Consumer Rights

Business

Ares Management Doubles Down on Alternative Assets: From Football Clubs to Personal Care Giant

In a strategic push beyond traditional lending, Ares Management has seized operational control of a multi-club football group and orchestrated a $1.6 billion financing to create a new global personal care platform, Evermark. The moves signal the firm's aggressive expansion into high-profile, control-oriented credit opportunities.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Eastman Chemical Navigates Earnings Slump with Deep Cuts and Bet on Advanced Recycling

Facing its weakest annual profit in years, Eastman Chemical is doubling down on cost reductions while banking on its molecular recycling technology to fuel a turnaround by 2026, despite a challenging global economic climate.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Pizza Hut Ends a Super Bowl Tradition: No More Pre-Game Ads After Decade-Long Run

In a significant shift from its long-standing marketing playbook, Pizza Hut will not advertise during NBC's Super Bowl pre-game coverage this year, ending a tradition that spanned over a decade. The move comes as the chain undergoes a strategic review and reallocates its ad budget toward other sports and partnerships.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

SoFi Challenges Brokerage Norms with $1,000 Stock Bonus for New Investors

In a bid to attract new entrants to the market, financial services firm SoFi is offering a significant stock bonus of up to $1,000 for opening a self-directed investment account, eliminating traditional barriers like commissions and minimums.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Sweetgreen Shares Slump Amid Growth Stock Sell-Off, Goldman Sachs Maintains Sell Rating

The fast-casual salad chain's stock fell sharply this week, pressured by a broader retreat in growth stocks and a reiterated sell call from Goldman Sachs, despite positive signals from the broader restaurant sector.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

UK Court Greenlights $900 Million Class Action Against Valve, as Epic Games CEO Slams Steam's "30% Junk Fee"

A UK tribunal has allowed a massive lawsuit accusing Valve of anti-competitive practices to proceed, drawing vocal support from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who calls Steam the last major platform clinging to restrictive payment rules.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Anthropic Hit with Landmark $3 Billion Lawsuit Over Alleged Use of Pirated Music to Train AI

Major music publishers have launched a massive copyright infringement lawsuit against AI company Anthropic, alleging its Claude AI was trained on a dataset of over 20,000 pirated songs, in a case that could redefine the rules for AI development.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Peet's Coffee to Shutter Dozens of Stores Nationwide, Citing Economic Headwinds

The iconic California-born chain Peet's Coffee is closing 27 locations, including outlets in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, as it navigates post-acquisition restructuring and a challenging market for mid-size coffee retailers.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Missouri Sports Betting Debut Sees Heavy Action But Ends in the Red

Missouri's inaugural month of legal sports betting attracted over $540 million in wagers, but aggressive promotions led to a net revenue loss for operators, even as the state collected millions in fees and taxes.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Citi Trims PDD Price Target to $142 Ahead of Earnings, Citing Domestic Slowdown and Temu Costs

Ahead of its Q4 2025 results, Citigroup has revised its price target for PDD Holdings downward, maintaining a Neutral stance. The adjustment reflects concerns over slowing Chinese consumer spending and rising operational costs for its international platform, Temu.

Jan 30, 2026

World

U.S. Treasury Targets Iranian Minister and Businessman in Latest Sanctions Push

The United States has sanctioned Iran's Interior Minister and a prominent businessman, accusing them of human rights abuses and money laundering, as Washington intensifies pressure on Tehran amid ongoing regional tensions.

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

CLEAR Secure Expands Government Footprint: CEO Joins NY Fed Board, Lands Major Medicare Identity Verification Contract

CLEAR Secure, the biometric identity company known for its airport expedited lanes, is deepening its ties to core government systems. CEO Caryn Seidman Becker's appointment to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's board and a new contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services signal a strategic push into financial and public health infrastructure.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Diageo Considers Exiting Indian Cricket, Weighs Sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL Franchise

Global spirits giant Diageo is exploring a sale of its high-profile Indian Premier League cricket franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as part of a strategic review of its Indian assets. Major private equity firms are circling, signaling strong interest in one of sports' most valuable properties.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

IDeaS Unveils Rate Data Advantage, Promising Deeper Market Insights for Hotel Revenue Teams

The SAS subsidiary's new enhancement leverages vastly expanded consumer rate shopping data, offering hoteliers granular visibility across room types and distribution channels to refine pricing strategies.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Swatch Group Sees Sharp Profit Drop Amid Sluggish Sales and Rising Costs

Swiss watch and jewelry giant Swatch Group reported a steep decline in full-year profit and revenue, with pre-tax earnings nearly halved as consumer demand softened and operational costs climbed.

Jan 30, 2026

World

UK PM Starmer Lands in Shanghai Amid US Trade Tensions, Leading Largest Business Delegation in Years

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai Friday with over 50 business leaders, aiming to deepen UK-China commercial ties. The visit, the first by a UK premier in eight years, comes against a backdrop of renewed US skepticism over Western engagement with Beijing.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

PennyMac Navigates Refi Surge to Post Strong 2025, Eyes Efficiency Gains Amid Competitive Market

PennyMac Financial Services capped a robust fiscal 2025 with Q4 net income of $107 million, overcoming headwinds from an unexpected wave of mortgage prepayments. While competitive pressures limited margin expansion, CEO David Spector pointed to strategic tech investments and a significant embedded refinance portfolio as catalysts for targeted mid-to-high teens ROE later this year.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Royal Caribbean Charts Course for Record Growth as Cruise Demand Hits New Highs

Buoyed by a banner 2025 and surging consumer appetite for ocean voyages, Royal Caribbean Group forecasts double-digit profit growth for 2026, signaling a full-throttle recovery for the cruise industry.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Restaurant Chains Shutter Dozens of Locations Amid Bankruptcy Wave

A growing list of casual dining chains are turning to bankruptcy court and closing underperforming stores as heavy debt loads and shifting consumer habits take their toll. The latest casualty, FAT Brands, has moved to permanently close 32 locations and reject their leases.

Jan 30, 2026