For: March 31, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a mixed start to what will be a holiday-shortened trading week.  Stocks erased nearly all early gains led by a steep decline in the technology sector.  Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher with Brent crude heading for a record monthly surge.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 49 points to 45-216.  The S&P 500 lost 25 points to 63-43.  The Nasdaq fell 153 points to 20-794.  The market will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday.

>>Average Gas Prices Top $4 A Gallon 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Gas prices continue to climb day by day.  Triple-A says today's national average has crossed the four-dollar mark, at four-oh-one a gallon for regular gas.  A month ago, the national average was about two-98.  

>>Fed Chairman Jerome Powell Speaks At Harvard 

(Cambridge, MA)  --  Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is signaling a wait-and-see approach on interest rates.  Delivering remarks at Harvard on Monday, Powell said the central bank continues to monitor inflation expectations, especially given the situation in the Middle East, but said "We feel like our policy is in a good place for us to wait and see how that turns out."  The FOMC's next interest rate decision is due at the end of April.  Interest rates weren't the only subject the chairman addressed yesterday.  Asked what advice he would give to undergraduates in the crowd, Powell acknowledged that this is a "challenging time to enter the labor market" and encouraged them to embrace AI.

>>Proposal To Expand 401(k) Assets

(Washington, DC)  --  The Labor Department wants to make it easier for 401(k) plans to include assets like cryptocurrency, real estate and private market assets.  The rule proposed Monday falls in line with an executive order from President Trump last year, which called for expanded access to alternative assets in a 401(k).  Those in favor of the change say it could let people save for retirement with greater diversification beyond public markets.  Others warn that many investors might not be knowledgeable enough to use these assets effectively, ones that often carry higher risk.  The rule is subject to further review before it can be adopted.

>>Air Canada CEO Stepping Down After Deadly Collision

(Undated)  --  The CEO of Air Canada is planning an early retirement after facing public pushback on his response to a deadly crash that left two pilots dead.  According to a statement from Air Canada, Michael Rosseau, who has been with the company for nearly two decades, plans to step down by the end of the third quarter.  The crash involved an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal that collided with an airport fire truck at LaGuardia, killing both pilots and injuring dozens.  The 68-year-old executive came under scrutiny after delivering a condolence message that was mostly in English despite Canada's two official languages being English and French. Some critics said his remarks dismissed French-speaking Canadians while political leaders also added to the criticism by arguing that his lack of fluency reflected a disconnect with a significant portion of the country.

>>NBA Board Of Governors Approves Trail Blazers Sale

(Portland, OR)  --  The sale of the Portland Trail Blazers has been approved by the NBA Board of Governors.  It's reportedly a two-part deal with the initial sale closing on March 31st.  The second part finalizes no later than September 1st, 2028.  The Athletic reports the sale price paid by Tom Dundon's group will be four-and-a-quarter billion dollars.

For: March 30, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning to kick off what will be a holiday-shortened trading week after stocks closed sharply lower Friday as uncertainty over the Iran war rattles markets.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled into correction territory as oil prices traded above 110-dollars a barrel.  At the closing bell, the Dow lost 793 points to 45-166.  The S&P 500 fell 108 points to 63-68.  The Nasdaq dropped 459 points to 20-948.

>>This Week's Economic Calendar

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to deliver remarks at an event at Harvard today.  As always, Powell's comments will be closely monitored for any possible clues about the central bank's current mood toward the economy.  We'll get the latest reading on consumer confidence and job openings on Tuesday, followed by the ADP employment report the following day.  Weekly jobless claims are due Thursday, with the monthly jobs report in the spotlight on Friday.  It will be released as Wall Street takes the day off for Good Friday.  

>>Gas Prices On Verge Of Topping $4 A Gallon

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Gas prices are just a penny shy of four dollars as we start off the week.  At three-99 a gallon, Triple-A says today's nationwide average is up a dollar from a month ago, just as the U.S. was beginning military operations against Iran.  Drivers in California continue paying the highest prices in the nation at five-87 today, while gas is cheapest in Kansas and Oklahoma at three-and-a-quarter per gallon on average.  

>>Consumer Sentiment Falls 

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Soaring gas prices and the war in Iran are weighing on consumer sentiment.  The University of Michigan's final reading for March fell back six percent from one year ago to its lowest level since December 2025.  The survey's chief economist noted especially large declines in sentiment among middle and higher income Americans.  Year-ahead inflation expectations rose to three-point-eight percent for the largest monthly increase since April 2025.  

>>Fannie Mae Will Soon Accept Crypto-backed Home Loans

(Washington, DC)  --  Fannie Mae is set to start accepting cryptocurrency-backed mortgages.  The announcement was made last week by home finance company Better Home & Finance and crypto exchange Coinbase Global.  A new product launched by the two companies will allow people to get mortgages with Better Home that conform to Fannie Mae standards while using bitcoin or USD Coin as collateral for the loan.  Better said that if the price of bitcoin drops, mortgage terms will stay stable with no additional collateral requirements.

>>Judge Grants Restraining Order To Pause Nextstar-Tegna Merger 

(Washington, DC)  --  A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order to stop Nextstar's merger with Tegna.  The judge sided with DirecTV in a ruling late Friday.  In the order the judge wrote that DirecTV established "a likelihood of success on the merits" on its claim that the merger violates antitrust laws and that moving forward with the transaction would create "irreparable harm."  The decision blocks Nextstar and Tegna from combining their operations for 14 days.  The judge set a hearing for April 7th on whether to issue a preliminary injunction. 

>>Sony Announces PlayStation 5 Price Increase

(San Mateo, CA)  --  PlayStation will raise its prices for the second time in less than a year.  The company said this comes after "continued pressures in the global economic landscape." Starting April 2nd, the PlayStation 5 will now cost 650 dollars, an increase of one-hundred dollars with the digital edition going from 499 to 599 dollars.  The PS5 Pro will jump from 750 dollars to 900 dollars.  Sony noted the PlayStation Portal remote player will now cost 250 dollars.  

>>Survey Finds NY Is Most Expensive US City To Live In 

(Undated)  --  This won't come as a surprise to anyone living in New York: the Big Apple is the most-expensive city in the nation in which to live.  A SmartAsset survey looked at the average salary needed to live comfortably in major US cities.  And New York came out on top -- nearly 159-thousand dollars for a single adult and almost 338-thousand for a working family of four   That's just ahead of second-place San Jose, California.  Three other California cities -- Irvine, Anaheim and Santa Ana -- tied for third.  San Antonio, Texas was was the cheapest US city -- with a single adult needing a salary of just 83-thousand dollars to live comfortably.

For: March 27, 2026  

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street as the trading week begins to wind down.  Stocks closed lower Thursday as investors kept their eye on developments from the nearly month long U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has caused a steep rise in oil prices.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 469 points to 45-960.  The S&P 500 fell 114 points to 64-77.  The Nasdaq dropped 521 points to 21-408.

>>Post Office Wants Fuel Surcharge

(Washington, DC)  --  The U.S. Postal Service wants to impose an eight-percent fuel surcharge for package and express mail deliveries.  The temporary measure aims to reduce the impact of rising oil costs since the Iran war began.  The charge would need approval from the  Postal Regulatory Commission and would last from late April into January of next year.  

>>Netflix Raises Subscription Prices  

(Los Gatos, CA)  --  Netflix is raising its subscription prices for the second time in just over a year.  The new prices were unveiled on Netflix's website Thursday.  The cheapest plan, standard with ads, will now cost nine-dollars a month, an increase of one-dollar.  A standard ad-free plan is going up two-bucks to 20-dollars a month.  Meanwhile, the highest tier premium plan will now run subscribers 27-dollars a month.

>>Judge Dismisses Lawsuit By Musk's X Corp 

(Dallas, TX)  --  A federal judge is dismissing a lawsuit brought by the social platform X against a coalition of advertisers.  X sued the World Federation of Advertisers and its Global Alliance for Responsible Media initiative in 2024, alleging the group violated antitrust laws by conspiring to "collectively withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue" by organizing a boycott against the social media company.  The judge found that X did not suffer any antitrust injury and the court did not have jurisdiction over several of the companies in the lawsuit. 

>>Trader Joe's Food Added To Nationwide Mass Recall

(Undated)  --  Over three million pounds of Trader Joe's food is being added to a nationwide mass recall.  Ajinomoto Foods North America initiated a recall on Trader Joe's Japanese Style Fried Rice with Edamame, Tofu, and Hijiki Seaweed in early March and it was designated as a Class 2 by the FDA last week.  The updated classification means exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.  According to an enforcement report posted to the FDA's website, the recall was issued due to the presence of glass.

For: March 26, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday.  It comes as investors keep their eye on oil prices as the war against Iran continues.  West Texas Intermediate futures and International Brent were both under pressure, losing two-percent respectively. Treasury yields have also seen a tumble. Elsewhere, shares of technology saw a boost, with Nvidia, AMD and Intel all jumping. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 305 points to 46-429.  The S&P 500 rose 35 points to 65-91.  The Nasdaq jumped 167 points to 21-929.

>>Liable Verdict In For L.A. Social Media Trial

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Social media giants may have to make major changes after being found liable for addicting kids to their platforms.  This after the jury in Los Angeles sided with the plaintiff, a young woman, in the landmark federal trial involving Instagram's parent company Meta and YouTube's parent company Google.  She accused the companies of designing their platforms to get her hooked early on, leading to depression and suicidal thoughts into adulthood.  She was awarded three-million dollars in damages for the negligence involving the companies. Snapchat and TikTok previously settled with the woman.  The case was being watched closely because it's seen as a test case by hundreds of similar lawsuits across the U.S. still pending.  

>>Gas Prices Hold Steady 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Gas prices are holding steady just shy of four-dollars a gallon.  Triple-A puts today's national average at three-98 - the same as yesterday.  That halts a string of steady jumps since the outbreak of war in Iran.  The national average was a dollar less at two-98 a gallon one month ago.  

>>'Fortnite' Maker Epic Games Laying Off 1,000+ Workers

(San Francisco, CA)  --  "Fortnite" maker Epic Games is laying off more than a thousand workers.  The company is based in North Carolina, with offices in San Francisco.  CEO Tim Sweeney says the company has seen a decline in engagement in the hit videogame Fortnite since last year, leading to continued losses.  Epic Games has identified more than half-a-million-dollars in cost savings involving contracting, marketing and closing open positions.  Sweeney says the layoffs are not related to AI.    

>>Meta Lays Off Hundreds As It Spends Billions On AI

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Meta is laying off hundreds of employees.  Multiple reports say workers are being laid off in Meta's recruiting, sales and social media teams, and in the division that develops Meta smart glasses and VR headsets.  A company spokesperson told "The Verge" that they are finding "other opportunities" for employees "where possible."  Meta employs about 79-thousand people.  The layoffs come as Meta is projected to spend about 135-billion dollars on AI data centers.

For: March 25, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  The major averages trimmed some losses in late trading despite a selloff in tech shares.  Uncertainty over the status of Iran talks also weighed on investor sentiment.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 84 points to 46-124.  The S&P 500 fell 24 points to 65-56.  The Nasdaq dropped 184 points to 21-761.

>>NM Jury Rules Against Meta

(Santa Fe, NM)  --  A jury in New Mexico says Meta failed to safeguard its Facebook and Instagram apps from online predators targeting kids.  The ruling on Tuesday follows weeks of testimony that pitted the state against the social media giant in a civil case that could impact several similar cases across the U.S.  Meta must now pay 375-million-dollars in damages for violating New Mexico's unfair practices act.  Meta says it will appeal the ruling.

>>Gallup: Americans Pessimistic About Job Outlook

(Washington, DC)  --  Americans' outlook on the job market right now is increasingly sour.  A new Gallup survey shows a paltry 28-percent of American workers think right now is a good time to find a job, and 72-percent say it's a bad time.  The survey falls in line with the Federal Reserve's recent report showing that while the U.S. economy is in good shape, the labor market remains sluggish.  The new survey was taken during the last three months of 2025.  In mid-2022, Gallup reported 70-percent said it was a good time to find a job.

>>OpenAI To Shut Down Gen-AI App Sora, Disney Backs Out

(Undated)  --  OpenAI is shutting down the generative-AI video creation platform Sora.  The announcement was made Tuesday, and according to multiple reports Disney is now exiting the deal they signed with the company three months ago.  The deal would've allowed users to generate videos with a set of more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars films.  Disney also planned to make a one-billion-dollar equity investment in the company.  OpenAI says more details will come soon, including timelines for the shutdown of the app.

>>Epic Games To Lay Off 1,000 Employees

(Cary, NC)  --  The company behind "Fortnite" is planning to layoff one-thousand employees.  Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney made the announcement to employees in a memo Tuesday.  He said a downturn in "Fortnite" engagement that started last year means the company is spending significantly more than it's making.  Sweeney went on to say the layoffs are part of a plan to cut 500-million dollars in costs.  Epic Games previously cut more than 800 jobs in 2023.

>>Samsung TV Plus Introduces New Interactive Shopping Service On Amazon

(Undated)  --  Samsung TV Plus is introducing new interactive shopping capabilities.  Samsung and Amazon are teaming up to give users the chance to shop from Amazon via their remote control.  Samsung Ads will also have new features in their ad formats, including product galleries, vertical video and a "click-to-email" button.  The new service is set to launch in July.

>>McDonald's Reveals 'KPop Demon Hunters' Meals 

(Undated)  --  McDonald's is releasing new meals inspired by "KPop Demon Hunters."  The company is releasing the HUNTR/X Meal, which includes a ten-piece chicken nugget, medium soft drink and three limited-time menu items, including Rameyon McShaker Fries, Hunter and Demon Sauce.  Breakfast goers are able to get the Saja Boys Breakfast Meal, which includes a Spicy Saja McMuffin, hash browns and a small soft drink.  Each meal also includes exclusive photocards of the characters and a Derpy access card, which gives fans first access to exclusive content.  The meals are available to purchase starting March 31st.  

For: March 24, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed higher on word from President Trump that the U.S. and Iran held productive talks and he will hold off targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.  Stocks rallied as oil prices dropped below 100-dollars a barrel.  Banks stocks, technology shares and airlines all surged in a broad market rebound.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 631 points to 46-208.  The S&P 500 rose 74 points to 65-81.  The Nasdaq climbed 299 points to 21-946.

>>Gas Prices Continue To Creep Up 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  The steady rise in gas prices continues.  Triple-A puts today's national average at three-dollars and 97-cents a gallon.  It was three-79 a week ago.  A month ago, just before the start of the Iran war, the national average was two-95.  

>>OnlyFans Owner Dead At 43

(Undated) -- The owner of OnlyFans is dead at the age of 43. An OnlyFans spokesperson confirmed Leonid "Leo" Radvinsky's death in a statement on Monday and said he "passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer." The Ukrainian native took over OnlyFans as director and majority shareholder in 2018 and according to the Daily Mail, the platform largely accounted for his four-point-seven billion-dollar estimated net worth. The company spokesperson says, "his family have requested privacy at this difficult time."

>>Apple's WWDC Kicks Off June 8th    (Cupertino, CA)  -- Apple's week-long Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off June 8th.  The annual event is scheduled to run through the 12th at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.  It will also stream live, showcasing the tech giant's latest software and technologies.  AI advancements, platform updates and other related features will be in the spotlight.  

>>Spotify Lays Off 15 Employees In Podcast Group

(Undated)  --  Employees in Spotify's podcast group are being laid off.  The layoffs, including at the streamer's podcast network "The Ringer" and Spotify Studios, affected 15 employees, totaling about three-percent of the organization.  The changes are being described as to help "Spotify's podcast group focus on improving execution, speed and alignment across teams."  Spotify first bought "The Ringer" for about 250-million dollars in 2020.  

>>Stryker Corporation Says Cyberattack Is Now Contained

(Portage, MI)  --  Global medical technology giant Stryker Corporation says a cyberattack that hit their computer system on March 11th has now been contained.  They say customer, supplier, vendor, and partner systems were not accessed during the attack that happened by an Iranian hacker group.  Cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks says digital forensics has found there is no active foreign access in Stryker's systems.  The company says Stryker is now rebuilding impacted systems or restoring them from backups that predate the "known window of compromise to further prevent threat actor re-entry."  Hospitals and healthcare systems were not impacted by the cyberattack.

>>NASA Mission To Moon Could Bring Big Bucks To Florida

(Cocoa Beach, FL)  --  NASA's Artemis Two mission to send astronauts around the moon could have a massive economic impact here on Earth.  A consulting firm estimates that the launch, scheduled for as early as April 1st from Kennedy Space Center, could bring in 400-thousand visitors to Florida's Space Coast and some 160-million-dollars in economic impact.  A Florida tourism official said hotels in the region are already fully booked.

For: March 23, 2026

>>Stocks Surge On News Of Iran Talks

(New York, NY) -- Wall Street opened with stocks sharply higher after President Trump said the U.S. has held constructive talks with Iran and will hold off targeting Iranian energy infrastructure. Stocks rallied although Iran denied that any talks were held. Global oil prices pulled back as investors weighed developments amid uncertainty about the duration of the Middle East conflict.

>>Gas Prices Near $4 On Average

(Heathrow, FL) -- The average price of a gallon of gas is creeping closer to the four-dollar mark. Triple-A puts today's national average at three dollars and 95 cents as we start off the work week. Drivers in California are paying the most and well above that, at five-76 on average. A week ago, national averages were hovering around three-69 a gallon. A month ago - just before the start of the war in Iran - they were at two-94.

>>CBS News Radio To End After Nearly A Century

(New York, NY) -- CBS News is laying off six-percent of its staffers and shuttering its decades-old CBS News Radio service. Friday's announcement from the Tiffany Network is the latest round of overhauls from its editor in chief, Bari Weiss, who was hired in late 2025 to reshape its news division that's seen a sharp decline in ratings. The six-percent slash represents about 60 employees. The closing of CBS News Radio marks the end of an historic institution. The operation started in 1927, and gained a worldwide audience with Edward R. Murrow's World War Two reports from London.

>>Jury Rules Elon Musk Misled Investors Before Twitter Deal

(San Francisco, CA) -- A federal jury says Elon Musk misled Twitter investors as he pushed to lower the price of his 44-billion-dollar takeover. Jurors in San Francisco found Musk intentionally downplayed the company's value in 2022 by claiming the platform, now called X, was riddled with fake accounts. His statements helped drive down Twitter's stock price for months. The amount Musk will have to play in damages to investors will be determined later, but it may end up in the billions. Bloomberg says Musk's net worth is around 650 billion dollars.

>>Department Of Justice Seizes Four Websites Used By Iran For Cyberattacks

(Washington, DC) -- The website that the Iranian hacker group Handala used for their cyberattack on medical equipment company Stryker Corporation has been seized by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ seized four websites used by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security to spread threats, propaganda, and claim responsibility for hacks. Stryker was a cyberattack victim earlier this month, with the attack disrupting their international network but not impacting any of their medical devices used in healthcare.

>>Gas Ranges Recalled Over Burn Hazard Risk

(Bethesda, MD) -- Electrolux is recalling over 17--thousand Frigidaire gas ranges due to an oven-related issue. The Consumer Products Safety Commission says the recall affects about 170-thousand units sold in the U.S. and Canada. The agency said the ovens can experience delayed ignition of the bake burner, which poses a burn hazard to users. The recall involves Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery and Frigidaire Professional gas ranges. The CPSC said consumers should stop using the recalled ranges immediately and contact Electrolux, which will provide in-home installation of a new bake burner for free.

For: March 20, 2026  

>>Ahead Of The Bell  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  It comes as investors keep their eye on rising oil prices as the war against Iran continues.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 203 points to 46-021.  The S&P 500 fell 18 points to 66-06.  The Nasdaq dropped 61 points to 22-090.

>>Another Day, Another Jump In Prices At The Pump

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Prices at the pump continue to climb.  Triple-A puts the new national average at three-dollars and 91-cents after a week of steady increases.  A week ago it was three-63 and a month ago - just before the start of the war in Iran - prices were hovering around two-93 a gallon.  Drivers in California are paying the most at five-65 on average today.  Washington state is seeing gas go for five-21 a gallon and in Hawaii it has risen to five-12.  On the other side of things, Kansas and Oklahoma have the nation's lowest prices, both around three-dollars and 25-cents a gallon. 

>>FCC Approves Nexstar-Tegna Merger

(Washington, DC)  --  The FCC has approved Nexstar's six-point-two-billion-dollar proposal to take over Tegna.  FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced Thursday the agency waived a rule that stops companies from owning TV stations reaching over 39-percent of the country's households.  Meanwhile, multiple states are filing a lawsuit to block the deal.  They argue the merger violates federal antitrust laws and threatens local news.  Nexstar currently oversees more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets across the country, and the combined entity would reach nearly 60 percent of U.S. households.

>>Costco CEO Assures Signature Hot Dog-Soda Combo Will Stay $1.50

(Seattle, WA)  --  The CEO of Costco is reassuring members that the store's famous buck-50 hot dog-soda combo is safe for now.  Members of the warehouse club have been worried that the beloved deal of getting an all-beef hot dog and 20-ounce soda for one dollar and 50 cents would fall victim to the recent trend of rising food prices.  On Wednesday, CEO Ron Vachris released a video that showed him eating a hot dog at a Costco food court, and saying, "the hot dog price will not change as long as I'm around."   The deal is for Costco members only.

>>MLB Strikes A Deal With Polymarket

(New York, NY) --  Major League Baseball is partnering with Polymarket to make it "the exclusive prediction market exchange of the league."  The agreement will give Polymarket the exclusive right to use MLB marks and logos, access to official league data and marketing opportunities across the league's events and online properties.  The league also announced a separate memorandum of understanding with the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which is the main federal agency overseeing prediction markets.  This marks the league's latest step toward mitigating the risks of online betting. 

>>Saturday Is Credit Card Reduction Day

(Undated)  --  The Fed may not have reduced interest rates this week, but paying down credit cards is always a good idea and Saturday happens to be national Credit Card Reduction Day.  The day is set aside to encourage those with outstanding credit card debt to start making an effort to pay it down. 

For: March 19, 2026

>>Ahead On Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply lower on Wall Street yesterday. It comes after the Federal Reserve announced that it was leaving interest rates unchanged. It's the second time in a row the Fed has kept rates steady. In remarks after the announcement, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned there won't be another rate cut until the Board sees "progress" on inflation. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 768 points to 46-225. The S&P 500 fell 91 points to 66-24. The Nasdaq dropped 327 points to 22-152.

>>PPI Rose More Than Expected In February

(Washington, DC) -- A new report says prices rose sharply in February. The Producer Price Index measures pipeline costs that producers receive for their products, and data shows a seasonally adjusted increase of point-seven percent while the core PPI was up point-five percent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' report, food prices rose two-point-four percent, with the index for fresh and dry vegetables soaring nearly 49 percent. When looking on a 12-month basis, PPI inflation was the most since February 2025, at three-point-four percent while core was at three-point-nine percent.

>>Gas Prices Up Again

(Heathrow, FL) -- Gas prices continue climbing. The national average for a gallon of regular jumped overnight to three dollars and 88 cents, according to Triple-A. That's up four cents from Wednesday. In California, where prices are the highest in the country, drivers are paying five-61 a gallon on average.

>>USPS Low Cash Supply Warning

(Washington, DC) -- The U.S. Postal Service is warning that it may be unable to pay its workers and vendors by February 2027. Postmaster General David Steiner appeared before a House Oversight subcommittee and shared that at its current run rate, the postal service "will be out of cash in less than 12 months." Steiner is pushing for Congress to act quickly to lift borrowing limits and reform outdated regulations. However, lawmakers at the hearing signaled a mix of urgency and caution.

>>WNBA, Union Reach Verbal Agreement Including $7M Salary Cap

(New York, NY) -- The WNBA and players union have reached a verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. Reports say the deal includes a major increase in the salary cap to seven-million-dollars. The average salary for players is expected to reach around 600-thousand-dollars, while the league minimum will surpass 300-thousand-dollars. Top players could earn up to one-point-four-million-dollars under the new super-max structure. The CBA will now go to the WNBA board of governors and players for ratification.

For: March 18, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed slightly higher yesterday.  Gains in Delta Airlines and other travel-related stocks helped markets extend a rebound from the Iran conflict turmoil.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 46 points to 46-993.  The S&P 500 added 16 points to 67-16.  The Nasdaq rose 105 points to 22-479.

>>Federal Reserve To Announce Interest Rate Decision 

(Undated)  --  The Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates is coming.  The central bank is widely expected to hold its benchmark interest rate unchanged when it wraps up a two-day meeting later today.  Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference following the announcement. 

>>No Relief From Rising Gas Prices 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Get ready to pay more at the gas pump - again.  The national average for a gallon of regular has climbed to three dollars and 84 cents, according to Triple-A.  That's up from three-79 on Tuesday.  A week ago, the national average was right around three-57.  In California, where prices are the highest in the country, drivers are paying five-56 a gallon on average.  Washington state and Hawaii now also have statewide averages above five dollars.    

>>Arizona Files Criminal Charges Against Kalshi

(Phoenix, AZ)  --  Arizona is taking a prediction market platform to court.  State Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that criminal misdemeanor charges have been filed against Kalshi [[ Cal-she ]].  The brand is accused of operating an illegal gambling business in the state as well as election betting. Mayes says both of those accusations breaks state law. This comes as Kalshi sued Arizona last week, which Mayes called preemptive and "an attempt to avoid accountability."  Kalshi's website says it's federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

>>Amazon Rolls Out 1-Hour And 3-Hour Delivery Options

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is now offering delivery as fast as one hour for certain items.  The online retail giant rolled out one-hour and three-hour delivery options Tuesday.  Amazon says more than 90-thousand items including everyday household essentials, health and beauty items and over-the-counter medications are eligible to be quickly shipped.  The one-hour option is live in hundreds of cities and towns across the country.  Meanwhile, the three-hour option is available to customers in more than two-thousand cities and towns.

>>Pending Home Sales Increase In February

(Washington, DC)  --  Pending home sales unexpectedly rose in February.  The National Association of Realtors cited "improved affordability" for driving the one-point-eight percent increase in contracts signed from the prior month.  However, pending home sales declined eight-tenths percent year over year.  The Midwest led the way in monthly gains for February followed by the South and West.  Pending home sales declined in the Northeast last month. 

>>Iger Era Ending At Disney 

(Burbank, CA)  --  The incoming president of the Walt Disney Company is announcing a leadership overhaul.  Dana Walden is taking over as president and chief creative officer as Bob Iger steps aside as CEO today, passing that title on to Josh D'Amaro.  Debra O'Connell will be promoted to chair of Disney Entertainment Television.  She's currently president of the ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks. 

For: March 17, 2026  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher and oil prices fell below 95-dollars a barrel on Monday.  Stocks rallied to start the week as President Trump called for an international effort to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.  Meta shares gained more than two percent on a report the company is planning to layoff more than 20 percent of its workforce.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 387 points to 46-946.  The S&P 500 rose 67 points to 66-99.  The Nasdaq climbed 268 points to 22-374.

>>Gas Prices Jump 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  The pain at the pump continues as gas prices have jumped again.  The national average for a gallon of regular has hit three-dollars and 79 cents, according to Triple-A.  That's up from three-71 on Monday.  A week ago, the national average was at three-53.  Drivers in California continue seeing the highest prices at five-dollars and 54cents a gallon.

>>Federal Reserve To Announce Interest Rate Decision Tomorrow 

(Undated)  --  The Federal Reserve is due to announce a decision on interest rates tomorrow.  The central bank is widely expected to hold its benchmark interest rate unchanged when it wraps up its two-day meeting.

>>Hyundai Halts Sales Of Palisade SUVs

(Fountain Valley, CA)  --  Hyundai is halting sales of certain 2026 Palisade SUVs after the death of a two-year-old girl in Ohio earlier this month.  The company is announcing a major recall due to a problem with the power-folding seats which may fail to detect contact with an occupant or object.  The incident involved a Palisade SUV and affected models include the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims.  Hyundai has expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the child and is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the recall.  

>>Encyclopedia Britannica  Sues OpenAI

(Chicago, IL)  --  The 200-year-old company behind the Merriam Webster dictionaries is suing OpenAI.  Encyclopedia Britannica says the artificial intelligence firm is infringing on its copyrighted material by using the dictionary's online articles to train its technology.  Britannica says this has "cannibalized" its web traffic, and led to lost ad revenue.  The New York Times has a similar ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI.

>>Meat Packing Workers Go On Strike In Colorado

(Greeley, CO)  --  Workers are on strike at one of the country's largest meat-packing companies.  Thousands of union workers at JBS in Greeley, Colorado took to the picket lines on Monday, demanding better wages and safer working conditions.  
 

For: March 16, 2026 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed out the week in negative territory on Friday.   Stocks extended losses as investors kept an eye on the Iran war and its impact on the economy.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones lost 119 points to 46-558.  The S&P 500 fell 40 points to 66-32.  The Nasdaq dropped 206 points to 22-105.

>>Report: Trump To Announce International Escorts For Strait Of Hormuz

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is expected to announce an international coalition to escort oil tankers and other commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.  The economically-critical strait is a major transport corridor for oil and has been effectively closed by Iran since the U.S. and Israel attacked two weeks ago.  U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal that the announcement could come this week.  Meantime, oil prices have jumped and the average cost of gas in the U.S. has spiked 70 cents a gallon.

>>Gas Prices Continue To Climb 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Gas prices are on the rise to start the week.  The national average for a gallon of regular has jumped to three-dollars and 71 cents a gallon, according to Triple-A.  A week ago, the national average was three-47.  Drivers in California continue facing the highest prices in the nation at five-dollars and 52-cents a gallon today.

>>Airline CEO Ask Congress To Pay TSA

(Washington, DC)  --  Ten airline CEOs are asking Congress to pay Transportation Security Administration workers during the partial government shutdown.  They stressed in a letter on Sunday that it's a necessity for security officers and air traffic controllers to be paid, especially as the summer travel season approaches.  TSA workers missed their first full paycheck last week as the Department of Homeland Security largely remains without funding.  Democrats are refusing to fund the department until reforms are made to immigration enforcement.  In the meantime, wait times at airports across the country have been going up as workers call in sick or find other jobs.

>>Federal Reserve To Announce Interest Rate Decision This Week

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, the Federal Reserve is due to announce a decision on interest rates.  The central bank is widely expected to hold its benchmark interest rate unchanged when it wraps up a two-day meeting on Wednesday.  Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference following the announcement.  His remarks will be coming just days after a federal judge blocked subpoenas served against him by the Justice Department related to a renovation management probe.  This all comes as President Trump has continued to pressure Powell to more aggressively lower interest rates.  

>>Consumer Sentiment Declines In March

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment is hitting its lowest level of the year.  The University of Michigan's early reading for March fell about two-percent from last month.  Survey officials say gas prices and concerns about the impact of the U.S. military action in Iran are weighing on sentiment.  Year-ahead inflation expectations ended six months of declines, stalling at three-and-a-half percent. 

>>Amazon Raising Price For Ad Free Prime Video Subscription

(Seattle, WA)  --  The price of an ad-free Prime Video subscription is going up.  Amazon announced Friday upgrading to the ad-free tier will cost four-99 per month starting April 10th on top of the cost for an Amazon Prime subscription.  The ad-free tier will be rebranded as Prime Video Ultra.  It will allow users to stream on as many as five devices as the same time.  Other perks include up to 100 downloads to watch offline as well as access to 4K/UHD quality streaming.  

>>SiriusXM Do-Not-Call Settlement:  Claim Filing Deadling Nears 

(Washington, DC)  --  Time is running out to file a claim in the SiriusXM do-not-call list settlement.  It comes after a 2022 lawsuit claiming SiriusXM continued calling people who were on the National Do Not Call Registry or who directly asked the company to stop calling them.  SiriusXM denied wrongdoing, but agreed to pay 28 million dollars to resolve the claims.  The deadline to submit a claim is March 21st. A judge will consider final approval in May.

For Friday, March 13th, 2026

>>Stocks Lower On Wall Street

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed Thursday with stocks sharply lower.   It comes as the ongoing conflict in Iran takes its toll on oil prices.  The U.S. plans to release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to ease costs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones lost 739 points to 46-677.  The S&P 500 fell 103 points to 66-72.  The Nasdaq lost 404 points to 22-311.

>>States Consider Lifting gas Tax

(Undated)  --  Several states are considering suspending their gas taxes in response spiking prices at the pump due to Iran war.  Lawmakers in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, New York and California are debating the temporary relief.  The national average for a gallon of regular jumped overnight to three-59 a gallon, according to Triple-A.  A week ago, the national average was at three-25.  

>>Trump Administration Sues California Over Vehicle Emission Rules

(Washington, DC)  --  The Trump administration is suing California over the state's greenhouse gas emission rules.  The administration announced Thursday that a suit filed by the departments of Justice and Transportation argues that California's zero-emission rules are superseded by federal law, and claims, "Federal law prohibits individual states from adopting regulations related to fuel economy."  States are prohibited from adopting fuel economy regulations under the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, but California was granted waivers by the EPA under the Biden administration to enforce its vehicle emission rules.

>>Live Nation Employees Under Fire For Bragging About Price-Gouging Customers

(Undated)  --  Live Nation employees are under fire for bragging about price-gouging customers.  This comes after the company reached its tentative settlement with the DOJ on Monday in a case that had threatened to separate the company from its subsidiary Ticketmaster. A 2022 conversation between regional directors of ticketing Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold was revealed in newly released court documents during the case.  Baker wrote that "these people are so stupid" for paying high fees, with Weinhold "I almost feel bad taking advantage of them."  Live Nation previously wanted to exclude the exchanges from the antitrust trial, while an attorney for the DOJ argued that it gave a real look into how they view prices.  

>>Stryker Corporation Says All Products Are Safe To Use After Cyberattack

(Portage, MI)  --  Medical equipment company Stryker Corporation says all of its products used at hospitals around the world remain safe to use after the company was hit by a cyberattack.  The Iranian-based hacker group Handala has claimed responsibility, and Stryker says their "internal Microsoft environment" was hit.  They stress their Mako system, used for hip, knee, and shoulder procedures, was not impacted and is not connected.  Stryker says they are still investigating the attack's impact. 

>>Google Redesign Overhaul With More AI Features

(Mountain View, CA) -- Google will undergo a major redesign overhaul focusing more heavily on artificial intelligence. According to reports from ABC News, the overhaul will help users determine where they want to go and the best route to take with the introduction of two AI features. The 'Ask Maps' feature will expand conversational abilities to give suggestions for users looking for specific things such as locations to charge devices or stops on a road trip. The 'Immersive Navigation' feature will present a three-dimensional perspective designed to give a better view of where they are in the moment. The new AI-powered navigation redesign will be available through Google Maps' mobile app, as well as in vehicles equipped with the options to activate CarPlay and Android Auto. 

>>TikTok Partners With iHeartMedia For New Radio Features

(Undated)  --  TikTok is partnering with iHeartMedia.  The companies are launching TikTok Radio from iHeart, a live audio channel that will blend content from creators with music on the free iHeartRadio app and on 28 broadcast stations across the U.S.  TikTok Radio will feature segments including "Behind-the-Charts," "Hot Takes," "New Music Fridays," "On The Verge" and more.  The two are also teaming up on a slate of podcasts from popular creators for the TikTok Podcast Network.   TikTok Radio goes live for the first time today at 10 p.m. eastern.  

>>Universal Pictures To Extend Theatrical Window

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Universal Pictures will be keeping its movies in theaters longer.  The studio announced Thursday that it will extend the theatrical release window for its films to at least five weekends this year.  It will further extend it to seven weekends next year.  This marks a major shift in strategy as the theatrical has shrunk since the pandemic era.  Since theaters reopened, the average window has been around 45 days -- about half what it used to be.

For: March 12, 2026

>>Ahead On Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed on Wednesday.  Investors have been eyeing the market cautiously amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, which continues to impact oil prices.  Brent crude traded more than four-percent higher at about 92 dollars per barrel.  It comes even as hundreds of millions of barrels of oil are set to be released from the International Energy Agency's reserves.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 289 points to 47-417.  The S&P 500 fell 5 points to 67-75.  The Nasdaq jumped 19 points to 22-716.

>>Gas Prices On The Rise 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Gas prices are continuing to rise.  Triple-A reports the national average for a gallon of regular gas jumped overnight to three-dollars and 59 cents a gallon.  A week ago, the national average was at three-25.  Drivers in California are facing the highest prices in the nation at five-dollars and 36-cents a gallon. 

>>Costco Sued For Tariff Refunds

(Issaquah, WA)  --  Costco is looking to the federal government for refunds now that the Supreme Court has ruled President Trump's global tariffs were illegal.  A Costco customer is suing the company to get refunds for customers who paid higher prices.  Costco's CEO said last week that the company was looking into ways to pass refunds on to customers.  The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, argues that's not good enough and the company needs to make a clear commitment.

>>Moody's Downgrades NYC's Financial Outlook

(New York, NY)  --  In a big blow to New York City, Moody's is downgrading the Big Apple's financial outlook.  Moody's, one of the world's most important credit rating agencies, is attributing its outlook downgrade to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan to use one-billion-dollars in New York City "Rainy Day Funds" to help plug a five-point-four-billion-dollar budget deficit.  It's seen as a wakeup call to the city about its financial footing.  Moody's is maintaining its Aa2 [[ double-A-2 ]] credit rating for New York.  So that means the negative outlook won't have an immediate effect on the city's ability to borrow money. 

>>Apple Music, TikTok To Release Joint Features

(Undated)  --  Apple Music and TikTok are joining forces.  They're launching a product called "Play Full Song," which gives Apple Music subscribers the option to hear a full they song they might discover while browsing TikTok without having to leave the app.  Users can also save those songs to their Apple Music playlists.  The two companies are also introducing a "Listening Party" feature, where fans can listen to songs from a specific artists with other users and interact with each other in a chat.  Both product integrations will be rolled out worldwide in the coming weeks.  

For: March 11, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell   

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mostly lower on Wall Street.  Stocks gave up gains late in the session as investors monitored developments in the Iran War.  Oil prices retreated, but a report that Iran may be deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz weighed on market sentiment.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34 points to 47-706.  The S&P 500 lost 14 points to 67-81.  The Nasdaq rose one point to 22-697. 

>>Consumer Prices Rose In Line With Expectations

(Washington, DC)  --  Consumer prices rose about in line with what analysts were expecting in February.  The Labor Department is reporting that the consumer price index, a bellweather basket of goods and services -- excluding food and energy -- dropped to two-tenths of a percent for the month, down from three-tenths in January.  The annual inflation rate held steady for a second straight month at two-point-four percent, the lowest level since last May.  Energy prices were up half a percent while the cost of food jumped three-point-one percent.

>>Gas Prices Continue Climbing 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Another day, another jump in gas prices.  Triple-A reports the national average for a gallon of regular gas jumped overnight to three-dollars and 57 cents a gallon.  A week ago, the national average was at three-dollars and 19 cents.  Flashback to a month ago and we were at two-93.  Drivers in California are feeling the most pain at the pump with the statewide average at five-dollars and 33-cents a gallon. 

>>Plane Ticket Prices Rise With Cost Of Fuel

(Undated)  --  Airlines around the world are starting to hike ticket prices as the price of jet fuel spikes.  Costs have climbed from 85-to-90 dollars a barrel before the start of the Iran War to anywhere from 150-to-200 dollars a barrel.  Speaking at a recent industry event, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said he expected the situation in Iran to drive up airfare costs and impact the airline's financial results this quarter.  Now, Australia's Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand have both announced increases in airfare, pinning them on the conflict in Iran.  Hong Kong Airlines is bumping up its fuel surcharge by as much as 35-percent and in Vietnam, officials say airline operating costs have jumped as much as 70 percent.  Finnair has warned that even more alarming than price increases, fuel availability could become an issue if the war drags on and becomes a "prolonged crisis."  

>>Existing-Home Sales Rise In February

(Washington, DC)  --  Home sales are picking up as mortgage rates decline.  The National Association of Realtors says existing home sales increased by one-point-seven percent in February.  The group's chief economist cited improving affordability as the key factor.  Month-over-month sales of previously owned homes rose in the Midwest, South and West, but fell in the Northeast.

>>Musk Still World's Richest Person 

(Undated)  --  Elon Musk is still the richest person in the world.  Forbes is out with its list of the wealthiest people in 2026 and once again the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is on top of the list with an estimated fortune of 839-billion-dollars.  The list, which makes an effort to list all the world's billionaires, grew by 400 to more than 34-hundred this year.  In the next two spots are Google's Larry Page and Sergey Brin, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

>>George Clooney Launching Non-Alcoholic Beer Brand

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Actor George Clooney is launching a non-alcoholic beer brand.  Clooney is teaming up with entrepreneur Rande Gerber and real estate developer Mike Meldman.  On Monday, they announced Crazy Mountain, a non-alcoholic lager-style beer.  Clooney says it will give people the taste of beer without the after affects.  Crazy Mountain will debut in select U.S markets, including Los Angeles, later this month.  Clooney previously co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand with Gerber.  In 2017, they sold it to beverage giant Diageo in a deal worth up to a billion dollars.

For: March 10, 2026 

>>Ahead Of The Bell  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Monday to start off the trading week.  Stocks rebounded from steep losses after President Trump said the conflict with Iran could be over soon.  Markets also got a boost from falling oil prices and a jump in semiconducter shares.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 239 points to 47-740.  The S&P 500 rose 55 points to 67-95.  The Nasdaq climbed 308 points to 22-695.

>>G7 To Discuss Releasing Oil Reserves

(Undated)  --  Energy officials from the Group of Seven nations will discuss releasing oil reserves to help counter disruptions caused by the conflict in Iran.  The representatives from  Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States will meet virtually today to try and come up with a plan.  The U.S. thinks releasing as much as 400 million barrels, some 30 percent of reserves, will do the trick.  Oil prices are currently around 90 dollars a barrel after surging above 100 dollars this week.  The costs have spiked since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway near Iran that sees about a fifth of the world's oil traffic.

>>Gas Prices Still Rising 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Oil prices may have retreated from four-year highs, but gas prices continue to climb.  Triple-A reports the national average for a gallon of regular gas jumped overnight to three-dollars and 53 cents a gallon.  That's up from yesterday's three-48.  A week ago, the national average was at three-dollars and ten cents.  

>>Chevron Might Close More California Refineries

(Sacramento, CA)  --  Chevron says it might close more California refineries if new Cap-and-Trade rules pass.  The company claims the changes would increase costs and further threaten local fuel supplies. The proposed closures in Richmond and El Segundo would be in addition to two others that are already scheduled to close or convert operations.  Cap-and-Trade would limit permits, raise fees, and allow companies to buy pollution credits.  Chevron President Andy Walz warns gas prices could rise by over a dollar by 2030 and over 500-thousand petroleum jobs may be lost.  Another refinery operator, PBF Energy, also opposes the rules.  The California Air Resources Board argues it's the only way the state can achieve mandated climate goals.

>>Prediction Market Raises Odds Of U.S. Recession As Oil Spikes

(Undated)  --  The chances of an economic recession are rising along with oil prices.  Prediction market bettors are increasingly expecting the U.S.to slide into a recession this year.  Kalshi's market odds of that happening jumped above 34 percent on Monday.  According to the platform, the likelihood of a recession came in under 25-percent just last week.

>>Anthropic Sues Trump Administration Over Pentagon Blacklist

(Washington, DC)  --  Anthropic is filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for being blacklisted.  The artificial intelligence startup was labeled a threat to U.S. national security, which marks an extraordinary move historically reserved for foreign adversaries.  Anthropic's complaint called the actions "unprecedented and unlawful," and noted that the move is "harming Anthropic irreparably."  Defense vendors and contractors are now being required to certify that they don't use Anthropic's models in their work with the Pentagon.  

>>Live Nation Reaches Settlement In Antitrust Case 

(New York, NY)  --  Live Nation and the Department of Justice have reached a settlement in their antitrust case.  It follows a week of testimony that threatened a breakup between Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The companies had been accused of creating an illegal monopoly when they merged in 2010, inflating concert ticket prices and crushing their competition. As part of the settlement, Live Nation has agreed to change how it makes ticketing deals and will also pay damages to the states involved in the lawsuit. New York State Attorney General Letitia James says the ruling fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case, vowing she and her colleagues will continue fighting it. 

>>Zoox Expanding 

(Foster City, CA)  --  Robo taxi service Zoox is expanding. The Amazon-owned company announced Monday that it will be testing it's fleet in Dallas and Phoenix.  A small number of SUVs will be deployed to both cities with safety drivers behind the wheel who can take over at any time. This comes as both Phoenix and Dallas currently have Alphabet-owned Waymo driverless cars on its roads. Zoox operates in multiple markets, including the San Francisco Bay area, Las Vegas and Washington DC.  

For: March 9, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  Stock futures are pointing to a lower open on Wall Street as the trading week begins this morning.  Stocks finished last week sharply lower as soaring oil prices and weak jobs data rattled markets.  At Friday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 453 points to 47-501.  The S&P 500 dropped 90 points to 67-40.  The Nasdaq fell 361 points to 22-387.

>>Economic Reports On The Calendar

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, we'll get the latest data on existing home sales on Tuesday.  The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index is due the same day.  The consumer price index comes out Wednesday.  It's one of the Fed's key inflation gauges and could factor into the central bank's interest rate decision later this month.  Thursday brings weekly jobless claims, with a look at personal income and spending and a GDP revision wrapping things up on Friday.

>>Oil Hits $100 A Barrel For First Time Since 2022

(Undated)  --  Oil is topping a hundred dollars a barrel for the first time since July 2022 as the ripple effects from the conflict in Iran hit global markets.  Gas prices are also soaring, with the national average at three-47 a gallon today, according to Triple-A.  California continues to see the highest prices and five-15 and climbing.  

>>OpenAI's Robotics Head Quits After Pentagon Deal

(Undated)  --  The head of OpenAI's robotics division says she is resigning from the company.  In a post on X Saturday Caitlin Kalinowski [[ kah-lih-NOFF-skee ]] criticized OpenAI's recent deal with the Pentagon.  She wrote that the company should have spent more time deliberating provisions dealing with "surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization."  She called her resignation a matter of principle and said she still deeply respects OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and is proud of the company's robotics work.

>>Ford Recalls Over 1M Vehicles 

(Dearborn, MI)  --  Over one million Ford vehicles are being recalled for camera issues.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said two different rearview camera issues were safety concerns.  Separate notices were issued, with one stating the rearview cameras in certain Bronco and Edge vehicles may not display while in reverse gear.  The other notice says some Ford Escapes and Explorers, as well as Lincoln Corsair and Aviator vehicles may display inverted images on their rearview cameras.  Ford will notify owners through the mail to schedule a free repair. 

For: March 6, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Thursday.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down over 800 points at times during yesterday's trading session.  It comes as both gas and oil prices are rising due to the conflict in the Middle East.  U.S. crude has topped 80-dollars per barrel.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 784 points to 47-954.  The S&P 500 dropped 38 points to 68-30.  The Nasdaq fell 58 points to 22-748.

>>Jobs Report Due 

(Undated)  --  The monthly jobs report is set to be released this morning.  The report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to show around 60-thousand jobs were added in February, compared to the higher-than-expected 130-thousand created in January.  

>>States Sue To Block Trump's New Tariffs 

(Albany, NY)  --  Almost half of the nation is suing to block President Trump's new tariffs just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court found his previous levies illegal.  New York Attorney General Letitia James, says, "This latest attempt is nothing more than an effort to sidestep the Supreme Court and impose tariffs that the President does not have the authority to enact."  She said the President is driving up costs for consumers, companies and states, "creating economic chaos."  Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield quoted a recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York report that concluded, "Americans, not foreign countries or companies, are paying for 87-percent of his unlawful tariffs."  The lawsuit asks the U.S. Court of International Trade to stop implementation of the new tariffs which the President is imposing based on a 1974 Trade Act Law that's never been used before.

>>Nasdaq Opens Texas Exchange

(San Antonio, TX)  --  Nasdaq opened its new Texas exchange Thursday in a special bell ringing ceremony at the Alamo, on the 190th anniversary of the famous Texan defeat at the hands of the Mexican army.  Nasdaq Texas allows publicly traded companies to align with Texas corporate rules while accessing Nasdaq's trading platform and investor base.  More than 200 Texas-based companies are already listed on Nasdaq.  

>>Netflix Acquires AI Filmmaking Startup Founded By Ben Affleck

(Los Gatos, CA)  --  Netflix is acquiring an AI filmmaking startup founded by actor Ben Affleck.  InterPositive builds an AI model based on existing production dailies, letting the filmmaker introduce that model into the post-production process.  It then provides the ability to mix and color, relight shots and add visual effects.  Netflix says it saw Affleck's company providing a unique set of AI tools that keeps "filmmakers at the center of the process."  The streaming service will offer access to the tech to its creative partners, having no plans to sell it commercially.  
 

For: March 5, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  Investors will be keeping a close eye on Wall Street today after stocks closed higher on Wednesday.  It came as a surge in oil prices appeared to pull back as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran escalates in the Middle East.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 238 points to 48-739.  The S&P 500 rose 52 points to 68-69.  The Nasdaq jumped 290 points to 22-807.   

>>Trump Officially Nominates Kevin Warsh For Fed Chair

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump has officially nominated Kevin Warsh for chairman of the Federal Reserve.  The White House confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday.  If confirmed by the Senate, Warsh would take over for current Chairman Jerome Powell for a four-year term.  Trump said publicly that Warsh would be his pick to replace Powell as head of the U.S. central bank over a month ago.

>>Record Numbers Of Workers Raiding 401(k) Savings

(Undated)  --  A record number of workers are raiding their 401(k) savings due to financial emergencies.  New data from Fidelity Investments shows the average 401(k) balance rose eleven percent in 2025, but a recent Vanguard report also found an uptick in hardship withdrawals.  Vanguard data shows roughly six percent of workers took a hardship withdrawal in 2025, marking a record high.  A divergent economy has given people record retirement savings, but it has also created a bigger need to dig into them.

>>Private Employers Add 63K Jobs In February

(Undated)  --  Private employers in the U.S. added 63-thousand jobs last month, according to private payroll processor ADP.  That's more than expected and the most monthly gains since last July.  The findings showed job creation was led by construction, education and healthcare.

>>Google Settles With Epic Games, Clearing Way For Fortnite Return  

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Fortnite is making a return to Google Play Store.  Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney broke the news on X Wednesday.  It comes after Google agreed to a number of changes as part of its settlement in a years-long legal battle with Epic Games.  Changes to the Play Store include lowering the commission for in-app purchases.  Recurring subscription fees will also be capped at ten percent.  The settlement still needs final approval

>>Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Trial Continues Today In NYC 

(New York, NY)  --  The antitrust Live Nation-Ticketmaster trial continues in New York City.  The long-awaited trial kicked off this week, claiming Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation created an illegal monopoly when they merged in 2010, inflating concert ticket prices and crushing their competition.  Among those taking the stand Wednesday, former Barclays Center CEO John Abbamondi.  The DOJ filed a lawsuit in an attempt to break up the monopoly and make the concert industry more competitive.  Live Nation and Ticketmaster claim their practices are fair and have never harmed competition. The trial is expected to last several weeks. 

>>Eddie Bauer Closing Up Shops  

(Seattle, WA)  --  Eddie Bauer is calling off a planned bankruptcy auction for its remaining brick-and-mortar stores.  The outdoor apparel retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month after more than a century in operation.  The hope was to find a ?buyer willing to snap up some - if not all - of its 174 stores.  Having had no luck in attracting such a buyer, a bankruptcy auction scheduled for this Friday has been canceled.  As for shoppers, they're being reminded to use up any gift cards that may be lying around by this time next week and to keep in mind that all sales are now final at Eddie Bauer.

For: March 4, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower yesterday as investors keep watch on the U.S.-Iran conflict.  Stocks fell sharply then significantly trimmed losses in volatile trading.  Oil prices pulled back after President Trump said the U.S. Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "to ensure the free flow of energy to the world."  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 403 points to 48-501.  The S&P 500 fell 64 points to 68-16.  The Nasdaq dropped 232 points to 22-516.

>>Tech Companies To Sign AI Electricity Pledge At White House

(Washington, DC)  --  Big tech companies are prepared to promise they will provide their own electricity for artificial intelligence data centers.  Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI will meet with President Trump at the White House today to sign a pledge, an effort to ease concerns over the effect of massive power consumption on the electricity bills of regular customers.  In his State of the Union speech last week, Trump said the companies could build their own power plants. 

>>ADP Employment Report Due 

(Undated)  --  The employment scene is in the spotlight this week.  The ADP employment report will be released today.  It's expected to show around 48-thousand new jobs created in February.  ADP's report for January showed employers in the private sector added just 22-thousand jobs that month.  After that, we'll get a look at weekly jobless claims on Thursday and the monthly jobs report wraps up the week on Friday. 

>>Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Trial Begins In NYC 

(New York, NY)  --  Opening statements took place in New York City Tuesday in the long-awaited Live Nation-Ticketmaster trial.  It's a landmark antitrust trial with the Justice Department and 39 states claiming the world's largest ticket provider has jacked up prices of concerts, sports and theater.  At issue is Ticketmaster's 2010 merger with Live Nation, the largest owner of arenas and the biggest concert promoter in the world.  The DOJ claims that merger created an illegal monopoly that crushes competition and inflates ticket prices.  The lawsuit is an attempt to break up that monopoly.  Witnesses expected to testify include Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, Kid Rock, Drake's manager Adel Nur and several other company executives, promoters and venue owners.

>>Dog Treats Recalled

(Undated)  --  Attention dog owners, a popular dog treat sold at feed stores in several stores in the South is being recalled.  Elite Treats says its Elite Treats Chicken Chips for Dogs are being recalled for possible salmonella contamination.  The treats were sold in a six-ounce bag that is black and gold, has the lot number 24045, and an expiration date of April 2027.  They were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  Those who have the recalled treats should throw them away.

For: March 3, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed yesterday as investors took in the widening conflict in the Middle East.  Stocks trimmed losses in late trading after a sharp morning selloff.  A rally in tech shares and a rise in defense stocks helped fuel the comeback as oil prices moderated.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 73 points to 48-904.  The S&P 500 rose two points to 68-81.  The Nasdaq gained 80 points to 22-749.

>>Oil Shipping Severely Restricted Through Strait Of Hormuz

(Undated)  --  Oil shipping has nearly stopped through the Strait of Hormuz as Iran threatens to attack any tanker that tries to pass through the critical energy corridor.  About one-fifth of the world's oil typically moves through the strait, movement that ground to a halt after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.  Some 150 tankers have been left stranded and the situation is sending oil prices surging.  Companies are rerouting ships around the southern tip of Africa, which is greatly increasing shipping times and costs.  About 70 percent of the oil sent through the strait is bound for Asia. 

>>Court Rejects Trump Admin's Tariff Appeal

(Washington, DC)  --  A federal appeals court is rejecting a Trump administration request to delay issuing tariff refunds after the Supreme Court ruled last month that most of President Trump's global tariffs are illegal.  The administration had asked for 90 days to try and find a political solution.  The Supreme Court decision ushered in numerous lawsuits seeking refunds, from companies including FedEx and Costco.  Monday's ruling lets the process begin now.

>>Apple Announces iPhone 17e

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple is unveiling the iPhone 17e as part of its new hardware rollout this week.  It starts at 599 dollars and will be available in stores next Wednesday, March 11th.  Apple calls it "a powerful and more affordable addition to the iPhone 17 lineup."

>>Paramount+, HBO Max To Combine

(Burbank, CA)  --  Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery will combine streaming services once their merger is complete.  Paramount CEO David Ellison discussed the plans to make Paramount-Plus and HBO Max one streaming service during a call with investors on Monday.  He added HBO will "operate with independence" as a brand.  This comes after Netflix pulled out of a deal to buy Warner Bros.' studio and streaming businesses on Friday, clearing the way for Paramount.  The 110-billion-dollar merger is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

>>Southwest Airlines 'Refining' New Seating Process

(Dallas, TX)  --  Southwest Airlines is "refining" its new seating policy. The airline's announcement follows complaints from some Southwest customers over the new policy. Southwest sent an email to customers on Friday, sharing that "several enhancements" are being made to help tackle newer issues caused by the transition to assigned seating. Changes include plans to upgrade the majority of its aircraft's cabins with larger overhead bins and designate certain bins as reserved for use by those who purchased a more premium "Extra Legroom" option.  

For: March 2, 2026

>>Wall Street Braces For Volatile Trading On Iran Fears

(New York NY) -- Investors are expecting a volatile day on Wall Street today. The price of oil is already surging on fears the situation in Iran could disrupt supply. Crude futures have jumped roughly ten percent in recent trading, reaching around 80 dollars a barrel, with analysts warning that prices could spike further. Meanwhile, all U.S. stock markets are positioned to open lower this morning after all three major averages ended February in the red. At the closing bell on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 521 points to 48-977. The S&P 500 fell 29 points to 68-78. The Nasdaq dropped 210 points to 22-668.

>>OPEC Boosting Output After Iran Strikes

(Vienna) -- OPEC and other oil-producing countries say they'll increase output to help offset any shortfalls from Iran. The move was announced Sunday. The group is taking action after the start of military strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. Oil tankers are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, a critical corridor that typically sees around a quarter of the world's oil trade.

>>Jobs Report Due This Week

(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week ahead, any potential fallout from U.S. military operations in Iran will grab the spotlight. The ADP employment report will be released on Wednesday, followed by weekly jobless claims on Thursday. The monthly jobs report wraps up the week on Friday. Most analysts are expecting to see around 54-thousand jobs in February, compared to the 130-thousand added in January.

>>Apple Has New Hardware To Show Off

(Cupertino, CA) -- Apple is planning to unveil some new hardware this week. The tech company will skip the standard one-day event and announce new products over three days - starting today. One of those offerings is the iPhone 17e, expected to start at 599 dollars. A couple of new iPads are also expected to be rolled out.

>>Box Office Results

(Undated) -- "Scream7" dominated the weekend box office with a franchise-best 64-million dollars in the U.S. and roughly 97-million worldwide. That makes the latest installment in Scream horror series one of the biggest openings this year. Family-friendly "GOAT" finished second with about 12-million.