The chief executive of American Eagle Outfitters resisted pressure on social media to pull its provocative ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney — telling his charges to remain calm in the face of accusations that the brand was promoting racist and sexist tropes, according to a report.In the weeks that followed, the campaign proved to be a hit — bringing in almost a million new customers to American Eagle between July and September, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company’s stock surged and sales o ...

Midtown’s tallest-ever skyscraper, to be anchored by Ken Griffin’s financial companies, has gotten the green light in a 48-0 vote by the City Council — a rare unanimous endorsement by the often development-averse body.The plan for a new 350 Park Ave. represents a remarkable personal commitment by mega-billionaire Griffin, who’s a partner with two major development companies — privately held Rudin and publicly traded Vornado Realty Trust.The 1,600-foot-tall tower will dwarf Midtown’s current cloudbuster king ...

Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit that President Donald Trump brought against the company over the suspension of his account following the January 2021 US Capitol riots, a court filing showed on Monday.Trump filed lawsuits against Twitter, now known as X, and Facebook owner Meta, as well as Alphabet’s Google, and their chief executives in July 2021, alleging they unlawfully silenced conservative viewpoints.Both Meta and X agreed earlier this year to pay to settle the ...

Group 1 - Comcast will appoint President Michael Cavanagh as co-CEO, adopting a dual chief executive model as part of a restructuring plan [1][4] - The company plans to spin off its NBCUniversal cable channels, including USA Network and CNBC, into a new entity called Versant later this year [4][7] - Cavanagh will join the board and is expected to help lead the company through its transition to drive growth [4][6] Group 2 - Comcast is restructuring its largest business unit, which includes Xfinity internet, mobile, and pay TV services, by eliminating a layer of management and cutting jobs [5] - The company is responding to intense competition in its broadband business from wireless telecom providers by introducing national pricing, five-year price guarantees, and bundled mobile and broadband packages [6]

The value of America’s gold hoard has topped $1 trillion for the first time as bullion smashes through record highs.Prices surged above $3,824.50 an ounce on Monday, extending a 45% rally this year that has been fueled by safe-haven buying at a time of trade wars, geopolitical turmoil and fears of a government funding crisis.The US Treasury holds the world’s largest stockpile — about 261.5 million ounces — locked away in vaults at Fort Knox, West Point, Denver and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 3 T ...

Core Viewpoint - Cannabis stocks experienced significant gains following President Donald Trump's promotion of a video advocating for the inclusion of cannabidiol (CBD) under Medicare coverage [1][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Tilray Brands surged nearly 20% and was up 36% after market open [1]. - Canopy Growth jumped about 20%, while Cronos Group rose 13% [1]. - Aurora Cannabis climbed 13.3%, and Trulieve Cannabis spiked almost 20% [1]. - Green Thumb Industries, Curaleaf Holdings, and Innovative Industrial Properties also saw considerable share price increases [3]. Group 2: Video Promotion and Content - The video produced by The Commonwealth Project features Trump and a narrator advocating for wider access to CBD for seniors [6][9]. - The narrator claims that hemp-derived CBD can significantly improve the quality of life for older adults [7][10]. - The video suggests that CBD can help restore the endocannabinoid system and assist with pain, sleep, and stress [10]. Group 3: Regulatory Context - Trump previously indicated he was considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous substance, although no action has been taken yet [8]. - The timing of the video promotion coincides with Congress deliberating on tightening hemp regulations, with some Republicans advocating for stricter limits on CBD products containing trace amounts of THC [8].

Core Viewpoint - Electronic Arts (EA) is going private in an all-cash deal valued at $55 billion, marking the largest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history, with shareholders receiving $210 per share [1][10]. Company Overview - EA is renowned for popular video games such as The Sims, Madden NFL series, and FIFA, and has been in the gaming industry since 1982 [4][10]. - The company’s market value increased from approximately $43 billion to a record high of around $48 billion following the announcement of the deal [4]. Deal Structure - The acquisition involves a $36 billion equity check and $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan [5][12]. - The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) will roll over its existing 9.9% stake and become the majority investor in the new structure [4]. Investor Insights - Jared Kushner, leading Affinity Partners, expressed excitement about EA's management and vision for the future, highlighting a personal connection to the company's games [5]. - Silver Lake, a technology-focused private equity firm managing about $110 billion, is also a key investor in this deal [8]. Timeline and Future Outlook - The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, with a 45-day window for other proposals [8]. - EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, expressed enthusiasm about continuing as CEO and pushing the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology [7].

OPEC+ will likely approve another oil production increase of at least 137,000 barrels per day at its meeting next Sunday, as rising oil prices encourage the group to try to further regain market share, three sources familiar with the talks said.OPEC+ has reversed its strategy of output cuts from April and has already raised quotas by more than 2.5 million barrels per day, representing about 2.4% of world demand, to boost market share and after coming under pressure from President Trump to lower oil prices.E ...

Maple Street Biscuit Company, a Cracker Barrel-owned restaurant chain, shuttered more than a dozen locations that fell short of its financial expectations. Cracker Barrel warned in its earnings call last week that 14 locations would be impacted by the closures during fiscal 2026. However, Cracker Barrel told FOX Business that it had already closed the locations.“We appreciate the continued patronage of the many guests who have dined with Maple Street at these 14 locations over recent years and thank our tea ...

Core Insights - Comcast is spinning off its cable division, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a new publicly traded company named Versant, expected to launch by the end of 2025 under the ticker VSNT [4][5] - The spin-off is structured to be tax-free for Comcast shareholders, who will receive shares in Versant, which will start with approximately $7 billion in annual revenue and minimal debt [5] Group 1: Layoffs and Reorganization - NBC News has laid off fewer than a dozen staffers from its graphics unit, which historically supported both NBC News and MSNBC, as part of the preparations for the spin-off [1][3] - The shared graphics team has been reorganized, with some employees moving to Versant while others remain with NBC News, and several being cut entirely [3][11] Group 2: Changes in Operations - Joint editorial meetings between NBC News and MSNBC will cease, and they will no longer share content, except for NBC's Decision Desk, which will be used by MSNBC for election coverage until the end of the year [9][11] - MSNBC will rebrand as "MS NOW" starting in November, shedding the "NBC" name and the iconic peacock logo, while moving into new studios in New York [14] Group 3: Future Plans for Versant - Versant executives are establishing an independent newsroom and standards operation to replace NBC's editorial support, indicating a shift towards greater independence for MSNBC [11] - Programming and marquee hosts at MSNBC are expected to remain intact, with plans to expand news coverage and strengthen reporting ranks [15]