For July 31st, 2025

>>Stocks Close Mixed

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street is closed Wednesday with stocks mixed.  It comes after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged for a fifth straight decision.  Fed Chair Jerome Powell said they have made no decision about a rate cut in September.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 171 points to 44-461.  The S&P 500 lost seven points to 63-62.  The Nasdaq gained 31 points to 21-129.

>>Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates unchanged.  It comes as President Trump has publicly pressured Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates.  Shortly before the Fed announced its decision, Trump said he heard Powell will cut interest rates in September.  He also again said Powell's decision to not cut rates is costing the economy hundreds of billions of dollars.  Powell's term is up in nine months.  It's the fifth straight time the central bank has kept rates steady.  

>>Trump Lowers Tariffs On SK

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is lowering tariffs on South Korea to 15-percent, down from 25.  Trump announced that the U.S. has reached a "full and complete trade deal" with the country after securing a 350-billion dollar investment.  He went on to say South Korean officials agreed to expand trading channels to include imports of American products, including cars, trucks and agriculture.

>>U.S. Tariff Truce Not Extended

(Stockholm)  --  The tariff deadline for China has not yet been extended.  The U.S. and China ended discussions in Sweden Tuesday after two days of trade talks.  A Chinese official had said the tariff truce was extended, but U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that's not the case yet.  Greer said a tariff pause extension was discussed but that's something they are bringing back to President Trump for him to decide.   It all comes after a deal was reached with the European Union over the weekend.

>>Microsoft Now Only Second Company To Be Worth Four Trillion Dollars

(New York, NY)  --  Microsoft is now only the second company ever to reach four trillion dollars in total market value.  Shares in the tech company jumped eight percent late Wednesday after a better-than-expected earnings report, lifting its market cap to about four-point-one trillion dollars.  Chipmaker Nvidia was the first company to hit the four-trillion-dollar mark earlier this month.  

>>Hershey Expects To Pay $170 Million In Tariffs

(Hershey, PA)  --  Hershey is preparing to pay over 100-million-dollars in tariffs.  During its quarterly financial report yesterday, The Hershey Company said it expects tariffs to cost between 170-and-180-million-dollars this year.  The announcement comes just over a week after Hershey announced plans to raise chocolate prices.  However, the company blamed the price hike on the increasing cost of ingredients instead of tariffs or trade policies. 

>>Mars To Invest $2B In U.S. Manufacturing

(McLean, VA)  --  Mars candy company says it plans to invest two-billion dollars in U.S. manufacturing.  The M&M's maker said this week the investment in U.S. operations will be made through next year, and includes a 240-million dollar facility in Salt Lake City that will create over 230 new jobs.  Nearly all Mars candy sold in the U.S. is produced locally.  Last year, Mars announced a 36-billion-dollar deal to buy Kellanova, the company behind brands including Kellogg's and Pringles. 

>>Gucci Sales Drop

(Paris)  --  The company behind the iconic Gucci label is reporting big drops in sales and revenue.  Paris-based Kering on Tuesday said that Gucci sales had dropped 25 percent during the second quarter.  The company's CEO called the results disappointing but sounded hopeful that things could turn around.  The biggest decline in sales came across Asian markets, led by Japan.

For: July 30, 2025 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  Stocks fell as investors weighed mixed corporate earnings and the potential for trade deals between the U.S. and other countries.  At the closing bell, the Dow lost 204 points to 44-632.  The S&P 500 shed 18 points to 63-70.  The Nasdaq fell 80 points to 21-098.

>>Interest Rate Decision Looms 

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve will announce its decision on interest rates today.  President Trump has been putting the pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut rates, but most investors are expecting Powell will hold them steady.  He's scheduled to hold a news conference following the announcement.  Also coming up today, we'll get word on the latest GDP data, ADP's employment numbers and pending home sales.  

>>Consumer Confidence Edges Up In July

(New York, NY)  --  Consumer confidence edged higher in July.  The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index improved two points as inflation fears eased.  The board's senior global economist noted a slight improvement in overall confidence which continues to rebound from April's plunge.  Purchasing plans for cars and homes slipped in July along with vacation intentions and plans for personal travel.   

>>U.S. Tariff Truce Extended

(Stockholm)  --  The tariff deadline for China is being extended.  The U.S. and China ended discussions in Sweden today after two days of trade talks.  A Chinese official said the tariff truce has been extended that keeps tariffs at 30-percent for goods sent from China to the U.S.   It's currently unclear how long the extension will be for.  The original deadline was set for August 1st.  It all comes after a deal was reached with the European Union over the weekend.

>>U.S. Home Prices Cooling

(Washington, DC)  --  Housing prices in the U.S. are starting to cool . The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index shows for May, the seasonally adjusted price of a home rose two-point-eight-percent from last year, slowing from the three-point-four-percent annual gain in April.  Analysts say the declining rate of price increases is due to continued high interest rates which is slowing demand and increasing supply.

>>Google Adds An AI Shopping Aid For Users

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Google is adding AI-powered store reviews to its Chrome browser to help users find the best place to shop.  The new feature can be accessed by clicking an icon just to the left of the web address in the browser.  Users will see a pop-up showing the reputation for things like product quality, pricing, customer service, and return policies.

>>Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern Merge, First Transcontinental Freight Railroad On Way

(Undated)  --  Two of the biggest U.S. railroads are announcing a plan to merge that would result in the country's first transcontinental freight railroad.  Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced the deal today that's worth 72-billion-dollars.   The companies confirmed last week that they were in talks, however the deal still needs regulatory approval.    Union Pacific operates in the Western U.S., while Norfolk Southern serves in the eastern part of the country.  

>>UPS Reports Decline In Profits

(Sandy Springs, GA)  --  UPS is reporting a decline in its second quarter revenue and profit. The Georgia company says their second quarter net income is down almost nine-percent, coming in at around one-point-28 billion dollars. Last year the company reported an income of one-point-four billion. This comes as the company has seen decreased shipping volumes for some of its largest customers like Amazon. The company also laid off nearly 20-thousand employees in the past year as they try to reconfigure and cut costs. 

For: July 29, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Monday as Wall Street kicked off a fresh trading week.  The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq edged higher to new records as a trade deal with the European Union failed to spark a rally.  At the closing bell, the Dow lost 64 points to 44-837.  The S&P 500 added one point to 63-89.  The Nasdaq rose 70 points to 21-178.

>>Fed Makes Interest Rate Decision This Week

(Washington, DC)  --  Investors will be watching whether the Federal Reserve decides to cut interest rates this week.  President Trump has been putting the pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut rates, but most investors are expecting Powell will hold them steady.  The Fed begins a two-day meeting today ahead of a decision on U.S. interest rate levels on Wednesday.

>>U.S., China Meet For Trade Talks

(Stockholm)  --  Top American and Chinese officials are meeting for trade talks in Sweden.  This comes as President Trump's tariff deadline of August 1st looms large.  Trump just announced a trade deal with the European Union.  The White House hopes that closing a deal with China would prompt more countries to follow suit.

>>Tesla And Samsung Sign New $16.5B AI6 Chip Deal  

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla CEO Elon Musk is announcing a 16.5 billion dollar computer chip deal with Samsung Electronics.  The multi-year contract will see Tesla's next generation AI6 chip manufactured exclusively at Samsung's facility in Taylor, Texas.  The AI6 chip will power Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, Optimus humanoid robots and other AI-driven tasks.  Samsung's Texas plant has previously struggled to land major clients, but securing Tesla's deal is expected to significantly boost its competitiveness in the U.S. semiconductor market.  

>>Spirit Airlines To Furlough 270 Pilots Ahead Of Flight Cutbacks

(Dania Beach, FL)  --  Spirit Airlines is doing more belt-tightening.  The Florida-based discount carrier said Monday it will furlough 270 pilots this fall as it reduces its off-season schedule to cut costs.  Spirit has struggled to turn a profit since it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March.  Industry analysts say overall travel demand has been softer than expected this year.   

>>McLaren Breaks Ground On First Processing Plant In U.S. 

(Baltimore, MD)  --  British luxury auto manufacturer McLaren has broken ground on a new processing plant, its first in the United States.  The vehicle processing center will be located in the global logistics hub that is Baltimore's Tradepoint Atlantic.  The site will manage inspection, customization and vehicle distribution to McLaren's more than two dozen locations nationwide.  The facility is scheduled to open next year.

For: July 28, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell    

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a winning week on Wall Street.  Stocks advanced Friday with the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq hitting new records on strong earnings results and the latest trade developments.  All three major averages gained more than one percent for the week.  At the closing bell, the Dow gained 208 points to 44-901.  The S&P 500 added 25 points to 63-88.  The Nasdaq rose 50 points to 21-108.

>>Trump Announces Trade Deal With The EU

(Glasgow)  --  President Trump is celebrating the announcement of what he calls the "biggest deal ever made" - a new trade deal with the European Union that will set tariffs at 15 percent.  Speaking on Sunday, the President said the 27-member EU has agreed to purchase 750-billion dollars worth of energy and 600-billion dollars worth of investments in the U.S.  The deal ends months of uncertainty surrounding America's largest trading partner.  

>>What To Watch For This Week

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, things get off to a relatively slow start with no major economic reports on the calendar today.  Job openings and consumer confidence data are due on Tuesday.  The following day brings the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.  Despite President Trump's ongoing pressure on Chairman Jerome Powell to bring rates down, the central bank is widely expected to stand pat, with no change seen coming until September at the earliest.  ADP's latest employment report, GDP numbers and pending home sales will also be out Wednesday.  Thursday brings word on weekly jobless claims and things wrap up Friday with the always highly-anticipated monthly employment report.  Most analysts expect the economy added just over 100-thousand new jobs in July, versus the 217-thousand created the month prior.  

>>NASA Reports 3K Employees Leaving

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  Thousands of NASA employees are taking advantage of early retirement.  NASA recently announced three-thousand employees have accepted offers of early retirement or resigned.  That amounts to about a fifth of its workforce, leaving the space agency with about 14-thousand civil servants.  

>>Tea App Hacked, Data Leaked

(Undated)  --  An app billed as a safe space for women to talk about men has been hacked, with thousands of pictures and images of ID cards leaked online.  The Tea app provides users who are verified as women with an opportunity to share notes about men, looking for red flags or other info about their behavior.  The hacked data, which appears to be about two years old, was leaked on the website 4chan.  The company behind the app says it is working to secure its platform and prevent any further breaches.

>>Panera Layoffs

(Fenton, MO)  --  Layoffs are coming to Panera Bread as the company shuts down fresh dough production operations in underperforming locations.  Some facilities have already started closing up shop.  Panera will now be leaning on third-party contractors to prepare their dough following their recipe and have it shipped frozen to restaurants. 

For: July 25, 2025

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings for the final time this week after stocks closed mixed on Wall Street yesterday.  The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed at record highs while the feud between President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates weighed down the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  At the closing bell, the Dow lost 316 points to 44-693.  The S&P 500 gained four points to 63-63.  The Nasdaq rose by 37 points to 21-057.

>>FCC Approves $8B Acquisition Of Paramount By Skydance Media

(Undated)  --  The FCC has approved the acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance Media for eight billion dollars.  The deal will include the CBS broadcast network, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon.  FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said there would be "significant changes" at CBS and noted that Skydance had agreed not to establish any DEI initiatives.

>>Astronomer People Officer Resigns After Viral Kiss Cam

(New York, NY)  --  The woman seen cuddling with her company's CEO in a viral kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert has resigned.  Kristin Cabot stepped down from her job as chief people officer at Astronomer, a data management startup.  The man she was with, CEO Andy Byron, resigned days ago.  Both are married to other people.  The company is now led by interim CEO Pete DeJoy while a new leader is found.  

>>Trump Hits The Brakes On Obama-Era Semi Truck Speed Limit

(Washington, DC)  --  The Trump administration is halting an Obama-era proposal that would have created a national speed limit for 18-wheelers.  The plan has been in the works since 2016, when federal regulators said limiting trucks to 65 miles per hour could save hundreds of lives annually, and save truckers over 800-million dollars in fuel and emissions costs.  Regulators under the Trump administration, however, claim the proposal would raise trucking costs and could make matters worse by stalling traffic and slowing deliveries.  They say it would also result in more trucks being needed to ship the same amount of cargo in a given period.

>>Feds Discuss Largest Worker Fraud Case Ever

(Washington, DC)  --  The Feds are warning corporate America to do their due diligence to avoid worker fraud.  Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro discussed a case Thursday involving an Arizona woman who helped hundreds of North Korean IT workers illegally get remote jobs at American companies.  Pirro said Christina Chapman enabled the network of North Korean workers to generate 17-million dollars in revenue that went back to North Korea.  She went on to say it's time for businesses to verify their workers before the security of the country is compromised.  Chapman pleaded guilty to charges and has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half-years in federal prison.

>>Four-Day Work Week Linked To Better Mental Health

(Undated)  --  An international study finds that a four-day work week is linked to better mental health.  The report, published in Nature Human Behavior, shows less burnout and better job satisfaction among workers with abbreviated work weeks.  Researchers conducted a six-month study involving nearly three-thousand employees at more than 140 businesses in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK.  The study also showed workers were more effective on the job when given a four-day work week and reported better sleep and less fatigue. 

>>Concession Workers Strike Looming At Fenway Park

(Boston, MA)  --  Unionized concession workers at Fenway Park could be on strike.  They want higher wages and their jobs protected from automation.  Aramark, the company that employs the workers, said it has a contingency plan in place if there is a strike.  The Red Sox organization is not involved in the dispute.  Boston hosts the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series this weekend.  

>>"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Makes $23M In Thursday Previews

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is the latest superhero movie to conquer the box office.  The Marvel Studios movie starring Pedro Pascal made an estimated 23-million dollars in Thursday previews, which is double the amount made at the opening of "Thunderbolts" and "Captain America: Brave New World" earlier this year.  "Fantastic Four" is also the first movie to break the billion-views mark on social media, where fans have been watching the trailer and the red carpet premiere across TikTok, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.  It's expected to make over 110-million dollars domestically in its first weekend.

>>NFL Taking In Billions

(Green Bay, WI)  --  Business is booming in the NFL.  The Green Bay Packers reported a league-high in 2024 national revenue sharing north of 433-million-dollars, up from 400-million.  The Packers are the only publicly owned team in the league, and must report expenses and revenues, providing a window into the rest of the league.  That means every NFL team took in the same haul.  Each of the 32 NFL teams are now splitting more than 13-billion-dollars from national media deals.

For: July 24, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street yesterday. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both closed at record highs. That came a day after President Trump announced a trade deal with Japan. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 507 points to 45-010. The S&P 500 rose by 49 points to 63-58. The Nasdaq gained 127 points to 21-020.

>>On Today's Calendar

(Undated) -- The weekly look at unemployment claims comes today. Most analysts are expecting the Labor Department to report receiving around 227-thousand first-time requests for jobless benefits last week. That would be an increase from the previous week's 221-thousand. The latest data on new home sales is also due today.

>>Tesla Misses Earnings Expectations

(Austin, TX) -- Tesla earnings and revenue missed their target in the second quarter. The electric automaker on Wednesday reported revenue of 22-point-five-billion, below the 22-point-65-billion expected. That's a 12-percent drop over last year. The company did say that a more affordable model was still planned to go into production later this year.

>>Uber To Launch New Feature For Women

(San Francisco, CA) -- Uber is launching a new feature in the U.S. that pairs women drivers and riders. The ride-share company will begin piloting the feature in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit next month, marking its latest move to address safety on the platform. The company said the rider's preference isn't guaranteed but the feature increases the chances women will be paired in the app.

>>Trump Administration Comes Out With AI Race Plan Of Action

(Washington, DC) -- The White House is releasing an action plan to win the AI race. President Trump signed an executive order, 'Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI,' in January with a goal of ushering in "a new golden age of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people." The new artificial intelligence blueprint calls for the export of U.S. AI technology abroad and a crackdown on state laws deemed too restrictive to let it flourish. The president is expected to take more actions in upcoming weeks to help tech giants power the AI industry.

>>Canada's PM Rejects U.S. Trade Deal Claims

(Huntsville, Ontario) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says, "The Government of Canada will not accept a bad deal," when speaking on trade relations with the U.S. Carney rejected the idea that the country would agree to a rushed trade deal despite a looming August 1st deadline to reach an agreement. Canadian exports face a 35-percent tariff if a deal is not reached, but according to Carney the "objective is not to reach a deal whatever it costs" rather he is seeking a deal "that will be in the best interest of Canadians." The Prime Minister said leaders from other countries "want to do more with Canada."

>>Alphabet Surpasses Second-Quarter Earnings Estimates

(Mountain View, CA) -- Google's parent company, Alphabet, is surpassing analysts' estimates with its latest earnings report. The technology conglomerate was estimated to hit 94-billion-dollars in revenue but earned 96-point-43-billion-dollars. The company also outpaced earnings per share estimates set at two-dollar-and-18-cents compared to two-dollars-and-31-cents that was reported.

>>AI Wearable Bee Snapped Up By Amazon

(San Francisco, CA) -- Amazon is buying AI wearable start-up Bee. Bee makes Fit-bit-like wearables for around 50-dollars plus a 19-dollar-per-month subscription. The product records everything it hears, unless the user manually mutes it. The idea, according to its maker, is listening to conversations to create reminders and to-do lists for the user.

>>Instagram Adds New Protections For Apps Featuring Kids

(Menlo Park, CA) -- Meta is rolling out new protections for Instagram accounts run by adults that feature children. These include accounts of adults who regularly share photos and videos of their children, along with accounts run by parents or talent managers that represent children. The new protections include strict message settings to prevent unwanted messages, and the filtering-out of offensive comments. 

For: July 23, 2022 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a mixed day of trading on Wall Street as investors weighed the latest earnings reports. The S&P 500 edged higher to notch another record close.  General Motors shares fell four percent after the automaker reported a one-billion-dollar hit from tariffs to its quarterly results.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 179 points to 44-502.  The S&P 500 rose 4 points to 63-09.  The Nasdaq lost 81 points to 20-892.

>>Trump To Speak At AI Summit

(Washington, DC)  --  One day after announcing a trade agreement with Japan, President Trump is set to deliver the keynote address at an AI summit in Washington, DC today.  The summit is titled "Winning the AI Race," and reports say the President will be unveiling a sweeping federal AI strategy.  The "AI Action Plan" will reportedly include executive actions to boost domestic energy supply and streamline permitting for data centers.  Meanwhile, as for Japan, in a post on Truth Social Trump announced a 15-percent tariff on Japan's exports to the U.S.  He added the country will also invest 550-billion-dollars into the U.S. in what he called "perhaps the largest deal ever made."  

>>OpenAI CEO: AI Could Be Used As Doctor, Weapon, Customer Service

(Washington, DC)  --  OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says artificial intelligence will eliminate entire job categories and become a destructive weapon used by nations around the world.  Speaking at a conference in Washington, DC this week, Altman said AI will make the need for human customer support obsolete.  He also said that while he likes to have a human doctor, his company's ChatGPT is better at diagnosis.  He also expressed concern over a hostile nation possibly using AI to do something like attack financial systems and enable sophisticated fraud schemes.

>>Beef Prices Soar

(Undated)  --  Beef prices are at a record high, passing six-dollars a pound for the first time since records started being kept in the 1980s.  There are a few things to blame for the surge, including drought that's made cattle feed more expensive.  That's led ranchers to send more cattle to the slaughterhouse to try and make up the difference, which in turn squeezes supply.  The number of beef cattle in the U.S. is at its lowest since 1961, according to the Department of Agriculture.  The USDA has also halted imports of cattle from Mexico over concerns about a parasitic fly.  President Trump's 50-percent tariffs on Brazil set to start next month could drive up prices even more, as the South American country is a major supplier.  

>>Hershey Announces Plans To Raise Chocolate Prices

(Hershey, PA)  --  The price of Hershey chocolate is about to go up.  The Hershey Company confirmed Tuesday that it plans to raise its prices due to the increasing cost of cocoa and other ingredients.  Cocoa is harvested mostly in west Africa, where crops have been hit hard by climate change and disease, causing prices to skyrocket.  The price change is expected to take effect in the near future. 

>>L.A. Times Going Public 

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The owner of the Los Angeles Times is announcing plans to take the newspaper public. Doctor Patrick Soon-Shiong made the announcement on Monday during an interview with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show." Soon-Shiong says this will allow the public to buy into the newspaper. He also says the move will happen during the next year, adding that he's working with organizations to set it up. Earlier this year, more than 20 percent of the L.A. Times' newsroom staff was laid off. 

For: July 22, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street saw stocks close mostly higher to start the week. Stocks rose as optimism around earnings largely offset fears over the latest trade developments. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit record highs bolstered by big tech names including Amazon and Meta Platforms which advanced more than one percent. Verizon shares jumped four percent on strong second quarter results. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 19 points to 44-323. The S&P 500 rose 8 points to 63-05. The Nasdaq gained 78 points to 20-974.

>>Fed Chair Powell Speaking Today

(Undated) -- Fed Chair Jerome Powell delivers remarks at a DC banking conference later today. Powell has come under fire repeatedly from President Trump over not lowering interest rates. Markets have been keeping a particularly close eye on the situation, reacting to rumors - when they come up - of Trump potentially being on the verge of firing Powell. The central bank is set to announce its latest decision on rates on the 30th. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he'd like to take a fine-tooth comb to the entire Federal Reserve Institution and determine "whether they have been successful."

>>xAI To Develop Kid-Friendly Grok

(Palo Alto, CA) -- Elon Musk says his artificial intelligence start-up xAI is considering a kid-friendly version of its chatbot Grok. It will be called Baby Grok. A fourth version of Grok was recently released just months after a previous update and following some antisemitic comments by the chatbot shared on X.

>>Stellantis Reveals $2.68 Billion Loss As Tariffs Take Effect

(Hoofddorp, Netherlands) -- Stellantis says it has already lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to U.S. tariffs. The automaker on Monday revealed it lost two-point-seven-billion dollars in the first half of the year with just over 349-million of that due to U.S. tariffs that have been in place since April. Stellantis owns Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep as well as European brands like Fiat and Maserati. The company said shipments to North America fell by 25-percent from April to June compared to last year. Sales were down ten-percent in that time frame.

>>Southwest Announces When Assigned Seating Begins

(Dallas, TX) -- Southwest Airlines says it will begin assigned seating on January 27th. The Dallas-based carrier announced last summer it was ending its decades-long open seating policy. The airline also revealed Monday new seating options that include extra legroom and preferred seats. Southwest will also introduce a new group-based boarding process. There will be eight boarding groups instead of the current "A" through "C" system.

>>Starbucks Announces Pumpkin Spice Latte Release Date

(Seattle, WA) -- Starbucks fans will be able to get their hands on a Pumpkin Spice Latte in just over a month. The coffee chain announced Monday that the drink will be available this year starting August 26th. That's the latest the popular fall drink has gone on sale since 2022. Other fall drinks hitting the Starbucks menu next month include the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. Meanwhile, fall flavors of Starbucks ready-to-drink products are set to hit store shelves as early as this week.

For: July 21, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a mostly lower close marked the end of the trading week on Friday.  Stocks slumped following reports that President Trump is pushing for higher tariffs on the European Union.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 142 points to 44-342.  The S&P 500 lost a fraction of a point to 62-96.  The Nasdaq rose 10 points to 20-895.

>>Alaska Airlines Resumes Flights After Ground Stop 

(Seattle, WA)  --  Some good news for travelers to start the work week.  Alaska Airlines is resuming operations after requesting a ground stop for all flights.  Alaska requested the ground stop late Sunday due to what it said was "an IT outage."  The move impacted more than 200 planes.  Horizon Air, the regional subsidiary operating Alaska Airlines flights, requested a ground stop as well.  That's now also been lifted.  The exact nature of the IT issue remains unclear.   

>>Coming Up This Week, Focus On Fed Chair   

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, all eyes will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell when he delivers remarks at a DC banking conference on Tuesday.  Powell has fallen out of favor with President Trump over not lowering interest rates.  Markets have been keeping a particularly close eye on the situation, reacting to rumors - when they come up - of Trump potentially being on the verge of firing Powell.  The central bank is set to announce its latest decision on rates on the 30th.  

>>CEO Resigns After Kiss Cam Incident

(Undated)  --  Data tech company Astronomer says its CEO has resigned after being caught on the Kiss Cam at a recent Coldplay concert in Massachusetts.  In a post on social media over the weekend, the company said "Andy Byron has tendered his resignation and the board of directors has accepted."  Astronomer said its board will start the search for Byron's replacement as "Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO."  Tens of millions of people have viewed the now-viral video of the Kiss Cam incident at Gillette Stadium.  

>>Trash Strike Continues 

(Boston, MA)  --  The strike by trash collection company Republic Services continues.  The nationwide strike against the company started in early July, and negotiations held Friday failed to reach an agreement.  Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey says the strike, which initially kicked off in the Bay State is a major nuisance and a public health concern, and is urging the company to reach a deal with its workers.  Two hearings on the matter are expected to take place today in Salem Superior Court.

>>Attacks On SharePoint Servers Reported

(Redmond, WA)  --  Microsoft is warning of active attacks against SharePoint servers used by governments and businesses around the world.  The attacks were discovered over the weekend and are using a previously-unknown vulnerability in the software.  It allows attackers to bypass two-factor authentication to get access to systems.   The FBI says it is on the case, working to mitigate the threat.  

>>Americans Holding Off On Retirement

(Des Moines, IA)  --  More Americans are delaying retirement over concerns about the economy and their own finances.  A new survey from F&G Annuities and Life found 23 percent of people over 50 are planning to hold off.  That's up from 14 percent two years ago.  Another study found that the median savings of 55-year-olds is roughly 50-thousand dollars.  There's also Social Security.  The longer a person waits to retire, the more benefits they'll receive.

>>Couples Going Into Debt For Their Pets 

(Undated)  --  A new Insurify survey says dual income couples with no kids are going into debt for their pets.  The survey found that 94-percent of these couples view their pets as family members.  With 68-percent of these pet parents saying they have made financial sacrifices to cover pet essentials.  The couples surveyed spend an average of 19-hundred a year on their pets.  Only eleven-percent of those surveyed said they don't splurge on their pets. 

For: July 18, 2025

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday.  That came as quarterly earnings reports released this week rolled in above expectations.  Meanwhile, the latest unemployment numbers came in lower than the previous week, giving the averages a boost.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 229 points to 44-484.  The S&P 500 rose by 33 points to 62-97.  The Nasdaq gained 153 points to 20-884.  

>>On The Calendar

(Undated)  --  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for word on consumer sentiment, with that report set for release at 10am Eastern.  The latest data on building permits and housing starts will also be released.  Looking ahead to next week, much of the focus will be on what Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has to say when he delivers remarks at a banking conference in DC on Tuesday.  Speculation about Powell's future led to Wall Street experiencing a bit of whiplash earlier this week.  Initial reports indicated President Trump was preparing to fire the head of the central bank, but Trump later clarified that no moves were being planned.  The President has been highly critical of Powell's refusal to cut interest rates.   

>>Zuckerberg Settles $8B Lawsuit

(Wilmington, DE)  --  Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other company executives are settling a lawsuit in an eight-billion-dollar privacy case brought by a group of shareholders.  The investors wanted Zuckerberg and others at Meta and its social media platform Facebook to repay the company for fines that had to be paid out because they allegedly allowed continual violations of Facebook users' privacy.  In one instance, the Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook five-billion-dollars in 2019 for failing to comply with a 2012 privacy agreement signed in the fallout from the Cambridge Analytical scandal.  That was when millions of users had their data collected for targeted political research and advertisements.  The settlement was reached on the second day of a trial that started this week in Delaware.

>>Canceled: 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' 

(New York, NY)  --  CBS is canceling "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."  The network says his final show will be in May.  Colbert, who's hosted the show since 2015, said he just learned the news Wednesday night.  The network says it's purely a financial decision and "not related to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."  CBS says it considers Colbert irreplaceable and will retire "The Late Show" franchise.

>>Report: President Trump Considers Executive Order On NCAA Employment Status

(Undated)  --  There may be some movement on the horizon when it comes to the employment status of college athletes.  According to ESPN, President Trump is considering an executive order that would require federal authorities to clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools.  A draft copy of the order states the employment status of college athletes should "maximize the educational benefits and opportunities" schools can provide through their athletic departments.

>>Juul Wins FDA Authorization To Continue Selling E-cigarettes

(San Francisco, CA)  --  The FDA is allowing Juul Labs to continue selling its e-cigarettes and refill cartridges. Juul has faced controversy over its early marketing practices, which critics say targeted young consumers under 21. According to an FDA spokesperson, Juul provided evidence demonstrating that its e-cigarettes met the legal standard for marketing new tobacco products in the U.S., but the authorization does not mean the products are safe or "FDA approved." Thursday's decision marks a long-awaited conclusion to a multiyear FDA review that placed the products in regulatory limbo.

>>Stablecoin Bill Passes House And Heads To President 

(Washington, DC)  --  A cryptocurrency bill is headed to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.  Lawmakers voted 308 to 122 to pass the GENIUS Act despite a tumultuous "crypto week" that saw a two-day standstill.  The legislation aims to regulate the stablecoin market and create a clear framework for banks, companies and other entities to issue the digital currencies. 

>>Homebuilders Slashing Prices At High Rate 

(Undated)  --  The nation's homebuilders are cutting prices due to weakening demand from potential buyers. According to a survey from the National Association of Home Builders, 38-percent of builders said they cut prices in July which is the highest share since the association began tracking the metric in 2022. Data from the association also found builder confidence rose to 33 in July, marking a slight improvement likely due to the recently passed budget bill, but anything below 50 is still considered negative sentiment. The latest data shows builder confidence has now been in negative territory for 15 straight months.  

>>Trash Strike Continues 

(Boston, MA)  --  Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey says the ongoing strike by trash collector Republic Services is becoming a major problem.  Hundreds of trash workers walked off the job July 1st.  Healey says enough is enough, the strike is beyond a headache, and Republic Services needs to come to the table and reach a fair deal with its workers.  The strike has already spread to several other states, including California, Ohio and Washington.  

>>Peacock Jacks Up Subscription Rates

(New York, NY)  --  Peacock is raising its subscription rates by three dollars a month.  The streamer from NBCUniversal has been a huge success thanks to its hit reality series "Love Island," and expects a lot more viewers when the NBA season begins this fall.  Starting next Wednesday, Peacock subscriptions are going up three dollars to 10-99 a month with ads, and 16-99 a month without ads.  The price hikes will make Peacock the most expensive streaming service on the market.  

For: July 17, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks finished the day higher on Wall Street Wednesday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 231 points to 44-254.  The S&P 500 rose by 19 points to 62-63.  The Nasdaq rose by 52 points to 20-730.

>>Retail Sales, Weekly Jobless Claims Due Today  

(Undated)  --  Coming up today, we'll get a look at retail sales data, along with first-time requests for unemployment benefits.  A bit of an increase from 227-thousand initial jobless claims to 234-thousand is expected.  Tomorrow brings word on housing starts, building permits and consumer sentiment. 

>>Trump Keeps Up Pressure On Powell, Says Firing Not Being Planned 

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says he's "not planning" to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.  In the Oval Office yesterday, Trump was asked about reports he spoke with Republicans about removing the Fed chair.  The President confirmed the reports, but said it's "highly unlikely" he'll fire Powell.  Trump has been highly critical of Powell's refusal to cut interest rates, adding that he "did it for Biden," but not for him.

>>Northern California Mayor Threatens To Seek Damages Over Garbage Strike 

(Fairfield, CA)  --  A strike by sanitation workers at Republic Services has a Northern California leader declaring breach of contract.  Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy sent a letter to the company threating to seek damages if trash pickup doesn't resume.  Moy says garbage piling up is also becoming a public health issue.  The strike started in Massachusetts when hundreds of workers in greater Boston and the North Shore walked off the job July 1st.  California, Washington state and Ohio are now also seeing garbage collectors hit the picket lines in solidarity.  Contract talks are continuing this week.  Even if an agreement is reached soon, trash collection might not resume the same day and could even resume with "modified service." 

>>Funding Pulled For High Speed Rail In California 

(Sacramento, CA)  --  The California High Speed Rail Project just lost a pile of money. The Trump Administration announced Wednesday it terminated around four-billion dollars in federal funding for the troubled rail project. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is also directing the Federal Railroad Administration to review other grants related to the project. In a statement, Duffy went on to say that federal dollars doesn't mean you have a blank check, the money comes with a promise to deliver, and California has let the overdue and over budget project go on far too long.  Governor Newsom says pulling the money is illegal. 

>>Chinese Nationals Buying Up U.S. Real Estate

(Undated)  --  Real estate investors from China are the largest group of foreign buyers of residential property in the United States.  According to the National Association of Realtors, Chinese clients purchased nearly 14 billion dollars worth of homes in the US between April 2024 and March of this year.  That's an 83-percent jump from the previous year.  California tops the list of states with 36 percent of all residential transactions completed by Chinese nationals. That's more than any other foreign group. 

For: July 16, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mostly lower yesterday on Wall Street as investors weighed earnings and inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 400 points as a slight rise in the annual inflation rate in June renewed fears about the impact of future tariffs. Chip stocks helped power the tech-heavy Nasdaq to a new record. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 436 points to 44-023. The S&P 500 lost 24 points to 62-43. The Nasdaq gained 37 points to 20-677.

>>Trump Speaks At AI Summit

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- President Trump says the U.S. is destined to be the world's number one superpower in artificial intelligence. He spoke at the Inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit on Tuesday. The event brought together some of the top leaders and investors in energy and AI. Trump announced 90-billion dollars worth of private investments in AI and energy in Pennsylvania. He said the state is retaking its place at the forefront of energy.

>>A Dozen House Republicans Block Voting On Crypto Bills

(Washington, DC) -- A dozen House Republicans voted to block a procedural vote Tuesday over concerns about cryptocurrency legislation. The move keeps the House from debating and eventually voting on three separate crypto bills and legislation to fund the Defense Department through next year. House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the vote that the hardliners want to see the crypto bills rolled up into one piece of legislation. Those include the CLARITY Act, which looks to establish a regulatory framework for crypto asset markets, the GENIUS Act, which focuses on stablecoins, a digital currency with value tied to a real-world asset and the CBDC Surveillance State Act. That one would keep the Federal Reserve from coming out with its own digital currency in an effort to keep privacy and individual control over transactions.

>>Survey: Financial Anxiety On The Rise

(Milwaukee, WI) -- More Americans say they are anxious about money. A new survey from Northwestern Mutual found that nearly 70 percent of respondents were feeling anxiety and depression over financial uncertainty. That's an eight-percent increase from 2023. Financial experts say those worried about money should consider opening an emergency savings account that would cover up to six months worth of expenses.

>>Trash Strike Continues

(Boston, MA) -- The strike by sanitation workers at Republic Services is continuing to impact not only Massachusetts communities. The 450 workers in greater Boston and the North Shore walked off the job July 1st. Meanwhile, local leaders across California are growing concerned about public health issues as trash piles up with garbage collectors having walked off the job as they stand in solidarity with striking workers on the East Coast. Union leaders say contract talks are continuing this week. Even if an agreement is reached soon, trash collection might not resume for a few more days.

For: July 15, 2025 

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Monday to start the new week.  Stocks edged higher as investors largely shrugged off President Trump's latest tariff threats and looked ahead to second quarter earnings results.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 88 points to 44-459.  The S&P 500 added 8 points to 62-68.  The Nasdaq rose 54 points to 20-640.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for the latest consumer price index report - a key gauge of inflation in America. 

>>Trump To Attend Energy and Innovation Summit In Pittsburgh

(Pittsburgh, PA)  --  President Trump will be in Pittsburgh today to take part in the first Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit.  The event at Carnegie Mellon University is billed as a gathering of top leaders in energy and AI -- alongside the biggest global investors -- for the purposes of planning how to advance the President's energy agenda.  "A number of Trump cabinet and government officials are also expected to attend.  Pennsylvania's Republican Senator Dave McCormick is hosting the event.  They are reportedly expected to announce 70-billion-dollars in AI and energy investments for the state.

>>Port Of L.A. Seeing Record Traffic

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The Port of Los Angeles is seeing record shipping traffic as companies are hurrying to beat President Trump's tariff deadlines.  Tariffs on Chinese goods set to take effect next month are of particular concern to shippers.  Nearly 900-thousand containers were processed at the nation's largest port in June.  

>>Trash Strike  

(Undated)  --  Trash has been piling up in California as more sanitation workers walk off the job.  Garbage collectors with Republic Services have stopped showing up as they stand in solidarity with striking workers on the East Coast.  Sanitation workers have walked off the job in cities across several counties including Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego.  The Bay Area is also being impacted.  Union leaders say contract talks are continuing this week. 

>>Musk Doesn't Support Tesla, xAI Merger

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he does not support merging his electric vehicle company with his artificial intelligence firm, xAI.  Musk expressed his opinion in response to a user on 'X' who asked Tesla investors whether they backed a merger, and the tech billionaire wrote "No."  While Musk appears resistant to the idea of a merger, he does seem to support having Tesla invest in xAI after writing on X, "If it was up to me, Tesla would have invested in xAI long ago."  Meanwhile, the Defense Department will begin using Musk's generative AI tool, Grok.  According to an announcement from the department, it's granting contract awards of up to 200-million-dollars to AI companies including xAI as well as Anthropic, Google and OpenAI.  

>>USPS Raises Stamp Price

(Washington, DC)  --  It now costs a little bit more to mail a letter using the USPS.  The price of a First Class Mail Forever stamp has jumped from 73-cents to 78-cents.  The price increase is part of the USPS's ten-year financial stability plan.  It also plans to raise prices in January and July of 2026 and 2027. 
 

For: July 14, 2025 

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower Friday amid ongoing trade worries and ahead of second quarter earnings season.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 279 points to 44-371.  The S&P 500 slipped 20 points to 62-59.  The Nasdaq lost 45 points to 20-585.

>>Noteworthy Economic Reports On The Calendar 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, things start rolling in on Tuesday, with the consumer price index - a key inflation gauge.  Big banks JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup will also report second-quarter earnings before tomorrow's opening bell.  The producer price index, another indicator of inflation, comes out Wednesday.  Retail sales, along with the weekly look at first-time unemployment claims, are due Thursday.  The week winds down Friday with the latest data on housing starts, building permits and consumer sentiment. 

>>Trump To Impose 30% Tariffs On EU And Mexico  

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is ramping up tariffs on two of America's top trading partners.  Trump announced his administration will place a 30 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting August 1st.  In posts on Truth Social on Saturday, he threatened even higher tariffs if the EU or Mexico try to retaliate.  The move follows last week's announcement the President plans to impose a 35-percent tariff on Canada for what he called its failure to cooperate on key issues. 

>>Crypto Bills Before House This Week

(Washington, DC)  --  House lawmakers are set to vote this week on a number of cryptocurrency bills.  Those include the CLARITY Act, which looks to establish a regulatory framework for crypto asset markets, the GENIUS Act, which focuses on stablecoins, a digital currency with value tied to a real-world asset and the CBDC Surveillance State Act.  That one would keep the Federal Reserve from coming out with its own digital currency in an effort to keep privacy and individual control over transactions.  

>>New YouTube Monetization Policy To Be Announced Tomorrow 

(San Bruno, CA)  --  YouTube is reworking its policy on what type of content can earn creators money and what cannot.  The goal is to crackdown on inauthentic content including mass-produced and repetitive videos created with artificial intelligence.  A page on YouTube's website says creators can only upload original material.  The updated policy is expected to be released on Tuesday and will detail what inauthentic content is. 

>>U.S. Consumers Spent Over $24 Billion During Amazon Prime Day Event 

(Seattle, WA)  --  U.S. consumers spent just over 24-billion-dollars during Amazon's Prime Day event.  That figure from Adobe Analytics is about nine-point-six-billion more than last year.  Prime Day started out as a one-day sales extravaganza, but went on this year for four days - from Tuesday through Friday.  Amazon hailed it as the "biggest Prime Day shopping event yet."   

>>Study Identifies Most 'Financially Responsible' Cities 

(Undated)  --  A new study reveals the most "financially responsible" cities in the U.S.  The study by LendingTree looked at the 100 largest metro areas in the nation.  The study factored debt-to-income ratios, credit inquiries, maxed-out credit cards, spending on housing costs and low credit utilization rates.  Des Moines, Iowa and San Jose, California were tied as the most financially responsible.  Des Moines was found to have the lowest spending on housing with 19-percent of households shelling out about a third of their income on housing costs.  

For: July 11, 2025 

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Thursday.  The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both wrapped things up at record highs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 192 points to 44-650.  The S&P 500 gained 17 points to 62-80.  The Nasdaq gained 19 points to 20-630.

>>Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs On Canada

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is informing Canada he plans to impose a 35-percent tariff on the country in August.  In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said that starting August 1st, a 35-percent tariff on  Canadian products sent into the U.S. will be imposed.  Trump said it comes as part of a response to "Canada's retaliation" and ongoing trade barriers.  In the letter, he went on to accuse Canada of failing to cooperate on key issues, including the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

>>Record U.S. Housing Shortage 

(Undated)  --  The U.S. housing shortage is hitting a new record at four-point-seven-million homes.  A new Zillow analysis examined the latest census data and found the nation's housing deficit grew by 159-thousand homes in 2023 despite a homebuilding surge over the past five years.  The analysis found the housing shortage is driving an affordability crisis that is pushing millions of families to double up and live with nonrelatives.  According to Zillow, New York City had the biggest housing deficit of the nation's 50 largest metros, with a shortage of more than 400-thousand units.

>>Tesla Expanding Robotaxi Service Area

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla is expanding its robotaxi service area in Austin, Texas soon.  CEO Elon Musk shared news of the expansion on 'X,' and noted that the company is awaiting regulatory approval for a launch in the Bay Area "probably in a month or two."  In addition to the expansion, Tesla will integrate xAI's Grok into vehicles as it rolled out a new iteration of the artificial intelligence chatbot.  Musk's xAI officially launched the Grok 4 update overnight as the company faced backlash for recent antisemitic comments written by the chatbot.      

>>Divide Over AI Implications

(Undated)  --  Americans are divided on the implications of artificial intelligence.  According to a recent Gallup poll, 49-percent of U.S. adults surveyed said AI is "just the latest in a long line of technological advancements that humans will learn to use to improve their lives and society."  But the polling also found that the other 49-percent of respondents said AI is "very different from the technological advancements that came before, and threatens to harm humans and society."  

>>Ford Recall Over Faulty Fuel Pump

(Dearborn, MI)  --  Hundreds of thousands of Ford and Lincoln vehicles are being recalled.  According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notice, more than 850-thousand vehicles are being recalled because the low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can lead to an engine stall while driving and increase the risk of a crash.  Affected models include the Ford Bronco, Expedition, Mustang, and F-150 as well as Lincoln Aviators and Navigators.  The company said it does not have a fix for the issue yet, but it plans to start notifying owners about the safety risk by mail next week. 

>>North Carolina 2025 Top State For Business

(Undated)  --  North Carolina is topping the list of best American states for business in 2025.  According to CNBC's annual rankings, the Tar Heel state secured its spot with a solid economy, a world-class workforce, and a wealth of corporate hospitality.  North Carolina captured its third Top States crown in the last four years after missing the top spot by just three points last year.  Massachusetts claimed 2025's Most Improved State while Alaska finished last.

>>Ferrero To Buy WK Kellogg For $3.1 Billion

(Battle Creek, MI)  --  Chocolate maker Ferrero is agreeing to buy cereal company WK Kellogg.  The deal is valued at three-point-one-billion-dollars.  Shares of Kellogg, the maker of popular cereals like Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes, rose sharply after the deal was announced.  It's expected to be completed later this year after approval from shareholders and regulators.  

For: July 10, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday.  The Nasdaq notched a record close, while the S&P 500 was boosted by tech stocks like Nvidia.  The chip-maker officially became the first company to reach a market cap of four-trillion-dollars in what many analysts are calling a "huge historical moment for the U.S. tech sector."  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 217 points to 44-458.  The S&P 500 rose by 37 points to 62-63.  The Nasdaq gained 192 points to 20-611.

>>Linda Yaccarino Stepping Down As 'X' CEO

(Bastrop, TX)  --  Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO of X. Yaccarino announced her exit in a post on the platform where she expressed that she is "immensely grateful" to Musk for "entrusting" her to lead the company for two years. Her exit comes months after Musk sold X to xAI which is his artificial intelligence company. The move formally combined the two entities and raised questions about Yaccarino's role in the new company.

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Report Out Today 

(Undated)  --  The latest reading on first-time requests for unemployment benefits will be out today.  The Labor Department is expected to report receiving around 235-thousand new filings last week, relatively unchanged from the previous week's 233-thousand.  

>>Fed Policymakers Split Over On How Many Rate Cuts Are Ahead

(Washington, DC)  --  Federal Reserve policymakers are split on how aggressive rate cuts should be.  Minutes from last month's meeting released Wednesday said, "Most participants assessed that some reduction in the target range for the federal funds rate this year would likely be appropriate."  The Central Bank has held rates in the four-and-a-quarter-to-four-and-a-half-percent range since December.  A "couple" officials felt rate cuts could happen as soon as this month.  The Fed's next meeting is set for July 29th and 30th.

>>Philly Worker Strike Ends After Lengthy Negotiations

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  City workers in Philadelphia are back at work today after a deal was reached between the city and the AFSCME District Council 33.  Thousands of employees went on strike more than a week ago.  It had a major impact on 9-1-1 dispatch, water services and trash removal.  The deal includes three-percent raises each year for three years. 

>>Trump Says Copper Tariff To Begin August 1st

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says the 50-percent tariff on copper imports will begin August 1st.  He had previously announced the tariff -- but posted the start date on Truth Social Wednesday night.  Trump said the timing was based on a "robust national security assessment."  Copper is the third-most used metal in the U.S., after iron and aluminum.  The tariff aims to boost domestic production, as the U.S. currently imports nearly half the copper it uses.

For: July 9, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after a mixed day of trading on Wall Street. This, after President Trump said there will be no extensions granted for his August 1st tariff deadline. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 165 points to 44-240. The S&P 500 fell by four points to 62-25. The Nasdaq rose by five points to 20-418.

>>What To Watch For Today

(Undated) -- Minutes from the Federal Reserve's May FOMC meeting are set to be released today. They'll offer greater detail on the central bank's thinking on interest rate cuts moving forward. The last rate announcement left things unchanged, despite continued pressure from President Trump to lower rates. Also happening today, Samsung is holding its "Galaxy Unpacked" event, with the next generation of foldable phones in the spotlight.

>>Court Tosses "Click To Cancel" Rule

(St. Louis, MO) -- An appeals court is throwing out a rule that was supposed to make it easier to cancel things like subscriptions to streaming services. The Federal Trade Commission's so-called "click-to-cancel" rule was announced in 2024 with the goal of making it just as easy to cancel something as it was to enroll. It was set to take effect in a few days, but the court Tuesday said the agency hadn't done a proper regulatory analysis of the rule. That's required when the impact on the economy is more than 100-million-dollars. The FTC argued its initial estimate of the economic impact was less than the 100-million-dollar threshold.

>>Report: Trump's Tariffs Cut Into Prime Day Discounts

(Undated) -- Some Amazon sellers are scaling back Prime Day discounts, blaming tight margins and rising costs from President Trump's tariffs. Bloomberg reports third-party sellers, who account for about 60-percent of Amazon's inventory, are offering fewer discounts. Sellers told Bloomberg they see this Prime Day as a key test of consumer demand heading into the fall. Amazon's Prime Day event, which actually runs four days this year, ends Friday.

>>Waymo Offering Teen Accounts

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Waymo is starting to offer teen accounts for its driverless ride service. The company announced Tuesday parents can invite their teens from ages 14 to 17 into the program. The new service is being offered first in Phoenix. Teens will be able to share their trip status with parents and "specially-trained Rider Support agents" will be offered during the rides. The new program comes as the Alphabet-owned company looks to increase ridership and expand its service across the country.

>>Menu Changes Coming To McDonald's This Week

(Chicago, IL) -- McDonald's is making some menu changes this week. The fast-food chain started selling the Spicy McMuffin today. The breakfast sandwich features a spicy pepper sauce. Meanwhile, the Snack Wrap is expected on the menu on Thursday. It will come in two flavors, Spicy and Ranch.

For: July 8, 2025 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower Monday on tariff worries.  A sell off marked the start the week after President Trump posted letters to Japan and six other countries listing steep new tariffs on imports starting August 1st.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 422 points to 44-406.  The S&P 500 lost 49 points to 62-29.  The Nasdaq dropped 188 points to 20-412.

>>WH: Trump Sending Out Trade Letters

(Washington, DC)  --  The White House confirms President Trump is sending out "take it or leave it" tariff offers to several countries this week.  On Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt showed reporters the letters Trump sent to Japan and Korea.  The letters warn the high tariffs imposed by the U.S. are being delayed from July 9th to August 1st unless new trade deals are struck.  

>>Tesla Loses $68B In Value As Musk Launches Political Party

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla's stock value is taking a hit after Elon Musk announced he's forming a new political party.  The stock fell nearly seven percent Monday, wiping out more than 68-billion dollars in market value.  At last check it was still down in pre-market trading.  

>>Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Begin Tues

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon Prime Day starts today.  The online retail giant is offering Amazon Prime members thousands of deals from July 8th-to-the-11th on things like laptops, tablets, headphones, and everyday essentials.  The annual event brings in billions of dollars in global sales and retailers see an immediate boost in e-commerce activity.  Consumer experts warn of "price anchoring"  --  where some sellers jack up prices before Prime Day, then offer what appears to be a discount that is actually the product's normal price or even higher. 

>>Philly Workers Strike Enters Eighth Day

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  Thousands of city workers are entering their eighth day of a strike.  Union leaders are expected to meet with the city today but no progress has been made on a new contract.  As a result, many city services have been impacted like trash removal and water services.  Trash has been piling up throughout the city since the start of the strike.

>>Jack Dorsey Launches Bluetooth Peer-To-Peer Messaging App 

(Undated) -- Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is launching a new peer-to-peer messaging app that works entirely over Bluetooth. No internet, central servers, phone numbers or emails will be required, and the app enables ephemeral, encrypted communication between nearby devices. According to Dorsey, a beta version of Bitchat is live on TestFlight.   Future updates are expected to add WiFi Direct for faster, longer-range communication.

For: July 7, 2025

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after what was a holiday-shortened trading week on Wall Street.  Stocks closed higher on Thursday amid a surge that came after a better-than-expected June jobs report.  The S&P 500 set another new record, gaining eight-tenths-of-a-percent.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 344 points to 44-828.  The S&P 500 jumped 51 points to 62-79.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped 207 points to 20-601.

>>Trump Sending Tariff Letters 

(Washington, DC)  --   President Trump says he has signed letters to 12 countries going out today with "take it or leave it" tariff offers.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says  tariffs that were paused for negotiating will take effect on August 1st for those countries.  Bessent said Trump's letters say that if you don't move things along, then on August 1st, "you will boomerang back" to a higher tariff level.  Bessent added he expects to see "several big announcements over the next couple of days" about trade deals.

>>TikTok Developing New Separate U.S. Version Before Divestment Deadline

(Culver City, CA)  --  TikTok is reportedly developing a new version of its social media platform for its U.S. customers.  Its Chinese parent company ByteDance must divest its U.S. operations to non-Chinese owners in order to comply with a new federal law by September or risk being banned.  U.S. lawmakers support the move with fears of the Chinese government tapping into the personal records of its 170-million American users.  According to the tech publication The Information, the new TikTok version will launch in September. 

>>EV Tax Credits Ending 

(Washington, DC)  --  Tax credits for electric vehicles will expire September 30th under the sweeping spending bill passed last week by Congress.  That includes the 75-hundred dollar credit for buying or leasing a new electric vehicle and the four-thousand-dollar credit for used EVs.  A Harvard University analysis estimated ending the credits will save the government about 170-billion-dollars over a decade while reducing electric vehicle market penetration by six percent.

>>Nissan Issues Massive Recall Over Engine Failure Threat

(Franklin, TN)  --  Nissan is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles in the U.S. over a faulty part that could cause engine failure. According to a NHTSA recall report, engine bearings within certain models under its brand and the Infiniti brand might have a "manufacturing defect" that could "cause engine damage and potentially lead to engine failure." The company says owners may encounter an "abnormal noise" from the engine compartment, rough running, malfunction indicator lights or instrument cluster warning messages if their vehicle is experiencing problems with its bearings. According to Nissan, "a remedy is available," and affected vehicle owners will receive a notification letter with instructions to bring their vehicle in for inspection and repair if necessary.

>>Nearly 50K Electric Chainsaws, Pole Saw Recalled 

(Undated)   --  Nearly 50-thousand electric chainsaws and pole saws are being recalled due to "laceration hazards."  The recall was issued Thursday by Positec Tool Corporation.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the main switch on the corded chainsaws and pole saws can fail and allow the saw to continue to run even after the switch is released.  The recall covers Hyper Tough nine Amp Electric Corded 14-inch Chainsaws, Worx eight amp 14-inch Electric Chainsaws, Worx eight amp Electric Pole Saws and Portland nine Amp 14-inch Chainsaws.   

For: July 3, 2025 

>>Markets Close Early Today 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a mixed day on Wall Street.  The S&P 500 and the tech heavy Nasdaq both closed at record highs.  It comes after President Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam.  Meanwhile, the latest private payrolls report from ADP showed an unexpected decrease last month.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by ten points to 44-484.  The S&P 500 rose by 29 points to 62-27.  The Nasdaq gained 190 points to 20-393.  The markets will close early today at 1 pm Eastern and will remain dark tomorrow in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

>>Better-Than-Expected 147,000 New Jobs Added In June

(Washington, DC)  --  The monthly employment report is out and it beat expectations with the number of new jobs created in June.  The Labor Department reports non-farm payrolls increased by 147-thousand last month.  Most analysts were expecting to see today's number come in somewhere between 110 and 115-thousand.  The 147-thousand is also better than the 139-thousand new jobs added the month prior.  The unemployment rate had been expected to tick up just a bit to four-point-three percent, instead it did the opposite, falling - but only slightly - to four-point-one percent.

>>Tesla Vehicle Delivery Decline

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla is reporting a decline in vehicle deliveries.  According to the electric vehicle maker, deliveries declined by 14-percent in the second quarter, and it marked the second straight quarterly drop.  It comes as Tesla faces an onslaught of competition, especially from Chinese EV makers that sell newer and more affordable models as well as political backlash against CEO Elon Musk.  Despite the reported decline in deliveries, Tesla stock rose by about four-percent on Wednesday. 

>>FHFA Administrator Calls For Congress To Investigate Powell

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Housing Finance Agency administrator is urging Congress to investigate Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Bill Pulte, who oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has accused Powell of lying to lawmakers during testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last week. Pulte argues that Powell's statements during the hearing were enough to qualify as adequate cause to fire him. The FHFA Administrator has spent weeks following President Trump's lead and attempting to pressure Powell into resigning over his handling of interest rates.  

>>Del Monte Foods Files For Bankruptcy

(Walnut Creek, CA)  --  Del Monte Foods is filing for bankruptcy.  According to the canned food giant, the company began voluntary Chapter Eleven proceedings and entered into a restructuring support agreement with a group of its lenders.  The company's CEO said "after a thorough evaluation of all available options, we determined a court-supervised sale process is the most effective way to accelerate our turnaround and create a stronger and enduring Del Monte Foods."  Founded in 1886, Del Monte Foods said it intends to remain open and continue operations throughout the bankruptcy.  

>>More Microsoft Layoffs Announced 

(Redmond, WA)  --  Microsoft is laying off thousands of employees in its latest round of cuts.  The move is expected to impact less than four-percent of its global workforce across different teams.  The software company has held several rounds of layoffs already this year, including in May when it announced layoffs of around six-thousand workers.  Microsoft reportedly is looking to reduce the layers of managers that stand between individual contributors and top executives. 

>>Ford Recalling Vehicles Over Rearview Camera Issue

(Dearborn, MI)  --  Ford is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles.  According to the automaker, the recall impacts more than 200-thousand vehicles and it was issued due to a software defect that can cause the rearview cameras to fail.  Vehicle models including Ford's F-150, Bronco and Mustang as well as Lincoln Aviators, Navigators and Continentals are under the recall.  Dealerships are expected to update the camera software free of charge, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by July 28th. 

For: July 2, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed yesterday to kick off the second half of 2025. Tech shares tumbled as investors bought healthcare stocks after the Senate narrowly passed President Trump's massive tax and spending bill. The Dow rallied while the Nasdaq slipped from its record high to start the new quarter. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 400 points to 44-494. The S&P 500 lost nearly 7 points to 61-98. The Nasdaq fell 166 points to 20-202. Investors today will be keeping an eye our for Tesla's reporting of second quarter deliveries. Wall Street analysts are expecting the electric vehicle maker led by Elon Musk made around 387-thousand in that time frame - down 13-percent from a year ago.

>>Powell Says Tariffs Delayed Interest Rate Cuts

(Sintra, Portugal) -- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says President Trump's tariffs have held up the central bank from cutting interest rates. The comments came during Powell's remarks at the European Central Bank's Forum on Central Banking held in Portugal. Powell agreed when asked if Trump's tariffs delayed the Fed's plans, and he also said he's expecting higher inflation over the summer. However, the chairman did note that the Fed expects to lower rates later this year.

>>Job Openings Jump Unexpectedly In May

(Washington, DC) -- The number of job openings unexpectedly jumped in May. The Labor Department says seven-point-eight million jobs were available which is up from seven-point-four million in April. Economists had expected the number of available jobs to dip slightly after April's bounce. According to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report, restaurants and hotels led the way in job postings followed by the finance and insurance industry. Meanwhile, the number of federal job openings fell in May.

>>Instagram Ups Its Spotify Game

(Menlo Park, CA) -- Instagram is adding sound to its sharing of music from Spotify. Until now, if an Instagram user wanted to share music from Spotify to Stories, it could only be done through a link. This causes curious music lovers to leave Instagram to listen. Now, Instagram is adding sound to the Spotify music share to Stories. Instagram says this could position the app as a hub for music discovery.

>>Trump New Fragrances Business Venture

(Sheridan, WY) -- President Trump is venturing into the fragrance industry with a new business. The president has launched a collectible line of fragrances for men and woman with prices starting at 199-dollars. Trump's 249-dollar, limited-edition, three-point-three-ounce "Victory 47" fragrance is paying homage to his presidential victories and will come to consumers in a golden statue. The first shipments of "Victory 47" are slated to go out in early December.