Natural Disaster

Business

ExxonMobil Defies Oil Slump with Aggressive $20 Billion Buyback, Signals Unwavering Dividend Commitment

While the energy sector retrenched amid falling crude prices, ExxonMobil executed a massive $20 billion share repurchase program in 2025, underlining its financial muscle and commitment to shareholder returns. The oil giant also reported earnings that beat estimates, driven by record production in the Permian Basin and Guyana, even as it takes a hardline stance on reinvesting in Venezuela.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Craft Beer's Golden Age Cools: U.S. Brewery Closures Outpace Openings for Second Straight Year

After two decades of explosive growth, the U.S. craft beer industry has hit an inflection point. New data reveals more breweries closed than opened in 2025, signaling a market correction driven by saturation, shifting consumer habits, and economic pressures.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Senate Scrutiny Intensifies as Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger Faces Antitrust Reckoning

A landmark Senate hearing this week will examine the potential cultural and economic fallout of Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, amid fears it could create an unprecedented 'stream-opoly'.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hess Midstream Eyes Cash Flow Surge as Major Capex Cycle Concludes

Hess Midstream Partners (HESM) capped off 2025 with robust operational results and the completion of its core infrastructure build-out. Management now signals a sharp pivot towards capital discipline, forecasting significantly lower spending through 2028 to fuel growing shareholder returns, even as severe winter weather tempers near-term volume expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Disney Braces for Impact as International Tourism to U.S. Parks Slows

The entertainment giant signals a downturn in overseas visitors to its American resorts, with industry analysts citing geopolitical tensions and shifting travel policies as contributing factors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Artemis Makes Bold $104 Million Bet on Steel Recycler Commercial Metals

Investment firm Artemis Investment Management has established a significant new position in Commercial Metals Company, a leading steel producer and recycler, signaling confidence in the firm's strategic direction and growth prospects despite a recent share price surge.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Iowa Federal Judge Robert Pratt, Known for Landmark Rulings and Controversial Comments, Dies at 78

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Pratt, who served Iowa's Southern District for over 26 years, passed away Wednesday following cardiac arrest. His tenure was marked by significant legal decisions, civic engagement, and a notable public rebuke of former President Donald Trump.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Spider Silk Meets Selvedge: AMSilk's Biotech Breakthrough Weaves Into Luxury Denim

German biotech firm AMSilk partners with Italian mill Pure Denim to launch a new category of high-performance, sustainable denim infused with lab-grown spider silk proteins, targeting the luxury market with enhanced comfort and eco-credentials.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Billionaire Investor Thomas Kaplan Sees Historic Metals Sell-Off as a Buying Opportunity, Predicts Gold in the 'Tens of Thousands'

Amid a sharp pullback in gold and silver prices, NovaGold Chairman Thomas Kaplan remains steadfastly bullish, telling Business Insider he views the volatility as a temporary setback on a path to record highs.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Disney Shares Tumble on Succession Speculation, Overshadowing Strong Quarterly Results

While Disney's latest earnings surpassed expectations, investor focus shifted sharply to reports of an accelerated CEO succession timeline, sending the stock lower despite robust performance in streaming and theme parks.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Teen's Four-Hour Swim Through Treacherous Seas Sparks Dramatic Family Rescue Off Western Australia

A 13-year-old boy's extraordinary four-hour swim to shore triggered a successful multi-agency rescue after his mother and two siblings were swept out to sea off Quindalup, with officials hailing the family's collective bravery.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Boom: How U.S. Renewable Energy Navigates a Pivotal 2026

As the U.S. renewable energy sector builds on a record-breaking 2025, it faces a critical juncture defined by supply chain pressures, extreme weather, and evolving market rules. Strategic adaptation, not just growth, will determine its sustainable trajectory.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Alliance Resource Partners Posts Strong Q4, Sees Coal Demand Surge Amid Grid Reliability Concerns

Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) reported robust fourth-quarter earnings, driven by cost discipline and a resilient coal market. The company provided optimistic 2026 guidance, citing strengthening demand from data centers, industrial growth, and recent winter storms that underscored coal's critical role in grid reliability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Equinor Sharpens Upstream Strategy, Exits Argentina's Vaca Muerta Shale

Norwegian energy giant Equinor has agreed to sell its onshore assets in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play to Vista Energy, marking a strategic retreat from the region while maintaining its offshore exploration interests. The move underscores the company's ongoing portfolio realignment towards core offshore and international projects.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Union Pacific Revives $85 Billion Norfolk Southern Bid, Aims to Forge First Transcontinental Railroad

Union Pacific is preparing a revised application for its proposed $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern after regulators rejected the initial filing over competition and information concerns. The deal, which would create the first coast-to-coast freight railroad in the U.S., faces intense scrutiny over its potential impact on shipping costs, labor, and market competition.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Silver's Shine Dims, But This Streaming Giant Remains a Top Bet for Investors

Despite recent volatility in silver prices, Wheaton Precious Metals' unique streaming model positions it to generate robust cash flow, making it a standout choice for exposure to the precious metal.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hess Midstream Charts Course for Cash Flow Surge as Major Infrastructure Build Nears Completion

Hess Midstream Partners LP (HESM) signals a pivotal shift towards robust free cash flow generation, forecasting a 40% drop in capital expenditures for 2026 as its core system build-out concludes. Despite near-term weather headwinds, strong minimum volume commitments underpin financial targets through 2028.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Wells Fargo CEO's Pay Soars to $40 Million as Bank Emerges from Regulatory Shadow

Wells Fargo's board has approved a 28% compensation increase for CEO Charlie Scharf, bringing his total package to $40 million for the past year. The move comes as the bank marks a pivotal turnaround, with major federal penalties lifted and its transformation under Scharf's leadership cited as justification for the raise.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Karachi Sees Another Commercial Blaze Near Site of Last Month's Deadly Fire

A fire erupted in a commercial building in Karachi on Monday, just weeks after a nearby inferno claimed dozens of lives. Firefighters are battling the flames as concerns mount over recurring safety lapses in the city's business districts.

Feb 2, 2026

US

The Reykjavik Promise: How a 1986 Summit Nearly Banished Nukes—And Why That Dream Is Fading

Forty years after Reagan and Gorbachev's historic meeting in Iceland envisioned a world free of nuclear weapons, expired treaties, rising stockpiles, and new global players are fueling a dangerous relapse.

Feb 2, 2026