SMB Tech

Business

CN's Investor Relations Chief Stacy Alderson to Retire After Three Decades; Jamie Lockwood Named Successor

Canadian National Railway announced the retirement of veteran investor relations executive Stacy Alderson, capping a 30-year career. Vice President of Engineering Jamie Lockwood will assume the expanded role of VP, Investor Relations and Special Projects, as the railway giant navigates a strategic transition.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Steak 'n Shake Joins Corporate Push, Pledges $1,000 for Employees' Newborns Under 'Trump Accounts' Initiative

The restaurant chain Steak 'n Shake has announced it will contribute $1,000 to tax-advantaged investment accounts for employees' newborns, aligning with a growing corporate trend to supplement the federal 'Trump Accounts' program aimed at generational wealth building.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

LyondellBasell Navigates Market Headwinds, Pivots to Circular Economy with Major Recycling Investments

While Q3 earnings reflect challenging market conditions, the chemical giant reports strong North American performance and accelerates its strategic shift, breaking ground on a flagship advanced recycling plant in Germany and planning a larger facility in Houston.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Gold Rush 2026: Record Prices and Wild Swings Drive Consumers to Buy and Sell

As gold prices soar past $5,400 an ounce before a sharp pullback, a global rush is underway. From Parisian boutiques to Main Street dealers, consumers are capitalizing on heirlooms or diving into the market, driven by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Amazon Quietly Courts Shippers for New LTL Service, Morgan Stanley Report Reveals

A new Morgan Stanley report indicates Amazon is in early discussions with select shippers about its planned Less-Than-Truckload service, set to launch this summer, posing a potential long-term challenge to established carriers.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Robert Half Stock Soars 26% as Recruitment Giant Signals Long-Awaited Turnaround

Shares of the staffing leader surged after its Q4 earnings hinted at a potential end to a multi-year slump, with management pointing to positive sequential growth for the first time since 2021.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Behind the $5.6 Billion Headline: Decoding Salesforce's Landmark Army Contract

Salesforce secures a potential 10-year, $5.6 billion IDIQ contract with the U.S. Army, a strategic win for its national security unit. Yet, analysts caution the headline figure is a ceiling, not a guarantee, with real value hinging on future task orders and AI integration.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh for Top Central Bank Job

President Trump nominates Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor with Wall Street ties, to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair. His confirmation faces scrutiny amid questions over monetary policy direction and the central bank's political independence.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Oil Giants Exxon, Chevron Post Lower Annual Profits Amid Price Slump, Pivot to New Ventures

Exxon Mobil and Chevron reported declines in full-year earnings as a sustained oil surplus pressured prices, though both companies highlighted strategic shifts toward LNG, chemicals, and power projects to fuel future growth.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Musk's Grand Ambition: SpaceX and xAI in Merger Talks to Pioneer Space-Based AI Infrastructure

Elon Musk is reportedly in discussions to merge his aerospace giant SpaceX with his artificial intelligence venture xAI, aiming to create an integrated powerhouse for deploying AI data centers in orbit, powered by space solar energy.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Baxter International's Rocky Road: Can the Healthcare Giant Regain Wall Street's Confidence?

After a punishing year of underperformance and operational setbacks, Baxter International faces a skeptical analyst community. While some see deep value, the consensus remains firmly on hold as the company navigates product challenges and revised guidance.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Golden Dome Funding Clears Congress, But Pentagon's $23B Missile Defense Plan Remains a Mystery

Congress has approved $23 billion in initial funding for the ambitious Golden Dome missile defense initiative, yet the absence of a detailed spending blueprint from the Pentagon is stalling progress and clouding investment prospects for 2026.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Eli Lilly Commits $3.5 Billion to Pennsylvania, Creating 850 Jobs in Major Life Sciences Push

Pharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly will build a new manufacturing facility in Lehigh County, marking the largest life sciences investment in Pennsylvania history and bolstering U.S. production of next-generation weight-loss drugs.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Rivian's Rocky Road: Can the EV Underdog Deliver a Turnaround by 2029?

From post-IPO darling to a stock trading near historic lows, Rivian faces a critical five-year window. With new models on the horizon and a major Volkswagen partnership, analysts see a path to growth—if it can navigate fierce competition and persistent losses.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Morgan Stanley Doubles Down on Nvidia: $250 Target Signals 30% Upside Amid AI Arms Race

Morgan Stanley reaffirms its Overweight rating on Nvidia with a $250 price target, citing the company's systemic advantage through its Vera Rubin platform and robust hyperscaler spending, despite acknowledging competitive and demand risks.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

China Reportedly Grants DeepSeek Approval to Procure Nvidia's H200 AI Chips

In a significant policy shift, Chinese authorities have reportedly cleared the AI startup DeepSeek to purchase Nvidia's advanced H200 processors, potentially easing a major hardware bottleneck for its competitive large language model.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Markets React as Trump Taps Former Governor Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair

President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh, a known monetary policy hawk, to lead the Federal Reserve sent initial shockwaves through equities and bonds on Friday, raising questions about the future path of interest rates.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Palantir's AI Ambition: Can the Data Analytics Powerhouse Sustain Its Meteoric Rise?

From a $10 direct listing to a $150 S&P 500 constituent, Palantir's journey has been fueled by the AI boom. As government and commercial demand surge, analysts project staggering growth. But with sky-high valuations, the path forward requires navigating lofty expectations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

7 Brew Launches Monthly Featured Drinks Program to Deepen Customer Loyalty

The drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew debuts a monthly rotating menu of featured beverages, starting with five options for February including a new Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cold Brew, as it leverages its strong rewards membership to boost visit frequency.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Eli Lilly Bets $3.5 Billion on Pennsylvania as Pharma Giants Shift Production Stateside

Eli Lilly announces a massive new manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, part of a strategic pivot by major drugmakers to onshore production amid trade tensions and soaring demand for weight-loss drugs.

Jan 30, 2026