Japan’s SoftBank announced it will acquire data center investment firm DigitalBridge for $4 billion as part of its push into artificial intelligence. The deal, approved unanimously by DigitalBridge’s board, values the company at $16 per share in cash, a 15% premium over its Dec. 26 closing price, and is expected to close in the second half of next year. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said the … Continue reading Softbank to buy data center firm DigitalBridge for $4 billion in AI push

Precious metals pulled back Tuesday after hitting record highs, with gold retreating to around $4,360 and silver to $74.50 as investors took profits. Equities fluctuated in quiet trading ahead of the New Year, following a strong 2025 driven by tech gains and central bank monetary easing. Asian markets saw mixed results, with Seoul and Tokyo slightly lower while Hong Kong, Singapore, and other cities rose, … Continue reading Precious metals fall again, stocks mixed as traders wind down

Elon Musk has expressed concern over China’s upcoming restrictions on silver exports, set to begin January 1, 2026, which will require government licenses for companies to trade the metal. He warned that this move could disrupt industries reliant on silver, including electronics, medicine, and renewable energy, due to its critical electrical, thermal, and chemical properties. Musk highlighted that the restrictions could trigger a global supply … Continue reading Silver Prices Soar as China’s New Export Rules Take Effect

Corporate bankruptcies hit a 15-year high in 2025, with at least 717 companies filing for Chapter 7 or 11 through November, a 14% increase from 2024, according to S&P data cited by The Washington Post. Companies blamed inflation, high interest rates, and President Donald Trump’s trade wars, which raised costs and disrupted supply chains, especially for import-dependent firms. The hardest-hit sectors were industrials such as … Continue reading Bankruptcies soared to a 15-year high in 2025 as companies struggled with trade wars

Food and drink prices continued to rise in November, with restaurant menu items like coffee, burritos, and burgers increasing faster than the overall inflation rate, according to Toast. Cold brew prices rose 4.5% year over year, while regular coffee, burritos, and burgers each climbed about 3%. Despite high costs, interest in beef surged in 2025 as the high-protein trend boosted home cooking, though shoppers favored … Continue reading Three in four say groceries so expensive they’ve cut down on other spending

Holiday travelers in the U.S. are seeing lower gas prices this December, with the national average below $3 a gallon for most of the month — the lowest since 2021, according to AAA. Fuel costs are down about 7% from last month and nearly 43% from mid-2022 highs of around $5 per gallon. AAA expects a record 122 million Americans to travel at least 50 … Continue reading Gas prices fall to four-year lows as millions embark on holiday road trips

The FDA has approved the first daily oral version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, giving Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly, whose oral obesity drug orforglipron is still under review. Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that mimic a hormone controlling appetite, similar to popular injectables like Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound, which have transformed obesity treatment for millions of Americans. Clinical trials showed … Continue reading U.S. regulators approve Wegovy pill for weight loss

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, exceeding expectations of 3.2%, according to a delayed Commerce Department report. Strong consumer spending, which rose 3.5%, along with increased exports and government spending, drove the growth, while private fixed investment dipped only slightly. Inflation remained elevated, with the Fed’s preferred personal consumption expenditures index up 2.8% and core PCE at … Continue reading U.S. economy grows by 4.3% in third quarter, much more than expected

Gold reached a record high near $4,500 per ounce, driven by a weaker dollar, geopolitical uncertainty, and expectations of dovish U.S. monetary policy. Spot gold rose 0.72% to $4,477.45, while U.S. February gold futures hit $4,530.80 intraday. Silver also surged to an all-time high above $70 per ounce, gaining 2.13% amid supply deficits, strong industrial demand, and investment inflows. Investors continue to seek safe-haven metals … Continue reading Gold extends record run while silver joins rally to new high

Menards has reached a $4.25 million settlement with multiple states, including Minnesota, over allegations of deceptive marketing in its “11% Rebate Program” and pandemic-era price gouging. Minnesota will receive $632,167 from the settlement, which also involves Wisconsin, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota. Attorneys general claimed Menards misled customers by advertising “11% off everything” while requiring rebate forms for future in-store … Continue reading Menards settles with several states in suit over 11% Rebate Program, COVID price gouging

Trump Media and Technology Group announced a $6 billion all-stock merger with fusion energy company TAE Technologies, expected to close in mid-2026, giving shareholders of each firm roughly equal stakes. Trump Media shares jumped 33% after the announcement, despite the company’s ongoing financial struggles and minimal revenue from its Truth Social platform. The merger aims to create one of the first publicly traded fusion companies, … Continue reading Trump Media announces $6 billion merger with fusion company TAE Technologies

Nike reported quarterly earnings and revenue that beat Wall Street expectations, driven by strong North American sales, though shares fell about 10% in after-hours trading due to weakness in China. For its second fiscal quarter of 2026, Nike posted earnings of 53 cents per share versus 38 cents expected, and revenue of $12.43 billion versus $12.22 billion expected. North American sales rose 9% to $5.63 … Continue reading Nike shares fall 10% as China sales plunge, tariffs hit profits

TikTok has signed agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX to form a new U.S. joint venture, allowing the platform to continue operating in the United States. The deal, expected to close on January 22, gives the investor group 50% ownership, while ByteDance and its affiliates retain 50%, with a majority-American seven-member board overseeing the company. U.S. user data will be stored locally by Oracle, … Continue reading TikTok signs deal to sell US unit to American investors

Federal prosecutors have indicted four former executives of bankrupt subprime auto dealer Tricolor, accusing them of running a multiyear “systemic fraud” scheme. Founder Daniel Chu, former COO David Goodgame, and executives Jerome Kollar and Ameryn Seibold were charged with defrauding lenders, including “double-pledging” assets to secure multiple loans. Kollar and Seibold have already pleaded guilty and are cooperating with authorities. The bankruptcy affected major banks … Continue reading Former executives of bankrupt auto dealer Tricolor indicted on fraud charges

Economists expect the Bank of England to cut interest rates to 3.75% from 4% this Thursday, following a drop in inflation to an eight-month low. November’s Consumer Prices Index fell to 3.2% from 3.6% in October, driven by easing food, drink, alcohol, and tobacco prices. The rate cut would mark the lowest borrowing cost since February 2023 and is seen as a response to cooling … Continue reading Bank of England expected to announce pre-Christmas interest rate cut

British oil giant BP has named Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill as its next chief executive, replacing Murray Auchincloss, who steps down today. Carol Howle, BP’s executive VP for supply, trading, and shipping, will serve as interim CEO until O’Neill takes over on April 1, marking BP’s fourth CEO in six years. Auchloss, who became CEO in January 2024, shifted BP’s focus back to core … Continue reading BP names new CEO — its fourth in 6 years

Millions of Hyundai and Kia owners are eligible for free repairs under a nationwide settlement over inadequate anti-theft protections. The settlement, led by Minnesota’s attorney general and joined by 34 other states, addresses vehicles lacking engine immobilizers, which left them more prone to theft. Hyundai and Kia must provide free repairs for about 9 million eligible vehicles from 2011 to 2022, at a cost that … Continue reading Millions of Hyundai and Kia owners can get free repairs from settlement

A California administrative law judge ruled that Tesla’s marketing of its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” systems is deceptive, citing that the names suggest cars can operate autonomously when attentive drivers are still required. The California DMV adopted the judge’s order but modified the penalty, giving Tesla 60 days to correct its marketing claims before potentially facing a 30-day suspension of its sales license, while its … Continue reading California judge rules that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing around Autopilot

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board could announce as early as Wednesday whether to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion takeover bid, sources say. The decision would likely favor Netflix’s $27-per-share cash-and-stock offer for Warner Bros’ non-cable assets, including its film and TV library and HBO Max. Paramount CEO David Ellison made a $30-per-share all-cash bid directly to shareholders, claiming a clearer regulatory path and financing support from … Continue reading Warner Bros. to reportedly tell shareholders to reject Paramount offer

PayPal announced Monday that it has applied to form PayPal Bank, which would allow the company to offer loans to small businesses. The move, subject to review by the FDIC and Utah’s Department of Financial Institutions, aims to expand PayPal’s banking-like services and support economic growth. The bank would also offer interest-bearing savings accounts to customers, complementing existing credit lines, CNBC has reported. CEO Alex … Continue reading PayPal applies to form bank that can offer small business loans and savings accounts

The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates Friday for the first time since January, potentially hitting their highest level in 30 years and adding pressure to debt markets. Rising yields on Japanese government bonds and a weaker yen reflect concerns over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s fiscal policies and Japan’s heavy reliance on imports. Despite a 0.6% contraction in the third quarter, inflation … Continue reading Bank of Japan expected to hike rates to 30-year high

Ford is shifting its electric vehicle strategy, canceling the all-electric F-150 Lightning and focusing more on hybrid trucks and battery storage for data centers and the power grid. The company expects nearly $20 billion in charges through 2027, with over $5 billion in cash spent in the next two years, as it pivots to meet customer demand for more affordable, practical vehicles. Future F-150 Lightnings … Continue reading Ford pivoting to hybrids and dropping all-electric F-150

Nasdaq plans to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to introduce round-the-clock trading of stocks, aiming to meet growing global demand for U.S. equities. The exchange, home to major tech companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon, is taking its first formal step toward nonstop trading five days a week, targeting a potential launch in the second half of 2026. Investor interest in extended … Continue reading Nasdaq seeks to extend trading hours, as Wall Street gears up for 24/7

iRobot, maker of the Roomba vacuum, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after agreeing to be taken private by its primary manufacturer, Picea Robotics. The company faced declining profits due to competition from lower-priced Chinese rivals, U.S. tariffs, and rising costs, generating $682 million in revenue in 2024 but struggling with debt and reduced margins. Under the bankruptcy plan, Picea will acquire 100% of iRobot’s … Continue reading Roomba maker iRobot files for bankruptcy

Oracle shares dropped 11% in extended trading after the company reported quarterly revenue below expectations, despite strong demand for its AI infrastructure. The company posted $16.87 billion in revenue, up 14% year-over-year, with cloud revenue reaching $7.98 billion and cloud infrastructure up 68%, but software revenue fell 3%, missing estimates. Oracle’s remaining performance obligations soared 438% to $523 billion, boosted by commitments from major clients … Continue reading Oracle plummets 11% on weak revenue, pushing down AI stocks like Nvidia and CoreWeave