Browsing: Business

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2025: The United States has approved the sale of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in American defense exports and signaling closer strategic ties between Washington and Riyadh. President Donald Trump confirmed the decision this week following months of discussions with U.S. defense officials and Saudi representatives. The proposed sale includes up to 48 F-35A aircraft, the conventional takeoff and landing variant used by the U.S. Air Force, along with a package of maintenance support, weapons systems, and pilot training. The agreement forms part of a broader U.S.-Saudi Strategic Defense Framework that also includes the planned…

Washington, D.C. | November 16, 2025: The United States has announced a major revision to its reciprocal tariff policy, exempting a broad range of agricultural and processed-food products from additional import duties. The move, signed into effect by President Donald Trump on November 14, 2025, effectively reduces import tariffs from as high as 50% to zero on several key commodities, including coffee, tea, fruits, nuts, spices, and essential oils. The exemptions took effect on November 13 and are expected to ease trade pressures on several partner economies, including India. In an executive order released from Washington, President Trump said the decision was made following “additional information and recommendations” from trade and…

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 11, 2025: The United States Department of Commerce has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties on pasta imported from Italy that could raise total tariffs to more than 100 percent, significantly impacting one of the largest categories of Italian food exports to the U.S. market. According to the Department’s findings, Italian producers have been selling pasta in the United States at prices below fair market value. The investigation covers 13 companies, including major exporters such as La Molisana and Pasta Garofalo, during the review period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The preliminary rate of 91.74 percent is set to apply to…

WASHINGTON, November 10, 2025: Global equity markets advanced Monday as technology shares rebounded and the U.S. Senate moved closer to ending the federal government shutdown. Investor sentiment improved across regions, with major indices in Asia, Europe, and the United States gaining ground amid renewed optimism in global markets. In the U.S., futures tied to the S&P 500 rose about 0.9 per cent, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained around 0.4 per cent. In Europe, Germany’s DAX Index increased by roughly 1.8 per cent and France’s CAC 40 climbed 1.4 per cent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 also advanced, buoyed by improved investor sentiment. In Asia, the rally was…

NEW YORK, November 10, 2025: U.S. stock markets experienced notable declines this week as concerns over elevated valuations in artificial-intelligence linked stocks and a broader technology pull-back weighed on investor sentiment. On Thursday the S&P 500 fell 1.1 % to 6,720.32, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.8 % to 46,912.30 and the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.9 % to 23,053.99. Technology and semiconductor stocks, including major players linked to artificial-intelligence applications, led the losses. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, used as a key gauge for the chip sector, declined around 2.4 %. Market commentators noted that the S&P 500’s technology weighting is now about 36 %,…

WASHINGTON, November 8, 2025: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions related to the use of Russian oil and gas, following discussions between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. The decision allows Hungary to continue purchasing energy supplies from Russia without violating U.S. restrictions for the duration of the exemption period. A White House official confirmed the exemption, describing it as a recognition of Hungary’s specific energy needs and geographic constraints. The United States has maintained sanctions on Russian energy exports as part of broader measures targeting Moscow’s oil and gas industry. Hungary, a landlocked European…

Tesla shareholders approve Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, linking future compensation to strict performance and market growth milestones.

Pfizer raised its 2025 profit forecast after beating third-quarter earnings estimates, driven by strong sales in key drugs and improved cost efficiency.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2025: A striking divergence between the U.S. labour market and financial markets is drawing attention from economists analyzing recent data. According to figures compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and market-trackers, job-vacancy levels peaked at approximately 11.5 million in March 2022 and have since fallen to about 7.18 million by August 2025, representing a decline of nearly 30 %. At the same time the S&P 500 index rose from roughly 3,840 to nearly 6,700 a gain of about 70 %. Economist Derek Thompson has identified this unfolding pattern as “the scariest chart in the world”. He writes that this…

SEATTLE, Nov. 4: U.S. coffee chain Starbucks Corporation has agreed to sell a majority stake of its China operations to Chinese investment firm Boyu Capital in a deal valued at approximately US $4 billion. Under the agreement announced Monday, Boyu will acquire up to a 60 percent interest in Starbucks’ retail operations in China. Starbucks will retain the remaining 40 percent and will continue to own and license its brand and intellectual property to the newly formed venture. The agreement formalises the creation of a joint venture to operate Starbucks stores in mainland China. The enterprise value of the portion being acquired by Boyu is based…