Why Creators Are Ditching Ad Revenue for Chocolate Bars and Fintech Acquisitions
Creators are moving beyond ad revenue, launching product lines, acquiring startups, and building tangible businesses. MrBeast’s chocolate brand now out‑earns his media arm, and his purchase of fintech startup Step illustrates the shift toward diversified revenue. The TechCrunch Equity podcast explores how influencers are turning influence into infrastructure and whether this model can scale beyond elite creators. The discussion also touches on broader tech trends, from AI funding to new dating apps, framing creator diversification within the evolving digital economy.
Spencer and Bond Out at Microsoft Gaming as AI Exec Sharma Takes Over
Microsoft Gaming announced a leadership overhaul as longtime Xbox chief Phil Spencer retired and COO Sarah Bond departed. Asha Sharma, former head of Microsoft’s CoreAI division and veteran of Instacart and Meta, was appointed CEO of the entire gaming portfolio,...
XSMO: Compelling Value And Growth Mix Persists For These Small-Cap Momentum Stocks
The Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) retains its “buy” rating, buoyed by standout GARP characteristics and a 17.41% price gain since July 2025. It blends 20.91% estimated earnings growth with an 18.36× forward P/E, delivering a rare value‑momentum mix. Superior...
AI News: Italy Sets the Rules for AI in the Workplace
Italy’s AI Act (Law No. 132) became effective on 10 October 2025, making Italy the first EU nation with a comprehensive national AI framework. The law classifies AI systems used for employment decisions as high‑risk, mirroring the EU AI Act, and imposes strict...
Hutchison Makes Overtures to Panama for Negotiations Over Terminal Ops
Hong Kong‑based CK Hutchison has formally asked Panama to reopen talks on the concession to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals that flank the Panama Canal. The request follows a Panama Supreme Court ruling that declared the law granting the...
Supply Chains Brace for Renewed Turbulence as Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give the president authority to impose the sweeping tariffs enacted under the Trump administration, effectively nullifying roughly $175 billion in duties. Ports and logistics firms are...
New Econ on Top for the Week, Curve Steeper Friday on Tariffs (E251)
DoubleLine strategists Ryan Kimmel and Mark Kimbrough highlighted a sector rotation this week, with communications services, financials and industrials gaining while traditional “old economy” sectors such as utilities and real estate fell. In fixed income, investment‑grade yields edged higher, but...
Access to Credit and Employment Growth for MSMEs: Evidence From Latin America and the Caribbean
A new IDB Invest technical note analyzes 21,696 MSMEs across 30 Latin American and Caribbean economies, linking credit access to employment growth. The study finds that an extra US$1 million in financing generates roughly four permanent jobs per year. Effects vary:...
The DOJ Expands Its Investigation of The Warner Bros. Discovery Sale to Netflix
The U.S. Justice Department has opened an antitrust probe into the $45 billion sale of Warner Bros. to Apex Media Holdings. Regulators are examining whether the deal could curtail competition for independent movie theaters by shifting distribution power toward Apex’s streaming...
Traders Brace for Trump's New Tariff Plan, Possible Iran Attack and Nvidia Earnings
Wall Street is bracing for President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new 10% global tariff after the Supreme Court ruled his earlier IEEPA tariffs unlawful. The decision could spark lengthy refund litigation for importers and may give the Federal Reserve...
Five Forces that May Reshape the African Continent in 2026
The African Union’s February summit highlighted a packed 2026 election calendar, with more than a dozen nations heading to the polls, from Uganda and Benin to Ethiopia and South Sudan. Parallel security concerns dominate the agenda, as the DRC’s fragile...
Doeren Mayhew Adds Alabama Firm
Doeren Mayhew announced the acquisition of Birmingham‑based CPA firm Dent Moses and its affiliate Impact Technology Group, effective Feb. 10. The deal adds Doeren Mayhew’s first Alabama office, nine principals and roughly 65 staff, expanding its Southeast footprint. Impact Technology brings...
S&P 500 Rises, Dow Gains 200 Points After Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Emergency Tariffs: Live Updates
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s emergency tariffs, sending the S&P 500 up 0.69% to 6,909 and the Dow up 230 points. The decision lifted a macro headwind for import‑dependent consumer‑discretionary firms, with Nike, Yeti and SharkNinja posting gains....
Soybean Growers Applaud Court Ruling, Warn Against New Trump Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump cannot invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on agricultural inputs. The decision overturns several IEEPA tariffs on fertilizer and farm equipment, a relief for soybean growers. Despite the...
Altesa BioSciences Raises $75M Series B
Altesa BioSciences announced an oversubscribed $75 million Series B round, led by Forbion with participation from Sanofi and existing backers Medicxi, Pitango, and Atlantic Partners. The financing will support the development of its lead candidate, vapendavir, targeting viral-driven exacerbations in COPD and...
How You Can Take Advantage of Two Stock-Market Trends
The equal‑weighted S&P 500 has outperformed the cap‑weighted benchmark in 2026, breaking a decades‑long pattern of concentration in mega‑cap tech names that now comprise 19.4% of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF. Meanwhile, MSCI World ex‑USA and Emerging Markets indexes have posted double‑digit...
LinkedIn CFO Jumps to Atlassian
James Chuong, who has served nearly five years as LinkedIn’s chief financial officer, will become Atlassian’s CFO on March 30. His compensation package includes a $600,000 base salary, a 75% target bonus, a $22 million RSU grant and a $2 million signing...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Global Tariffs in 6–3 Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision striking down President Trump’s global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling the move exceeded presidential authority. The majority held that IEEPA does not grant the power to...
Xbox’s New Boss Promises Not To Flood It With ‘Soulless AI Slop’
Phil Spencer retires after a 12‑year tenure, and Microsoft appoints Asha Sharma—formerly head of its Core AI Product division—as Xbox’s new CEO. In her inaugural memo, Sharma vows to keep “soulless AI slop” out of games while acknowledging AI’s role...
Eric Avila Joins Siebert Williams Shank
Veteran public‑finance banker Eric Avila has joined Siebert Williams Shank & Co. as managing director and head of the Midwest region, bringing senior experience from Janney Montgomery Scott, Morgan Stanley, Samuel Ramirez & Co., and U.S. Bank. Siebert highlighted the hire as a catalyst to capitalize on...
AICPA Wants More Guidance on R&D Expensing
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has formally requested the Treasury and IRS to issue clearer guidance on the election rules for domestic research and development (R&D) expenses under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The OBBBA reverses the Tax Cuts and Jobs...
Quantum: Photonic Inc. Names Executive Chair and Four Directors
Photonic Inc., a Vancouver‑based distributed quantum computing firm, announced a refreshed board after a CAD 180 million financing round. Alex van Someren returns as Executive Chair, while Don Mattrick takes the Vice Chair role. New directors include Nathan Medlock, Ashton Scordo, and existing founders Stephanie Simmons...
The Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that President Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are unlawful, restoring congressional authority over trade barriers. The decision paves the way for thousands of lawsuits seeking refunds, with industry estimates...
The Supreme Court Just Struck Down Most of Trump’s Tariffs. What’s Next?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the president cannot impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, effectively nullifying most of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime. The decision restores congressional primacy over tariff authority and declares the core...
I-80 Gold Advances Recapitalization Plan as Project Development Continues
i-80 Gold Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $21.3 million, an 8.3% decline from the prior year, while net loss widened to $85.6 million. The company completed a Class 3 study for the Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment, confirming 2,268 t/day capacity and a $430 million...
5 Things To Know On Anthropic’s Claude Code Security
Anthropic announced that its Claude Code platform will now include Claude Code Security, an AI‑driven vulnerability‑scanning feature that reads and reasons about code like a human researcher. The tool, launched in a limited research preview, aims to uncover complex issues...
![Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer Retires, Xbox President Sarah Bond Resigns [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Xbox-Changes_02-20-26.jpg)
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer Retires, Xbox President Sarah Bond Resigns [Update]
Microsoft Gaming announced that longtime CEO Phil Spencer will retire on February 23, and Xbox president Sarah Bond has resigned. Asha Sharma, formerly head of CoreAI and with experience at Instacart and Meta, will take over as CEO, while Matt Booty...
JetBrains Introduces Java to Kotlin Converter for Visual Studio Code
JetBrains has launched a Java‑to‑Kotlin converter extension for Microsoft Visual Studio Code, available on the VS Marketplace since February 19. The tool leverages the same conversion engine used in IntelliJ IDEA and augments it with large language models to produce idiomatic Kotlin...
InvestingLive Americas Market News Wrap: Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s proposed Section 122 global tariff, removing a major trade escalation risk. Meanwhile, the advance estimate for Q4 GDP posted a 1.4% annual gain, well below the 3.0% consensus, while PCE inflation edged higher...
Phil Spencer Retires From Xbox And Sarah Bond Resigns As Microsoft’s AI Exec Takes Over
Microsoft announced that longtime Xbox chief Phil Spencer will retire after 38 years, stepping down this summer. Asha Sharma, previously head of Microsoft CoreAI, is named the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, with Matt Booty promoted to chief content officer....
Tunisia Needs Both Bread and Freedom
Tunisia’s post‑2011 democratic breakthrough delivered expanded civil liberties but failed to translate into lasting economic gains. A 2021 presidential power grab dismantled key checks, curbing judicial independence and reversing many political freedoms. Meanwhile, the economy remains hampered by high inflation,...
Otello Corporation Share Buyback Program Status
Otello Corporation announced that its share buyback program, launched on 9 February 2026, has purchased a further 128,441 shares between 16 and 20 February at an average price of NOK 18.08, bringing the total repurchased shares to 273,954 at an average...
Armada Hoffler Hits Reset to Focus on Retail, Office Portfolio
Armada Hoffler announced a strategic reset, rebranding as AH Realty Trust and narrowing its portfolio to retail and office assets. The REIT will divest most of its multifamily holdings, exit its construction and financing platforms, and use the proceeds to...
Hapag-Lloyd Set to Grow Its Intra-Asia Network Through Zim’s Gold Star Line
German carrier Hapag-Lloyd plans to leverage its $4.2 billion acquisition of Zim Integrated Shipping Services to expand its intra‑Asia footprint through Zim’s Hong Kong‑based affiliate Gold Star Line. Gold Star operates 20 liner services with a fleet of 40 vessels totaling roughly 100,000 TEU,...
Ryerson Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results
Ryerson Holding Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.105 billion, a 4.9% QoQ decline but a 9.7% YoY increase, while full‑year revenue slipped 0.6% to $4.57 billion. The company posted a Q4 net loss of $37.9 million and a full‑year loss of $56.4 million,...
Denmark Seizes Blacklisted Container Ship Tied to Iran's Shadow Fleet
The Danish Maritime Authority seized the container vessel Nora, a ship blacklisted by the United States for violating Iran sanctions. Authorities say the vessel was sailing under an unauthorized Comoros flag and abruptly raised the Iranian flag when questioned, indicating...
Ten63 Therapeutics Secures New Funding
Ten63 Therapeutics, an AI‑driven drug‑discovery firm spun out of Duke and TTIC, announced a strategic investment from Chugai Venture Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing total capital to over $45 million. The company leverages its BEYOND generative‑chemistry platform...
TFM Showcases Economic Impact and Calls for Energy Reform at DRC Breakfast During Mining Indaba
Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) told Mining Indaba delegates it has delivered roughly US$8 billion to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s public treasury since 2006 and supports about 20,000 jobs. The mine, a Copper Mark‑certified operation, allocates 0.3% of revenue to community projects...
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Profits Decline in 2025
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported a sharp decline in 2025 net earnings, falling roughly 12% year‑over‑year. The drop coincides with an 8% contraction in bank holdings of agency residential mortgage‑backed securities in Q4 and a reduced share of correspondent...
Downtown Music Completes Merger with Virgin Music
The episode announces that Downtown Music Holdings has finalized its $775 million acquisition and merger with Virgin Music Group, a deal first revealed in December. Founder Justin Kalifowitz is exiting Downtown, marking a leadership transition as the combined entity positions itself...
Rep. Hill Unimpressed by Trump’s GSE ‘IPO’ Plan
Representative Hill voiced strong skepticism toward President Trump’s proposal to launch an initial public offering of the government‑sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He warned that a rushed IPO could destabilize the secondary mortgage market and raise borrowing costs...
SmartCraft ASA (SMCRT) - Share Buy Back Result
SmartCraft ASA completed a share‑buy‑back on 20 February 2026, purchasing 4,166,666 shares at NOK 18 each, representing up to NOK 75 million of capital. The offer, run through a reverse book‑building process, reduced the free‑float and increased the company’s own holdings to 11,293,403 shares out...
FHFA Eliminates Key Fair Lending/Fair Housing Rule
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the repeal of its longstanding fair‑lending and fair‑housing rule that imposed heightened nondiscrimination standards on GSE‑originated mortgages. A recent GAO review gave FHFA a clean bill of health on its accounting, while noting...
FHFA to Improve Nonbank Supervision on GAO Nudge
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced plans to tighten supervision of non‑bank mortgage lenders following a GAO recommendation. A GAO review gave FHFA a clean bill of health on its financial statements but highlighted $32.9 million in costs tied to...
Study Finds GSE-Backed Investor Loans Crowd Out FTHBs
A recent study shows that loans backed by government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) for investor purchases are increasingly displacing first‑time homebuyers (FTHBs) in the mortgage market. Investor‑originated, GSE‑secured loans grew 12% year‑over‑year, while FTHB loan share slipped 8% in Q3 2025. The...
Achieve Perfect Fried Chicken in Less Than 3 Minutes
Fried chicken sandwiches now appear on 12.3% of full‑service restaurant menus, a 30% increase over four years, while consumer awareness sits at 95% and trial at 86%. Hormel Foodservice’s FLASH 180™ Battered Sous Vide Chicken offers a pre‑cooked, batter‑coated product that...
Oil States Reports Fourth-Quarter Results Amid Restructuring Charges
Oil States International posted Q4 2025 revenue of $178.5 million, an 8% year‑on‑year increase, but reported a GAAP net loss of $117.2 million due to one‑time asset impairment and restructuring charges. Adjusted EBITDA improved 22% to $22.8 million, and adjusted net income rose...
Iran’s Regime Is Suffering From Strategic Vertigo. Its Next Misstep May Be Its Last.
Iran’s leadership has repeatedly misread regional dynamics, turning potential strategic gains into costly setbacks. After hesitating to mobilize Hezbollah during the October 7 Hamas offensive, Tehran launched a large‑scale missile and drone barrage against Israel in April 2024, prompting a robust Israeli‑U.S....
Efficient Computer Receives $60M Series A
Efficient Computer announced a $60 million Series A round led by Triatomic Capital, bringing its total capital raised to $76 million. The financing will accelerate its product roadmap and expand engineering and developer teams. The startup is developing the world’s most energy‑efficient general‑purpose...
Trump Imposes 15% Tariff Through Executive Order Following Supreme Court Ruling
President Donald Trump announced an executive order imposing a 15% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated his earlier emergency‑law tariff plan. The new tariffs include exemptions for critical minerals, metals...