Category Archives: Business News

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged even as Trump demands cuts

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged even as Trump demands cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is leaving its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, brushing off repeated calls from President Donald Trump for a cut. The Fed’s decision Wednesday leaves its key short-term rate at about 4.3%, where it has stood after the central bank reduced it three times last year. Chair Jerome Powell has said the Fed would likely have cut rates already if not for Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Powell and other Fed officials say they want to see how Trump’s duties on imports will impact inflation and the broader economy. Two Fed governors dissented in favor of a cut.… Continue Reading

Union Pacific and Norfolk seek 1st transcontinental railroad through a massive merger

Union Pacific and Norfolk seek 1st transcontinental railroad through a massive merger

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific is seeking to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S, and potentially trigger a final wave of rail mergers across the country. The proposed merger, announced Tuesday, would marry Union Pacific’s rail network in the West with Norfolk’s rails that snake across Eastern states. The nation was first linked by rail in 1869, when a golden railroad spike was driven in Utah to symbolize the connection of East and West Coasts. Yet no single entity has controlled that coast-to-coast passage that so many businesses rely on.… Continue Reading

Wall Street coasts for now ahead of a week packed with potential flashpoints

Wall Street coasts for now ahead of a week packed with potential flashpoints

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks coasted to a quiet finish to begin a week full of potentially market-moving events. The S&P 500 edged up by less than 0.1% on Monday to set an all-time high for a sixth straight day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.3% to its own record. Stocks held steady after the United States and European Union agreed on the framework for a trade deal, one that still has many details to be worked out. Later this week will come Big Tech profit reports, a decision on interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other highly anticipated updates.… Continue Reading

US-EU deal sets a 15% tariff on most goods and averts the threat of a trade war with a global shock

US-EU deal sets a 15% tariff on most goods and averts the threat of a trade war with a global shock

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — The United States and the European Union have agreed to a trade framework setting a 15% tariff on most goods. President Donald Trump announced the agreement on Sunday after meeting with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. This deal prevents higher import taxes that could have impacted global economies. Trump described the negotiation as beneficial for both parties. Von der Leyen noted the deal brings stability and predictability for businesses. The agreement includes major U.S. energy purchases and investments by the EU. Some strategic products will have zero tariffs, but details are still being finalized.… Continue Reading

US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal

US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to more records following a trade deal between the world’s No. 1 and No. 4 economies. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% Wednesday, setting another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 507 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% to hit its own record. Stocks rallied even more in Tokyo after President Donald Trump announced a deal that would place a 15% tax on imports from Japan. That’s lower than the 25% rate that Trump had earlier threatened. Big U.S. companies continued to offer updates about how Trump’s tariffs are affecting them, and Treasury yields rose.… Continue Reading

Wall Street ticks up to another record as GM and others show how tariffs are impacting them

Wall Street ticks up to another record as GM and others show how tariffs are impacting them

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street inched to another record following some mixed profit reports, as General Motors and other big U.S. companies gave updates on how much President Donald Trump’s tariffs are hurting or helping them. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% Tuesday to beat the all-time high it set a day earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4% from its record. General Motors dropped despite reporting a stronger profit than expected, as it still sees a $4 billion to $5 billion hit this year because of tariffs. Homebuilders soared following their better-than-forecast profit reports. Treasury yields eased.… Continue Reading

US stocks set more records as Verizon begins a big week for profit reports with a beat

US stocks set more records as Verizon begins a big week for profit reports with a beat

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward more records ahead of a week full of profit updates from big U.S. companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Monday and was above its all-time high set on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 217 points, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.7% to its own record. Verizon Communications helped lead the way following its better-than-expected profit report. Other market heavyweights slated to report their results for the spring this week include Alphabet, Coca-Cola and Tesla. Stock indexes were mixed in Europe but rose in much of Asia, while Treasury yields eased in the bond market.… Continue Reading

Chevron gets go ahead for $53B Hess deal, and access to one of the biggest oil finds this decade

Chevron gets go ahead for $53B Hess deal, and access to one of the biggest oil finds this decade

HOUSTON (AP) — Chevron has scored a critical ruling in Paris that has given it the go-ahead for a $53 billion acquisition of Hess and access to one of the biggest oil finds of the decade. Chevron said Friday that it completed its acquisition of Hess shortly after the ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. Exxon had challenged Chevron’s bid for Hess, one of three companies with access to the massive Stabroek Block oil field off the coast of Guyana. Guyana is a country of 791,000 people that is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest offshore oil producer, placing it ahead of Qatar, the United States, Mexico and Norway. It has become a major producer in recent years.… Continue Reading

Wall Street hangs near its record as PepsiCo and United Airlines fly and health care stocks sink

Wall Street hangs near its record as PepsiCo and United Airlines fly and health care stocks sink

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is hanging near its records following some better-than-expected updates on the economy and a mixed set of profit reports from big U.S. companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Thursday and was just below its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 59 points, and the Nasdaq composite tacked 0.1% onto its record set the day before. PepsiCo jumped after delivering revenue and profit that topped Wall Street’s expectations. That helped offset drops for some big health care companies following their latest profit reports. Treasury yields were mixed after better-than-expected reports on retail sales and unemployment claims.… Continue Reading

Trump says he’s ‘highly unlikely’ to fire Fed’s Powell after floating that idea in private

Trump says he’s ‘highly unlikely’ to fire Fed’s Powell after floating that idea in private

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s “highly unlikely” to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. His public statement Wednesday came less than 24 hours after suggesting in a private meeting that he was leaning in favor of dismissing Powell. Trump confirmed to reporters that in a White House meeting Tuesday night with about a dozen House Republicans, he’d discussed the “concept” of dismissing Powell. The Fed chair has long been a target because of his refusal to lower interest rates as Trump wants. Trump’s team recently has accused Powell of mismanaging a $2.5 billion renovation project at the Fed. Trump said Wednesday he’s “highly unlikely” to dismiss Powell — ”unless he has to leave for fraud.”… Continue Reading

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