Business

Schwarzman Scholars has named 150 recipients for its 2026–27 program, chosen from more than 5,800 applicants; over 50 are from the U.S. and will begin a one-year master’s program at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in August 2025.

Research from the Center for Retirement Research finds 83% of retiree households face unplanned expenses in any year, and among those households the average annual amount is about $6,000, roughly 10% of yearly income.

Iceland’s most famous landscapes — geysers, glaciers, lava fields and waterfalls — lie inland and are rarely visible from a ship, so shore excursions and overnight stays are commonly needed to reach them.

Jay Mandel, a 48-year-old former corporate marketing executive in New York, supplements his income by delivering for Uber Eats and says the work has been humbling while bringing in a few hundred dollars a week.

Employment among Black women rose to a 7.8 percent unemployment rate by December 2025, and many midcareer and senior Black women have formed peer networks such as the Discord group 'Black Women Rising' to share leads, résumé help and mutual support.

Walmart executive Daniel Danker said many "agentic commerce" AI tools lack consumer appeal and described potential uses such as personalized apparel previews and AI that remembers typical orders to reduce scrolling.

Lloyd Fisher left a decade in corporate marketing and started Oak Avenue Landscaping in December 2023; in 2025 he reported about $52,000 in net income and roughly $430,000 in revenue while prioritizing flexible hours and sustainable, all‑electric equipment.

Surveys and user reviews at the start of 2026 show Amica leading in auto insurance customer satisfaction, with J.D. Power reporting a 735 score in New England and U.S. News noting strong customer service in a survey of over 1,100 users.

The article examines the paradox that the same generative AI systems linked to so-called AI psychosis are also being proposed as tools to help people experiencing AI-induced mental health issues, and it reports that OpenAI is adjusting ChatGPT to flag suspected cases and to connect users with human therapists.

Mercosur and the European Union will sign a trade agreement on Saturday that eliminates tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade and aims to create one of the world’s largest free-trade areas; signing will take place in Asuncion with senior EU officials and some Mercosur leaders present.

PJM's Board of Managers outlined actions for 2026 to integrate new large loads while preserving reliability and affordability for the 67 million people it serves, including an immediate backstop generation procurement process and a broader market review that will inform possible changes to the recent price floor and ceiling.

The article reports AMD saw meaningful data center revenue in its latest quarter as Phase 1 of the AI infrastructure capex cycle peaks; it also warns that AMD's elevated valuation could compress as spending shifts from securing capacity to utilizing it.

Bloomberg reports equity ETFs still draw the bulk of investor flows, while income strategies, active ETFs and crypto are increasingly being incorporated into model-driven portfolios, according to panels held at the ETFs in Depth event.

Mortgage rates fell to 6.06%, the lowest in over three years, and the article reports the President plans to direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to help lower borrowing costs.

The U.S. Education Department announced a pause on planned tax-refund seizures and administrative wage garnishments for loans in collection while it revises repayment regulations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear Bayer's appeal seeking to limit state-law claims over the Roundup weedkiller; the article notes the court has not yet scheduled argument dates.

The America First Policy Institute and influencer Benny Johnson launched the 'Make Housing Great Again' initiative and released a white paper proposing supply-side deregulation, local incentives, and buyer-focused measures to address housing affordability.

Bill Ford told Yahoo Finance at the Detroit Auto Show that the United States still needs a strong manufacturing base and discussed Ford's domestic production, electric vehicles and its partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing in Formula One.

The IRS raised 2026 contribution limits for several retirement accounts, including a $24,500 cap for 401(k)s and higher IRA limits. The SECURE 2.0 Act also requires some high‑income catch-up contributions to be made as Roth contributions.

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation and the Federal Reserve approved Inter to establish a state‑licensed international banking branch in Miami, expanding its cross‑border services. The article notes Inter serves more than 41 million customers and that the branch will be a digital‑first banking hub.

The Education Department announced a temporary delay to wage garnishments and other involuntary collections for federal student loan borrowers in default, saying the pause will allow it to implement repayment reforms under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

President Trump will announce next week a proposal to let Americans use 401(k) funds for home down payments, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said. Hassett said final details are still being finalized and will be presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Federal Reserve reported industrial production rose 0.4 percent in December, and output was 2.0 percent higher than a year earlier.

Vanguard's 2025 Retirement Outlook found fewer than half of Americans (42%) are on track for retirement, with Gen Z (47%) and millennials (42%) more likely to be prepared than baby boomers and Gen X (about 40%); median-income baby boomers face a projected replacement rate near 56% and an estimated $9,000 annual shortfall.

U.S. stock index futures climbed as memory chipmakers drove Friday gains while the fourth-quarter earnings season began amid a volatile week for markets.

The Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a study on cellphone radiation, and the FDA removed webpages that had stated there was no established link between cellphone use and health problems, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A 41.28-carat blue diamond was found at the Cullinan mine, and Petra Diamonds says the Type IIb stone—reported by the company as 41.82 carats—is being analyzed to confirm its final size and quality.

After six months as CEO, Antonio Filosa said he is enjoying the role and indicated Stellantis may revisit its large brand portfolio, with fuller details to be shared at Capital Markets Day in 2026.

Futures tracking Toronto's S&P/TSX were up 0.24% as oil steadied, and Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada and China agreed to cut tariffs on electric vehicles and canola.

The article reports that soaring demand for AI computing has prompted large infrastructure plans, yet public data center REITs have lagged in market performance as structural payout rules, capital limits, competition and power constraints limit their participation.