Online retailer Amazon is ending its "Try Before You Buy" service, which allows its prime customers to try out a half-dozen apparel items at a time for a week before deciding which ones they want to keep. The e-commerce giant announced on its website that the program would end on Jan. 31.  When asked about the reason behind the decision, an Amazon spokesperson told FOX Business the company heard from customers that they prefer to shop from Amazon’s broader selection of clothing and accessories, which offers ...

DEI Policies and Corporate Responses - Meta has removed tampons from men's rooms as part of its post-election shakeup, reflecting a broader trend of companies reevaluating DEI policies [1] - At least a dozen major US companies and hundreds of universities have rolled back DEI commitments, including Walmart, Meta, and Ford [1] - Apple's board of directors urged shareholders to reject a proposal to end DEI programs, arguing it would be unnecessary [2] - Apple defended its DEI programs despite a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action and public pressure from activists [2] - The National Center for Public Policy Research proposed Apple ditch DEI efforts, citing increased risk of discrimination lawsuits [3] - Apple stated the proposal was unnecessary and would restrict its ability to manage business operations and strategies [4] - DEI initiatives have been criticized by conservatives as divisive and discriminatory, while proponents argue they address racial divides and support marginalized groups [4] - A majority of America's largest companies still maintain DEI programs, with Costco also defending its policies and urging shareholders to reject proposals to end them [5] Stock Performance - Walmart Inc (WMT) stock last traded at $91.58, down $1.43 (-1.53%) [5] - Meta Platforms Inc (META) stock last traded at $615.86, up $5.14 (+0.84%) [5] - Ford Motor Co (F) stock last traded at $9.68, up $0.03 (+0.26%) [5] - Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) stock last traded at $936.94, up $9.57 (+1.03%) [6] - Apple Inc (AAPL) stock last traded at $236.85, down $5.85 (-2.41%) [7]

Telecom giant AT&T on Wednesday announced that it will offer bill credits to customers who are affected by network outages as part of an initiative to attract customers in the wake of the industry experiencing several significant disruptions last year. In February 2024, AT&T was hit with a nationwide wireless service disruption that lasted more than 12 hours, blocked over 92 million calls and prevented over 25,000 attempts to contact the 911 emergency call line. The company provided a bill credit to affecte ...

Group 1 - The U.S. Department of Defense has added Tencent Holdings to its blacklist of companies allegedly aiding the Chinese military, as part of the annual update required under the NDAA of FY2021 [1] - The blacklist now includes 134 companies, serving as a warning to American firms against collaboration with these Chinese entities, which can damage their reputations [2] - Following the announcement, Tencent's shares fell by 7.3%, resulting in a loss of approximately HK$275 billion ($35.4 billion) in market value [3] Group 2 - Tencent has labeled the DOD's decision as a "mistake" and stated that it would seek to correct its inclusion on the blacklist, potentially through legal actions [4]

Investment Overview - Woven by Toyota will invest $44.3 million into Interstellar Technologies (IST) as part of its Series F fundraising [1] - This investment is expected to be completed "by the first close" of the fundraising round [1] Business Alliance - A business alliance has been established between Woven by Toyota and IST, focusing on leveraging automotive industry expertise for rocket manufacturing [2] - Woven by Toyota's CEO expressed excitement about collaborating on mass production of rockets, aiming to combine manufacturing capabilities and expertise [2][3] Strategic Goals - IST aims to transition rocket manufacturing into a high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable process by utilizing Toyota's production methods [2] - The partnership will include appointing a director from Woven to IST's board and enhancing supply chains and corporate governance [3] Industry Context - The Japanese government aims for approximately 30 rocket launches per year by the early 2030s to meet growing domestic and international demand [5] - In 2022, only three rockets were launched in Japan, indicating significant room for growth in the industry [5] Historical Collaboration - Woven by Toyota and IST have been collaborating since 2020 through personnel exchanges, indicating a long-term relationship [4]

Ford Mustang Sales Trends - Traditional Ford Mustang sales declined by 9.5% in 2024, with 44,003 units sold compared to 48,605 in 2023 [1] - Mustang Mach-E sales increased by 26.9% in 2024, reaching 51,745 units, surpassing traditional Mustang sales [2] Ford's EV Performance - Ford's total electrified vehicle sales, including hybrids and fully-electric vehicles, reached 285,291 units in 2024, a 38% increase from the previous year [2] - Ford's EV sales outperformed competitors GM and Stellantis in 2024 [2] Ford's EV Strategy and Initiatives - Ford attributed part of its EV sales growth to the Ford Power Promise program, which includes a complimentary home charger and EV support [4] - The company extended the Ford Power Promise offer through March 31, 2025, to capitalize on growing EV interest [4] Adjustments to Ford's Electrification Strategy - Ford revised its electrification strategy in 2024 due to slower-than-anticipated sales, including canceling plans for a new electric three-row SUV [6] - The company temporarily paused production of the F-150 Lightning, extending the pause from late November 2023 to early January 2024 [6] Financial and Operational Challenges - Ford projected a $5 billion loss on its EVs in 2024, with CEO Jim Farley emphasizing the need to reduce production costs to improve EV sales [7] Vehicle Recalls - Ford recalled nearly 400,000 trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles for various reasons, though specific details were not provided in the content [3]

Disney and FuboTV on Monday announced a planned merging of Hulu Live + TV and Fubo.   The two businesses will form a combined virtual multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) company that "will operate under the Fubo publicly traded company name," the companies said.  Disney will have a 70% ownership stake in Fubo.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE The combination "will facilitate an enhanced choice of programming packages and address a variety of consumer preferences at attractive price p ...

Boeing 737 MAX 9 Incident and FAA Oversight - Investigators found that four key bolts were missing from the door plug of a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, leading to a panel blowout at 16,000 feet during a flight on Jan 5, 2024 [1] - The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive, temporarily grounding all MAX aircraft with this type of plug door [2] - The FAA has taken unprecedented steps to transform its oversight of Boeing, including conducting unannounced audits and monthly status reviews with Boeing executives [2][5][6] Boeing Whistleblower Case - A Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, was found dead in March 2024 after raising concerns about quality control issues at the company [3] - Barnett had been taking legal action against Boeing, alleging constructive discharge and seeking damages including back pay and emotional distress [4] FAA's Safety and Quality Improvement Efforts - The FAA has increased the number of inspectors on factory floors and capped production levels for the 737 Max [9] - Boeing was required to develop a comprehensive plan to address systemic production-quality problems [9] - The FAA has communicated the importance of a robust whistleblowing reporting program and ensured the independent FAA safety hotline information is shared with all Boeing employees [10] Boeing's Cultural Shift and Ongoing Challenges - The FAA chief emphasized the need for a fundamental cultural shift at Boeing, prioritizing safety and quality over profits [8] - Despite improvements, the FAA asserts that more work is needed, and the oversight project is not a one-year endeavor [8] - The FAA continues to support the NTSB's investigation of the door-plug accident and reviews recommendations to improve internal processes [6][7]

Tech giant Apple on Thursday agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit that claimed its Siri voice assistant violated users' privacy. A preliminary settlement was filed Tuesday night at a federal court in Oakland, California, which will be subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.Mobile device owners who brought the complaint alleged that Apple had routinely recorded private conversations after they unintentionally activated Siri. The suit added that those conversat ...

Walmart is doubling down on its grocery business as more consumers turn to the company for their food needs.  The nation's largest retailer reported in the prior quarter that sales at U.S. stores rose 5.3% as it continued to gain market share in the grocery and general merchandise categories. Part of the reason its seeing growth within the grocery segment, which has seen an uptick in costs from inflation, is that the company is remodeling the produce sections of its stores, and increasing the assortment of ...