For: November 26, 2025  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday for a third straight winning session.  Stocks rose with Alphabet scoring a new record high after reports Meta Platforms was considering buying billions of dollars of the Google parent's AI chips.  Investor optimism of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December also boosted markets.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones gained 664 points to 47-112.  The S&P 500 rose 60 points to 67-65.  The Nasdaq climbed 153 points to 23-025.  The stock market will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving Day and closes early at 1 p.m. on Friday. 

>>Wholesale Prices Rise Slightly In September

(Washington, DC)  --  Inflation edged higher in September.  According to government figures, the producer price index -- which measures wholesale prices --  increased three-tenths percent.  Higher prices for gas, food and cars accounted for much of the rise.  The PPI is the last piece of inflation data the Federal Reserve will consider before its December meeting on interest rates.  The report was delayed more than a month by the longest government shutdown in history. 

>>Consumer Confidence Drops In November

(New York, NY)  --  Consumer confidence is hitting its lowest level since April.  The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index slumped nearly eight-points in November on growing worries about jobs and the economy.  The board's chief economist said consumers were notably more pessimistic about business conditions in the near future.  Purchasing plans for big ticket items including homes also edged down in November.

>>HP To Cut Up To 6K Jobs, Expand Use Of AI

(Palo Alto, CA)  --  HP says it's going to cut between four-thousand and six-thousand jobs by 2028 as it increases the use of artificial intelligence.  CEO Enrique Lores said Tuesday he expects the move to create a billion-dollars in savings over three years.  The tech company is also bracing for higher production costs as the price of computer chips surges, driven by demand from data centers.

>>Justice Department Investigating SeaWorld For Disability Discrimination

(Washington, DC)  --  SeaWorld Orlando is accused of discriminating against the disabled.  The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that it's investigating United Parks and Resorts for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.  United Parks and Resorts owns SeaWorld, Aquatica Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, which are all under investigation.  The DOJ says it received complaints that the parks are banning rolling walkers known as rollators.  A DOJ official says it's committed to upholding federal civil rights laws so no guest is ever denied access or charged more because of a disability.   

>>FAA Probe Underway After Amazon Drone Snaps TX Internet Cable

(Waco, TX)  --  The FAA is investigating Amazon after one of its delivery drones snapped an internet cable in Central Texas.  The incident reportedly happened last week when an Amazon drone was dropping off a package in Waco, and one of its propellers got tangled up in a cable line.  Video of the incident shows the cable being snapped and the drone making a soft landing in the customer's yard.  Amazon says there were no injuries or widespread internet outages, and that they've paid for the cable line's repair.  The incident follows a federal probe last month of two drones that crashed in Arizona when they collided with a construction crane.

For: November 25, 2025 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday to kick-off the Thanksgiving holiday week.  AI stocks surged with Alphabet, Broadcom and AMD all boosting the market with gains of five percent or more.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones gained 203 points to 46-448.  The S&P 500 rose 102 points to 67-05.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 599 points to 22-872.

>>Trump Signs Off On AI "Genesis Mission"

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is launching a new government effort to boost U.S. research into artificial intelligence.  Trump on Monday signed off on what's called the Genesis Mission, a plan to expand resources to fuel scientific discovery, secure energy dominance and enhance workplace productivity.  The order compared the Genesis Mission to the Manhattan Project, which developed America's first nuclear weapons.  

>>Amazon Investment In Government's AI Infrastructure

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is announcing plans to invest as much as 50-billion-dollars on AI infrastructure to support U.S. government agencies.  The investment will allow agencies access to Amazon Web Services' AI tools, Anthropic's Claude family of models and Nvidia chips as well as Amazon's custom Trainium AI chips. The project is set to break ground in 2026 and its expected to add one-point-three gigawatts of capacity across new data centers.  The move follows similar announcements from Anthropic and Meta to expand AI data centers in the U.S.

>>Tyson Foods To Close Beef Processing Plant

(Lexington, NE)  --  Tyson Foods is closing one of the largest beef processing plants in the country.  The company announced that will close a plant in Nebraska and lay off more than 32-hundred people.  The company says the move comes as U.S. beef supplies shrink, hitting their lowest level since the 1950s.  Demand has remained steady, however, driving prices to new highs.  Tyson is expecting an operating loss of between 400-million and 600-million dollars this year.

>>USPS Set To Increase Shipping Rates

(Washington, DC)  --  The United States Postal Service is announcing plans to raise its shipping prices in the new year.  USPS filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission for the adjustment and now customers can expect a six-point-six-percent increase for Priority Mail, five-point-one-percent for Priority Mail Express, seven-point-eight-percent for USPS Ground Advantage and six-percent for Parcel Select. The adjustments have been approved by the board of governors and will take effect on January 18th.  USPS said shipping service prices are set by market conditions, unlike mailing service prices, which are determined by the consumer price index.

>>Heinz Launches Homestyle Turkey Gravy In A Squeeze Bottle

(Pittsburgh, PA)  --  Just in time for Thanksgiving Heinz is out with turkey gravy in a squeeze bottle.  The company says the launch was inspired by Friends' famous "Moist Maker" sandwich.  The new squeezable gravy is made for Thanksgiving leftovers and comes in a kit that can be ordered online.  The Heinz Leftover Gravy Kit includes a squeezable bottle of its classic turkey gravy and a recipe card for preparing what's billed as the ultimate Thanksgiving leftover sandwich.  Details on the limited-edition kit are available at Walmart-dot-com. 

For: November 24, 2025  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning, ushering in what will be a holiday-shortened trading week.  Wall Street closed out the week with stocks higher on Friday although the three major averages chalked up weekly losses of one percent or more.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones gained 493 points to 46-245.  The S&P 500 rose 64 points to 66-02.  The Nasdaq climbed 195 points to 22-273.

>>Noteworthy Economic Reports Being Served Up This Thanksgiving Week

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, some noteworthy economic reports start rolling in tomorrow.  That's when we'll get a government-shutdown delayed retail sales report, along with the producer price index - a favorite of the Fed when it comes to gauging inflation.  Tuesday also brings the latest data on pending home sales, consumer confidence and the S&P Case-Shiller home price index.  Weekly jobless claims are due Wednesday.

>>Scott Bessent Brushes Aside Recession Concerns 

(Washington, DC)  --  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he's confident the U.S. won't enter a recession in 2026.  However, during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" he did however acknowledge that certain sectors such as housing have felt pressure.  Consumers have felt a little better about the economy since the government shutdown ended.  The University of Michigan's final reading for November rose slightly from its mid-month low.  However, survey officials say consumers remain frustrated about higher prices and weakening incomes.

>>Journalists Go Back To Work At Post-Gazette As Strike Finally Ends 

(Pittsburgh, PA)  --  A lengthy labor strike is coming to an end as journalists go back to work today at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Last week, local Newspaper Guild members voted to end the three-year work stoppage after a court ruled in favor of their demands.  The strike began in 2022 over claims of unfair labor practices, health care issues and leadership at the Post-Gazette taking away the union's contract.

>>Grassroots Groups Call For Black Friday Boycott

(Washington, DC)  --  Several grassroots organizations are calling for a nationwide economic boycott on Black Friday.  The National Retail Federation says this year's holiday sales are expected to pass one-trillion dollars for the first time.  Now a coalition of groups is urging consumers to stop all spending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to protest economic inequality in the U.S.  The groups including Blackout the System and the Money Out of Politics Movement are also calling on shoppers to cancel digital subscriptions during the boycott, which runs from November 25th to December 2nd.  Small Business Saturday is exempt from the boycott.

>>Many Retailers Closed For Thanksgiving & Reopen On Black Friday 

(Undated)  --  Most major retailers will be closed for Thanksgiving day this year.  The stores closed for the holiday include most, but not all Ace Hardware stores.  Aldi will close its stores for Thanksgiving along with Best Buy, but the tech retailers Black Friday hours can be found online.  Costco's warehouse stores will be closed for the holiday and its Black Friday hours are available online.  Dick's Sporting Goods will be closed on Thanksgiving, but will open at 6 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.  Other stores opening bright and early on Friday include JCPenney and Kohl's which will both open at 5 a.m. 

>>Holiday Scams An Annual Concern

(Undated)  --  'Tis the season to look out for holiday scammers.  With scammers becoming ever more sophisticated in their efforts to separate people from their money, it can be difficult to know who and what to trust.  A top one is fake lookalike digital storefronts, often using URLs that look similar to the real thing.  Then there's the flood of emails, promising deals from legitimate brands but really just trying to get your credit card info.  And with AI making it harder to separate fiction from reality, be on the look out for bogus celebrity endorsements that generate traffic to fake websites.  

>>Pharmaceutical Companies Lay Off Hundreds   (Rahway, NJ)  --  Two pharmaceutical companies are announcing a new round of layoffs.  Beginning early next year, Merck expects to cut a little more than 200 positions at its headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey.  The company plans to cut six-thousand positions by the end of 2027 as it seeks to slash some three-billion dollars from its budget.  Merck has made some major acquisitions recently, including a ten-billion dollar purchase involving a promising COPD drug.  Meantime, Bristol Myers Squibb has announced it plans to eliminate more than 100 positions, though it did not say where the cuts would be made.     

>>Kia & Hyundai Recall Over 335K Vehicles 

(Undated)  --  Kia and Hyundai are recalling thousands of vehicles in the U.S. over an issues that could cause fuel tanks to melt.  The recalls affect over 250-thousand Kia K5 sedans from model years 2021 through 2024 and over 85-thousand Hyundai Sonata vehicles from model years 2020 to 2023, all equipped with one-point-six-liter turbocharged engines.  

For: November 19, 2025

>>Stocks Open Lower

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street is opening with stocks higher.  It comes as A-I related stocks such as Nvidia, Palantir, and Microsoft continue feeling pressure.  Worries are also mounting that the Federal Reserve won't cut interest rates in December.  

>>FOMC Minutes Due To Be Released

(Undated)  --  The Federal Reserve's October meeting minutes are due to be released today.  The release comes as President Trump claims he's being held back from firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.  The president has repeatedly criticized Powell over the Fed's handling of interest rates and told reporters "I'd love to get the guy currently in there out right now, but people are holding me back."  Powell's term as Fed chair ends in May and Trump is expected to announce a nominee before the end of the year.

>>Musk, Bezos Attend WH Crown Prince Dinner

(Washington, DC)  --  Tech industry billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos were among the guests spotted at President Trump's dinner in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House Tuesday.  Trump addressed the crowd, saying Saudi Arabia would be designated as a major non-NATO ally, while also praising the investments of MBS.  The meeting came after Trump announced he plans to move forward with a weapons deal that would allow the kingdom to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets from the U.S.  

>>Meta Wins Antitrust Case

(Washington, DC)  --  Meta has won its antitrust case against the Federal Trade Commission, which argued the company held a monopoly on social networking.  In an opinion Tuesday, federal Judge James Boasberg said the FTC failed to prove its case, originally started five years ago after Meta acquired Instagram and WhatsApp.  The FTC said it was disappointed in the decision and criticized the judge, who faces a GOP-led impeachment effort over his role in investigating the Trump administration.  

>>NY Judge Approves Purdue Pharma's Bankruptcy  

(New York, NY)  --  A New York judge is approving Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy, which will release billions of dollars for opioid plaintiffs across the nation.  New York's Attorney General announced the news Tuesday after Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane confirmed the plan in a bench ruling.  Letitia James secured approval on behalf of 55 states and U.S. territories.  She said it's a significant step in finalizing the seven-point-four-billion-dollar settlement with Purdue and its owners, the Sackler family.  James said Purdue was at the center of the nation's opioid crisis, fueling addiction and deadly overdoses with deceptive marketing.

>>New Roblox Age Verification Requirement

(San Mateo, CA)  --  Changes are coming to the accessibility of the online gaming platform Roblox.  Under a new requirement, Roblox users who want to chat will soon have to verify their age by providing a government ID or by letting an artificial intelligence age estimation tool photograph their face.  The move comes as the platform faces lawsuits claiming it has enabled sexual predators to connect with children after reports of abuse and in some cases even kidnappings by adults they met on Roblox.  Roblox said the updated policy will make it easier to prevent young users from connecting with adult strangers as all users will be required to verify their age before accessing chat features.

For: November 18, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a rough start to the trading week on Wall Street.  Tech shares tumbled with Nvidia losing more than two percent ahead of the company's third quarter results on Wednesday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 557 points to 46-590.  The S&P 500 lost 61 points to 66-72.  The Nasdaq dropped 192 points to 22-708.

>>Trump Turns To McDonald's In Affordability Push

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is continuing to promote affordability as consumers navigate high prices. The president delivered remarks Monday to an audience of McDonald's owners, operators and suppliers during its Impact Summit in Washington, DC.  Trump touted the fast-food giant during his speech, along with praising the economy.  The president has used McDonald's as a point of relatability amongst voters by working a drive-thru while on the campaign trail in 2024, and he served McDonald's to a college football team visiting the White House during his first term.

>>Bessent Says Tariff Checks Will Require Legislation

(Undated)  --  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says President Trump's proposal to issue tariff checks to Americans will first require Congress to pass legislation. Earlier this month the President floated the idea of issuing a two-thousand-dollar "dividend" from revenue generated by tariffs on imports. During a recent interview, Bessent echoed the president's claims of addressing affordability and said "everything is on the table," while noting that the checks "will have an income limit" and need legislation. While there is no clear timeline on plans for the payment, Bessent said "President Trump is all about solutions" and redirected attention to policies including no tax on tips, Social Security and overtime. 

>>Ford Motor Company Partnering With Amazon To Sell Used Vehicles 

(Detroit, MI)  --  Ford Motor Company is partnering with Amazon to sell used vehicles on the e-commerce's platform.  Customers in Los Angeles, Seattle and Dallas will be able to browse and purchase Ford Blue Advantage certified pre-owned vehicles from dealerships in their areas.  Ford dealers will be able to set prices and share vehicle information while Amazon will allow customers to start paperwork online, secure financing and schedule a pick-up time for the purchase. 

>>Minneapolis Airport Food Workers Plan to Strike 

(Twin Cities, MN)  --  Food workers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport are planning to strike.  The union representing over 200 workers plans to strike from November 24th through 26th.  UNITE HERE Local 17 says if a new contract deadline isn't agreed to by November 23rd at midnight, the strike will happen.  

>>Butterball Releases 2025 Thanksgiving Outlook

(Garner, NC)  --  More than half of consumers say they won't make changes to Thanksgiving this year to try to save money.  That's according to Butterball's annual Thanksgiving outlook.  The survey found 89-percent of consumer plan to celebrate the holiday and 84-percent will do so with a turkey.  Consumers expressed concern about inflation, but most said they would not compromise when it comes to Thanksgiving.  Some said they would do things like change non-food items such as paper goods and decor or ask guests to bring part of the meal to help control costs.

>>Culver's Launches Loyalty Program

(Prairie du Sac, WI)  --  Culver's is out with a new loyalty program for customers nationwide.  The Wisconsin-based fast food chain launched Delicious Rewards on Monday, allowing hungry fans to earn ten points for every dollar spent at participating locations.  The company says those points can then be redeemed for items in store, while also offering surprises and deals for customers on their birthday.  Culver's acknowledged being late to the party when it comes to loyalty programs, but were confident their customers are going to love what they are offering.

For: November 17, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed on Friday. Tech stocks edged higher as the Nasdaq snapped a three-day losing streak. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 309 points to 47-147. The S&P 500 lost 3 points to 67-34. The Nasdaq gained 30 points to 22-900.

>>Economic Reports Resuming

(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week ahead, things start to get back to normal now that the government shutdown is over. The homebuilder confidence index comes out Tuesday, followed by the Federal Reserve's October meeting minutes on Wednesday. The September jobs report is expected to finally come out Thursday - more than a month behind schedule. It's still unclear when we'll see the October report, which had been due for release on November 7th. When it does come out, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett says only the number of jobs added will be included, not the unemployment rate which was not tallied during the shutdown. Meantime, weekly jobless claims will also be out Thursday, as normal, and the week will wrap up with consumer sentiment on Friday.

>>Earnings Reports On The Calendar

(Undated) -- Some big names are due to report earnings this week. That includes Home Depot and Klarna on Tuesday. We'll get results from Nvidia, Target and Lowe's on Wednesday with Walmart reporting on Thursday just days after CEO Doug McMillon announced his resignation after 12 years at the helm of the world's largest retailer.

>>Trump Rolling Back Food Tariffs

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump has signed an executive order to roll back a series of tariffs on food products. The White House said the change aligns with several trade agreements made with U.S. allies covering goods not produced in the U.S. Imports such as coffee, tea, tropical fruits and beef are exempt from reciprocal tariff policies.

>>Trump Admin Formally Withdraws Airline Requirement

(Washington, DC) -- The Trump administration has formally withdrawn a plan that requires airlines to pay passengers compensation when carriers cause flight disruptions. In late 2024, the Biden administration asked for public comment on creating rules to make airlines pay up to 300-dollars for domestic delays of at least three hours and even more for longer delays. The Trump administration in September said it planned to withdraw the proposal and on Friday it said the rules would cause unnecessary regulator burdens. U.S. airlines must give refunds for canceled flights but do not need to compensate passengers for delays.

>>Anthropic: Chinese Hackers Weaponized AI In Autonomous Global Cyberattack

(Undated) -- Artificial intelligence company Anthropic says its has uncovered what it believes to be the first large-scale cyberattack carried out by AI. The company blames the attack on a Chinese state-sponsored group of hackers that used its own tool to infiltrate dozens of global targets. In a report out this month, Anthropic said the attack started in mid-September and used its Claude Code model to launch a spy campaign targeting around 30 organizations. The attacks targeted major tech firms, financial institutions, chemical manufacturers and government agencies. The company said the hackers manipulated the model into working on offensive actions autonomously and described its a "highly sophisticated espionage operation."

>>Sports Teams Becoming Status Symbol For Ultra-Wealthy

(Undated) -- Owning stake in a sports team is steadily becoming a symbol of status for the ultra-wealthy. According to a new study by J.P. Morgan Private Bank, 20-percent of the 111 billionaire family office principals surveyed reported owning controlling stakes in sports teams, marking a six-percent increase from 2022. The survey found that sports assets have also overtaken traditional trophy assets, with 34-percent of principals investing in teams and arenas, compared to 23-percent for art and ten-percent for cars. J.P. Morgan's global private bank executive chairman Andrew Cohen told Inside Wealth that he expects this trajectory to continue. 

For Friday, November 14th, 2025

>>Market Recap

(New York, NY) -- Wall Street closed yesterday after its worst day in over a month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down over 500 points at times after closing at a record high Wednesday. It all comes as the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end this week. At the closing bell, the Dow fell 797 points to 47-457. The S&P 500 fell 113 points to 67-37. The Nasdaq dropped 535 points to 22-870.

>>Boeing Machinists Union Approves Contract, Ends Strike

(St. Louis, MO) -- More than three-thousand striking Boeing employees in the St. Louis area are headed back to work. Members of the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted on Thursday to approve Boeing's latest contract offer, ending the strike at 102-days. The new five-year contract gives union members a pay raise and a six-thousand-dollar upfront bonus. It also guarantees all members will keep their jobs even with Boeing hiring replacement workers.

>>WH To Ease Tariffs On Four Latin American Nations

(Washington, DC) -- The Trump administration plans to ease tariffs on four Latin American nations. On Thursday the White House announced it had agreed to frameworks for trade deals with Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador. The deals will remove tariffs on certain foods and other products not produced in the U.S. in large enough numbers. This comes a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Americans will see "substantial announcements over the next couple days" regarding affordability. He didn't give details on how prices will be lowered, but said items such as coffee, bananas and other fruits will likely be impacted.

>>Silicon Valley Tech Company Layoffs

(Sunnyvale, CA) -- The tech industry is again letting go of some of its workforce. Synopsys, a Silicon Valley chip design company, plans to lay off about ten percent of its workforce. That's about 28-hundred employees. The restructuring is expected to cost the company three to 350-million dollars in severance and site closures. Most layoffs will take place in 2026, ending by the close of fiscal year 2027. The layoffs come after Synopsys acquired Ansys, a Pennsylvania company specializing in engineering simulation software, in a 35-billion-dollar deal.

>>U.S. Households Living Paycheck To Paycheck

(Undated) - Nearly a quarter of American households are living paycheck to paycheck. A new analysis from Bank of America found slow wage growth has contributed to an increase in households with limited savings, and lower income as well as middle-aged households are bearing the brunt of rising costs. Findings also reveal the number of households in the Northeast and Midwest living paycheck to paycheck has increased while it decreased for those living in the South and West. Bank of America's report defined households as living paycheck-to-paycheck if in the quarter their necessity spending exceeds 95-percent of their income.

>>Congressional Hemp Restrictions Threaten Industry

(Washington, DC) -- The hemp industry is bracing for change after Congress passed legislation Wednesday with a surprise provision to ban nearly all hemp-derived consumer products. Hemp is a derivative of the cannabis plant that was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill for industrial uses like rope, textiles and seed. However, the law's broad definition created a loophole in federal rules on THC. The new ban will outlaw products containing more than zero-point-four-milligrams of total THC per container which industry executives say will wipe out 95-percent of the 28-billion-dollar hemp retail market when it takes effect in a year. More than 300-thousand jobs are reportedly at risk as executives also warn the ban could fuel a surge in black-market sales.

>>Workers' Views On AI's Employment Impact

(Undated) -- People across the globe are worried about AI's impact, but they do not think the technology will come for their jobs. According to a new YouGov poll, 72-percent of U.S. respondents said they worried about the broader economic effects of AI, while only 47-percent said they were concerned about their own jobs. When looking abroad, the survey found that 70-percent of adults surveyed in the U.K. worry about economywide AI impacts compared to 39-percent who worry about AI-related consequences for their own occupation. The survey covered nearly five-thousand adults in the U.S. U.K., India and Brazil, and it comes on the heels of major corporations laying off workers and citing AI as the reason.

>>Under Armour & Steph Curry Part Ways

(Undated) -- Under Armour and NBA icon Stephen Curry have mutually agreed to end their 13-year partnership effective immediately. Curry will maintain sole ownership of his Curry Brand, and is now a sneaker free agent. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said in a statement that the move is about "discipline and focus on the core Under Armour brand during a critical stage of our turnaround." Curry said in his own statement he's excited for a future focused "on aggressive growth with a continued commitment to keep showing up for the next generation."

>>Toyota Opens NC Battery Plant

(Liberty, NC) -- Toyota is showing off a 13-point-nine-billion-dollar battery plant in North Carolina. The automaker announced Wednesday that the Randolph County facility will eventually create up to 51-hundred jobs. It's the company's first battery plant outside of Japan. Toyota also announced it will be investing ten-billion-dollars in the U.S. over the next five years. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy welcomed the announcement, crediting President Trump's economic policies. He joined North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and other government and business leaders to mark the plant's official opening yesterday in the small town of Liberty.

>>Skims Reportedly Valued At $5B

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Skims is now valued at five-billion-dollars. The shapeware brand, co-founded by Kim Kardashian, made the claim Wednesday after raising 225-million-dollars in funding. The company plans to open more shops and expand globally. The brand also said it expects sales to top one-billion-dollars this year.

For: November 13, 2025  

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed out Wednesday mostly higher.  That came just ahead of the official end of the longest U.S. government shutdown ever.  President Trump signed the funding measure on Wednesday after it was passed by the House.  The shutdown-ending measure extends funding until January 30th.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 327 points to 48-255.  The S&P 500 rose four points to 68-51.  The Nasdaq dropped 62 points to 23-406. 

>>U.S. Mint Strikes The 'Final Circulating Penny'

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  The U.S. Mint struck its final penny on Wednesday.  President Trump previously announced plans to retire the coin, which dates back to 1793, in February, citing production cost as a primary reason.  According to the Treasury Department, the penny will remain legal tender and retain its value indefinitely as there are approximately 300 billion pennies still in circulation which exceeds the amount needed for commerce. 

>>Bessent Teases Announcements To Cut Costs

(New York, NY)  --  The Trump administration is preparing announcements on affordability soon.  That's according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said Americans will see "substantial announcements over the next couple days" for items not grown in the U.S.  Bessent did not provide details on how prices will be lowered, but he said items such as coffee, bananas and other fruits will likely be impacted. The Trump administration has argued it is working to address affordability concerns.  Bessent asserted that Americans "are going to start feeling better" early next year after predicting inflation will cool and wages will increase.  

>>Toyota Announces NC Battery Plant

(Liberty, NC)  --  Toyota is building a 13-point-nine-billion-dollar battery plant in North Carolina.  The automaker announced Wednesday the 18-hundred-50 acre facility will create up to 51-hundred jobs.  It's the company's first battery plant outside of Japan.  Toyota also announced it will be investing ten-billion-dollars in the U.S. over the next five years.  Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy welcomed the announcement, crediting President Trump's economic policies.

>>Report: Young Homebuyer Crisis In U.S.

(Washington, DC)  --  A new report suggests a young homebuyer crisis has hit the U.S.  According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40 years.  The report also says the number of first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21-percent in 2025.  On top of that, a Coldwell Banker report says 84-percent of Gen Z say they're putting off major life milestones like getting married and having children, just to afford to buy a home.  Skyrocketing home prices and high mortgage rates are to blame. The crisis has prompted the White House to propose a new 50-year mortgage.

>>Striking Boeing Workers Vote On Latest Contract Offer

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Boeing's latest contract offer to striking employees in the St. Louis area goes to a vote today.  Union leaders are reportedly recommending members approve the proposal, which doubles an upfront bonus to six-thousand-dollars.  More than three-thousand Boeing defense workers have been on strike since early August, with the aerospace giant facing pressure to get a deal done before Thanksgiving.   The workers on the picket lines mainly build fighter jets and weapons systems and the U.S. Air Force says their three-month strike is causing delays in delivery.  

>>Starbucks Red Cup Day Returns As Some Workers Are Striking

(Undated)  --  Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day holiday promotion returns today.  Customers who order a holiday beverage will get a free, limited-edition red cup, while supplies last.  The festive drink menu includes the Peppermint Mocha and the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte.  However, some visitors to the coffee chain may not be able to get a red cup or anything else today.  Representatives with unionized Starbucks locations say baristas are planning to strike over stalled labor negotiations.

>>Apple Rolls Out Digital ID iPhone Passport

(Cupertino, CA)  --  A new Apple feature will allow users to carry their passports on their phones.  The tech company says Digital ID for iPhones and Apple Watches is being rolled out at TSA checkpoints at over 250 airports across the U.S. for use when traveling within the country.  It adds, however, that Digital ID does not replace a physical passport and is not currently supported for international travel or crossing borders.  

>>Waymo Begins To Rollout Freeway Routes

(Phoenix, AZ)  --  Waymo's driverless taxis are starting to take riders on freeways in three cities.  The company announced freeway routes are now being offered to select riders in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  The robotaxis have been tested on freeways with employees for more than a year.  Waymo plans to expand to Miami, Washington, DC, San Diego and London next year.  It has also started testing cars in New York City and Tokyo.

For: November 12, 2025

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average notching a new record high yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow added 559 points to 47-928.  The S&P 500 rose 14 points to 68-46.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 59 points to 23-468 as AI trade remains under pressure amid concerns over growing valuation.  

>>Government Funding Bill Headed For House Vote

(Washington, DC)  --  A bill that would end the record-breaking shutdown and reopen the federal government is one step closer to passage.  Overnight, the House Rules Committee voted along party lines to advance a government funding deal that's already passed in the Senate.  The majority-GOP committee did not adopt any amendments to the bill that would extend federal healthcare subsidies.  The funding package now makes its way to the House, where a final vote is expected before the end of the day.

>>Hemp THC Market At Risk 

(Undated)  --  The deal on the table aimed at reopening the federal government comes with what some are warning could be an industry-killing change.  The industry in question is the Hemp-Derived THC market.  The bill that passed the U.S. Senate on Monday includes a federal ban on hemp products containing more than point-four milligrams of THC.  Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said the move would effectively "wipe out an industry that we have spent more than a decade creating."   

>>Trump Defends H1-B Visa Program, Says U.S. Doesn't Have Enough Talent

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says the U.S. doesn't have enough talented people to fill jobs requiring certain skills.  In an interview on Fox News Tuesday night, Trump said the HB-1 skilled worker visa program is needed in the U.S. "to bring in talent."  When Fox News host Laura Ingraham [[ Een-grum ]]said we have "plenty of talented people" here in the U.S., Trump replied, "No, you don't," and said you can't take people off an unemployment line and put them in a factory making missiles.  Trump noted last year's raid of a battery factory in Georgia where authorities deported hundreds of South Koreans, and said, "you're going to need" those workers.   

>>SpaceX Breaks Launch Record On Florida's Space Coast

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  SpaceX is being credited with helping Florida's Space Coast break its annual launch record with a late-night liftoff Monday from Cape Canaveral.  The Falcon 9 rocket carried 29 Starlink satellites into orbit, marking the 94th orbital launch of the year from the state -- one more than all of 2024.  The launch was delayed until after 10 p.m. due to FAA restrictions tied to the government shutdown.  While SpaceX led most of the mission, other providers like United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin also contributed to the record-breaking pace.

>>Apple Showcases iPhone Pocket

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple is showing off a new way to carry iPhones. The tech giant teamed with fashion brand Issey Miyake [[ Is-ee Me-ah-kay ]] to showcase the iPhone Pocket.  The sock-like cross-body strap comes in two versions.  A short pocket has a price tag of around 150 dollars, while the long version will cost around 230 bucks. They're set to be available this Friday online, and at select Apple stores.  

>>Paramount+ To Raise Prices In 2026

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Paramount-Plus will raise subscription prices in the new year.  The company revealed the plan for the price hike when reporting its third quarter earnings.  The price for the ad-supported Paramount-Plus Essential tier will go up a dollar to eight-99 per month while the ad-free Paramount-Plus will also see a dollar increase to 13-99 per month.  The new prices will go into effect January 15th.  This comes following Paramount's merger with Skydance and the streaming service signing a rights deal with the UFC for seven-point-seven-billion dollars.

For: November 11, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning with progress being reported on efforts to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. This, after stocks closed higher Monday to start the week on Wall Street. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 381 points to 47-368. The S&P 500 rose 103 points to 68-32. The Nasdaq climbed 522 points to 23-527. With today being Veterans Day, the bond market is closed until Wednesday.

>>Senate Passes Funding Bill That Would Reopen The Government

(Washington, DC) -- The Senate has voted to end the government shutdown. The chamber voted Monday night to pass the funding bill, which now goes to the House. The measure would fund the government through January. It passed on a 60 to 40 vote. The House is not expected to take up the bill until Wednesday at the earliest.

>>Veterans Day Discounts Abound

(Undated) -- Today is Veterans Day and there are discounts for those who have served. From free entrees at Applebees to free haircuts at Great Clips, it's a good idea to check for deals. A few other places offering discounts and freebies include Starbucks, Denny's, White Castle, Red Lobster, Chipotle and Wendy's. Some places will require proof of military service.

>>Wikipedia Asks AI To Use Its Paid Service

(San Francisco, CA) -- Wikipedia wants AI companies to utilize their paid service. Their nonprofit parent company, Wikimedia Foundation, says AI companies have been scraping their web pages. It says companies who pay for Wikimedia Enterprise can help ensure that the nonprofit Wikipedia is not strained.

>>Boeing Puts Forward A New Offer As Strike Continues

(St. Louis, MO) -- Boeing is facing pressure to end a months-long strike involving thousands of workers in the St. Louis area before Thanksgiving rolls around. The workers on the picket lines mainly build fighter jets and weapons systems and the U.S. Air Force says their three-month strike is causing delays in delivery. Members of the machinists union are scheduled to vote on a revised contract from Boeing this Thursday.

>>iHeartMedia, TikTok Partner Launch First-Of-Its-Kind, Multiplatform Partnership

(New York, NY) -- iHeartMedia and TikTok are coming together to launch the first-of-its-kind multi-platform partnership. The collaboration includes the launch of the TikTok Podcast Network, which will feature up to 25 new podcasts hosted by TikTok creators. The partnership also includes TikTok Radio that's a fast-paced format pairing TikTok creators with experienced iHeartRadio personalities, where listeners will feel like they're scrolling on TikTok but with their ears. iHeartMedia and TikTok will join forces for live events as well.

For: November 10, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed to end the week.  Stocks struggled with the market pressured by more AI losses.  A survey from the University of Michigan added to concerns about the economy as consumer sentiment neared its lowest level on record.  At Friday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained nearly 75 points to 46-987.  The S&P 500 rose eight points to 67-28.  The Nasdaq lost 49 points to 23-004. 

>>Coming Up This Week

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, the ongoing government shutdown once again means some normally scheduled reports will not be released.  Things get off to a quiet start today and the Veterans Day holiday will keep the bond market closed on Tuesday.  The stock market, however, will observe regular trading hours and the National Federation of Independent Business will still release its optimism index.  Skip ahead to Thursday and we'll be going without weekly data on jobless claims and missing the consumer price index, which helps give the Fed a better read on inflation.  The producer price index and retail sales data are on the calendar for Friday but will be withheld without the government reopening.  

>>Senate Votes To Advance Proposal To End Government Shutdown

(Washington, DC)  --  The Senate has voted 60 to 40 to pass a funding measure, marking a major step toward reopening the government.  Eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus joined Republicans in advancing the measure which would fund the government through January 30th.  Sunday's vote came after an agreement was reached that included a future vote on extending health care subsidies and assurances that federal workers furloughed during the shutdown would be reinstated.  Still, hurdles remain before the government can fully reopen.  Any senator could slow the process for several days, and the House must reconvene to approve the Senate's deal.  As all of this is playing out, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the impact on the economy is getting "worse and worse" each day the government shutdown continues. 

>>Trump Admin Working On 50-Year Mortgage

(Washington, DC)  --  The Trump administration is working on a plan to introduce a 50-year fixed-rate mortgage.  The Federal Housing Finance Agency Director posted on X Saturday of the news. The agency director called the move a "complete game changer."  His announcement comes after Trump shared a graphic online comparing his proposal to the 30-year mortgage policies backed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the New Deal.  Agency Director Bill Pulte also said the administration is "laser focused on ensuring the American Dream for young people,"which he says can only happen on an economic level of home buying. 

>>YouTube Issuing $20 Credits As No Deal With Disney Reached

(San Bruno, CA)  --  YouTube is starting to issue 20-dollar credits to YouTube TV customers who still don't have access to Disney-owned channels.  The two companies have been unable thus far to reach a deal that would continue to let YouTube TV customers see channels like ESPN, ABC and others.  Both sides have been in talks since the channels were pulled October 30th.  The credits start going out today in no deal is reached.

>>400K Honda Civics Recalled

(Undated)  --  More than 400-thousand Honda Civics are under recall because the wheels may come off while moving.  The recall affects model years 2016 through 2021.  The company says a supplier error could cause the wheel nuts to loosen and eventually detach.  Honda is asking owners to take their car to a dealer for inspection.

For: November 5, 2025  

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower yesterday on Wall Street.  Tech shares led the sell-off as investors grow increasingly concerned about market valuations of AI-related stocks.  Palantir fell nearly ten percent despite beating third quarter estimates.  Declines in AMD, Nvidia, Oracle and Amazon added to the downward pressure.  At the closing bell, the Dow fell by 251 points to 47-085.  The S&P 500 lost 80 points to 67-71.  The Nasdaq dropped 486 points to 23-348.

>>Trump Tariffs Case Goes Before Supreme Court

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says the Supreme Court tariffs case is "life or death for our county."  The high court will take up the case today to consider the legality of Trump's global tariffs.  In a post on Truth Social, the President said with a victory "we have tremendous, but fair, financial and national security." He said without the tariffs, the U.S. is "virtually defenseless" against other countries who have taken advantage of us for years.  The court's decision could have massive implications for American consumers and businesses, the economy and presidential authority.

>>Senators Urge Boeing To End Strike

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Boeing is facing pressure from both sides of the aisle to end a strike in the St. Louis area.  A letter signed Tuesday by five Democratic senators accused the aerospace giant of "unnecessarily endangering" U.S. warfighters by insisting on proceeding with "untrained and hastily recruited" replacement workers while over 32-hundred employees remain off the job, demanding a better contract.  Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri sent his own letter calling on Boeing to negotiate in good faith with striking workers.  The U.S. Air Force says the three-month strike has caused delays, including the delivery of fighter jets.

>>Major Tesla Investor Will Vote Against Elon Musk's Pay Package 

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla's annual shareholder meeting is tomorrow and a major vote is already making headlines before it's even happened.  The fate of CEO Elon Musk's one-trillion-dollar, performance-based compensation package as well as his continuing control of the company, hangs in the balance with the tech billionaire having hinted that he might leave Tesla if his pay deal is blocked.  Yesterday, Norway's sovereign wealth fund - a major Tesla investor - said to expect a no vote from it.  

>>California's Share Of U.S. Tech Workforce Declining 

(Sacramento, CA)  --  California's once-dominant tech industry appears to be losing its edge. A new report finds the state's share of the U.S. tech workforce has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade. According to the CompTIA State of the Tech Workforce, California has shed nearly 100-thousand tech jobs since 2022, erasing gains made during the remote-work boom. The decline reflects deep job losses and a migration of tech talent to states like Texas and Florida, which offer lower costs and fewer regulations. Analysts say California's high taxes, housing prices and complex labor laws are driving companies and workers away. 

>>Chrysler Recalls Jeep SUVs Over Battery Fire Risk

(Auburn Hills, MI)  --  Chrysler is recalling hundreds of thousands of Jeep plug-in hybrid SUVs due to the risk of battery fires. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall applies to 228-thousand-221 Jeep Wranglers with model years 2020 to 2025 and 91-thousand-844 Jeep Grand Cherokees with model years 2022 to 2026. According to Stellantis, it is aware of at least 19 reports and one injury related to the recall. As a remedy is being developed, the NHTSA advises owners "to park outside and away from structures and not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed." 

>>Nintendo Switch 2 Sales Surpass 10 Million Units

(Kyoto, Japan)  --  Nintendo's Switch Two is drastically outselling the existing Switch console. According to the Japanese video game giant, during the same period over ten million units of the Switch Two have been sold since its launch in June compared to less than two million units of the original device. The latest earning results has prompted Nintendo to increase its projection for sales of the Switch Two from 15 million units to 19 million sold by the end of March 2026, while it also lowered its projections for the Switch from four-point-five-million for the fiscal year to four million. The company also said nearly ten million copies of "Mario Kart World," and close to three-point-five million copies of the Switch Two exclusive, "Donkey Kong Bananza," have been sold. 

For: November 4, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed yesterday on the first trading day of the new month.  Tech stocks provided some lift to the market with Amazon shares up four percent after the company reached a 38-billion-dollar deal with OpenAI.  Losses in Nike and UnitedHealth led the Dow Jones Industrial Average's decline.  At the closing bell, the Dow fell 226 points to 47-336.  The S&P 500 rose 11 points to 68-52.  The Nasdaq gained 110 points to 23-834.

>>Treasury Dept: Inflation Remains Above Target Of 2%

(Washington, DC)  --  There are differing opinions in the Trump administration on inflation.  The Treasury Department said Monday that inflation remained above the target of two percent in the third quarter.  President Trump said on CBS News' 60 Minutes Sunday, "we have no inflation."  The president added he had already taken care of inflation, saying two percent was the "the perfect inflation."   The Bureau of Labor Statistics says inflation came in at three percent on an annual basis in September. 

>>YouTube Rejects Disney Request To Restore ABC For Election Coverage 

(Burbank, CA)  --  Disney's request to YouTube TV to return ABC channels back to its platform ahead of Election Day has been denied.  Disney had asked YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day as a matter of public interest so subscribers could, in the company's words, "have access to the information they rely on."  It all comes amid a blackout and dispute between the two companies as Disney-owned channels including ABC and ESPN have been removed from YouTube TV, making them no longer available to more than ten million estimated subscribers.  

>>Supreme Court To Hear Trump's Tariff Case Tomorrow 

(Washington, DC)  --  The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear arguments on the legality of President Trump's tariff plan.  The focus will be on Trump using a law meant for times of emergency to impose the duties without the help of Congress.  The high court scheduled oral arguments for November 5th after it agreed to fast track the case.  The tariffs will stay in place until the court makes a decision.  

>>Tylenol Maker Kenvue Sold

(Summit, NJ)  --  Tylenol maker Kenvue is being sold in a deal worth billions.  Kimberly-Clark announced a cash-and-stock deal valued at 48-point-seven-billion dollars to buy Kenvue.  The deal would bring brands like Huggies and Kleenex under the same roof as Tylenol and Band-Aid.  The deal is expected to be finalized in the second of half of next year.  It's one of the biggest acquisitions of 2025 on Wall Street.

>>Tesla Shareholders To Vote On Trillion-Dollar Pay Package For Elon Musk 

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla's annual shareholder meeting takes place on Thursday with a major vote in focus.  The spotlight is on the fate of CEO Elon Musk's one-trillion-dollar, performance-based compensation package as well as his continuing control of the company.  During a recent earnings call, Musk pushed for greater control, saying "There needs to be enough voting control to give a strong influence, but not so much that I can't be fired if I go insane."  He's dropped hints that he could consider leaving Tesla if his mega pay deal is blocked.  

>>Billionaires Saw Wealth Grow Dramatically Over The Past Year 

(Undated)  --  The richest Americans have been seeing their wealth grow by leaps and bounds.  The nation's top ten billionaires have collectively added nearly 700-billion-dollars to their fortunes in the past year, driving their overall worth to two-and-a-half trillion dollars.  That's according to a new report from the non-profit Oxfam America published on Monday.  On the opposite end of those stats, the report noted that over 40-percent of the country, including almost half of all children, fall into the low-income category, with family earnings less than 200-percent of the national poverty line.

For: November 3, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street, ushering in the first trading day of the new month.  Stocks closed higher on Friday to wrap up October trading.  Tech stocks like Amazon received a boost after it posted better than expected revenue for its cloud computing unit.  Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched its sixth straight positive month for the first time since 2018.  At the closing bell, the Dow gained 40 points to 47-562.  The S&P 500 rose by 17 points to 68-40.  The Nasdaq gained 143 points to 23-724.

>>What To Watch For In The Week Ahead

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, the ongoing government shutdown will again be the cause of delay for some economic reports that would typically be released.  That includes the latest data on job openings which had been due to come out on Tuesday.  We'll still get the ADP employment report on Wednesday, the last one having shown a loss of more than 30-thousand jobs.  Weekly jobless claims will go unreported on Thursday, unless the shutdown ends, as will the government's always-highly anticipated monthly jobs report on Friday.

>>Flight Impacts As Shutdown Continues

(Washington, DC)  --   Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning of more air travel disruption as the government shutdown continues.  During an appearance on CBS' Face the Nation, Duffy said passenger safety remains the top priority.  He predicted more slowdowns and delays along with flight cancellations due as air traffic controllers work without pay or pickup a second job to try to make ends meet.  Major airlines have begun to call on Congress to end the shutdown and pay air traffic controllers.  Delta, United, American and Southwest are urging the U.S. Senate to "immediately pass a clean continuing resolution" that would pay federal employees.

>>LendingTree: Tariffs Could Add $40B To Holiday Costs 

(Undated)  --  LendingTree says American consumers will be paying more this holiday season due to tariffs.  The company estimates the new tariffs will increase total holiday costs for consumers and retailers by a total of over 40-billion dollars.  Consumers will bear the brunt of the extra costs from tariffs, with an estimate of nearly 30 billion dollars.  That totals to around 132 dollars per shopper.  LendingTree used 2024 winter holiday spending data as a reference point for its analysis of the upcoming season.  

>>Musk Teases Tesla Flying Car: 'Crazy Technology' 

(Austin, TX)  --  Elon Musk may be teasing Tesla could soon unveil a flying car.  In an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast Friday, Musk said Tesla is getting closer to demonstrating the prototype for something unforgettable.  When Rogan asked for more details, Musk said, Peter Thiel once reflected that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don't.   In lieu of specifics Musk said the unveiling "has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever."  The Tesla CEO also said that the car would "hopefully" be unveiled "in a couple of months." 

>>Coca-Cola Rebrands Mr. Pibb 24 Years After It Was Discontinued 

(Undated)  --  The Coca-Cola company has announced that it is reintroducing Mr. Pibb, 24 years after discontinuing the brand.  The company said the revived Mr. Pibb will have 30-percent more caffeine than Pibb Xtra the brand it was originally replaced with.  The soda is also getting a new slogan, "Bold Kick of Cherry," for its intense sweet cherry flavor with hints of caramel and a lingering spicy finish.  Coca-Cola said Mr. Pibb and Mr. Pibb Zero sugar are now available in Florida, Chicago, Las Vegas, Michigan and California markets.  A nationwide rollout of the rebrand will start in early 2026.