State Employment

Business

LyondellBasell Navigates 'Deepest Downturn' with Cost Cuts and Strategic Shifts Amid Trade Volatility

Facing what CEO Peter Vanacker calls the 'deepest and longest downturn' of his career, LyondellBasell reported Q1 2025 results while detailing a new $500 million cash improvement plan. The chemical giant is leaning into portfolio restructuring and its global supply network to weather trade policy uncertainty and weak demand.

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

LyondellBasell Navigates Prolonged Downturn with Strategic Cash Preservation and Portfolio Reshaping

Facing one of the longest downturns in industry history, LyondellBasell reported Q2 2025 earnings of $0.62 per share, outlining a disciplined strategy focused on cash conservation, portfolio optimization in Europe, and a pivot towards circular and low-carbon solutions to emerge stronger from the cycle.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beazer Homes Shares Plunge as Weak Demand, Price Wars Hit Q1 Earnings

Beazer Homes USA reported a steeper-than-expected quarterly loss, with revenue falling 22% amid a challenging housing market characterized by soft demand and aggressive competitor pricing.

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

Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Markets See Steady Hand at the Helm

President Donald Trump's selection of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank is being welcomed by analysts as a stabilizing choice, with immediate positive ripples across currency and precious metals markets.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Twin Peaks Parent Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Casting Uncertainty Over Florida Locations

The parent company of the Twin Peaks 'breastaurant' chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, raising questions about the future of its 16 Florida locations, including a Jacksonville restaurant that opened in 2023. The chain plans to remain operational during restructuring.

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

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

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

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

BlackRock's Strategic Bet: Why the World's Largest Asset Manager Is Doubling Down on Sibanye-Stillwater

BlackRock has increased its stake in the diversified precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater beyond 5%, signaling strong institutional confidence amid a historic rally in gold and platinum group metals. We examine the drivers behind the surge and what it means for investors.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Warsh Nomination Ignites Dollar Surge, Sends Precious Metals Tumbling

The U.S. dollar rallied sharply while gold and silver prices plunged following President Trump's nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair. The move, coupled with stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data, signals a potential hawkish shift in monetary policy.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

CN Rail Posts Strong Q4 Gains but Warns of Flat Freight Volumes Ahead Amid Trade Uncertainty

Canadian National Railway reported improved revenue and operating income for the fourth quarter of 2025, citing productivity gains and recovery from prior-year port disruptions. However, the company issued a cautious outlook for 2026, forecasting 'flattish' freight volumes as U.S.-Canada trade tensions and a major regulatory review loom.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Electricity Bills Set to Keep Climbing Through 2026, Experts Warn Relief Is Not on the Horizon

With rising demand, grid investments, and volatile fuel costs, electricity prices are outpacing wage growth, squeezing not just low-income but now middle-class households. Policy interventions face long lead times, leaving little hope for near-term bill relief.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Lebanon, Syria Strike Prisoner Transfer Deal in Bid to Mend Fractured Ties

In a significant diplomatic move, Lebanon's Cabinet has approved an agreement to repatriate hundreds of Syrian prisoners, addressing a major point of contention as the two nations navigate a new political reality following the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Verizon's Fiber Push and Subscriber Surge Fuel Turnaround Optimism

Verizon Communications posts its strongest customer gains since 2019, bolstered by a key fiber acquisition and a renewed strategic focus under CEO Hans Vestberg, signaling a potential inflection point for the telecom giant.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Netflix's $82.7B Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery: A High-Stakes Gamble That Could Reshape Streaming

Netflix's unprecedented all-cash offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has sent shockwaves through the media industry, setting the stage for a fierce regulatory battle and raising fundamental questions about the streaming giant's financial strategy and market dominance.

Jan 30, 2026