The footwear company Allbirds announced a major pivot on Wednesday, shifting its business from shoes to artificial intelligence and rebranding as NewBird AI. The announcement caused its stock to surge more than 500%, despite the company’s small market value and recent financial struggles. The new strategy focuses on building AI compute infrastructure by acquiring high-performance hardware and leasing access to customers under long-term contracts, with … Continue reading Struggling shoe retailer Allbirds makes bizarre pivot to AI

Chevron is increasing imports of Venezuelan crude oil to its U.S. refineries, including a key facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in an effort to help ease gasoline prices during a global oil supply squeeze linked to the Iran war. A senior Chevron executive said the company is running the refinery continuously and using shipments of heavy Venezuelan oil to expand supply and reduce costs for consumers. … Continue reading Chevron says Venezuelan oil imports are helping curb U.S. gas prices

U.S. stocks rose sharply on Tuesday, bringing the S&P 500 close to an all-time high as optimism grew over possible renewed talks between the United States and Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also gained, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed as investors reacted to hopes that the conflict could be contained. Oil prices eased as markets anticipated that successful diplomacy could prevent prolonged disruptions to … Continue reading Wall Street rallies to the edge of its all-time high as oil prices ease

The Walt Disney Company announced it will lay off about 1,000 employees across its film, television, ESPN, and technology divisions as part of an internal restructuring. CEO Josh D’Amaro said the company is streamlining operations to create a more agile and tech-focused workforce in a rapidly changing industry. Reports suggest that units such as Marvel Studios were significantly affected, particularly in areas like visual effects. … Continue reading Disney lays off 1,000 employees across TV and film

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into Lululemon Athletica over concerns that its activewear may contain PFAS, known as “forever chemicals.” The probe will examine whether the company’s products include substances that consumers would not expect based on its marketing claims. Lululemon Athletica says it does not use PFAS in its products and claims it phased out limited use in 2023, while also cooperating with … Continue reading Texas attorney general probes Lululemon over potential ‘forever chemicals’ in its activewear

U.S. stocks rebounded on Monday after an early drop, as investors remained hopeful that tensions between the United States and Iran could ease despite a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all closed higher, led by gains in technology shares. Oil prices, which had traded above $100 a barrel earlier in the day, pulled back by the close. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped … Continue reading Stocks rally, oil dips below $100 a barrel

McDonald’s is planning to expand its U.S. drink menu later this year with new beverages, including a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, according to reports. The rollout is expected to begin in August and will also include drinks like Dirty Dr Pepper and Mango Pineapple Refresher. The company aims to price these items lower than competitors such as Starbucks, Dutch Bros, and Sonic to attract cost-conscious … Continue reading McDonald’s to add energy drinks, crafted sodas to US menus

Asia-Pacific markets fell on Monday as investors reacted to escalating tensions after U.S.-Iran talks collapsed and a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports was announced. The breakdown in negotiations raised fears that the conflict could last longer, driving a sharp surge in global oil prices. West Texas Intermediate rose above $104 a barrel and Brent crude climbed above $102, adding pressure to global inflation concerns. … Continue reading Asia markets trade lower as oil surges after U.S. moves to blockade Iran ports

U.S. economic growth slowed more than expected in the fourth quarter, with GDP rising at an annual rate of 0.5%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The slowdown was driven by weaker government spending and exports, partly linked to a 43-day federal funding lapse. Consumer spending and investment still supported growth, but overall momentum fell sharply from earlier in the year. The economy expanded 2.1% … Continue reading Economic growth downgraded to 0.5 percent

The United States Postal Service announced it will temporarily suspend employer contributions to federal retirement annuities to preserve cash amid a severe financial crisis. The agency also proposed raising postage rates, including increasing the price of a Forever stamp to 82 cents, pending regulatory approval. Officials said the move is intended to maintain payroll, supplier payments, and mail service, while warning the United States Postal Service could run out … Continue reading USPS to suspend pension contributions, seeks 4-cent stamp price hike

Minutes from the Federal Reserve March meeting show officials still expect to cut interest rates later this year despite uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and tariffs. Policymakers said the war could push them toward easier monetary policy if higher gas prices weaken consumers and the labor market. They emphasized the need to remain “nimble” as inflation stays above target and employment growth remains relatively flat. Most participants anticipated … Continue reading Fed officials still foresee rate cut this year

Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $99 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of monopolizing farm equipment repair services. The lawsuit claimed the company restricted access to repair software and worked with authorized dealers to limit independent repairs, leading to higher costs for farmers. Although Deere denies wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to resolve the case, which still requires … Continue reading Deere & Co agrees to pay $99 million to settle ‘right to repair’ lawsuit

Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines are raising checked bag fees by $10 as airlines respond to rising jet fuel costs. Southwest will charge $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second, while Delta’s new fees apply to domestic and some international flights booked starting Wednesday. These increases follow similar moves by other major carriers, including United Airlines and JetBlue Airways, as … Continue reading Delta, Southwest raise checked bag fees $10 amid jet fuel price surge

Oil prices fell sharply—by nearly 15%—after President Donald Trump delayed planned military strikes on Iran and signaled a potential two-week ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign minister said shipping through the strait would be allowed during this period under coordination with its military, and Tehran agreed to enter negotiations with the United States. Markets reacted positively, with global stocks rising, bond … Continue reading Oil prices plunge and stocks jump after Trump announces conditional ceasefire with Iran

Samsung Electronics shares rose after the company forecast record quarterly profit driven by strong demand for AI-related chips. The company projected operating profit of about 57.2 trillion won for the first quarter, far higher than a year earlier and above market expectations. Revenue was also expected to jump significantly, reflecting booming sales in its memory chip business. Demand for high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI computing … Continue reading Samsung shares rise after profit seen jumping 8-fold

SpaceX outlined plans for its upcoming IPO, saying it will allocate an unusually large portion of shares to retail investors. The company’s CFO said retail participation will be a major focus, reflecting long-term support from everyday investors. SpaceX plans to host thousands of retail investors at events in June as part of its IPO roadshow. The offering is expected to raise about $75 billion and could … Continue reading SpaceX lays out IPO details, targets early June

Asian markets mostly rose on Monday as investors monitored the ongoing war in Iran, rising oil prices, and upcoming statements from President Donald Trump. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi both posted gains, while some regional markets remained closed for holidays. Oil prices continued to climb, with both U.S. crude and Brent crude increasing amid concerns about prolonged conflict and disruptions to the Strait … Continue reading Asian shares mostly gain while oil prices keep rising

Businesses across the U.S., including College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving co-founder Nick Friedman, are facing rising costs due to higher fuel prices, insurance, and economic pressures tied to the U.S.-Iran war. While large companies like airlines and Amazon have introduced surcharges or raised fees to offset costs, smaller businesses say they have less flexibility to pass those increases on to customers. Higher energy prices … Continue reading U.S.-Iran war ‘tax’ begins to hit American businesses and consumers

Federal officials issued a public health alert for certain frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets sold at Walmart due to possible unsafe levels of lead. The alert applies to 29-ounce bags of Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets with specific lot and expiration codes. The issue was identified during routine testing, and the product may still be stored in consumers’ freezers even though it … Continue reading Dinosaur chicken nuggets sold nationwide at Walmart may contain lead

A pharmaceutical company, K.C. Pharmaceuticals, has recalled over 3 million bottles of over-the-counter eye drops due to concerns about a “lack of assurance of sterility” identified by the FDA. The recall affects multiple products sold under various brand names at major retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall, meaning the products may cause temporary or … Continue reading Eye drops recalled over safety concerns, FDA says

Raw Farm is recalling several raw milk cheddar cheese products after an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to nine illnesses across California, Texas, and Florida. Three people have been hospitalized, including one who developed a serious complication, and more than half of the cases involve children under five. The FDA says all interviewed patients reported consuming raw dairy products, though testing has not yet confirmed … Continue reading California dairy recalls raw milk cheese linked to E. coli outbreak

Amazon is introducing a 3.5% “fuel and logistics-related surcharge” on fees for third-party sellers using its fulfillment services, effective April 17 in the U.S. and Canada. The company said the move is in response to rising transportation and operating costs driven by higher oil prices tied to the ongoing Iran-related conflict. Amazon emphasized that the surcharge is temporary and meant to offset increased costs, and it claims … Continue reading Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers

United Airlines is raising checked bag fees by $10 for tickets purchased starting Friday, with increases applying to first, second, and third bags across most routes. The airline said the first bag will rise from $35 to $45 and the second from $45 to $55, while the third bag will increase to $200, with higher prices for last-minute payments. The move follows similar increases by competitors … Continue reading United Airlines checked bag fees climbs $10-50

Tesla shares fell more than 5% after its first-quarter report showed lower deliveries and production compared with the previous quarter, despite modest year-over-year growth. The company delivered about 336,681 vehicles in Q1, slightly above last year but below analyst expectations. Overall vehicle sales have been declining in recent years, and Tesla’s stock is down roughly 20% in 2026. The bulk of deliveries still comes from its Tesla Model … Continue reading Tesla’s stock suffers steepest drop of 2026 on disappointing deliveries report

Hershey announced it will return all Reese’s products to their classic recipes starting next year, following criticism over the use of cheaper ingredients in some items. The company said that by 2027, products that currently use alternative coatings will switch back to traditional milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It also plans to make additional changes, including introducing natural colors and improving the creaminess of Kit-Kat, … Continue reading Hershey says it will shift back to classic recipe for all Reese’s products