Rate Cuts, Visa Alterations, and New Partnerships

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 0.25% on September 17, 2025, marking the first cut since December 18, 2024, with only one committee member voting against it [3] - Pfizer announced the acquisition of Metsera, a weight-loss drug developer, in a deal valued at $7.3 billion, coinciding with a projected global obesity drug market reaching $150 billion by 2030 [3] - BP announced the abandonment of its Netherlands biofuel plant due to weak demand, following similar halts in Australia, Germany, and the United States [3] Group 2 - U.S. import prices rose by 0.3% in August 2025, following a 0.2% increase in July 2025, while export prices also increased by 0.3% in August 2025 after a 0.3% jump in July 2025 [3] - The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.3% in August 2025, with variations across states [3] - Cracker Barrel reported a 4.4% revenue decrease in its fourth quarter earnings for fiscal year 2025, attributed to a failed rebranding campaign [3] Group 3 - Netflix signed a co-marketing deal with Anheuser-Busch InBev, allowing InBev to advertise on Netflix's live shows and create limited edition packaging for popular shows [3] - President Trump increased the H-1B worker visa threshold to $100,000 to discourage overseas hiring, impacting major tech companies reliant on these visas [3] - A Pew Research study indicated that 53% of U.S. adults believe AI will worsen critical thinking abilities, while 50% think it will negatively affect meaningful relationships [3]