Category
Economy
Stories and analysis from The Business Now newsroom.
Commodities
Iran Considers European Role in Strait of Hormuz—What It Means for Global Oil Prices
Iran Considers European Role in Strait of Hormuz — What It Means for Global Oil Prices Iran is weighing a possible European role in efforts to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, adding another layer to increasingly complex negotiations over the strategic oil chokepoint. Any arrangement that gives European countries a role in securing...
Business
Marco Rubio Says No Final Decision on Strait of Hormuz Yet — What It Means for Global Oil Markets
Marco Rubio Says No Final Decision on Strait of Hormuz Yet — What It Means for Global Oil Markets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz are making progress, but no final agreement has been reached yet. The uncertainty is keeping global oil markets on edge, even as crude...
Economy
U.S. Job Openings Fall Below Forecast as Labor Market Cools — What It Means for the Fed and Stock Market
U.S. Job Openings Fall Below Forecast as Labor Market Cools — What It Means for the Fed and Stock Market U.S. job openings fell more than expected in June, sending a fresh signal that labor-market demand is cooling even as hiring remains relatively resilient. The latest data could become an important piece of the Federal...
Business
Oil Drops Near $80 as Strait of Hormuz Reopening Sparks Major Market Shift
Oil Drops Near $80 as Strait of Hormuz Reopening Sparks Major Market Shift Oil prices are sliding sharply as hopes for a U.S.-Iran agreement and a possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz ease fears of prolonged supply disruption, sending a fresh shock through global energy markets. Brent crude fell about 4% on Tuesday, reaching...
Commodities
Iran War Tragedy Puts Pete Hegseth Under Growing Pressure as GOP Confidence in Defense Chief Erodes
Iran War Tragedy Puts Pete Hegseth Under Growing Pressure as GOP Confidence in Defense Chief Erodes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing mounting political pressure as the U.S. war with Iran continues, with concerns over the conflict’s duration, military leadership decisions and civilian casualties increasingly putting his Pentagon leadership under scrutiny. The latest controversy comes...
Business
ExxonMobil Stock Is Surging — But Is XOM Still a Buy After Its Massive Run?
ExxonMobil Stock Is Surging — But Is XOM Still a Buy After Its Massive Run? ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) has become one of Wall Street’s biggest energy stories after a powerful run in 2026, with investors watching the oil giant closely ahead of its latest earnings report. The stock story is especially interesting because XOM combines...
Business
Apple Earnings Shock: Profit Jumps 27% as iPhone Sales Crush Expectations — But Tim Cook’s Final Call Raises a Bigger Question
Apple Earnings Shock: Profit Jumps 27% as iPhone Sales Crush Expectations — But Tim Cook’s Final Call Raises a Bigger Question Apple has delivered another powerful earnings performance, with fiscal third-quarter 2026 profit rising 27% as strong iPhone demand helped the world’s most valuable public company beat Wall Street expectations. The results arrive at a...
Business
2027 Social Security COLA Could Bring a Bigger Check — But Some Seniors May Face a Tax Surprise
2027 Social Security COLA Could Bring a Bigger Check — But Some Seniors May Face a Tax Surprise Millions of Americans receiving Social Security are already watching one number closely: the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The final increase won’t be known until the Social Security Administration announces it in October 2026, but current...
Economy
DOE Issues Emergency Power Order Across 17 States as Extreme Heat Pushes U.S. Grid Toward the Limit
DOE Issues Emergency Power Order Across 17 States as Extreme Heat Pushes U.S. Grid Toward the Limit The U.S. power grid is facing another major stress test as extreme summer heat drives electricity demand higher across the central United States, prompting the Department of Energy (DOE) to issue an emergency order covering a 17-state region....