new numbers showed the economy grew slower than expected over the last quarter. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 91 points to 42-141. The S&P 500 dropped by 19 points to 58-13. The Nasdaq lost 104 points to 18-607.

>>U.S. Economy Grows 2.8%

(Washington, DC) -- The U.S. economy grew at a rate of two-point-eight percent in this year's third quarter. That's a bit lower than the three-percent growth in the previous quarter and the three-percent analysts were predicting. The Gross Domestic Product numbers out yesterday from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that most of the growth was driven by consumer and government spending.

>>Starbucks Gives Ultimatum To Employees In Return To Office Push

(Seattle, WA) -- Starbucks is threatening to fire its corporate employees who don't come to the office. Toni Waterman has more from the coffee giant's internal memo seen by the Wall Street Journal. It's been nearly two years since the company mandated corporate employees spend at least three days a week in the office. Starbucks' new CEO Brian Niccol was recently allowed to work from his home in Southern California. The move stirred some backlash after he told workers last month that there is power in having everybody together. Niccol commutes around a thousand miles with a corporate jet.

>>Report: Spirit Airlines To Furlough 330 Pilots

(Chicago, IL) -- Spirit Airlines is getting ready to sideline hundreds of pilots. A company spokesperson tells Reuters the discount airline will furlough 330 pilots on January 31st as part of a cost-cutting move. This comes after 186 pilots were furloughed last month. Spirit Airlines has failed to report a profit in five of its last six quarters. A company spokesperson says the furloughs are part of the airline's comprehensive plan to return to profitability.

>>Russian Court Fines Google For An "Undecillion" Rubles

(Moscow) -- Russia is fining Google for more money than the world's entire gross domestic product. Sky News says a Russian judge made that decision this week after Google removed state-run and pro-government accounts from YouTube. Google was fined an "undecillion" rubles, which is a one followed by 36 zeros, or a trillion times a trillion times a trillion. The court said Google cannot return to the Russian market until after the fine is paid. Google has a current stock market value of about two-point-one trillion dollars.

>>Esprit Files For Bankruptcy

(Hong Kong) -- Iconic fashion brand Esprit is filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. and liquidating their holding here. The brand, which saw its popularity peak in the 80s and 90s, has been facing trouble for awhile, declaring bankruptcy in Germany back in May. The company had previously left the U.S. in 2012 but had been trying to make a comeback over the past couple of years. In the U.S. filing, the company cited weak business and financial conditions making it unlikely they could meet debt obligations.

>>Americans Projected To Spend 11.6 Billion Dollars On Halloween This Month

(Austin, TX) -- Americans are expected to have spent 11-point-six billion dollars on Halloween this October. That's according to a National Retail Federation survey. That includes mostly costumes, decorations and candy, with a sprinkle of money spent on greeting cards as well. That's a slight decline from last year's record 12-point-two billion. Nearly half of Americans surveyed said they started buying Halloween goods before October. That's up from 32-percent in 2014.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed in mixed territory Tuesday with the Nasdaq hitting a new record high.  Shares of Meta and Alphabet advanced more than one percent ahead of posting their quarterly results.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 154 points to 42-233.  The S&P 500 added 9 points to 58-32.  The Nasdaq rose 145 points to 18-712.

>>GDP Report Out Today

(Undated)  --  Today's third quarter GDP report will be released today and it's expected to show a cooling in inflation along with increased growth.  The highly-anticipated report comes just a week ahead of the Federal Reserve's next meeting.  After that, there will only be one more meeting of the central bank this year.  Pending home sales and the ADP employment report are also due today. 

>>Airlines Required To Refund Passengers For Canceled/Very Delayed Flights

(Washington, DC)  --  Airlines are now required to refund passengers automatically for canceled or significantly delayed flights.  Under the Department of Transportation's new rules, airlines will be required to provide cash refunds promptly without customers needing to ask.  Domestic flights delayed by three hours or more and international flights delayed by six hours or more qualify for a full refund.  They'll also have to refund for services passengers paid for but weren't provided, like Wi-Fi or entertainment.

>>Job Openings Fall In September

(Washington, DC)  --  The number of job openings fell in September.  The Labor Department says fewer than seven-and-half million jobs were available which is a drop of more than 400-thousand from the previous month's revised tally.  That's the lowest level since January 2021 which surprised economists.  Health care and social assistance along with state and local government led decrease in job openings.  According to the JOLTS report, although the openings level slipped last month the total number of hires rose slightly. 

>>Consumer Confidence Surges In October

(New York, NY)  --  Consumer confidence rebounded in October.  The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index surged to its highest level in nine months as consumers regained faith in the U.S. economy.  The board's chief economist said the October increase was broad-based across all age groups and most income groups.  Still, the survey noted concerns about prices and inflation continued to affect consumers' views of the economy.  Purchasing plans for homes and new cars improved slightly for the next six months.  

>>McDonald's Q3 Earnings Released, Meta And Microsoft On Deck

(Chicago, IL)  --  McDonald's reported better than expected third quarter earnings after an E.Coli outbreak affected a number of restaurants.  The company posted revenue of six-point-87 billion dollars on Tuesday, up three percent year-over-year.  Earnings grew one percent a share.  The effects of the outbreak, which sickened dozens of people and left one dead, won't be reflected until the fourth quarter results.  In the spotlight today is Facebook parent Meta along with Microsoft, followed by Amazon and Apple on Thursday.  
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher to start the week off Monday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 273 points to end at 42-387.  The S&P 500 added 15 points to close at 58-23.  The Nasdaq rose 48 points to wind things up at 18-567.

>>Earnings Reports Due 

(Undated)  --  Some big names are set to release earnings reports today.  We'll hear from McDonald's - recently in the news over a multi-state E. coli outbreak - as well as Alphabet, Pfizer, Reddit and Spotify.  In the spotlight Wednesday is Facebook parent Meta along with Microsoft.  That same spotlight shifts Thursday to Amazon and Apple.  

>>McDonald's Quarter Pounders Making A Return 

(Chicago, IL)  --  Quarter Pounders will be back on the menu at all McDonald's this week following an E. coli outbreak.  The CDC reported there have been 75 E. coli cases confirmed in 13 states.  One person in Colorado died as a result.  The USDA had said the likely source of the outbreak was slivered onions or beef patties on Quarter Pounders.  McDonald's now says it feels confident any contaminated product has been removed from its supply chain.

>>Musk Sued By Philly Prosecutor Over Cash Giveaway For Voters

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  Billionaire Elon Musk is being sued by a Philadelphia prosecutor over his one-million dollar giveaway for registered voters.  The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office filed the lawsuit Monday, aiming to stop Musk's America political action committee's lottery.  The P-A-C is awarding one-million dollars every day until the election to a registered voter in swing states who signs a petition supporting free speech and the Second Amendment.  Philadelphia's DA argued the lottery will "irreparably harm Philadelphians" and also "tarnish the public's right to a free and fair election" if not stopped.  The Justice Department reportedly sent a letter to Musk's P-A-C warning the giveaway may be illegal.

>>TGI Fridays Closes Dozens Of Locations 

(Dallas, TX)  --  With reports of a possible bankruptcy looming, TGI Fridays is closing restaurants -- nearly 50 in the past week.  The move marks the most closures for TGI Fridays locations since January.

>>PepsiCo Abruptly Shuts Down Chicago Facility

(Chicago, IL)  --  PepsiCo has shut down its Chicago facility in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.  The sudden move leaves close to 80 employees out of a job.  The company sent the union a letter yesterday morning informing them of the immediate closure.  The union claims Pepsi skipped the required 60-day notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.   Meanwhile, Pepsi officials say they will pay employees and continue to provide benefits for 60 days.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Friday to end a volatile week.  Tech shares helped lift the Nasdaq to a new record high as the rest of the market struggled.  Tesla stock surged while McDonald's fell after the CDC confirmed more cases linked to a deadly E. coli outbreak.  At the closing bell, the Dow fell 259 points to 42-114.  The S&P 500 lost a point to 58-08.  The Nasdaq gained 103 points to 18-518.

>>A Look At Economic Reports Out This Week 

(Undated)  --  The business week gets off to a slow start with no major economic reports on the schedule today.  Things start to pick up Tuesday with word on consumer confidence, job openings and the S&P Case-Shiller home price index.  Wednesday brings the highly-anticipated GDP report just a week ahead of the Federal Reserve's next meeting.  After that, there will only be one more meeting of the central bank this year.  Pending home sales and the ADP employment report are also due the same day.  Weekly jobless claims along with personal income and spending come out Thursday and the week wraps up with the focus on the monthly jobs report, out Friday morning.

>>Earnings Reports On The Horizon  

(Undated)  --  Some heavy-hitting businesses are due to release earnings reports this week.  Ford Motor gets things rolling, releasing its latest earnings report after today's closing bell.  We'll hear tomorrow from McDonald's - recently in the news over a multi-state E. coli outbreak - as well as Alphabet, Pfizer, Reddit and Spotify.  In the spotlight Wednesday is Facebook parent Meta along with Microsoft.  That same spotlight shifts Thursday to Amazon and Apple.  

>>Starlink Unveils On Flight WiFi 

(Undated)  --  Starlink WiFi is coming to commuters traveling with Qatar Airways.  CEOs for both companies, Elon Musk and Badr Mohammed Al Meer, made the announcement in a video call using the Boeing 777 jets Starlink internet as Al Meer was traveling during the call from Doha to London.  In a post on X last week, the airline said "Starlink is now live on a 777 for the first time and will soon be available for all passengers flying on Qatar Airways."  The Starlink Wifi will come to select travel routes at no extra cost for commuters.  The airline said that Starlink will be available on all of its Boeing 777 aircraft in 2025.

>>Costco Recalls Contaminated Chicken

(Issaquah, WA)  --  Costco is recalling chicken products that may be contaminated with listeria.  The retailer says Costco members should return their ready-to-eat chicken for a full refund.  Some of the products being recalled are part of a larger recall of BrucePac meats that were found to be contaminated with listeria, which include cooked chicken products from Rana and El Monterey.  The recall also includes the ReadyWise Emergency Protein Bucket and Red's Southwestern Grill Chicken Mini Burritos.  The USDA says the listeria contamination was found through routine testing and no illnesses have been reported so far.

>>Nvidia Overtakes Apple As World's Most Valuable Company

(Santa Clara, CA)  --  Nvidia has, at least for now, overtaken Apple as the world's most valuable company.  The value of the AI chip-makers stock topped three-point-five-three trillion dollars during Friday's trading session.  That beat Apple's value of three-point-five-two trillion.  Demand for Nvidia's powerful graphics processors and artificial intelligence hardware and software continues to push the company's value into record territory. 

>>Boeing To Raise Capital

(Arlington, VA)  --  Boeing is planning to try to raise more than 15-billion in capital.  It's an effort by the troubled aircraft company to boost liquidity.  The company has been lining up potential investors for the push, including selling shares and debt that can be converted into equity.  This, as Boeing continues to deal with a more than month-long strike by tens of thousands of machinists.    Source Staff/acc      Copyright © 2024 TTWN Media Networks Inc.
 

>>Stocks Close Mixed

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed Thursday with stocks mixed.  The S&P 500 was boosted from Tesla after the company posted positive third quarter earnings results.  It comes after the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its worst one day loss on Wednesday since December.  At the closing bell, the Dow fell by 140 points to 42-374.  The S&P 500 gained 12 points to 58-09.  The Nasdaq rose by 138 points to 18-415.

>>Tesla Shares See Best Day Since 2013

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla shares were up 22 percent Thursday after a better-than -expected earnings report, the stock's best day in 11 years.  The electric automaker reported revenue of just over 25-billion-dollars, up eight percent from a year earlier.  The company saw 72-cents in earnings per share, compared to analyst predictions of 59-cents. 

>>Yum Brands Pulls Onions From Select Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut Locations

(Louisville, KY)  --  Yum Brands is pulling onions from select KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations after an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's.  The fast food company said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution.  There have been nearly 50 confirmed cases across ten states in the E. coli outbreak with one death.  McDonald's has stopped selling Quarter Pounder hamburgers at about a fifth of it locations in response to the outbreak.  On Wednesday, restaurant supplier U.S. Foods -- which does not distribute onions to McDonald's -- recalled four onion products.

>>Southwest To Restructure Leadership Following Settlement

(Dallas, TX)  --  Another major airline headquartered out of northern Texas is making headlines this week.  Southwest Airlines says it will restructure its board's leadership after reaching a settlement with Elliot Investment Management.  The Dallas-based carrier broke the news earlier today, saying the upcoming adjustments will include the retirements of longtime CEO Gary Kelly and six other directors.  The agreement was reached following several months of negotiations with the investor.  Elliot says it believes the changes, which are set to take effect in November, will set the airline up for success.  The announcement comes a day after Fort Worth-based American Airlines was issued a 50-million-dollar fine over allegations of the mistreatment of passengers with disabilities.

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Down 

(Washington, DC)  --  Fewer Americans than expected filed first-time requests for unemployment benefits in the week ending October 19th.  Numbers out Thursday from the Department of Labor show 227-thousand first-time filings, down 15-thousand from the week prior.  Most analysts had been expecting today's number to come in at right around 242-thousand. 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street.  At one point, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 500 points.  This comes as investors have concerns the Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates at their next meeting and also as shares of McDonalds fell after the CDC reported an E.coli outbreak connected to the chain's Quarter Pounder burgers.  At the closing bell, the Dow was down 409 points to end at 42-514.  The S&P 500 fell 53 points to 57-97.  The Nasdaq dropped by 296 points to 18-276.

>>Coming Up Today

(Undated)  --  Coming up today, we'll get word on new home sales as well as weekly jobless claims.  Most analysts are expecting a slight increase in the number of people filing first-time requests for unemployment benefits.  The week wraps up Friday with consumer sentiment data.

>>Boeing Machinists' Union Reject New Labor Contract

(Arlington County, VA)  --  The Boeing machinists union is rejecting a new labor deal.  The news comes after a 64-percent vote against the deal, which included a 35-percent wage increase over the next four years, higher 401k contributions, guaranteed payouts in a bonus program and a higher signing bonus.  The aerospace giant reached a tentative deal with the striking workers this past weekend.   Over 30-thousand machinists walked off the job over a month ago.  Boeing reported a six-billion dollar loss during the last quarter, with an over eight-billion dollar loss from January through September.

>>Tesla Reports Strong 3Q Earnings

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla is reporting stronger than expected third-quarter profits, sending shares up 12 percent after Wednesday's earnings release.  The electric automaker brought in 72-cents in earnings per share, compared to analyst predictions of 59-cents.  Sales and income rose eight percent year-over-year, with its first bottom line growth of 2024.

>>FAA Issues Final Regulation For Air Taxis

(Washington, DC)  --  The FAA is issuing a final rule for air taxis and other electric-powered aircraft.  It calls the regulations the final piece in the puzzle to introduce these types of aircraft.  It outlines instructor and pilot training and qualifications to fly aircraft in the powered lift category.  FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said this category is the first new aircraft category in nearly eight decades, and said they will continue to prioritize the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations.  This comes as electric vehicle aircraft developers said one day people will be able to use them for travel.

>>Amazon Announces Gas Discounts For Prime Members 

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is getting into the gas game.  The e-commerce giant announced that Prime members can now save ten cents per gallon at the pump.  The discount can be redeemed at around seven-thousand BP, Amoco and ampm [[ A-M-P-M ]] stations across the country. Amazon said it could save drivers almost 70 bucks per year on fuel. Meantime, starting next year Prime members with electric vehicles can get discounts at BP charging stations. 

>>Borrowing Against Home Values To Spend On Renovations Expected To Increase 

(New York, NY)  --  Analysts forecast a significant rebound in home remodeling next year as a result of lower interest rates.  More homeowners are borrowing against the rising value of their properties, and spending on renovations.  The substantial amount of home equity that Americans have amassed thanks to sharply rising property values is getting cheaper to access with the Fed cutting interest rate.  According to the Federal Reserve, Americans have more than 35-trillion dollars in home equity, up 81-percent from the end of 2019. That is an average of about 400-thousand dollars per U.S. homeowner.  Renovation spending should reach an annual rate of 477 billion by this time next year.
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed yesterday despite spending much of the session in the red.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 6 points to 42-924.  The S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 58-51.  The Nasdaq gained 33 points to 18-573.

>>AF CEO Posts 10M Bond Following Sex Trafficking Arrest

(New York, NY)  --  Former Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries is posting a ten-million dollar bond following his arrest on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges.  Meanwhile, his associate James Jacobson is out on 500-thousand dollar bond while Jeffries' romantic partner, Matthew Smith, has been detained.  Jeffries and Jacobson are set to be arraigned Friday in federal court on Long Island.  Prosecutors say for close to ten years, the three preyed on young aspiring male models and trafficked them to sex parties around the world.  An indictment names 15 victims but authorities believe there are many more.

>>IRS Unveils New Income Tax Brackets For 2025

(Washington, DC)  --  The IRS is raising federal tax brackets for 2025 to adjust for inflation.  The standard deduction for married couples filing together will increase to 30-thousand dollars and 15-thousand for single taxpayers.  In announcing the change Tuesday, the agency noted it applies to tax year 2025 for returns filed in 2026.  There are also changes to dozens of other categories including long term capital gains, gift tax exemption and the child tax credit.  You can check out the full list at irs.gov website.

>>Boeing Machinists' Union To Vote Today

(Arlington County, VA)  --  The Boeing machinists union will vote on a "negotiated proposal" today.  That's after the aerospace giant reached a tentative deal with the striking workers this past weekend.  If approved, it will end a weeks-long strike.  The new proposal includes a 35-percent wage increase over the next four years, higher 401k contributions, guaranteed payouts in a bonus program and a higher signing bonus.  

>>Tesla Earnings Out Today

(Undated)  --  Tesla is set to release third quarter earnings after today's closing bell on Wall Street.  Here's what analysts are predicting:  The electric vehicle maker is likely to report earnings of 58 cents per share, down just over 12 percent from a year ago.  Revenue is expected to land slightly north of 25 billion dollars.    

>>Denny's Closing 150 Restaurants

(Spartanburg, SC)  --  Denny's is closing 150 of its restaurants.  The diner chain plans to close 50 of its lower performing locations by the end of the year, with the other 100 shuttering in 2025.  The chain operates more than 13-hundred restaurants in the U.S.

>>Target Cuts Prices On More Than 2,000 Items Ahead Of Holiday Season

(New York, NY)  --  Target is cutting prices on more than two-thousand items ahead of the holiday season. Some prices have been reduced  immediately on items that include home goods, beauty products, food and toys. Target said in a press release that it routinely adjusts its prices to stay competitive, and it will continue through December. The price cuts have brought an uptick in customer spending after a string of bad quarters for the retail giant.

>>Honda Recalls Nearly 800,000 Vehicles Due To Potential Fire Risk

(Detroit, MI)  --  Honda is recalling about 780-thousand vehicles in North America due to a potential fire risk.  The issue lies with a high-pressure fuel pump that may crack and leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire if an ignition source is present. It includes Honda Accords, Honda CR-V Hybrids, and Honda Civics from model years 2023 through 2025. Honda has received 145 warranty claims related to this issue, but there have been no reports of injuries. 

>>Stocks Close Mixed, Dow Falls Nearly 350 Points

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mix on Monday to kick off the new trading week.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 350 points as Treasury yields rose and investors await the latest batch of earnings reports.  Boeing shares bucked the trend and climbed three percent after the aircraft maker reached a new contract proposal that could end a month-long strike by machinists.  At the closing bell, the Dow fell 344 points to 42-931.  The S&P 500 lost 10 points to 58-53.  The Nasdaq gained 50 points to 18-540.

>>Tesla Earnings Out This Week 

(Undated)  --  Tesla is due to release third quarter earnings on Wednesday.  Here's what analysts are predicting:  The electric vehicle maker is likely to report earnings of 58 cents per share, down just over 12 percent from a year ago.  Revenue is expected to land slightly north of 25 billion dollars.    

>>McDonald's Sends Employees Memo On Trump Visit

(Chicago, IL)  --  McDonald's says it does not endorse political candidates for elected office.  The fast food chain sent a memo to employees following former President Trump serving french fries at a Pennsylvania location on Sunday.  The message noted that McDonald's has become a focal point during the election cycle and that "it's a testament to how much McDonald's resonates with so many Americans."  Vice President Harris has made her time working at McDonald's part of her campaign while Trump has disputed her employment claim.  McDonald's operates as a franchise model and owners are able to invite political candidates without needing approval.

>>Lyft May Soon Add Service Animal Feature

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Lyft soon add an opt-in for customers to bring their service animals on rides.  Last week, protesters gathered outside of Lyft and Uber's San Francisco headquarters to demand more accommodations for handicapped riders.  In response, Lyft says it will launch the service animal opt-in feature by next year. 

>>Travelers Cutting Back On Holiday Vacations

(Undated)  --  With the holiday travel season on the way, most people say they are changing their travel plans due to inflation.  The results of a new Bankrate survey show a lot of people are cutting back.  That includes picking less expensive destinations and hotels, driving instead of flying, and vacationing for fewer days.  It comes as the TSA is expected to finish 2024 with a record number of airport screenings. 

>>WNBA Opt Out Of Current CBA

(New York, NY)  --  WNBA players are opting out of their current collective bargaining agreement with the league.  The players' union announced its board of player representatives and executive committee decided to opt out of the current agreement that was set to expire in 2027.  If a new CBA is not agreed to by the end of the 2025 season then there could be a work stoppage.  The WNBA has seen record growth recently, including a new media rights deal valued at 200-million dollars a year and skyrocketing attendance.  Players have advocated for increased salaries and an "equity-based" economic model for the league.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed higher on Friday to cap a six-week winning streak.  Strong earnings gave markets a boost with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading the way.  Shares in Netflix surged ten percent after the streaming giant posted quarterly results that beat expectations.  Both the Dow and S&P 500 finished at record highs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 36 points to 43-275.  The S&P 500 added 23 points to 58-64.  The Nasdaq rose 115 points to 18-489.

>>Business News Coming Up This Week 

(Undated)  --  This week will be light on economic reports.  Existing home sales are due Wednesday along with the Fed Beige Book.  New home sales and weekly jobless claims follow on Thursday.  Things wrap up Friday with data on consumer sentiment. 

>>Boeing Reaches Tentative Deal With Machinists' Union

(Arlington County, VA)  --  Boeing has reached a tentative deal with its machinists' union that could end a weeks-long strike.  The new contract would include a 35-percent wage increase over the next four years, higher 401k contributions, guaranteed payouts in a bonus program and a higher signing bonus.  Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will vote to ratify the deal on Wednesday.  This would end the strike that began September 13th when 30-thousand workers walked of the job after rejecting a new contract.

>>Musk Giving $1 Mil A Day To Petition Signers

(Harrisburg, PA)  --  Billionaire Elon Musk announced a million-dollar-a-day giveaway in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania  over the weekend.  During a rally Saturday in support of former president Donald Trump, Musk said he'll give a million dollars a day between now and Election Day to someone who signs his petition supporting the U.S. Constitution.  The petition specifies support for only the First and Second Amendments.  

>>Study Shows Half Of Americans Forget To Cancel Trial Subscriptions

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Nearly half of Americans forget to cancel a trial subscription.  That's according to a new survey from CNET.  Data shows streaming video platforms is the most common for users to pay full price for after trying them out.  The tech publication noted that Millennials and Gen Zers are the most forgetful when it comes to unsubscribing.  This comes as the FTC recently announced plans to help make canceling a digital subscription just as easy as signing up for one.     

>>Walmart Offers Inflation Free Meal Deal Thru Holidays

(Bentonville, AR)  --  Walmart is announcing the return of their "Inflation Free Meal Deal" through the holidays.  The deal is being released earlier this year and at a lower price.  The deal offers 29-items including turkey, sides and dessert and will serve eight people at a cost of less than seven-dollars a person.  Meals can be gifted to friends or family or donated to the Salvation Army.  Items will be listed on the Walmart-dot-com-slash-Thanksgiving link.  The offer will run through December 24th.  
 

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street as the trading week starts to wind down.  Stocks closed mixed yesterday following the release of data that gave investors some encouragement about the economy.  Last month's retail sales numbers showed consumer spending rose by point-four-percent, against expectations of point-three-percent.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 161 points to 42-239.  The S&P 500 fell by one-point to 58-41.  The Nasdaq gained six points to 18-373.  

>>Yellen Warns High Tariffs Will Boost Inflation

(Washington, DC)  --  Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says high tariffs like those proposed by presidential candidate Donald Trump would boost inflation in the U.S.  Yellen delivered remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday and didn't mention Trump by name, but argued the broad tariffs supported by the former president would "raise prices for American families and make our businesses less competitive."  Earlier this week, Trump suggested he might impose tariffs of up to 50-percent to force foreign companies to manufacture in the U.S.

>>Netflix Posts Q3 Results 

(Los Gatos, CA)  --  Netflix is reporting third quarter earnings that beat Wall Street estimates.  The streaming giant is projecting revenue for the full year of 2025 to come in between 43 and 44 billion dollars.   It also noted that ad-tier memberships are up 35 percent.  

>>Instagram Rolling Out Features Aimed To Tackle Sextortion

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Instagram is rolling out new features aimed at protecting teens from sextortion scams. That's when scammers threaten that they'll share intimate photos of the user unless they get some form of payment. Parent company Meta says one of the features expected soon is prohibiting the ability to screenshot or record temporary images as well as photos sent used via direct messaging. The tech giant is also teaming up with Crisis Text Line to support those who fall victim to the scam or have other safety concerns. Meta said last week alone, it removed over 16-hundred Facebook accounts affiliated with a group notorious for those types of scams. 

>>Textron Aviation Present New Contract Offer

(Wichita, KS)  --  Kansas-based Textron Aviation is presenting an updated contract offer to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.  The contract offer includes a lump sum payment of 15-thousand dollars over five years per employee, an increased cost-of-living maximum, new longevity pay, and caps on increases to health insurance premiums.  The company says the union is expected to have the opportunity to vote on the contract offer this weekend.  The union has been on strike since September 22nd.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks finished higher on Wednesday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 337 points to 43-077, marking a record high. The S&P 500 rose by 27 points to 58-42. The Nasdaq gained 51 points to 18-367.

>>What To Watch For Today

(Undated) -- September retail sales numbers are due out today, with most analysts expecting a modest increase over August. Also in focus today: weekly jobless claims, the homebuilder confidence index and Netflix's third quarter earnings results.

>>Inflation Is A Top Economic Concern For Voters

(New York, NY) -- That state - or perceived state - of the economy tends to have a profound impact on presidential elections. Bankrate's new Politics and Economy Survey shows 41-percent of Americans say inflation is their top economic issue this presidential election. The majority of Americans aren't pleased with the economy. More-than-half of those surveyed think the U.S. economy is headed on the wrong direction. More than two-in-five Americans say Trump would be best for their personal financial situation and inflation; while 45-percent believe he would be best for the economy.

>>FTC Makes It Easier To Cancel Digital Subscriptions

(Washington, DC) -- The Federal Trade Commission is making it easier to cancel digital subscriptions. It announced it would soon put in place a "final click to cancel rule." It would require sellers to make it "as easy for consumers to cancel their enrollment as it was to sign up." FTC Chair Lina Khan said that the rule will end businesses' "tricks and traps," saying they "make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription." >>Threads To Show When Users Are Online (Menlo Park, CA) -- Threads is going to show when its users are online. Meta's answer to X is about to make that the default setting for all accounts. Users can turn off the feature, but once they do, they will also not be able to see when others are online.

>>Disney Introduces Light Lane Premiere Pass For Theme Parks

(Anaheim, CA) -- Disney is introducing a new way for guests to skip the lines at their theme parks. Lightning Lane Premier Pass will launch at Anaheim's Disneyland next week and at Orlando's Walt Disney World on October 30th. It will allow guests entry to the Lightning Lane line at select attractions at any time once per day. The Disneyland Lightning Lane Premier Pass will cost between 300-and-400-dollars per person, per day and can be used at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Meanwhile, the Walt Disney World version will cost between 129-and-449-dollars depending on the day and park selected.

>>TNT Sports Lands Media Rights Deal For New Women's Basketball League

(Atlanta, GA) -- TNT Sports will be the home of Unrivaled, a new three-on-three women's basketball league. Warner Bros. Discovery reached a multi-year deal with the upstart league that tips off in January. Unrivaled was founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. It will feature 30 of the top women's basketball players including Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Brittney Griner and Kahleah [[ kuh-lee-uh ]] Copper playing across six teams. TNT will air doubleheaders on Monday and Friday nights while a doubleheader will air on truTV on Saturday nights with all games also streaming on Max.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street saw a lower close on Tuesday.  Stocks fell with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 slipping from record levels as investors weighed the latest corporate earnings.  At the closing bell, the Dow fell 324 points to 42-740.  The S&P 500 lost 44 points to 58-15.  The Nasdaq dropped 187 points to 18-315.

>>SBA Out Of Disaster Loan Funds

(Washington, DC)  --  The Small Business Administration is out of money for its disaster loan program after hurricanes Helene and Milton.  The agency said Tuesday it's pausing new low interest loan offers unless Congress allocates more funding.  President Biden and other Democrats have called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to call Congress back into session to get that done, but Johnson says the matter can wait until Congress returns next month after the election.  In the meantime, the agency is telling people to continue to apply for assistance so they'll be positioned once money is available.

>>Walgreens To Close 1,200 Stores By 2027

(Deerfield, IL)  --  Walgreens will be closing 12-hundred stores across the country by 2027.  The drugstore chain announced the cost-cutting move Tuesday while reporting fourth-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations.  CEO Tim Wentworth said the closures will give Walgreens a "healthier store base" and enable the company to respond to shifts in consumer behavior.  Most of the cost cuts are aimed at the retail pharmacy segment.  Walgreens plans to close about 500 underperforming stores in fiscal 2025 alone.

>>Apple Introduces iPad Mini

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple is introducing a new iPad mini. It's available to order now and will be in stores next week on October 23rd. It'll support Apple Intelligence, the tech giant's new suite of AI features that will begin its rollout this month. Apple saw its strongest growth in its iPad segment in the fiscal third quarter, growing about 24-percent year over year.

>>Delta Airlines To Revamp Cabins Across Fleet

(Atlanta, GA)  --  Delta Air Lines will be revamping the interiors of its cabins for its entire fleet.  This comes as the airline prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. New mood lighting, seating, and memory foam cushion will spruce up cabins and give travelers a new custom experience.  Delta says the new lighting and designs are to create an atmosphere that feels fresh, elevated, and timeless while easing some of the frustration and congestion many experience while traveling. 

>>Americans Feel More Secure In Jobs, Still Worried About Credit Cards

(New York, NY)  --  Americans are worrying more about rising credit card debt. That's according to the New York Fed's 2024 Survey of Consumer Expectations. Fears about missing a minimum debt payment during the next three months increased for the fourth consecutive month to over 14-percent.  Investors seem to agree that even with the U.S. economy improving, a lot of people are still not feeling good about their finances.

>>Holiday Sales To Set New 2024 Record

(New York, NY)  --  Holiday sales are slated to set a new record in 2024.  The National Retail Federation announced that they could go up by as much as three-and-a-half percent from last year, reaching about 980-billion-dollars.  This comes after inflation begins to cool.  Last month's interest cuts easing borrowing costs could have also had an impact on the higher expected holiday spending. 
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed higher to kick off the new trading week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 201 points to 43-065.  The S&P 500 rose by 44 points to 58-59, notching a record high.  The Nasdaq gained 159 points to 18-502.

>>Earnings In The News 

(Undated)  --  Coming up today, earnings reports are due from Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, United Airlines and Johnson & Johnson.  Things are pretty quit Wednesday and then retail sales numbers will be out Thursday along with the home builder confidence index.  Netflix also releases earnings and weekly jobless claims come out the same day.  The week wraps up with word on housing starts and building permits on Friday.    

>>Massachusetts Knocks NJ Off Its Perch As Highest-Earning U.S. State

(Boston, MA)  --  Massachusetts has knocked New Jersey off its perch as the highest-earning U.S. state.  New census data gives Massachusetts the number one spot with close to 100-thousand-dollars a year in median household income.  New Jersey is right behind at over 99-thousand-dollars.  But the District of Columbia beats all states with a median household income of more than 108-thousand-dollars.  Mississippi had the lowest income of any state last year at just over 54-thousand-dollars.  

>>True Value Files For Bankruptcy

(Chicago, IL)  --  Hardware store brand True Value is filing for bankruptcy. The 75-year-old company is selling its operations to rival Do It Best, it announced today. True Value will continue its day-to-day operations selling hardware and other homewares during the Chapter 11 process. In court filings, the company said money is tight as the housing market slows consumer demand, as many become less inclined to spend on discretionary purchases.

>>Fisher-Price Recalls All 2.1-Million Snuga Baby Swings 

(East Aurora, NY)  --  Fisher-Price is recalling all two-point-one-million of its Snuga Swings due to suffocation risk.  The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a joint statement saying five babies from one-month-old and three-months-old died while sleeping in the swings between 2012 and 2022.  Snuga Swings were sold for 160-dollars by Toys R Us, Walmart/Sam's Club, Target and through Amazon through January of this year.  The CPSC says the headrest and body support insert on the seat pad can increase the risk of suffocation.  The remedies being offered are repairing the swing and offering a 25-dollar refund to customers who destroy and remove the headrest and insert.

>>Boston Omni Hotel Workers Join Strike

(Boston, MA)  --  Unionized workers at the Omni hotels in Boston yesterday joined Hilton hotel employees on the picket lines.  Close to 700 workers at the Omni Boston Seaport and Omni Parker House hotels began indefinite strikes yesterday in efforts to secure a new contract.  There were already over 600 Hilton hotel workers on strike, as they walked out last week.  The striking workers hold jobs that include housekeeping and bellhops, along with kitchen, banquet and bar positions.  

>>Owners Of Skilled Trade Businesses Benefiting From Private Equity Interest 

(New York, NY)  --  Private equity firms are scooping up home services like HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies hoping to profit by running larger, more lucrative operations.  According to data from PitchBook, private-equity investors have purchased roughly 800 HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies since 2022.  The strategy is to roll up businesses to create larger players and improve their margins.  The P.E. firms add back-office efficiency, managerial know-how, increase marketing efforts and recruiting budgets. Critics say the model leads to higher prices for consumers and less competition, but others say it can improve service quality and boost the bottom line. 

>>NYSE, Nasdaq Open, Bond Markets Closed 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street finished higher on Friday to cap its fifth straight winning week.  Both the Dow and the S&P 500 hit fresh records as financial stocks helped boost markets.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 409 points to 42-863.  The S&P 500 added 34 points to 58-15.  The Nasdaq rose 60 points to 18-342.  While trading resumes this morning as usual, bond markets are closed for the Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day holiday.

>>A Look At This Week's Business News

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, earnings reports are due Tuesday from Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, United Airlines and Johnson & Johnson.  Retail sales numbers will be out Thursday along with the home builder confidence index.  Netflix also releases earnings and weekly jobless claims come out the same day.  The week wraps up with word on housing starts and building permits on Friday.  

>>Boeing Laying Off 10% Of Workers

(Crystal City, VA)  --  Boeing is set to cut ten-percent of its global workforce.  That amounts to about 17-thousand jobs.  The "Wall Street Journal" also reports the company will delay the launch of its new airplane the 777X, that's been behind schedule for years.  Boeing is warning of deeper company losses with an ongoing machinist strike.  Boeing has come under scrutiny this year after a series of safety issues.

>>Hundreds Of Seattle Hilton Workers Walk Off Job

(Seattle, WA)  --  Nearly 400 Hilton hotel workers in Seattle have walked off the job.  The Unite Here union says the strike will go on until "the early hours" of October 19th.  Workers' demands include higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of COVID-19 era cuts.  The walkout by the Seattle workers brings the total number of Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott workers on strike to more than 43-hundred.

>>Equal Pay Advocate Lilly Ledbetter Dies At 86

(Gadsden, AL)  --  The woman whose equal pay lawsuit against the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company motivated Congress to pass a new national equal pay law has died.  Family members confirm Lilly Ledbetter passed away over the weekend at the age of 86.  After a decades-long legal battle, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was finally signed into law by then-President Barack Obama in 2009.  It was the first bill he signed shortly after taking the oath of office.

>>Trading Week Winding Down

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street as investors reacted to the latest economic data.  Both the Dow and the S&P 500 fell from record highs after the consumer price index rose more than expected in September.  The CPI is considered one of the best gauges of inflation and this latest reading comes amid growing concerns the Federal Reserve could slow the pace of future rate cuts.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 57 points to 42-454.  The S&P 500 lost 11 points to 57-80.  The Nasdaq dropped 9 points to 18-282.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for another key inflation indicator when the producer price index is released.  

>>TD Bank Slapped With Historic Money Laundering Charges

(Cherry Hill, NJ)  --  Federal authorities have slapped TD Bank with three-billion dollars in penalties for what they call staggering and pervasive money laundering failures.  They allege the New Jersey-based bank enabled international drug traffickers to launder more than  670-million dollars through the institution.  Attorney General Merrick Garland says TD Bank had inadequate controls in place to be able to detect money laundering and even aided in the process, with employees accepting bribes and joking about it.  Bank officials pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in federal court on Thursday.  Garland says this makes TD Bank the first bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to money laundering.    

>>Tesla Rolls Out Robotaxi 

(Undated)  --  Tesla is taking the wraps off its robotaxi.  CEO Elon Musk showed off the company's Cybercab concept vehicle at an invitation-only event yesterday at the Warner Bros. studio in Burbank, California.  During the event, attendees were told they'd be welcome to take a test ride in the Cybercab which does not come with a steering wheel or pedals.  In addition to the big reveal, Musk told the crowd that Tesla plans to have unsupervised Full Self-Driving capabilities up and running in California and Texas next year in Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles.  

>>Health Insurance Premiums Rising, Again

(New York, NY)  --  The cost of employer health insurance is up seven-percent for a second straight year, hurting both employers and workers.  That's according to an annual survey released by the nonprofit health policy organization KFF on Wednesday.  Consecutive years of increased healthcare costs have added more than three-thousand dollars to the average family premium, which reached about 25-thousand this year.  Employers spent about 18-hundred dollars more this year.  Many businesses - particularly smaller ones - can't keep up with the rising costs and workers ultimately endure those higher costs in other ways, like job cuts or smaller raise.  Even though inflation has cooled, stress on the sector is expected to continue, at least for another year.  

>>California Regulators Propose Hike in Gas Prices

(Sacramento, CA)  --  California regulators are proposing a spike in gas prices.  The state's Air Resources Board wants to change the low-carbon fuel standard, which analysts suggest could increase the price of a gallon of gas by 65 cents.  Some lawmakers say the unelected commission is too powerful, lacks transparency, and requires more oversight.  The proposal comes while Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing a plan to require oil companies to maintain gasoline reserves.  The plan, which is likely to pass during an emergency legislative session, faces criticism from the oil industry and some economists who say it will also increase prices. 
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wednesday.  It marked the second straight positive session, with the S&P 500 reaching a new record high.  Technology stocks led the rally with Amazon, Apple and Microsoft all jumping one-percent.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 431 points to 42-512.  The S&P 500 rose 40 points to 57-92.  The Nasdaq jumped 108 points to 18-291.  

>>Fed Releases Minutes

(Undated)  --  The minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting were released on Wednesday.  Investors were keeping an eye out for the thought process after the central bank moved to cut interest rates last month for the first time in four years.  Yesterday's reveal showed a "substantial majority of participants" favored cutting rates by half a percentage point, though some saw that as being too much.  Coming up today we'll get a look at the consumer price index - which the Fed uses to gauge inflation, along with weekly jobless claims.  

>>Amazon Plans To Expand Pharmacy Network

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is expanding its national pharmacy network next year.  The retail giant said Wednesday that it's using its vast logistics network to improve access to affordable medications.  That includes adding 20 new pharmacies to the network in 2025.  The company said that by the end of next year, nearly half of Amazon customers will be eligible for same-day delivery of their prescription medication.  The pharmacies won't be locations where customers can walk in, instead they'll be attached to the company's same-day delivery sites.  Amazon confirmed a few of the new cities that will see the expansion, including Boston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and San Diego.

>>Tesla Robotaxi Event

(Undated)  --  Tesla has a big reveal coming up as it takes the wraps off its robotaxi today.  The event is set to take place at Warner Bros. Discovery's movie studio in Burbank, California.  CEO Elon Musk had previously set early August for the reveal, but that was pushed back as a result of what was called "an important design change."   

>>Marriott Settles With States Over Data Breach

(Bethesda, MD)  --  Marriott International has reached a 52-million-dollar settlement with 49 states and D.C. over a massive four-year-long data breach.  The hack targeted Marriott's Starwood system database.  More than 131-million guest records were compromised.  The lawsuit contends that had Marriott followed its own information security policies after acquiring Starwood in 2016, the data beach would have been prevented.  

>>Disneyland Announces Price Increases

(Anaheim, CA)  --  It just got more expensive to visit the Happiest Place on Earth.  Disneyland announced Wednesday that prices for single day, multi-day and Magic Key annual passes have all gone up.  The lowest price for a one day, one park ticket remains 104-dollars, but on the busiest days a ticket will now cost 206-dollars -- a 12-dollar increase.  Meanwhile, multi-day passes will now cost as much as 31-dollars more depending on how many days.  Meanwhile, Magic Key annual passes will now cost between 600 and one-thousand-750-dollars.
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed higher yesterday thanks to a rebound from Monday's selloff. Technology shares advanced with Meta Platforms, Tesla and Microsoft up more than one percent to help lift markets. Oil prices eased as investors monitored the latest developments in the Middle East. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 126 points to 42-080. The S&P 500 added 55 points to 57-51. The Nasdaq rose 259 points to 18-182. Investors today will be keeping a close eye out for the release of the Federal Reserve's September meeting minutes. The central bank just cut interest rates last month for the first time in four years.

>>Hurricane Milton Damage Estimate

(Tampa, FL) -- Hurricane Milton could cause as much as 175-billion-dollars in damages. That's according to early estimates of a worst-case-scenario from Wall Street analysts. That's on top of the devastation that Hurricane Helene already has caused in the area. The size of the potential damage will depend on the timing and location of Milton's landfall.

>>Waffle House Closing Ahead Of Milton

(Tampa, FL) -- Waffle House is closing restaurants in the projected path of Hurricane Milton. The storm, currently a Category 5, is predicted to make landfall on Florida's west coast Wednesday night. The restaurant, known for being open 24/7, has shut down around 33 locations in the Sunshine state. The "Waffle House Index" was created by a former Florida official as an informal way for first responders to tell where conditions are the worst.

>>Nvidia Now 2nd Largest Company On The Planet

(Santa Clara, CA) -- Nvidia is passing Microsoft as the world's second-biggest company. The Silicon Valley AI firm saw its stock rally this week to reach a market cap of three-point-19-trillion-dollars. Microsoft is currently valued at three-point-zero-seven-trillion. Nvidia trails only Apple which is valued at three-point-four-trillion.

>>Spirit Halloween Stores To Become Spirit Christmas

(Egg Harbor Township, NJ) -- Some Spirit Halloween stores will stick around longer this year, but with a holly jolly twist. Ten of the famous temporary retail chain's locations will transform to Spirit Christmas stores this holiday season. The Spirit Christmas locations will all be located in the Northeast, including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The company says customers will be able to discover unique decor and thousands of stocking stuffers at the stores. Shoppers will also be able to take free family photographs with Santa Claus.

>>California's Min Wage For Fast Food Workers Hasn't Led To Major Changes

(Berkeley, CA) -- A recent report from UC Berkeley's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment found that California's new 20-dollars-an-hour minimum wage for fast-food workers hasn't led to major job losses or significant menu price hikes. The law, which took effect on April 1st, has increased wages for hundreds of thousands of employees. Despite concerns from industry groups, the study showed that the number of fast-food jobs in the state actually increased by about eleven-thousand. Menu prices at fast-food restaurants in California went up by an average of three-point-seven-percent, with In-N-Out raising its burger prices by 25-cents. In response, some chains have introduced new low-cost value meals to attract customers. In November, California voters will decide on Proposition 32, which suggests increasing the minimum wage for all workers to 18-dollars per hour by 2026. Minimum wage at fast food chains would remain unchanged.

>>Ahead Of The Bell   

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after the trading week got off to a sharply lower start.  Stocks fell on worries over surging oil prices and a spike in 10-year Treasury yields.  Tensions in the Middle East weighed on market sentiment as Monday marked the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 398 points to 41-954.  The S&P 500 lost 55 points to 56-95.  The Nasdaq dropped 213 points to 17-923.

>>This Week In Business News

(Undated)  --  Coming up in business news this week, we'll get a look at minutes from the Federal Reserve's September meeting.  Investors will be paying close attention to what the central bank has had to say about the path forward for monetary policy.  This, after cutting interest rates last month for the first time in four years.  A glimpse at inflation follows the next day with the release of the closely-watched consumer price index.  The week wraps up Friday with the producer price index.  

>>FTX Customers Should See Refunds

(New York, NY)  --  FTX's bankruptcy plan received court approval on Monday.  The move means the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange should soon begin paying out some 16.5 billion dollars in refunds to customers.  The deal comes a year after former boss Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of stealing customer funds and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

>>Comcast Data Breach Affects 230K 

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  Comcast is revealing a data breach that may have affected over 230-thousand customers.  A filing with Maine's Attorney General shows that it involves an incident with a debt collection agency the telecommunications company uses.  Comcast said it was notified by Financial Business and Consumer Solutions that it suffered a ransomware attack back in February.  Some of the information at risk includes names, addresses and social security numbers.

>>Zillow To Include Climate Risk Data

(Seattle, WA)  --  Zillow now includes climate risk data for every property listed for sale on the real estate marketplace.  The company has teamed up with climate risk firm First Street to include the effects of climate change into its risk scores.  The move comes as North Carolina starts the road to recovery after the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, with most property owners not having flood insurance. 

>>Tesla Plans Robotaxi Event

(Undated)  --  Tesla has a big reveal coming up this week as it takes the wraps off its robotaxi on Thursday.  The event is set to take place at Warner Bros. Discovery's movie studio in Burbank, California.  CEO Elon Musk had previously set early August for the reveal, but that was pushed back as a result of what was called "an important design change."   
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street ended the trading week on a high note following a strong jobs report.  Stocks rallied Friday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting a new record close as the economy added far more jobs than expected in September.  The Labor Department reported payrolls surged by 254-thousand as the unemployment rate fell to four-point-one percent.  Markets also got a boost from a tentative agreement ending a three-day dockworkers strike.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 341 points to 42-352.  The S&P 500 added 51 points to 57-51.  The Nasdaq rose 219 points to 18-137.

>>Elon Musk Speaks At Trump Rally

(Butler, PA)  --   Elon Musk is calling himself "dark MAGA."  HIs comment came during a weekend rally in Pennsylvania where former President Trump was grazed by an assassin's bullet back in July.  The Tesla CEO spoke briefly saying Trump's bid for the White House was a "must-win situation."  The world's richest person was also wearing a black "Make America Great Again" hat, and told the crowd, "I am not just MAGA, I'm dark MAGA."

>>Italian Prosecutors Accuse 7 People, Over Flawed Boeing Plane Parts

(Milan, Italy)  --   Italian prosecutors are accusing seven people and two contractors of fraud and breaching safety rules involving Boeing aircraft parts.  These charges follow an investigation of suspected flawed parts made by an Italian company for Boeing.  Prosecutors say the scheme involved the use of cheap and irregular types of titanium and aluminum to produce specific parts which substantially cut the contractor's costs.  Italian authorities did not name the contractors or the seven individuals involved.  

>>Costco Now Selling Platinum Bars

(Issaquah, WA)  --  Costco is now adding platinum to its lineup of precious metals for sale.  The bulk retailer has already had success with selling gold bars and silver coins.  Now Costco says it's offering new platinum bars that are made in Switzerland with nearly 100-percent pure platinum, and that have earned accreditation from the London Bullion Market.  The bars are retailing for just over a thousand dollars apiece, and are sold only online.  Costco says there's a limit of one purchase per Costco member, with a five-bar minimum.

>>McDonalds Chicken Big Mac Debuting

(Undated)  --  McDonald's is looking to expand its chicken products and boost sales.  The fast food chain is debuting its newest product this week, the chicken Big Mac.  The  sandwich will stay true to the original Big Mac but substitute burger patties with two tempura-battered chicken pieces.  The limited time Chicken Big Mac will be available for U.S consumers beginning October 10th.  The sandwich has been on international McDonald's menus for some time now. 
 

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed lower Thursday as tensions over the Middle East continue to worry investors.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 184 points to 42-011.  The S&P 500 was down 9 points to 56-99.  The Nasdaq dropped 6 points to 17-918.

>>Deal Reached In Dockworkers Strike

(New York, NY)  --  The massive dockworkers strike along the Gulf and East coasts is coming to an end.  The International Longshoremen's Association is returning to work after hitting the picket lines earlier this week.  This comes after the union and management groups reached a tentative deal Thursday on wages.  The reports say the two sides are agreeing to extend the expired contract until January 15th.  

>>Jobs Report Out Today 

(Undated)  --  The September jobs report is due out this morning.  Investors will be keeping a close eye out for indications as to whether the Fed Reserve will be able to continue to lower interest rates in a gradual manner.  Most analysts are expecting today's numbers to come in at 150-thousand new jobs added, versus 142-thousand the previous month.  The unemployment rate is predicted to hold steady at four-point-two-percent.  

>>Judge Allows Student Loan Forgiveness

(Washington, DC)  --  The Biden administration can move forward with its student loan forgiveness plan. A federal judge in Georgia allowed the temporary restraining order on the plan to expire. This comes just weeks before the November presidential election. The judge ruled Georgia lacked standing to sue against the relief plan, and could not be the venue for the case. The lawsuit against the loan plan was brought by seven Republican-led states  --  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota and Ohio.

>>Another Recall For Tesla 

(Austin, TX)  --  There's yet another recall notice for the Tesla Cybertruck.  This one involves problems with the rear view camera.  The filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests the image may be delayed and reduce the driver's view of what's behind them.  It's a violation of safety standards.  The recall effects 27-thousand Cybertrucks.  This is the fifth since it was released last year. 

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed higher yesterday despite investors' concerns over tensions in the Middle East. The markets reflected some good news on the job front as the latest data from ADP showed the private sector added 143-thousand jobs in September. That's higher than economists' estimates and came just a day before this morning's report on weekly jobless claims. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 39 points to 42-196. The S&P 500 gained less than a point to 57-09. The Nasdaq added 14 points to 17-925.

>>Dock Strike Spurring Shortage Fears

(Hampton, VA) -- The strike by U.S. dockworkers appears to be prompting some panic buying. The strike has closed down ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico leaving thousands of shipping containers on the docks. Ships remain idling offshore while there are reports that some retailers are seeing a greater demand for things like paper products and disinfectant sprays. Officials say the strike will affect prices on imports like fruit and alcohol.

>>United Airlines Passes Inspection With The FAA

(Chicago, IL) -- United Airlines is getting a pass from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA announced Wednesday that it's finished its safety investigation into the airline without finding any significant flaws. United has been under scrutiny since last spring, when it was plagued by safety-related incidents like a stuck rudder and a plane losing a tire on takeoff. The FAA says it's ending its enhanced oversight of the airline as well.

>>Vance Non-Committal On Honoring Federal Grant To GM For EVs

(Wright Township, MI) -- Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance is not committing the possible Donald Trump administration to honoring a grant to General Motors to build electric vehicles. He was asked about it in two campaign stops in Michigan yesterday. The Biden administration has granted GM 500-million-dollars to convert a former Cadillac sedan assembly plant to make electric vehicles. Vance says the grant "came along with some really ridiculous strings and no protections for American jobs."

>>Apple To Release New iPhone SE Early Next Year

(Cupertino, CA) -- For the first time since 2022, Apple plans to release a new iPhone SE. The lower-priced, entry-level smartphone is expected to be available early next year. At about the same time, the company is also expected to unveil a new iPad Air.

>>Levi Strauss May Sell Its Dockers Brand

(San Francisco, CA) -- Levi Strauss says it's considering the sale of its Dockers brand. It's been underperforming and the company is forecasting fourth-quarter revenue that's below expectations. Levi Strauss introduced the Dockers brand in 1986, selling khakis as an alternative to denim. Years later, they have since fallen out of fashion. Sales of Dockers were down 15-percent in the third quarter. Levi Strauss says it's looking to focus more on its Levi's brand and Beyond Yoga activewear.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed lower yesterday to start off the new month. Stocks fell on growing concerns over the Middle East and a sharp decline in tech names. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173 points to 42-156. The S&P 500 lost 53 points to 57-08. The Nasdaq dropped 278 points to 17-910.

>>U.S. Dockworkers Enter Day Two Of Strike

(Washington, DC) -- The Biden administration is supporting U.S. dockworkers on day two of a major union strike. The strike by the International Longshoremen's Association entered its second day today, and is blocking everything from food to vehicle shipments at ports from Maine to Texas. Analysts estimate the strike could cost the U.S. economy roughly five-billion dollars a day. The union represents about 45-thousand U.S. dockworkers, who went on strike just after midnight early Tuesday after contract negotiations collapsed.

>>Musk To Provide Starlink Terminals To Help Helene Storm Victims

(Raleigh, NC) -- Tesla and Space X founder Elon Musk has agreed to send dozens of Starlink receivers and terminals to western North Carolina, to help residents re-gain access to the internet. The portable devices can be used in a variety of settings, including homes and boats. The effort to contact Musk was spearheaded by North Carolina State Senator Danny Britt. Musk responded Tuesday by saying SpaceX will send as many terminals as possible to help areas in need.

>>Job Openings Edge Higher In August

(Washington, DC) -- The number of job openings increased in August. The Labor Department says just over eight-million jobs were available which is up from July's revised tally of seven-point-seven million openings. Analysts say the larger than expected increase signals strength in the labor market. The biggest jump in job openings came in construction, transportation and utilities. According to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, report, hiring trended lower in August along with the total number of quits.

>>UAW President Warns Of Possible Strike Against Stellantis

(Detroit, MI) -- United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain says the union is prepared to strike if automaker Stellantis does not honor the contract made last year. In his state of the industry address, he called out the automaker for reportedly breaching the contract by not restarting a plant in Illinois. He says they also stopped production of the Dodge Durango in Detroit. Fain is organizing an upcoming rally that will be at the Stellantis Stampling Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

>>PepsiCo To Buy Siete Foods For 1.2 Billion Dollars

(Undated) -- PepsiCo is buying Siete Foods for one-point-two-billion-dollars. The deal was announced Tuesday, with Pepsi CEO Ramon Laguarta saying the company looks forward to expanding their multicultural portfolio with Siete. The Mexican-American food company was created in 2014, and now sells tortillas, chips, taco shells, salsas, and seasonings that accommodate different dietary restrictions. PepsiCo has been trying to offer healthier options in recent years, and has also recently acquired Bare Snacks, Health Warrior, and PopCorners.

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Month 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed slightly higher to cap a positive month.  Stocks finished in the green after initially falling as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled less aggressive rate cuts ahead.  Powell expressed confidence in the economy in a speech Monday, but suggested the Fed is not in a hurry to cut rates quickly.  At the closing bell - the last one September - the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 17 points to 42-330.  The S&P 500 added 24 points to 57-62.  The Nasdaq rose 69 points to 18-189.

>>Port Workers Strike From East To Gulf Coast

(New York, NY)  --  Workers at ports from Maine to Texas are hitting the picket lines in what could be the most disruptive walk-out to the U.S. economy in decades.  It could stop the flow of household goods, clothing, toys, cars and just about anything you can imagine right before the holidays kick-off.  The International Longshoremen's Association made good on their vow to walk out unless a new contract was agreed to.  JPMorgan says the cost to the country could be roughly five-billion-dollars a day.  The White House has said it will not invoke its legal powers to intervene.  

>>Strikers Reject Boeing's "Best And Final Offer"

(Seattle, WA)  --  Striking machinists have rejected what Boeing called its "best and final offer."  That's as the standoff between the aerospace giant and more than 33-thousand workers continues to drag on.  Union officials took to social media to say that negations broke off over the weekend.  Meanwhile Boeing announced yesterday that factory workers who are currently on strike would lose their company-paid healthcare benefits at the end of the day if they failed to return to work.

>>An Eye On Business News 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in business news today, we'll get a look at data on job openings and construction spending.  The ADP employment report comes out tomorrow, 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.

>>Ford To Give EV Buyers Free Home Charger And Installation

(Dearborn, MI)  --  Ford will give people who buy or lease a Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning or E-Transit a free electric vehicle home charger.  They will also install it for free.  The automaker says EVs are "an excellent choice for many people," and they say charging the vehicles "just got easier."  Ford has also given EV owners access to Tesla's Superchargers by providing them with an adapter as sales have not risen to what they had hoped.