Commodity Costs

Business

Cuban's Healthcare Poll Exposes 'Pick-Your-Pain' Dilemma: Deductibles Edge Out Premiums in Voter Frustration

A social media poll by billionaire Mark Cuban reveals a near-even split on which part of U.S. health insurance is more financially painful—premiums or deductibles. The results, and the outpouring of personal stories in the replies, underscore a system many describe as forcing impossible choices amid relentlessly rising costs.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Charter Stems Pay-TV Bleed, Posts Surprise Q4 Subscriber Gain Amid Industry Turmoil

Charter Communications reversed a year-long decline in its pay-TV business, adding 44,000 video subscribers in Q4. The unexpected turnaround, driven by simplified pricing and bundled streaming, offers a rare bright spot for a sector grappling with soaring costs and cord-cutting.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Wholesale Price Surge Signals Persistent Inflation Pressure, Squeezing Businesses and Consumers Alike

An unexpected jump in the Producer Price Index for December underscores the stubborn nature of inflation, with rising wholesale costs threatening to ripple through the economy and sustain higher prices for households.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Electricity Bills Set to Keep Climbing Through 2026, Experts Warn Relief Is Not on the Horizon

With rising demand, grid investments, and volatile fuel costs, electricity prices are outpacing wage growth, squeezing not just low-income but now middle-class households. Policy interventions face long lead times, leaving little hope for near-term bill relief.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Barrick Taps Board Member Helen Cai as CFO, Signaling Strategic Continuity in Capital Allocation

Barrick Gold Corporation appoints Helen Cai, a current board member with deep capital markets expertise, as its new Chief Financial Officer. The move is seen as reinforcing the mining giant's focus on disciplined financial strategy and project funding in a volatile commodity market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Precious Metals Rally Collapses: Gold Plunges 9%, Silver Crashes 20% in Historic Sell-Off

A stunning reversal wiped out months of gains for precious metals on Friday, with gold futures tumbling to $4,800 and silver recording a historic single-day drop, sparking fears of a volatile new phase for commodity markets.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Silvercorp Metals Diversifies Portfolio with Strategic Gold Venture in Kyrgyzstan

Silvercorp Metals has solidified its expansion into Central Asia by acquiring a majority stake in Chaarat ZAAV CJSC, forming a joint venture with state-owned Kyrgyzaltyn to develop permitted gold projects. The move signals a strategic pivot for the historically silver-focused miner as it seeks to balance geographic and commodity risks.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Tesla's Pivot to Autonomy Divides Wall Street: Analysts Weigh 'End of an Era' Against Bullish Tech Bets

Tesla's latest earnings call, emphasizing a strategic shift towards autonomous vehicles and robotics, has drawn a spectrum of reactions from prominent investors. While some see it as a necessary evolution, others warn of significant costs and transitional risks, creating a clear divide in analyst sentiment.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Funeral Financing: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Borrowing to Say Goodbye

As funeral costs rise, many grieving families face a difficult financial decision. This article explores the realities of funeral loans, alternative funding sources, and the long-term implications of taking on debt during a time of loss.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Microsoft's AI Ambitions Face Market Scrutiny as Stock Plunges to 8-Month Low

Despite posting robust quarterly earnings, Microsoft shares tumbled over 10% as investors balked at rising costs and a cautious outlook, raising questions about the sustainability of its AI-driven growth narrative.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Royal Baby Shoe Maker Early Days Faces Closure After 73 Years, Citing Economic Squeeze

The Leicester-based manufacturer behind the iconic baby shoes worn by Prince George and his siblings warns it is likely to shut down, a victim of soaring costs and plummeting consumer demand despite its royal endorsement.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

German Inflation Edges Up to 2.1% in January, Fueled by Food and Services

Germany's inflation rate ticked higher at the start of 2025, driven by rising food costs and persistent service price increases, even as energy prices provided some relief.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Kosmos Energy's High-Stakes Refinancing: A Strategic Pivot or a Costly Gamble?

Kosmos Energy's recent debt tender offer and high-yield bond issuance signal a bold move to restructure its balance sheet. While extending maturities, the strategy comes with significantly higher interest costs, raising questions about the long-term financial trade-offs for the oil and gas explorer.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Geopolitics vs. Economics: Why Oil Giants Are Betting on Libya Over Venezuela

Despite political instability, Libya's low production costs and proximity to key markets are drawing major investment, while Venezuela's vast reserves remain hamstrung by economic and geopolitical hurdles.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Grubhub Eliminates Fees on Large Orders in Bid to Win Back Market Share

The food delivery platform is waiving delivery and service fees for orders over $50, a direct challenge to rivals DoorDash and Uber Eats, as it seeks to address customer frustration with high costs and cart abandonment.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump's 'Great' Dollar Dilemma: How a Four-Year Low Undercuts Affordability Push

President Trump's laissez-faire stance on the dollar's slide to a four-year low risks backfiring on his core promise to lower living costs, as analysts warn a weak currency could fuel inflation and thwart rate cuts.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Midwest Gas Prices Climb for Second Straight Week, Nearing $2.70 per Gallon

Drivers across the Midwest are feeling the pinch as average gasoline prices rose for a second consecutive week, with regional costs now sitting significantly below the national average.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Champion Iron Navigates Flat Market, Eyes Growth with DRPF Launch and Strategic Rana Gruber Acquisition

Champion Iron reports steady Q3 operational performance with improved costs and significant progress on its high-grade DRPF project. The company also details the fully-financed plan to acquire Norway's Rana Gruber, aiming to strengthen its foothold in the European steelmaking market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Southside Bancshares Navigates Higher Rates, Posts Q4 Profit Rebound Amid Strategic Portfolio Shift

Southside Bancshares (SBSI) reported a significant rebound in fourth-quarter earnings, driven by strategic repositioning of its securities portfolio and lower funding costs. While loan growth remained modest, executives outlined a cautious outlook for near-term margin improvement and detailed plans for technology investments and selective M&A in competitive Texas markets.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

The End of an Era? UK Retailers Rethink the Future of Free Returns

The long-standing pillar of UK e-commerce—free and unlimited returns—is facing a fundamental overhaul as soaring costs and changing consumer habits force retailers to adopt more targeted and sustainable policies.

Jan 30, 2026