Food & Beverage

Business

Valero Energy Caps Record Year with Soaring Q4 Profits, Eyes Policy Shifts and Venezuelan Crude

Valero Energy reported a robust fourth quarter, with net income surging to $1.1 billion, driven by strong refining margins and record operational performance. While renewable diesel faced headwinds, ethanol profits soared. The company outlined disciplined capital plans and highlighted potential tailwinds from policy clarity and increased access to discounted heavy crude.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Waste Management Posts Record 2025 Results, Fuels Growth Through Efficiency and Sustainability Push

Waste Management capped off a strong 2025 with record cost performance and margin expansion, driven by operational discipline and its growing sustainability portfolio. The company forecasts continued growth for 2026, backed by robust cash flow and ambitious capital return plans.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

A £25m Question: Why Is the UK Government Investing in Octopus's 'Powerhouse' Tech Firm?

The UK government's £25m investment in Octopus Energy's Kraken Technologies through the British Business Bank raises critical questions about the use of taxpayer funds to back an already scaled, global, and recently loss-making platform.

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

Fed Contender Kevin Warsh's Hawkish Past Sparks Bitcoin Sell-Off

Bitcoin tumbled toward $81,000 as markets reacted to the potential nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, whose history of monetary hawkishness is viewed as a headwind for risk assets like cryptocurrency.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bitcoin Volatility Surges to 8-Month High as Traders Brace for Turbulence

Bitcoin's volatility gauge spiked sharply during Thursday's sell-off, signaling heightened trader anxiety and a rush for downside protection, though metrics suggest the market is not yet in extreme fear territory.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Fast-Casual Dining Stocks Stage a Surprising Rebound Amid Shifting Consumer Habits

After a brutal 2025, fast-casual restaurant stocks are rallying sharply in early 2026. Analysts debate whether this marks a genuine recovery or a temporary bounce, as consumers pivot towards grocery and convenience store meals, forcing a reckoning on value and quality.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Poised to Tap Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Signaling Hawkish Shift

President Trump is expected to nominate former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as Jerome Powell's successor, a move markets interpret as a tilt toward more hawkish monetary policy and an end to months of uncertainty over the central bank's leadership.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

ResMed Founder's Prestigious Honor Casts Spotlight on Company's Enduring Growth Narrative

The Horatio Alger Award bestowed upon ResMed founder Dr. Peter Farrell underscores the company's decades-long leadership in sleep and respiratory care, bringing its financial performance and competitive strategy into sharper focus for investors.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Microsoft's AI Bet Pays Off: Q2 Profits Soar 60% to $38.5 Billion as Cloud Demand Accelerates

Microsoft's second-quarter earnings smashed expectations, fueled by a 26% surge in cloud revenue that crossed the $50 billion mark for the first time. The tech giant's aggressive AI investments are now driving significant growth across its enterprise stack.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

AMD and GIGABYTE Forge Deeper AI Alliance, Targeting the Next Wave of Gaming PCs

AMD and GIGABYTE have significantly expanded their partnership to co-develop a new generation of AI-accelerated gaming laptops, motherboards, and monitors. This strategic move aims to bring powerful, on-device AI capabilities directly to consumers, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics in the PC gaming hardware market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Southern Company Extends 78-Year Dividend Streak, Defying Market Volatility

The utility giant Southern Company has declared its latest quarterly dividend, preserving one of corporate America's most remarkable records of shareholder returns. As markets fluctuate, the company's steady income stream and undervalued stock price are drawing renewed attention from long-term investors.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Amundi's Revised Price Target Sparks Investor Reassessment Amid Shifting Market Sentiment

A fresh round of analyst price target adjustments for European asset manager Amundi (ENXTPA:AMUN) is prompting investors to recalibrate their expectations, placing renewed scrutiny on the firm's growth trajectory in a challenging macroeconomic climate.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Armstrong World Industries: A Buying Opportunity After Recent Dip, or Overvalued Despite Pullback?

Shares of the building products manufacturer have retreated from recent highs, presenting investors with a valuation puzzle. While a key cash flow model suggests the stock is undervalued, its premium P/E ratio tells a more cautious story. We break down the conflicting signals.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Thyssenkrupp Considers Strategic Stake Sale in Rothe Erde Amid Valuation Concerns

German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp is exploring the sale of a significant minority stake in its Rothe Erde bearings division, a move analysts say could signal a broader portfolio reshuffle and highlight persistent valuation gaps within the conglomerate.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Luster Fades Against Gold, Revisiting 2017 Ratio as Debate Over Digital Haven Intensifies

The Bitcoin-to-gold ratio has slumped close to its 2017 level, fueling a fresh round of scrutiny over the cryptocurrency's viability as a long-term store of value amidst a resurgent precious metals market and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Visa Posts Strong Q1 Results as Consumer Spending Holds Steady, Digital Services Fuel Growth

Visa's fiscal first-quarter earnings surpassed expectations, driven by robust cross-border transactions and a surge in high-margin digital services. The payments giant signals confidence in sustained consumer resilience despite some moderation in U.S. debit volumes.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

United Rentals Caps Record 2025, Eyes Another Year of Growth Fueled by Mega-Projects

United Rentals reported strong Q4 results, driven by data center and power sector demand, and issued 2026 guidance forecasting continued revenue growth. Management highlighted a robust project pipeline while navigating margin pressures.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Thermo Fisher Scientific Caps 'Strong Year' with Robust Q4, Eyes Strategic Growth Amid Market Headwinds

Thermo Fisher Scientific reported a strong finish to 2025, with Q4 results exceeding expectations. While navigating currency volatility and tariffs, the life sciences giant highlighted growth in core biopharma sectors, strategic acquisitions like Clario, and a solid 2026 outlook.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trane Technologies Caps Strong 2025 with Record Backlog, Bullish 2026 Outlook Despite Residential Headwinds

Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) reported robust Q4 2025 results, driven by exceptional commercial HVAC demand and a record $7.8 billion backlog. While proactive inventory adjustments pressured residential margins, executives project 12-14% adjusted EPS growth for 2026, fueled by strategic acquisitions and sustained commercial strength.

Jan 30, 2026