Trump Doesn't Need Congress to Restart Iran Strikes: Hegseth
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified that President Trump can restart strikes on Iran without congressional approval, despite the War Powers Resolution’s 60‑day limit having elapsed. The administration had earlier declared hostilities ceased, sidestepping the need for a new Authorization for Use of Military Force. Hegseth argued that presidential powers under Article 2 outweigh the resolution’s requirements. The debate emerges amid a $1.5 trillion FY2027 defense budget request and rising oil prices from the ongoing conflict.
Trump Invites Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Larry Fink and Other CEOs to Join China Trip for Xi Summit
President Donald Trump has extended invitations to CEOs of Tesla, Apple, BlackRock, Boeing and other major U.S. firms to accompany him on a diplomatic trip to China this week. The delegation will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade,...
With Netflix New Ad-Free Standard Plan at $20, Streaming's Tipping Point Into Old TV Is Getting Closer
Netflix raised its standard ad‑free plan to $19.99, underscoring a shift toward hybrid subscription‑and‑advertising revenue. The company’s data shows that an ad‑supported subscriber who watches 41 hours a month can generate roughly $25, surpassing the premium price. Ad‑supported tiers now...
At 103 Years Old, I’m the ‘World’s Oldest Doctor’: My 3 Rules for a Long, Happy Life Are so Simple—I...
Howard Tucker, a 103‑year‑old neurologist, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest doctor. He spent more than 75 years in medicine, earned a law degree at 67, and continued working until his hospital closed in 2022. Tucker...
Meet the YouTube Whisperers, a Booming Class of Advisors Behind MrBeast and Other Million-Dollar Channels
YouTube’s creator economy is maturing into a high‑value industry, with the platform now delivering 12.7% of U.S. streaming traffic and having paid out over $100 billion to creators since 2021. A growing class of consultants, exemplified by Paddy Galloway, charge $15,000‑$12,000 per...
SEC Delay on Prediction Markets ETFs Echoes a Long-Fought Bitcoin Fund Battle
The SEC announced a delay in approving 24 prediction‑market exchange‑traded funds filed by Roundhill, Bitwise and GraniteShares, saying it needs more time to assess the products. These ETFs would track contracts on elections, economic data and other real‑world events, raising...
Target Is Trying to Win Back Busy Families From Walmart, Starting with the Baby Aisle
Target is converting baby aisles in about 200 stores into "baby boutiques," showcasing premium strollers, car seats and high‑end brands like UPPAbaby. The move is part of CEO Michael Fiddelke’s turnaround plan to win back busy families who have drifted...
Top Wall Street Analysts Recommend These 3 Dividend Stocks for Stable Income
Wall Street’s top analysts highlighted three dividend‑paying stocks—Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP), Diamondback Energy (FANG) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)—as reliable income sources. BIP announced a 46‑cent quarterly distribution, a 6% YoY increase, and a 5% yield, while maintaining a buy...
Most Women Are Confident Savers, Survey Finds — but Where They Stash Their Cash Could Be a Problem
A Vanguard survey of 1,007 U.S. women shows 71% feel confident saving, yet 51% keep non‑retirement cash in checking, savings or physical money. Almost half of those funds earn under 3% interest, trailing the 3.3% annual inflation rate. Experts recommend...
Iran Focus at Trump-Xi Summit May Delay Progress on Tariffs, Rare Earths
The upcoming Trump‑Xi summit on May 14‑15 will be dominated by the Iran war, pushing tariff and rare‑earth discussions to the background. The U.S. has pared down its business delegation to roughly a dozen CEOs, including Boeing and Citigroup, amid concerns...
CoreWeave Stock Sinks 10% on Weak Revenue Guidance, Increased Spending Forecast
CoreWeave reported Q1 revenue of $2.08 billion, surpassing expectations, but projected Q2 revenue of $2.45‑$2.6 billion, below consensus. The AI‑infrastructure firm raised $8.5 billion in new debt, bringing total borrowings close to $25 billion, and disclosed a $99.4 billion backlog. Nvidia added another $2 billion of...
Corning CEO to Cramer: Deals with 2 Unnamed Hyperscalers 'Larger' Than $6B Meta Pact
Corning disclosed two new long‑term supply agreements with unnamed hyperscalers that are larger than its previously announced $6 billion Meta deal, pushing the combined value of the three contracts to at least $12 billion through 2030. The deals were highlighted in a...
Surging Gas Prices Are Hitting Lower Income Households Harder, New York Fed Study Shows
A New York Federal Reserve study finds that the March 2026 gas‑price surge hit lower‑income households hardest, forcing them to cut consumption while higher‑income families barely reduced use. Households earning under $40,000 increased nominal gasoline spending by only 12%, cutting...
Even if an Iran Deal Calms Energy Markets, One Oil Stock Can Still Stand Out
Shell plc (SHEL) is poised to benefit from sustained high oil prices as the Strait of Hormuz blockage keeps Brent crude elevated. The company just finished a $3.5 billion share‑buyback and is expected to launch another tranche alongside its 3.2% dividend....
Trump Says Iran Will Be Bombed at a 'Much Higher Level' If It Doesn't Agree to Peace Deal
President Donald Trump warned that if Iran rejects a pending peace proposal, U.S. forces will intensify bombing in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the war would end and the strait would reopen once Iran agrees to a one‑page memo...
Novo Nordisk CEO Says the Drugmaker Is More Active than Ever in Seeking Out Deals
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar told CNBC the company is more active than ever in pursuing acquisitions to broaden its obesity‑drug pipeline. He highlighted upcoming candidates CagriSema and zenagamtide, asserting the pipeline is among the best in the industry. The...
Australia Hikes Rates Again and Warns Inflation Will Stay Higher for Longer
The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate to 4.35%, matching the December 2024 peak and marking a third consecutive hike. The move reflects stubborn inflation, which climbed to 4.6% in March and remains above the 2‑3% target range....
European Stocks Set to Open Lower as Iran War Concerns Grow
European equities are set to open lower on Tuesday as the fallout from the deteriorating U.S.-Iran cease‑fire dominates sentiment. The FTSE is expected to hold flat, while Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 are projected to drop about 0.4% and Italy’s...
American Pilots Union Chief Says United CEO's Merger Idea Showed 'Bold Vision'
American Airlines pilots union leader Nick Silva praised United CEO Scott Kirby’s merger proposal as a "bold vision" that could transform the industry, but the Allied Pilots Association stopped short of endorsing a tie‑up. United recently withdrew its merger pursuit...
BYD's Passenger EV Sales Drop for an Eighth Month as Competition Heats Up
BYD delivered 314,100 new‑energy passenger vehicles in April, a 15.7% year‑over‑year decline and the eighth consecutive month of falling sales. Export volumes surged to a record 135,098 units, up more than 70% from the same month in 2025. Domestic rivals...
Andy Jassy Says Amazon Investors Will Be Rewarded by All Its AI Spending
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told Mad Money that the company’s $200 billion AI‑related capex this year is a once‑in‑a‑generation bet that will drive long‑term growth. He said Amazon invests ahead of demand, citing AWS’s rapid expansion and a $15 billion AI run‑rate...
CNBC's The China Connection Newsletter: China Is Rewiring the Silicon Valley Model — Starting in Hong Kong
China’s tech financing is rapidly shifting to Hong Kong, where more than 400 firms are queuing for IPOs—the largest surge in 35 years. Confidential listing rules and easing regulations have spurred a pipeline that could raise about $60 billion in 2026, nearly...
India Is Burning More Coal as Extreme Heat and the Iran War Squeeze Energy Supplies
India’s coal‑fired power output rose to an average 164.9 GW in April, a 3.5% increase over last year, as extreme heat and the Iran‑related LNG supply squeeze pushed gas plants out of the merit pool. Higher LNG prices and disrupted petcoke...
The Nuclear Option: Atomic Energy Could Offer Europe Hope, Say Analysts — but It Won't Be Easy
Analysts argue nuclear power could shore up Europe’s energy security after recent supply shocks, citing France’s 60 % nuclear‑generated electricity as a model of low‑cost, reliable power. However, steep upfront costs and decades‑long construction timelines threaten to delay any meaningful impact....
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Kept Their Record Rallies Going. Here Are 3 Key Takeaways
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted a fifth straight week of gains, each closing at record levels three times during the week. A surge in oil prices tied to Middle‑East tensions did not deter investors, while first‑quarter earnings from mega‑caps drove...
The U.S.-Iran War Is Coming for Your Credit Score and Mortgage Application
The U.S.–Iran conflict that closed the Strait of Hormuz has spiked oil prices and lifted inflation, prompting lenders to tighten credit underwriting despite unchanged Fed rates. Banks are quietly raising effective FICO cutoffs and adding manual review layers, turning previously...
Netflix’s 'Beef' Highlights a $5,000 Deductible — How to Handle Your Own Healthcare Costs
Netflix’s drama “Beef” uses a hospital scene to spotlight a $5,000 health‑insurance deductible, illustrating widespread confusion about cost sharing. A 2024 NAIC survey finds only one‑in‑four Gen Z adults can define a deductible, while KFF data shows 88% of workers now...
Exxon Mobil CEO Expects Higher Oil Prices Due to Iran War: ‘The Market Hasn’t Seen the Full Impact’
Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods warned that current oil prices do not reflect the full impact of the Iran‑triggered supply shock, noting that strategic reserves and in‑transit tankers have temporarily cushioned the market. He said oil flows from the Persian...
Why You Won't Find Kentucky Derby Bets on Prediction Platforms
Prediction‑market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket do not offer contracts on the Kentucky Derby because Churchill Downs, the track’s owner, refuses to grant permission. The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 requires explicit consent from the racetrack, horsemen’s groups, and...
Trump Says 'Iran Wants to Make a Deal, but I'm Not Satisfied with It'
President Donald Trump said he is not satisfied with Iran's new offer to end the two‑month war involving the United States and Israel. He argued the proposal contains demands he cannot accept and highlighted Iran's depleted military capacity. Pakistani officials,...
Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon Make Landmark $225 Million Investment in Pickleball
Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon's Dundon Capital Partners have invested a record $225 million in Pickleball Inc., the parent of Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour. The funding pushes total capital in the company to $315 million and values the...
Engine Trouble Ahead? How the Strait of Hormuz Standoff Threatens Luxury Auto Giants
A prolonged standoff in the Strait of Hormuz is choking the flow of Group III and Group IV base oils, the key feedstocks for high‑performance lubricants. Prices for these base oils have surged nearly 100% in northern Europe since the Iran‑U.S. conflict...
South Korea's Kospi Clocks Best Month in 28 Years as Tech Optimism Triumphs over Iran War Worries
South Korea’s Kospi posted its strongest monthly gain in 28 years, climbing nearly 31% and marking the best performance since January 1998. The rally was driven by a surge in AI‑related tech stocks, with semiconductor leaders SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics jumping 60% and...
Private Credit Fears Loom Large over Europe’s Banks This Earnings Season
European banks are back under scrutiny for private‑credit exposure as Q1 earnings reveal sizable holdings. Barclays reported a $20.3 billion exposure, while Santander says its exposure is immaterial at less than 1% of assets. UBS and Deutsche Bank stress that their private‑credit...
Volkswagen Warns Planned Cost Cuts Are Not Enough After 14% Drop in First-Quarter Profit
Volkswagen posted a 14% decline in first‑quarter operating profit to €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion), missing analysts' near‑€4 billion expectations. Revenue fell 2.5% to €75.66 billion ($88.2 billion) amid higher U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers. The automaker warned its current cost‑cut...
Israel’s Economy and Financial Markets Are Booming — Even as Conflict Rages in the Middle East
Israel’s economy is expanding despite three years of conflict, with the Bank of Israel projecting 3.8% GDP growth in 2026 after a 1.4‑point downgrade. The IMF expects a 3.5% increase this year, outpacing the United States and the EU, and...
Pentagon AI Chief Confirms DOD's Expanded Use of Google, Says Reliance on One Model 'Never a Good Thing'
The Pentagon’s chief digital and AI officer, Cameron Stanley, confirmed that the Department of Defense is expanding its use of Google’s Gemini model for classified projects, following the recent removal of Anthropic from DOD contracts. The move reflects a broader...
U.S. Airlines Are Hiking Fares — and Travelers Keep Booking
U.S. airlines are raising fares as jet‑fuel costs surge after the Iran‑Israel conflict, yet travelers continue to book, with March ticket sales up 12% to $10.4 billion. Domestic economy fares have risen 21% to an average $570, while premium seats are...
The Bullish Signals Ahead of This Week's Mag-7 Earnings
The Magnificent 7 (Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft) are poised for a breakout as earnings roll out this week, while the broader S&P 500 has risen 2.4% YTD. Options traders are pricing in larger moves than the stocks have historically delivered, with...
Wall Street Expects Solid Q1 Results for GM, as Ford and Stellantis Try to Gain Traction
Wall Street analysts expect General Motors to post adjusted Q1 EPS of $2.61, maintaining an overweight rating with a $94.71 price target. Ford’s outlook is clouded by a 13% rise in aluminum prices and a loss of 100,000 F‑Series units...
3 Forces that Drove Another Historic – yet Volatile – Week for the S&P 500
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed the week at record highs despite sharp swings driven by the Iran‑related conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. A two‑week cease‑fire extension and aggressive U.S. naval posturing helped calm markets, allowing the S&P 500 to rise...
$300 Bags, $150 Earrings, $60 Hats: Mid-Priced Products Are a Status Symbol for Young Shoppers
Mid‑priced products are emerging as status symbols for Gen Z and millennial shoppers, who prefer items priced between $150 and $300 as affordable treats. Brands such as Freja, Our Place, and luxury houses’ entry‑level offerings (e.g., $60 hats, $150 earrings) attract...
AI Talent War: Software Industry Is a New Target as Top Executives Jump Ship to OpenAI
Top executives from Salesforce, Snowflake, Datadog and Palantir have recently joined OpenAI and Anthropic, signaling a new phase in the AI talent war. These hires bring deep enterprise relationships, helping OpenAI push its enterprise segment from roughly 40% of revenue...
Berkshire Attracts Interest as It Slips Further Behind the S&P 500
Berkshire Hathaway’s A and B shares slipped about 1% this week, leaving the stock down roughly 13% from its peak a year ago while the S&P 500 rose 26% over the same period. Analysts note the decline creates an 8% discount...
We Tried Out xAI's Grok Chatbot While Driving a Tesla in NYC. Here's What Happened.
Tesla’s Model Y now runs xAI’s Grok chatbot in beta, letting drivers issue voice commands for navigation and ask general‑knowledge questions. Lawyer‑owner Mike Nelson demonstrated the system while using Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) feature on a New York City drive, noting that...
Forgotten No More: Generation X Is Driving Beauty Sales
Generation X, the 1965‑1980 cohort, is emerging as the dominant force in beauty spending, representing roughly 25% of total industry sales. NielsenIQ projects the Gen X beauty market to expand by 30% over the next five years, driven by strong financial stability...
This Little-Known ETF Is up over 600% Amid U.S.-Iran War, a Better Trade than Oil or Energy Stocks
The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) has surged more than 600% year‑to‑date, vastly outpacing the roughly 60% gain in crude oil prices. The rally is driven by heightened freight futures as U.S.–Iran tensions choke the Strait of Hormuz, raising the...
Japan Core Inflation Accelerates After Five Months as Iran War Stokes Energy Worries
Japan’s core inflation jumped to 1.8% in March, marking the first rise in five months and aligning with Reuters’ forecast. Headline inflation eased to 1.5%, remaining under the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for a second consecutive month, while the...
Trump Says Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extended by Three Weeks
President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their cease‑fire by three weeks, following a high‑level Oval Office meeting. The gathering included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassadors to Israel...
Boeing CEO Says 'All Systems Are Go' To Increase 737 Production as Company Narrows Loss
Boeing announced it will increase 737 Max production to 47 aircraft per month, up from 42, as part of a broader effort to improve profitability. The company reported a first‑quarter loss of $7 million, far better than analysts’ expectations, and revenue of...