For: May 28, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks finished the day sharply higher on Tuesday.  The rally came after President Trump said over the weekend that he's delaying 50-percent tariffs against the European Union until July 9th.  Meanwhile, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said he expects to see a few more trade deals this week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 740 points to 42-343.  The S&P 500 rose by 118 points to 59-21.  The Nasdaq gained 461 points to 19-199.

>>Consumer Confidence Levels Improved More Than Expected Last Month

(Undated)  --  Consumer confidence rose more than expected last month.  The last reading of consumer sentiment ended five consecutive months of decline.  The consumer confidence rebound was seen at all ages and income demographics.  It comes as the gauge was at its lowest level since the pandemic before this reading.

>>Nike To Raise Shoe, Apparel Prices

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Nike will raise prices on shoes, apparel and equipment next month.  Shoes that cost between 100-and-150-dollars will reportedly see a price hike of five-dollars while shoes above 150-dollars will see a jump of up to ten-bucks.  Meanwhile, prices for apparel and equipment will see increases between two-and-ten-dollars.  In a statement Nike said, "We regularly evaluate our business and make pricing adjustments as part of our seasonal planning."  Some products will be excluded from the price hikes including the company's popular Air Force 1 shoes.

>>Southwest Airlines Ending "Bags Fly Free" 

(Dallas, TX)  --  Consider this the final boarding call for free checked bags on Southwest Airlines.  The low-cost carrier's popular "two bags fly free" perk ends today.  Southwest says the move is being made to "drive revenue growth."  It's an about face for Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, who said back in September that having no bag fees was a "huge consumer advantage."  Southwest is also set to end "open seating" in the first half of 2026.

>>Tesla Sales Plummet In Europe

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla sales are plummeting in Europe and analysts say it's in part because of CEO Elon Musk's rhetoric and political activities.  Sales across the continent fell nearly 50 percent in April compared with last year.  That's while overall electric vehicle sales were up more than 30-percent.  

>>VP Vance To Deliver Keynote Address At Bitcoin Conference

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  Vice President JD Vance will speak at the Bitcoin Conference today in Las Vegas.  It's billed as the world's largest Bitcoin gathering with tens of thousands expected to attend his keynote address.  The former venture capitalist is a vocal advocate for cryptocurrency.  Financial disclosures show his personal Bitcoin holdings are valued between 250-thousand to 500-thousand dollars.  This marks Vance's first appearance in Las Vegas since the 2024 election.

>>Walmart Fined For Shipping Toy Guns 

(New York, NY)  --  Walmart is being forced to pay 14-thousand dollars in fines to New York State for shipping realistic toy guns under a settlement deal.   New York law prohibits retailers from selling or shipping toy guns that are black, dark blue, silver and look like a real gun.  New York Attorney General Letitia James says her office investigated and found third-party sellers on Walmart's online store are responsible for selling nine realistic guns to addresses in New York. 

>>Return To Work

(Houston, TX)  --  The "return to the office" movement is tapering off with some tech firms moving towards a hybrid approach.  Experts say that allows workers to stay in their pajamas a few days a week, but forces them back to their desks the rest of the time.  Lone Star College economics professor Hank Lewis points to surveys showing that at least some time in the office reduces stress and feelings of loneliness.  Google is the latest to hop on the "hybrid" train.  Remote workers are being told to live within 50 miles of an office and show up three days a week.

>>Salesforce To Buy Informatica For $8B

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Salesforce says it's acquiring cloud data company Informatica for eight-billion dollars.  The software company said it's buying Informatica to support its push into artificial intelligence.  Under the terms of the deal,  holders of Informatica stock will receive 25 dollars in cash per share.  Shares of Salesforce closed over one-percent higher after Tuesday's announcement.  Informatica stock rose six percent.

For: May 27, 2025

>>Abbreviated Trading Week 

(Undated)  --  The opening bell rings this morning, kicking off a Memorial Day holiday-shortened trading week.  Today's open follows Friday's lower close on concerns about tariffs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 256 points to 41-603.  The S&P 500 lost 39 points to 58-02.  The Nasdaq dropped 188 points to 18-737.  

>>Noteworthy Economic Reports    (Undated)  --  There are a number of noteworthy economic reports expected out this week.  The latest data on consumer confidence will be released today.  The focus shifts tomorrow to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's May meeting.  Weekly jobless claims, the first revision of GDP and pending home sales are due Thursday.  Things wrap up Friday with personal income, spending and consumer sentiment.

>>Report: True Unemployment At 24%

(Undated)  --  The unemployment rate may be near a 50-year-low, but a new report shows the "functional unemployment" rate is much higher.  The Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity looked at unemployed workers, people who can't find full-time employment and people stuck in jobs where they can barely afford to live.  Using those metrics, the report estimates the true unemployment rate is around 24 percent.  That's compared to the four-point-two percent most recently put out by the Labor Department.

>>SpaceX Expects Starship Launch

(Starbase, TX)  --  SpaceX expects to launch its ninth Starship test later today.  The company issued a warning about possible loud noises that may be heard in the area of the south Texas launch site.  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is also planning a company talk called "The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary" today.  His comments will be live-streamed on the SpaceX social media account.

>>Colorado Grocery Store Workers Consider Strike Amid Contract Dispute

(Denver, CO)  --  Union employees at Safeway and Albertsons grocery stores across Colorado are considering a strike after eight months of contract negotiations.  UFCW Local 7 says the company is proposing lower wage increases, healthcare cuts, and pension reductions, while backtracking on retroactive pay.  Strike authorization meetings begin Friday, with votes scheduled through early June.  Safeway says it's negotiating in good faith and aiming for a fair deal.  

For Friday, May 23rd, 2025

>>Stocks Close Mixed (New York, NY) -- Wall Street closed Thursday with stocks mixed. It comes as investors tried to brush off fears of a growing U.S. deficit. It's also as the 30-year Treasury yield touched its highest level since October 2023. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by one point to 41-859. The S&P 500 fell by two points to 58-42. The Nasdaq gained 53 points to 18-925.

>>Big Beautiful Bill Impact On Bonds And Interest

(Undated) -- Interest rates are spiking due to the potential cost of President Trump's major policy bill. According to Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, the cost of the bill caught the bond market off-guard and impacted interest rates. It comes as yields on U.S. Treasury bonds have soared throughout the week as lawmaker advanced the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Waller says "the markets are watching the fiscal policy, and they have some concerns about whether it's going to be reducing the deficit."

>>Hundreds Of Crypto Investors Show Up For Trump Meme Coin Dinner

(Sterling, VA) -- Over 200 crypto investors showed up for Donald Trump's gala dinner promoting his new meme coin. The event was held Thursday night at Trump's golf course near Washington, DC, where investors had to buy the President's $TRUMP cryptocurrency in order to gain entrance. Investors at the dinner reportedly spent about 148-million dollars on the Trump crypto. About 100 protesters had gathered outside the club entrance holding signs accusing the President of corruption. One of the protesters was Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who called the event "the crypto corruption club."

>>Existing Home Sales Down

(Washington, DC) -- Sales of existing homes fell again in April, while median prices rose. According to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales were down two-percent from April of last year, and also down compared to March. But the reports adds the median sale price last month was 414-thousand dollars, the highest for any April on record. Experts say high interest rates and financial uncertainty among house hunters is driving the drop.

>>Tech Hiring Declines

(Austin, TX) -- A new report shows that employment is down at both big tech firms and startups in Austin, Texas. Heather Doshay with the venture-capital firm SignalFire says, as businesses relocate back to the coasts, the jobs are leaving too. Employees are being told to show up to the office at least a few days a week. And, without that critical mass of tech workers, start-ups are having trouble attracting workers to Austin, too.

>>Treasury Department Penny Production Halt

(Washington, DC) -- The Treasury Department is halting its production of new pennies. The department said Thursday it made its final order of blank pennies this month as its moves to end production of the one-cent coin. According to the 2024 annual report from the Mint, the cost of making the penny increased 20-percent and the Treasury Department says halting new penny production could lead to "immediate annual savings of 56-million-dollars in reduced material costs." There are more than 114 billion pennies currently in circulation, however, demand for the penny has drastically decreased as Americans increasingly shift their payment habits to cards or digital services like Apple Pay.

For: May 22, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street. The dismal showing came amid investor concerns over a spike in Treasury yields. The 30-year Treasury yield traded above its highest level since October of 2023. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 816 points to 41-860. The S&P 500 dropped by 95 points to 58-44. The Nasdaq lost 270 points to 18-872.

>>Price Hikes A 'Last Resort' For Target

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Target says price hikes will be a 'very last resort' for offsetting tariffs. The comment comes despite the retailer reporting weaker-than-expected sales in its first quarter. According to Target's CEO, the company has "many levers to use in mitigating the impact of tariffs." Major retailers appear to be treading cautiously around the question of price hikes after Trump slammed Walmart for warning that shoppers could pay more due to tariffs.

>>UnitedHealth Allegedly Secretly Paid Nursing Homes

(New York, NY) -- UnitedHealth Group stock lost five-point-eight percent at market close Wednesday on news the company secretly paid nursing homes to cut down on hospital transfers. The news was reported by the Guardian, which looked at corporate and patient records, court files, interviews and whistleblower allegations. The practice allegedly saved the company millions but risked the health of patients. UnitedHealth denied the allegations, noting the Justice Department conducted a lengthy investigation and decided not to pursue the matter.

>>Moody's Downgrades Top Lenders

(New York, NY) -- Moody's is downgrading the long-term ratings for JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The announcement comes after the ratings agency also downgraded the U.S. government over its growing 36-trillion-dollar debt. That downgrade indicated the agency thinks the country is less able to support the obligations of these banks.

>>Sony Ends PlayStation Star Rewards

(Tokyo) -- Sony is discontinuing its PlayStation Rewards program. The company unveiled its Stars rewards program in 2022 to give dedicated players a chance to earn digital collectibles like NFTs. Now Sony says the program is no longer accepting new members and will end this year. Current members will still be able to earn digital collectibles through July 23rd, and will be able to redeem their PlayStation rewards through November of 2026. Sony also assured players that they will still be able to access their collectibles after the program ends.

>>Live Nation Adds Trump Ally To Board

(Beverly Hills, CA) -- Live Nation is adding one of President Trump's closest advisors to its board of directors. Richard Grenell, who is both Trump's presidential envoy for special missions and the newly installed president of the Kennedy Center, will now join the global entertainment company's board. It comes as Live Nation has been up against the Department of Justice in a massive lawsuit filed last year by the U.S. government as well as 30 state and district attorneys general who say the company has abused its concert industry dominance and should be broken up. While the move has sparked pushback from antitrust advocates, Live Nation says Grenell's career experience will "help support Live Nation's mission to bring more live music to the world, while also advocating for industry reforms that protect both fans and artists."

For: May 21, 2025 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street Tuesday as a big tech-led rally faded.  Apple, Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Nvidia all slid as investors kept their distance from technology shares.  Tesla shares gained about two-percent after CEO Elon Musk said he remains committed to leading the electric vehicle company for the next five years.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 114 points to 42-677.  The S&P 500 lost 23 points to 59-40.  The Nasdaq fell 72 points to 19-142.

>>Walmart Responds To Trump Tariff Comments

(Undated)  --  Walmart is pushing back against recent comments President Trump aimed at the retailer regarding expected price hikes.  The retail giant warned customers about potential price increases due to tariffs and the president blasted the company in a post shared to Truth Social.  Trump told Walmart to "eat the tariffs" while Walmart's CFO said the company has "not seen price increases at this magnitude, in the speed in which they're coming at us before, and so it makes for a challenging environment."  

>>Senate Passes No Tax On Tips Act 

(Washington, DC)  --  The No Tax on Tips Act is moving on to the House after it passed unanimously in the Senate Tuesday.   Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada called for immediate passage of the bipartisan bill and there were no GOP objections.  The bill establishes a new tax deduction of up to 25-thousand dollars for tips.  Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas introduced the No Tax on Tips Act earlier this year.  President Trump floated the idea during his campaign and Democrats also supported it.  Eliminating taxes on tips is also expected to be included in the House GOP's megabill. 

>>Waffle House Adding EV Charging To Some Restaurants

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Waffle House restaurants are set to get an electric boost.  BP Pulse announced Tuesday that's it's teaming up with the breakfast chain to install EV charging stations. They're set to be at diners in places like Texas, Georgia and Florida as well as "other locations in the South and Southeast." The first set of stations are expected to be live next year. 

>>Gemini Live Coming To Google Chrome

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Google is bringing its flagship language model to Chrome for Mac and Windows.  The company's AI-generated "browsing assistant," known as Gemini, will be available in Chrome so users can ask follow-up questions while searching for websites, and future versions will be able to navigate the web and take other actions on behalf of the user. The announcement came during its developer conference where Google has rolled out updates to its artificial intelligence ambitions.  The function is going to be available to Google AI Pro subscribers in the U.S. this week. 

>>Levi Strauss Sells Dockers To Authentic Brands

(New York, NY)  --  Authentic Brands Group is purchasing Dockers in a nine-figure deal with Levi Strauss and Co.  Levi Strauss, who created the khaki and chinos brand in the 1980s, said its sale of Dockers had an "initial" value of 311-million-dollars "subject to customary adjustments and closing conditions."  According to Levi Strauss, the purchase of the intellectual property and Dockers' U.S. and Canadian operations is anticipated to close in late July, followed by the rest of the brand's operations in January of next year.  Authentic Brands Group's president said the company is "committed to stewarding the brand into its next era of growth and relevance."

For: May 20, 2025

>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed slightly higher to start off the week. Stocks turned positive in afternoon trading as investors looked past Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. One of President Trump's top economic advisers was quick to defend the country's creditworthiness - White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett saying "make no mistake, the U.S. debt is the safest bet on Earth." At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 137 points to 42-792. The S&P 500 added 5 points to 59-63. The Nasdaq rose 4 points to 19-215.

>>China Hits U.S. Over Trade Talks

(Beijing) -- China is accusing the U.S. of undermining a preliminary trade agreement the two countries reached in Geneva. A spokesperson for China's commerce ministry says a U.S. industry warning not to use Chinese-made chips amounted to "discriminatory" practices. Beijing also called on Trump administration to immediately correct its "wrong practices" and stop discriminatory measures against China. High-level trade talks between the two countries on May 10th led to a 90-day pause on most tariffs imposed by Washington and Beijing.

>>NJ Transit Trains Resume Operations Today

(Newark, NJ) -- New Jersey Transit trains start rolling again today following an end to the engineers' strike. Governor Phil Murphy announced over the weekend that an agreement had been reached between NJ Transit and the engineers following a dispute over wages and working conditions. NJ Transit crews spent yesterday on track and safety inspections. Engineers must still ratify the new agreement but Governor Murphy says he has a high degree of confidence that the engineers will find the contract acceptable. The new contract features a pay raise, among other benefits.

>>Mortgage Rates U

(New York, NY) -- It's getting more expensive to buy a home in the U.S. The average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage moved above seven-percent on Monday before dropping back down slightly. It comes after Moody's downgraded the U.S. credit rating last week because of the government's growing debt. Mortgage rates have remained near their 25-year peak.

>>Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Purchasing 23andMe

(Tarrytown, NY) -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is purchasing 23andMe through a bankruptcy auction. The drugmaker will purchase the genetic testing firm for 256-million-dollars to acquire all units of 23andMe, except its telehealth service Lemonaid Health. It comes as the company had been struggling with weak demand for its ancestry testing kits, and after a data breach in 2023 that exposed millions of customers' genetic data. The companies expect to close the deal in the third quarter.

>>Spotify Users Can Buy Audiobooks In iPhone App

(Stockholm) -- Spotify users on iPhones will now be able to buy audiobooks directly within the app. The new app update also lets users view audiobook prices and buy additional listening hours. The change comes after a court ruling that Apple has to stop charging fees on purchases made outside the App Store.

>>Cutting Back On Salon Trips

(Undated) -- Americans aren't going to the salon as much because of rising costs brought on by tariffs. That's according to a report this month from consumer analytics platform CivicScience, which found that more than 40 percent of typical salon customers are going less, relying on home treatments. Nearly a quarter have stopped going all together. Half of those surveyed said saving money was the biggest reason. 

For: May 19, 2025  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Friday to end a positive week.  Stocks rose as investors looked beyond another drop in consumer sentiment and inflation worries.  Technology shares posted strong gains with Nvidia up more than 15 percent as Apple, Microsoft and Meta Platforms all advanced.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 331 points to 42-654.  The S&P 500 added 41 points to 59-58.  The Nasdaq rose 98 points to 19-211.

>>Trump Tells Walmart To 'Eat The Tariffs' 

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is taking aim at Walmart after the retail giant warned last week that it will raise prices due to tariffs.  Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Walmart should stop trying to blame tariffs as the reason for raising prices," and went on to say they should "eat the tariffs."  Walmart's  CFO said this week that the retailer will try to work with suppliers to keep prices as low as they can.

>>Moody's Lowers U.S Credit Rating

(New York, NY)  --  A major ratings agency is downgrading its credit rating of the U.S.  Moody's Ratings has cut the U.S. credit rating down a notch to "Aa1" from the highest Triple-A, citing a massive budget deficit coupled with high interest rates.  Moody's was the last to give the U.S. a perfect rating.  The S&P and Fitch Ratings lowered their ratings years ago.

>>Consumer Sentiment Fell For 5th Straight Month In May

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment fell for the fifth straight month in May on growing inflation worries.  The University of Michigan's preliminary reading for the month dropped to its second lowest level on record.  The survey found consumers increasingly worried that tariffs will lead to higher inflation.  Year-ahead inflation expectations rose to seven-point-three percent from six-point-five percent last month.  The survey's chief economist noted "uncertainty over trade policy continues to dominate consumers' thinking about the economy."  

>>Costco Rolls Out Buy Now, Pay Later Through Affirm 

(Undated)  --  Costco's new Affirm partnership will let shoppers pay for large online purchases with a buy now, pay later option.  Costco members can now pay over time for eligible 500-dollar to over 17-thousand-dollar purchases they make on its website.  Affirm said members using Affirm's service to pay are given options for payment plans after they do a quick, real-time eligibility check, during checkout.  Plans range from three to 36 months with APR rates between ten and 36-percent depending on what's purchased.  Meanwhile, Costco has also announced that it is limiting the amount of gold bars its members can buy.  There's now a limit of one transaction per membership with a maximum of two units per 24 hours.  

>>Meta Pushes To Have FTC Case Tossed   

(Washington, DC)  --  Meta is asking a federal judge to throw out the Federal Trade Commission's case against the social media giant.  The FTC is accusing Facebook's parent company of an illegal social media monopoly by buying Instagram and WhatsApp to take out upstart rivals.  However, Meta says the agency failed to prove its case at a high-stakes antitrust trial.  If Meta's request is granted it would bring a quicker end to the case, but if the judge declines to throw out the case it would go to a second trial over the appropriate measures to address the monopoly. 

>>'Final Destination' Tops Box Office 

(Los Angeles, CA)  -- "Final Destination: Bloodlines" has slaughtered the competition in its opening weekend.  The Warner Brothers and New Line horror film brought in 51-million-dollars as of Sunday.  Marvel's "Thunderbolts" was knocked down to number two in its third week grossing over 16-million-dollars for the weekend.  Sinners has sunk its fangs into audiences in its fifth week yielding over 15-million this weekend.  The other horror film out this week, The Weeknd's "Hurry Up Tomorrow" lost the blood bath taking sixth place and bringing in just over three-million-dollars. 

For: May 16, 2025

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after another day of mixed trading on Wall Street.  The S&P 500 finished higher for a fourth straight session after the U.S. and China temporarily cut tariff rates.  It's also after last month's producer price index showed point-half-percent decline.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 271 points to 42-322.  The S&P 500 rose by 24 points to 59-16.  The Nasdaq lost 34 points to 19-112.

>>Fed Chair On Persistent Supply Shocks

(Washington, DC)  --  Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is signaling there's a "possibility that inflation could be more volatile going forward."  Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Powell said the economy may be entering a period of more volatile inflation and more regular supply shocks relative to recent decades, in which inflation and unemployment remained low.  However, the Federal Reserve Chair didn't get into the specifics of what may be driving the increased frequency of the supply shocks, but he has previously stressed the significant policy changes implemented by the Trump administration.  Powell cautioned the public to keep inflation expectations low. 

>>Walmart CFO: Tariff Effects Will Be Felt Soon

(Bentonville, AR)  --  Walmart says it will soon raise prices due to tariffs.  During the retail giant's earnings call Thursday, CEO Doug McMillion said, "Even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins."  McMillion said Walmart will do its best to keep prices as low as possible.  He added the tariffs are raising costs for electronics and toys from China as well as some food due to tariffs on Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru.  Customers will start to see the higher prices take effect later this month.

>>New Jersey Transit Strike 

(Newark, NJ)  --  New Jersey Transit Train engineers are on strike, with it's 350-thousand daily riders now having to find other options.   The engineer's union announcing the walkout overnight, saying they want wages competitive with engineers in New York make.  New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri noted after talks ended Thursday night that paying the engineers more would mean they have to pay every other union more, which could cripple the agency.  Murphy and Kolluri say they were expecting the union to call for a walkout.   They also say they're willing to keep talking anytime, including Sunday, when the National Mediation Board has asked both sides to restart talks.  

>>FAA Approves Additional SpaceX Missions

(Starbase, TX)  --  The FAA is giving SpaceX some good news and some bad news about upcoming Starship launches.  The agency announced yesterday that it has approved the company's plan to launch up to 25 missions a year from its Starbase in South Texas.  The FAA also approved modifications planned for the next Starship launch.  At the same time, the agency said it won't allow that mission until a mishap report for the eighth test launch is completed.  A social media post from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk indicates another Starship launch will happen next week.

For: May 15, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after another mixed day on Wall Street. At yesterday's closing bell, the Dow fell 89 points to 42-051. The S&P 500 rose six points to 58-92. The Nasdaq gained 136 points to 19-146.

>>Coming Up Today

(Undated) -- A number of noteworthy economic reports are on tap for today. Weekly jobless claims are due with most analysts expecting to see similar numbers as last week when the Labor Department reported receiving 228-thousand initial requests for unemployment benefits. The producer price index - which provides insight into inflation, retail sales and the home builder confidence index are also scheduled for release. In addition, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will deliver remarks on the economy and Walmart will report its first-quarter results.

>>Qatar Buying Billions In Boeing Jets

(Doha) -- President Trump has announced record-breaking new deals between Qatar, Boeing and the U.S. Department of Defense. Boeing will be selling billions of dollars worth of planes to the Middle Eastern country and the DOD will be selling top-tier drones. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg appeared alongside Trump in the Qatari capital for yesterday's signing ceremony

>>Airbnb Now Offers Experiences And Services

(San Francisco, CA) -- Airbnb now lets you do more than just find a place to stay. The app now provides access to everything from chefs and hairstylists to cooking classes and museum tours. The new features are available on the homepage under two tabs, experiences and services. As of now there are ten categories of services across 260 cities.

>>Chime Files For IPO

(San Francisco, CA) -- Digital consumer bank Chime is moving forward with plans for an IPO. It is unclear how much the company is looking to raise, how many shares will be offered or what the initial stock price will be. TechCrunch reports the company finished 2024 with nearly one-point-seven-billion-dollars in revenue and 25-million in losses. Chime offers consumer checking, savings, debit, and credit cards and claims eight-point-six million active users. 

For: May 14, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street following a mixed day of trading. That was after the latest CPI report showed inflation eased slightly in April. Nvidia jumped back into the three-trillion-dollar cap club after the company announced it will sell its latest artificial intelligence chips to Saudi Arabia. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 269 points to 42-140. The S&P 500 rose 42 points to 58-886. The Nasdaq gained 301 points to 19-010.

>>UnitedHealth Group CEO Steps Down

(Minnetonka, MN) -- There's a change in leadership at UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest insurer. The company announced on Tuesday that Andrew Witty is stepping down as CEO for "personal reasons." Witty had been with UnitedHealth Group since 2018 and had served as CEO for a little over four years. Former CEO Stephen J. Hemsley was appointed to replace Witty "effective immediately." Hemsley, who will continue to serve as chair of UnitedHealth Group's Board of Directors, was CEO from 2006 to 2017. Witty will remain with United as a "senior adviser."

>>Spirit Airlines New Premium Offerings For Flyers

(Dania Beach, FL) -- Spirit Airlines is announcing a new premium option for its travelers. The option will include extra legroom seating and two free checked bags for its cardholders. According to the airline, the new seating will begin being installed in June and roll out across the majority of Spirit's fleet by July while the two free checked bags policy will roll out later this year. Spirit's embrace of premium options reflects a larger trend in the airline industry, and it comes after the airline exited bankruptcy in March.

>>SpaceX Wants To Increase Rocket Launches

(Cape Canaveral, FL) -- SpaceX wants to increase rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing a proposal to increase launches from 50 to 120 annually. Some groups have raised concerns about noise and impacts on airspace and ocean travel. The comment period remains open until Thursday. The latest SpaceX news comes amid reporting on another of Elon Musk's companies. Multiple reports indicate his tunneling firm, The Boring Company, is in talks with federal railroad regulators over a possible multi-billion dollar contract for an Amtrak project in the Northeast.

>>Microsoft To Cut 3% Of Its Workforce

(Redmond, WA) -- Microsoft is cutting three percent of its workforce. The maker of Windows and Word said today the layoffs will affect employees across all levels of the company. A Microsoft spokesman told CNBC the organizational changes are necessary for success in a dynamic marketplace. Microsoft had about 228-thousand employees as of last June.

>>Nissan To Lay Off 11k, Close 7 Plants

(Yokohama) -- Nissan is laying off eleven-thousand people. The Japanese automaker announced Tuesday that it's closing seven of its production plants around the world, and reducing its workforce by 15 percent. The layoffs come after Nissan saw its operating profits decline 88-percent from the previous year. The company hasn't said which plants will be closed, or where the job cuts will be made. Nissan employs over 130-thousand people worldwide, including about 20-thousand in the U.S.

>>ESPN Streaming Service Reveals Cost

(New York, NY) -- ESPN's new standalone streaming app will cost sports fans about 30-dollars a month. The new service from the sports cable network is set to launch this fall. It'll include all of the network's programming as well as other ESPN channels including ESPN2, the SEC Network and ESPN on ABC. A bundle that includes ad-supported tiers of Disney-Plus and Hulu will cost 36-bucks per month. The service differs from ESPN's current streaming platform, ESPN-Plus. 

For: May 13, 2025 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  All eyes will be on the Wall Street opening bell this morning after stocks rallied Monday on news of a temporary trade war truce between the U.S. and China.  The move will see tariffs slashed for 90 days.  Banking, retail and technology shares advanced in a broad rally as investors cheered the de-escalation ahead of more trade talks.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1,160 points to 42-410.  The S&P 500 rose 184 points to 58-44.  The Nasdaq climbed 779 points to 18-708.

>>Consumer Price Index Data Due 

(Undated)  --  The consumer price index is scheduled for release today.  The index is one of the Fed's most trusted inflation gauges and is expected this time around to show the first clear impact of the Trump administration's global tariffs.  It's due to come out at 8:30 am Eastern.

>>Sneaker Industry Tariff Impact

(Undated)  --  American shoe companies are "encouraged" by U.S.-China trade negotiations, but say the industry still "needs relief."  The CEO of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, which represents Nike, Under Armour and other leading shoe companies, said in a statement, "we're not across the finish line yet."  The comments come after the Trump administration's progress in recent negotiations, however, shoes are highly exposed to tariffs because 99-percent of all footwear sold in the U.S. is manufactured overseas.  The industry has warned that tariffs could wipe out hundreds of businesses, kill tens of thousands of jobs and raise prices for consumers.

>>Deadline To File 23andMe Loss Claims Announced 

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Genetic testing giant 23andMe is notifying customers that they may be eligible to file claims as the company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Eligible current and former customers have until July 14th to file claims for losses incurred.  The move follows a massive data breach that compromised sensitive personal information of nearly seven million users. 

>>McDonald's To Hire 375,000 Workers This Summer

(Chicago, IL)  --  McDonald's is planning to hire up to 375-thousand workers nationwide this summer.  The fast-food chain announced the move at a news conference that included the U.S. Labor Secretary.  Monday's event celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the company's "Archways to Opportunity" program which offers tuition assistance and helps employees reach their education goals.  

>>Boston Startup Freight Farms Shuts Down Operations

(Boston, MA)  --  Boston-based fresh food startup Freight Farms has filed for bankruptcy and has shut down operations.  The company was launched with a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in 2013 with the goal of producing fresh food for the masses.  They manufactured hydroponic farming systems retrofitted inside intermodal freight containers.  In a recent bankruptcy filing, Freight Farms reported seven-million-dollars in debts and 600-thousand-dollars in assets, with just 26-thousand-dollars in cash on hand.  

For: May 12, 2025

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mostly lower to end the week on Friday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 119 points to 41-249. The S&P 500 lost 4 points to 56-59. The Nasdaq rose a fraction of a point to 17-928. Investors this week will be keeping an eye out for a couple of key inflation gauges - the consumer price index on Tuesday and the producer price index on Thursday. Retail sales and weekly jobless claims are due the same day along with remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell who'll be speaking at a conference in Washington, DC.

>>U.S., China Agree To Reduce Tariffs

(Washington, DC) -- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration is closing in on a trade deal with China. Following weekend talks in Switzerland, Bessent said the two countries have agreed to pause their reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, with both sides lowering those rates by 115 percent. Chinese goods had been hit with tariffs as high as 145-percent under the Trump administration. Beijing in turn applied a 125-percent levy on some U.S. goods.

>>Geologists Uncover $1.5 Trillion Lithium Deposit In U.S. (McDermitt, NV) -- A lithium deposit worth over one trillion dollars has been discovered in the U.S. Located in the McDermitt Caldera on the Oregon-Nevada border is what could be one of the largest lithium deposits ever found. Many see it as a possible boost for electric battery production, but locals are concerned about the impact on wildlife and cultural sites. Geologists say the caldera may contain between 20 and 40 million metric tons of lithium. A proposal from HiTech Minerals Inc. is looking to add roads and hundreds of wells to test for lithium in Malheur County.

>>TD Bank Closing 38 Locations

(Cherry Hill, NJ) -- TD Bank is shuttering nearly 40 locations next month. The bank, which still has more than a thousand locations, said the closures will take place June 5th. The closures, which affect locations in ten states and the District of Columbia, come after a company-wide evaluation.

>>Netflix Plans To Pull Interactive Movies

(Los Gatos, CA) -- Netflix is planning to pull its interactive movie selections from the streaming service. The streamer will remove "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch," and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs The Reverend" today. The decision seemingly marks an end of Netflix's efforts to make the interactive format available to customers and it comes as the company ramps up its gaming portfolio. The newly redesigned TV homepage now features games users can play on connected televisions with their mobile phone serving as a game controller.

>>Samsung To Hold Unpacked Event

(Suwon, South Korea) -- Samsung is holding a virtual event today to show off the Galaxy S25 Edge. The new device will be slimmer than the standard S25 and promises to come with a powerful AI companion. The "Unpacked" event will be streamed live at 8pm Eastern on the company's YouTube page.

>>Box Office Update

(Undated) -- Disney and Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts made 33 million dollars in its second week and stands at a total of 128 million dollars. Warner Brothers "Sinners" raked in 21 million dollars in its fourth weekend. "A Minecraft Movie" crossed the 408-million-dollar mark in its sixth week on the big screen. The Ben Affleck led "Accountant 2" brought in a total of 50 million dollars in its third week. IFC's "Clown in a Cornfield" hit theaters this weekend and made over four million dollars in its debut. 

For Friday, May 9th, 2025

>>Stocks Close Higher

(New York, NY) -- Wall Street closed Thursday with stocks higher. It comes after President Trump announced the framework for a trade deal between the United Kingdom and the U.S. Trump said the final details of the deal are still being worked on. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 254 points to 41-368. The S&P 500 rose by 32 points to 56-63. The Nasdaq gained 189 points to 17-928.

>>U.S., U.K. Announce Trade Deal

(Washington, DC) -- The U.S. and the UK are announcing a new trade deal. President Trump made the announcement at the White House yesterday. He said he feels it will be a great deal for both countries. The trade deal with the U.K. is the first to be reached since Trump unveiled his sweeping tariff plan. Trump said the U.S. is working on trade deals with other countries. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about the deal over the phone in the Oval Office.

>>Trump: "Too Late" Powell Should Have Cut Rates

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump says it's "too late" for the Fed to cut interest rates. Before his cabinet meeting, Trump noted England and China cut rates, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell chose not to. Powell has said if Trump wants to talk to him, he needs to call him, to which Trump responded "it's like talking to a wall" -- adding his new nickname is "too late" Powell. He went on to say that a rate cut wouldn't make much difference because the U.S. economy is so strong.

>>Bill Gates Announces Plan To Give Away Money, End Gates Foundation

(Seattle, WA) -- Bill Gates says he plans to give away "virtually all" of his money within 20 years and he will shutdown the Gates Foundation in 2045. The Microsoft co-founder said people will say a lot of things about him when he dies, but he's determined that "he died rich" won't be one of them. Gates said there are too many urgent problems to solve for him to hold onto resources that could be helpful. The Gates Foundation has given away over 100-billion-dollars since it was founded. The 70-year-old said he wants to speed up his foundation's work on equity initiatives and global health to hopefully set up a model for other billionaires to follow.

>>Investors Sue UnitedHealth

(New York, NY) -- A group of investors is suing UnitedHealth Group, accusing the company of misleading them about the backlash of the killing of top executive Brian Thompson. The class action suit, filed in New York federal court Wednesday, claims the company's earning forecast didn't factor in reports about its high rate of insurance denials and the sentiment against the company following Thompson's murder on a New York City sidewalk. The suit comes after the company eventually cut its 2025 earnings forecast. It argues the company didn't tell investors earlier it would have to adjust its strategy.

>>Trump To Rescind Biden Chip Legislation

(Washington, DC) -- The Trump administration is rescinding U.S. chip export restrictions known as the "AI diffusion rule." It's legislation that was proposed in the last days of the Biden administration. It organized countries into three different tiers all of which have different restrictions on whether advanced AI chips can be shipped to the country without a license. The limits were set to take effect on May 15th. Now the Trump administration's decision could have sweeping impacts on the global distribution of critical AI chips, as well as which companies profit from the new technology.

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Fall

(Washington, DC) -- First-time unemployment claims were down last week. The Labor Department says it received 228-thousand initial claims in the week ending May 3rd. That's a drop of 13-thousand from the previous week's revised total and is basically in line with what most analysts were expecting.

>>Toyota Tariffs Report Projects Profit Decline

(Toyota City, Japan) -- Toyota is projecting a decline in profit for the current financial year. The world's top-selling automaker released a report on Thursday forecasting a 21-percent profit decline due to widespread fallout from sweeping tariffs implemented by President Trump. This comes after a year of record profit totaling 32-point-four-billion-dollars for the manufacturer. According to Toyota, the company must also navigate the negative impact from a stronger yen.

For: May 8, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 284 points to 41-113.  The S&P 500 rose by 24 points to 56-31.  The Nasdaq gained 48 points to 17-738.

>>Trump Expected To Announce Trade Deal With UK

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is expected to announce a "major trade deal" today with the UK.  In a post on Truth Social Wednesday night, he said he'll hold a news conference in the Oval Office -- and that the deal is with a big and highly respected country.  He closed the post by saying the deal is the first of many.  Just over a month ago, Trump announced global tariffs on U.S. imports in an effort to boost American manufacturing and protect jobs.

>>U.S. Recession Survey

(Undated)  --  About four-in-ten Americans are saying the U.S. is currently in a recession.  The latest poll from The Economist/YouGov found an uptick from 30-percent which was previously reported in early February.  Despite the increase, the figure is still lower than the 50 percent who had the same view in late 2022 and the early days of 2023.  The poll also found 35-percent of respondents disagreed with recession claims while 25-percent of respondents were not sure when asked about the topic.

>>Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is leaving interests rates unchanged.  It comes as recent economic reports have sent mixed signals on the state of the economy.  Inflation still remains above the central bank's target of two-percent.  It's also as tariffs implemented by the White House remain in place, including a 145-percent tariff against China.  Fed Chair Jerome Powell said yesterday that if "large increases in tariffs" remain in place they could lead to an economic growth slowdown. 

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Due

(Washington, DC)  --  The weekly jobless claims report is set for release today.  Most analysts expect to see a decline in the number of Americans filing first-time requests for unemployment benefits.  The forecast is for around 230-thousand new claims, versus 241-thousand the week before.  

>>Ford Raising Prices On Three Models Over Tariffs

(Mexico)  --  Ford is raising the prices on three models manufactured in Mexico due to tariffs.  Ford's Bronco Sport, Maverick pickup and Mustang Mach-E electric SUV will see up to two-thousand-dollar increases for some models.  A spokesperson for the company says the tariffs are combining with their usual mid-year pricing actions.  They added the amended prices will not impact vehicles in dealership inventories.  Ford's price adjustments come after the company projected the tariffs would cost them around over one-billion-dollars this year.

>>Google Searches Fall In Safari

(Cupertino, CA)  --  The number of Google searches made in Apple's Safari browser is down for the first time in more than two decades.  An Apple senior vice president testified Wednesday in Google's antitrust trial that last month's decline is linked to the growth of AI searches.  Google pays Apple 20-billion-dollars to make its search engine the default in Safari.

>>Netflix Redesigning Home Page

(Los Gatos, CA)  --  Netflix is rolling out a redesign for its home page on TV screens, the first big makeover since 2013.  Starting next week, the page will feature fewer titles but more video.  Company officials say the goal is a sleeker design that will get more people to "press play and stay."  

>>Disney Announces Abu Dhabi Theme Park

(Abu Dhabi)  --  Disney fans have a new theme park to look forward to.  The company announced plans for a resort in Abu Dhabi Wednesday but did not give an exact opening date.  It'll mark Disney's seventh theme park resort destination and its first entry into the Middle East.  The Abu Dhabi resort will be the first new theme park by Disney since Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016.
 

For: May 7, 2025

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a lower close on Wall Street Tuesday as investors deal with uncertainty over tariffs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 389 points to 40-829.  The S&P 500 fell 43 points to 56-06.  The Nasdaq lost 154 points to 17-689.

>>Interest Rate Decision Coming 

(Undated)  --  The Federal Reserve wraps up a two-day meeting today with a decision on interest rates.  The central bank is widely expected to hold its benchmark short-term borrowing rate steady.  Today's announcement comes at 2 pm Eastern followed by remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.    

>>Mattel Tariff Price Hikes

(El Segundo, CA)  --  Toy maker Mattel is warning customers of upcoming price hikes due to tariffs.  CEO Ynon Kreiz [[ e-non kreh-itz ]] says he does not foresee toy manufacturing coming to America, rather the company expects to raise prices in the U.S. to offset the 145-percent tariff on Chinese imports.  By the end of the year, the company plans to have less than 40-percent of its products sourced from China, with a goal of reducing that to below 25-percent in the next two years.  Kreiz says Mattel is committed to creating quality products while finding the right balance of price and value. 

>>Tesla Sales Fall In Europe

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla sales are dropping across Europe even though people there are buying more electric vehicles.  Sales in April fell more than 60 percent in the UK and Denmark, according to industry groups, more than 70 percent in the Netherlands and more than 80 percent in Sweden.  France and Portugal also saw sharp declines.  Analysts say some of the decline is due to CEO Elon Musk's unpopularity but some is from increased competition, particularly from Chinese electric automakers.  

>>Swiss Bank Settles With U.S. Over Tax Evasion Practices

(Alexandria, VA)  --  A Swiss bank has agreed to pay over 500-million dollars to settle a U.S. probe into how it helped rich Americans evade taxes.  Credit Suisse [[ Swees ]] pleaded guilty to helping its customers hide more than four-billion dollars from the IRS in offshore accounts, in a practice that had been going on for decades.  In 2014, Credit Suisse made a deal with the U.S. to stop the practice, but court documents filed in Virginia claim new crimes have been committed since then.  The Justice Department said the charges against the bank would be dropped if it cooperated with authorities.

>>WeightWatchers Filing For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy 

(New York, NY)  --  WeightWatchers is filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy to cut debt.  The over 60-year-old company has been struggling with the increasing use of drugs like Ozempic for weight loss.  Officials say they are not going out of business, but getting some "financial flexibility."  It will focus more on "digital and member experience, as well as boosting its telehealth business."

For: May 6, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street kicked off a new trading week with stocks closing in the red Monday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 98 points to 41-219  The S&P 500 snapped a nine-day winning streak, falling 36 points to 56-50.  The Nasdaq lost 133 points to 17-844.

>>Hollywood Studios' Stocks Fall

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Hollywood's top studios are seeing stock prices fall after President Trump vowed to implement a 100-percent tariff on movies made in what he called "foreign lands."  Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney all saw shares drop Monday before managing to recover some.  It's unclear how the movie tariff would be implemented on intellectual property, who exactly would be targeted, and who would pay if tariffs are implemented.

>>Central Bank Meeting

(Undated)  --  The Federal Reserve opens a two-day meeting today with a highly-anticipated announcement on interest rates due Wednesday.  A rate cut is not in the forecast this time around, according to most analysts.  

>>Ford Suspends Outlook, Says It Will Take $1.5B Hit Because Of Tariffs

(Detroit, MI)  --  Ford is suspending its 2025 financial outlook because of new tariffs on imported vehicles and parts.  The automaker said Monday that President Trump's tariffs could add one and a-half billion dollars in costs next year.  The 25-percent tariffs target imports from countries like Mexico and Canada.  Ford's profits are already down this year, especially in its electric division.   

>>Americans Cool On Long-Term Stock Investments

(Undated)  --  The number of Americans who say stocks or mutual funds are the best long-term investment is declining.  According to a Gallup survey, 16-percent of adults say stocks or mutual funds are the best long-term investment compared to 22-percent of people who held this view around the same time last year.  The poll was conducted in the first two weeks of April when President Trump announced sweeping tariffs that sent the stock market on a nosedive.  Despite the drop in favorability, the survey found gold had a slight uptick in popularity this year, with 23-percent saying it's the best long-term investment, which is up from 18-percent last April.

>>Pratt And Whitney Strike Enters Second Day

(East Hartford, CT)  --  The strike by around three thousand machinists at Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut has entered a second day.  The unionized workers hit the picket line early yesterday morning after failing to reach a new contract with the company and its parent RTX Corporation.  The unions representing the striking employees say the jet engine maker has brought in replacement workers to fill the void while the strike is ongoing.  Pratt and Whitney says their offer to the union would provide competitive compensation while ensuring the company can grow in a difficult marketplace.

>>Rite Aid Files For Bankruptcy

(Buffalo, NY)  --  Rite Aid is in financial trouble.  The drugstore chain filed for Chapter eleven bankruptcy for the second time on Monday within two years.  CEO Matt Schroeder says the bad economy, tariffs and other factors contributed to the situation.

For: May 5, 2025

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning as Wall Street welcomes a fresh trading session with a strong week in the rearview mirror. Stocks jumped Friday following a better-than-expected monthly jobs report which helped ease recession fears. The S&P 500 posted its longest winning streak in two decades with the three major averages notching weekly gains of more than two percent. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 564 points to 41-317 The S&P 500 rose 82 points to 56-86. The Nasdaq climbed 266 points to 17-977.

>>No Rate Cut Expected When FOMC Meets This Week

(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week ahead, the Federal Reserve is set to decide interest rates. The central bank opens a two-day meeting on Tuesday with the highly-anticipated rate announcement on Wednesday. A rate cut is not in the forecast this time around, according to most analysts. Weekly jobless claims follow on Thursday, with a drop expected to bring that number down to around 230-thousand, versus the prior week's 241-thousand.

>>Trump Calls For 100% Tariff On Foreign Movies

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump is calling for a 100-percent tariff on films produced outside of America and imported into the States. Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to announce that he had instructed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to "immediately begin the process" of instituting the tariffs. He cited non-specific national security threats and said "WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!" Intellectual property like films cannot have tariffs placed on them but implementing trade barriers like laws and film tax credits could happen.

>>Oil Prices Down On OPEC Move

(Undated) -- Oil prices are down after OPEC said it would be increasing production for the second month in a row. At last check Brent crude was down more than three percent to under 60-dollars a barrel. U.S. crude oil dropped nearly four percent to about 56-dollars a barrel. OPEC, an alliance of oil producing nations, made the announcement of elevated production levels on Friday.

>>Warren Buffett To Step Down As Berkshire Hathaway

(Omaha, NE) -- Billionaire Warren Buffett plans to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year. The legendary 94-year-old investment wizard announced his retirement over the weekend at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha. Buffett owns more than 160-billion dollars in Berkshire and says he won't sell a single share after he retires. Today's announcement came as a surprise to shareholders. Buffett, known as the Oracle of Omaha, is recommending Greg Abel to fill his shoes.

>>Target Pulls Self-Checkout During Shoplifting Spike

(Undated) -- Target is adopting a new self-checkout policy given the recent surge in shoplifting. The retailer announced it's now limiting self-checkout to shoppers with ten or less items. The company also said it is expanding its staffed-checkouts to improve efficiency. Target says pilot tests showed the new policy improved speed and customer satisfaction at stores.

>>Apple Approves Spotify's Latest Updated App

(Undated) -- Apple is giving the thumbs up to Spotify's U.S. app update. The music streamer revealed the news Friday saying customers can now see pricing information and can select purchase and subscription options within the app. Apple approved the new version after a recent ruling by federal judge ordered the tech giant to stop charging commissions through apps on its iPhone. That ruling stemmed from a ongoing case with Epic Games - maker of the video game Fortnite.

>>Eco-Friendly "RecyCoolers"

(Gilroy, CA) -- A California packaging company is introducing a new shipping cooler that could transform how temperature-sensitive products are moved across the world. The introduction of "RecyCoolers" containers, which are made of recyclable paper and fiber, offers a sign of "extended producer responsibility" laws propelling a shift toward more sustainable products in the U.S. According to Container Consulting Service, "RecyCoolers" can keep contents frozen or refrigerated for more than 100 hours. The rollout of the new shipping coolers comes as lawmakers take aim at hard-to-recycle plastic and foam.

>>SharkNinja Recalls Over 1 Million Pressure Cookers After Burn Injuries

(Undated) -- SharkNinja is recalling over one million pressure cookers after reports of burn injuries that have resulted in more than two dozen lawsuits. There have been 106 reports of burn injuries. The recall notice said the pressure cooker's lid can be opened while in use, allowing hot contents to escape, creating a burn risk to consumers. The recall is for the SharkNinja Foodi OP300 Series Multi-Function Pressure Cooker. It also includes OP300 series replacement lids purchased as an extra part. 

For: May 2, 2025

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning as the trading week starts to wind down.  Stocks closed higher on Thursday to start the month of May on word of positive quarterly earnings results from two major tech companies.  Meta posted stronger than expected revenue and Microsoft also posted better than expected results.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 83 points to 40-752  The S&P 500 gained 35 points to 56-04.  The Nasdaq rose by 264 points to 17-710.

>>Monthly Jobs Report Due

(Washington, DC)  --  The April jobs report is due to be released this morning.  The consensus among most analysts is that today's report will show hiring slowed in the start of the second quarter.  The forecast is for 133-thousand new jobs, versus 228-thousand in the month prior.  The report comes out at 8:30am Eastern.  

>>Cook Says Tariffs Could Cost Apple Almost $1B In June Quarter

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple CEO Tim Cook says President Trump's tariffs could cost the company almost a billion dollars in the second quarter.  During a Thursday earnings call, Cook said he was not able to estimate the impact of tariffs precisely, but assuming things do not change, it would add an additional 900-million dollars to costs.  Trump has imposed a 145 percent tariff on China, where most of Apple's products are made, although he did partially exempt items such as smartphones and computers from the new reciprocal duty on imports. 

>>Self-Driving Semi Is Making Round Trips On Texas Highway

(Pittsburgh, PA)  --  A semi truck with no driver is making long-haul runs on a Texas highway.  The Aurora company says their self-driving 18-wheeler has started making round trips between Dallas and Houston for its first two customers, Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines.  The two companies had conducted test runs with Aurora using safety drivers to monitor the technology.  Now the commercial service is running without a safety driver.  In a press release Thursday, the CEO of Aurora said, "we are the first company to successfully and safely operate a commercial driverless trucking service on public roads."

>>Subway Downsizing

(Shelton, CT)  --  Subway's footprint in the U.S. is declining, though it remains the largest restaurant chain in America.  According to franchise disclosure documents, the sandwich chain closed 631 restaurants in 2024, leaving it with 19-thousand-502 locations in the U.S.  Subway's footprint has gradually declined since reaching its peak of about 27-thousand locations in 2015.  The chain has struggled with growing competition, shifting consumer preferences and its restaurants generating lower average sales compared to its rivals. 

>>McDonald's Sales Decline

(Chicago, IL)  --  McDonald's sales are dropping as customers pull back their spending due to economic uncertainty.  In the U.S., same-store sales dropped three-point-six-percent in the beginning of the year, marking the second consecutive quarter of declines.  McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski [[ kemp-chin-skee ]] says consumers are "grappling with uncertainty," but he remains optimistic in the company's ability to navigate market conditions and gain market share. 

>>Lawmakers Plan To Introduce App Age Verification Bill

(Washington, DC) --  Republican lawmakers are planning to introduce legislation that would require age verification on app stores.  The App Store Accountability Act would require app stores to verify the ages of all users, signaling the latest congressional push to boost online safety for kids. 

>>Xbox Prices Are Going Up

(Redmond, WA)  --  Microsoft has announced significant price increases for the Xbox.  The company says market conditions are causing the increase.  The consoles are made in China, and tariffs are making parts more expensive.  Some of the price increases include an 80 dollar increase in the Xbox Series S and a 100 dollar increase in the price of an Xbox Series X.  Some controllers will increase five dollars.  First-party games will increase by ten dollars.  Prices on other games will remain unchanged.

>>Kohl's CEO Fired

(Menomonee Falls, WI) --  There are changes in leadership coming to Kohl's after the company found its newly installed CEO engaged in unethical behavior.  Ashley Buchanan, a former chief executive of arts and crafts chain Michaels, began as Kohl's CEO on January 15th with the hopes of turning around the struggling retailer.  However, the company says his tenure has been cut short after an investigation from an outside counsel found that he "violated company policies by directing the company to engage in vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest."  Michael Bender, the current chairman of the Kohl's board, will become interim CEO until a replacement is found. 

For Thursday, May 1st, 2025

>>Stocks Close Mixed

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street is closed Wednesday with stocks mixed to end the month.  It comes after the release of the latest GDP report that showed a decline of point-three-percent.  Some investors noted the numbers were skewed by a surge in imports recently as companies attempted to get ahead of the White House's tariffs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 141 points to 40-669.  The S&P 500 rose by eight points to 55-69.  The Nasdaq fell by 14 points to 17-446.

>>2 Reports Point To Uncertain U.S. Economy

(Washington, DC)  --  New reports have the U.S. economy heading into uncertain waters this summer.  The GDP, the sum of the value of goods and services produced, fell point-three percent over last year.  Growth had originally been predicted by economists, but outlooks were revised to negative thanks to reaction to President Trump's global tariffs.  A separate report from payroll processor ADP showed job creation slowed to 62-thousand positions last month, about half of what economists were expecting. 

>>Trump Defends Tariffs After GDP

(Undated)  --  President Trump says an economic "boom" will take a while after tariffs he implemented start kicking in.  It comes after new data showed the U.S. economy contracted last quarter.  In a Truth Social post, the President told the public to "be patient."  Trump also placed blame on former President Biden for the current state of the stock market, noting that he did not take office until January 20th.  His comments come after the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that gross domestic product fell at a point-three-percent annualized pace in the first three months of the year.  Despite the recent data, Trump said "when the boom begins, it will be like no other."

>>Ukraine Minerals Deal Signed

(Washington, DC)  --  Ukraine and the U.S. have signed a minerals agreement.  It means the U.S. will have access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals.  The Trump administration says the deal also addresses the 175-billion-dollars in aid the U.S. has given Ukraine since the start of its war with Russia and establishes an economic partnership.  The administration adds the deal signals to Russia that the White House is committed to a peace process that is centered on a free and prosperous Ukraine.  It comes almost two months after a White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky derailed talks on the deal.

>>President Meet With Top Executives 

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump promoted an "Investing in America" event at the White House Wednesday.  Trump said businesses from around the world have invested over five-trillion dollars in the U.S.  Trump met with executives of major companies, that have pledged to build plants America.  The Trump administration wants to use the "Investing in America" event to tout Trump's achievements and push back on uncertainty that some investors have over his global tariff policies.

>>Third Arizona TSMC Plant Breaks Ground

(Phoenix, AZ)  --  Construction is underway for the new Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing facility in Arizona. It marks the third manufacturing plant in Phoenix, and comes after the chip maker recently announced an additional 100-billion dollar investment into the U.S.  Attending Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony was U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He called the occasion "the return of American manufacturing."  Some big name tech companies, like Apple and NVIDIA, are customers of TSMC. 

>>Stellantis Reports Low First Quarter Revenue

(Detroit, MI)  --  Stellantis is reporting a 14-percent drop in first quarter revenue.  The automaker is also suspending financial guidance for the rest of the year due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs.  Chief Financial Officer Doug Osterman says they are still absorbing tariff adjustments that were announced on Tuesday, which may provide some relief to the company.  Osterman says they have paused the shipment of some vehicles affected by tariffs and are relying on current inventory.  The first quarter report was only a partial release with the full report expected in July.