Southwest US

Business

Beyond the Giants: Hongli Group and Two Penny Stocks Drawing Investor Scrutiny Amid Market Calm

While major indices tread water ahead of key earnings, a segment of the market continues to buzz with activity. We examine three micro-cap companies—Hongli Group, Royalty Management, and CreateAI—whose financial profiles and strategic moves are capturing attention from investors willing to navigate the high-risk, high-reward penny stock arena.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Markets Pare Losses as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair

U.S. stock index futures trimmed early declines after President Donald Trump nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank, a move seen as injecting moderate policy views amid economic uncertainty.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mizuho Upgrades Applied Materials to Outperform, Citing Strong Global Chip Equipment Demand

Mizuho Securities raised its rating on Applied Materials (AMAT) to Outperform, with a $370 price target, forecasting accelerated growth in global wafer fab equipment spending driven by major chipmakers' capital expenditure plans.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

JPMorgan Affirms Bullish Stance on ServiceNow After Partner Survey, Sees AI as Growth Driver, Not Threat

JPMorgan reiterates its Overweight rating on ServiceNow (NOW) with a $215 price target, following checks with nine ecosystem partners. While growth expectations have moderated slightly, the firm finds AI is fueling expansion and mission-critical projects continue unabated.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Coinbase CEO Pledges to Match Federal 'Trump Accounts' Contributions, Eyes Bitcoin Payments

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announces the company will match the U.S. government's $1,000 'Trump Accounts' contribution for eligible children of employees, with a preference to execute the match in Bitcoin, highlighting crypto's growing intersection with federal policy initiatives.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to Helm Central Bank

President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor and critic of current monetary policy, to succeed Jerome Powell as Chair of the Federal Reserve, setting the stage for a potential shift in the central bank's direction.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Brazil's Digital Banking Giant Nubank Clears Key Hurdle for U.S. Expansion with Conditional National Charter

Nubank, the Latin American fintech leader, has secured conditional approval from the OCC for a U.S. national bank charter, setting an 18-month timeline to launch and challenging incumbent banks with its digital-first model.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

The Silent Retirement Thief: How Inflation Can Drain $200K From Your Nest Egg

While rising prices are felt at the checkout line, their long-term erosion of retirement savings is often overlooked. Experts warn that cumulative inflation across essential categories could create a six-figure shortfall for unprepared retirees.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Where Retirement Dollars Go Further: The Top 10 States for Social Security Payouts

A new analysis reveals significant geographic disparities in Social Security benefits, highlighting how state-level policies and living costs determine the real value of monthly checks for millions of retirees.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Boehringer Ingelheim Taps IQVIA to Power Global Data Overhaul, Aiming for AI-Driven Insights

The long-term strategic partnership will leverage IQVIA's data-as-a-service platform to unify and streamline commercial data across 59 countries, aiming to accelerate product launches and enhance decision-making for the pharmaceutical giant.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mastercard Announces Workforce Restructuring Amid Record Profits, Plans 4% Staff Reduction

Despite reporting a 22% surge in Q4 2025 net income to $4.1 billion, global payments giant Mastercard is cutting approximately 1,400 jobs as part of a strategic review, highlighting the complex balance between growth and operational efficiency in the fintech sector.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Iberian Outperformers: How Spain and Portugal Are Outpacing Europe's Economic Pack

Preliminary Eurostat data reveals Spain and Portugal grew at more than double the eurozone average in Q4 2025, driven by resilient domestic demand and strategic advantages, while the broader bloc's recovery remains uneven.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Tufton Capital Doubles Down on Chesapeake Utilities with $12 Million Stake, Betting on Steady Infrastructure Growth

Amid a volatile market chasing tech momentum, one investment firm is placing a significant bet on the steady, regulated growth of diversified energy provider Chesapeake Utilities, highlighting a strategic shift towards tangible infrastructure assets.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Freeman Gold Stock Soars 13% as Retail Investors, Holding Majority Stake, Reap Gains

Freeman Gold Corp. (CVE:FMAN) surged 13% last week, with retail investors—who control 56% of the company—benefiting most alongside insiders. The significant retail ownership underscores their influence on corporate decisions in this junior mining firm.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Meta Faces Landmark Trial in New Mexico Over Allegations of Enabling Child Exploitation

Meta Platforms heads to a Santa Fe courtroom next week to defend itself in a high-stakes lawsuit. The State of New Mexico alleges the social media giant's platforms facilitated the sexual exploitation of minors and harmed their mental health for profit, marking the first such case against Meta to reach a jury.

Jan 30, 2026

World

South Africa Expels Top Israeli Diplomat Amid Deepening Rift Over Gaza

South Africa has ordered Israel's chargé d'affaires to leave the country within 72 hours, citing "unacceptable violations" of diplomatic protocol and a direct challenge to its sovereignty, further straining relations already tense over the ICJ genocide case.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Israel to Reopen Key Gaza-Egypt Border Crossing After Two-Year Closure

Israeli authorities announce the reopening of the Rafah crossing this Sunday, ending a nearly two-year blockade of Gaza's sole passage to Egypt.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Remains and Jacket Discovered in Tasmanian Wilderness, Likely Ending Two-Year Search for Missing Belgian Hiker

Tasmanian police believe they have found the remains of Celine Cremer, a Belgian hiker missing since 2023, along with clothing items including a polar fleece jacket, following a renewed search near Philosopher's Falls.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing to Reopen Sunday, Easing Gaza-Egypt Movement After Months of Closure

Israel announces the Rafah border crossing will reopen this Sunday for limited travel between Gaza and Egypt, marking a significant shift in access for the enclave's 2 million residents after an eight-month Israeli control of the vital gateway.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bosch Profits Dive 45% Amid Restructuring Costs and Market Headwinds

German automotive giant Bosch reports a sharp 45% drop in operating profit for 2025, driven by heavy restructuring charges, intense global competition, and delayed returns on future-tech investments.

Jan 30, 2026