Business News

(NEW YORK) -- Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest level since May as negotiations between the United States and Iran ease financial markets.The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage stands at 6.43%, down from last week's rate of 6.49%, Freddie Mac data on Thursday showed.Still, mortgage rates register above their level before the war with Iran. Prior to the Middle East conflict in late February, a 30-year fixed mortgage clocked in at an […]

(NEW YORK) -- If you're a millennial, you may remember the beauty and lifestyle influencers of the 2000s and 2010s. Back then, influencers were maximalists, competing to out-consume one another with walk-in closets filled with designer bags and shoes, and entire rooms dedicated to their makeup collections.But in 2020, the economy began rapidly changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the culture around influencers has followed suit.According to recent […]

(NEW YORK) -- Hiring slowed markedly in June, falling short of economists' expectations and displaying a wobbly labor market amid elevated inflation set off by the Iran war.The U.S. added 57,000 jobs in June, according to the federal government's monthly jobs report, which marked a decline from 172,000 jobs added in May.The sluggish pace recorded in June departs from strong performance for the labor market so far in 2026. Employers […]

(NEW YORK) -- Apple announced its first-ever foldable iPhone at its annual products event on Wednesday as customers worldwide watched for fresh products, as well as the debut of Apple CEO John Ternus.The foldable smartphone, called iPhone Duo, folds open like a book, producing one continuous screen that is 80% larger than the company's latest version of the iPhone Pro, the company said, adding that when opened it will also be the […]

(NEW YORK) -- Barters Island Bees, a honey seller in Maine with flavors like "Gentle Ginger" and "Blueberry Lemon," grew year after year -- until a trade dispute broke out between the United States and Canada, chief executive Garret Denniston said.Sales shrank last year after a drop-off in Canadian tourists hammered business at farmers’ markets and fairs, Denniston said. But revenue has bounced back, he added, surging 75% this year compared to […]

Apple CEO John Ternus speaks during the keynote address at Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event at the company's corporate headquarters on Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, California. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images) (NEW YORK) -- Apple held its annual product event on Wednesday as customers worldwide watched for fresh products as well as the debut of Apple CEO John Ternus.Observers widely expect the company to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, marking Apple's splashy entry […]

The sprawling BP refinery is shown on Sept. 8, 2026, in Whiting, Indiana. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) (LONDON) -- The global price of oil topped $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July, as continued tensions between Iran and the United States added to uncertainty over future supply.The rise followed a statement on Tuesday by U.S. Central Command, which said that its forces destroyed five Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps oil […]

(WASHINGTON) -- Retaliatory tariffs issued by Canada hit some imports from the United States at one minute after midnight Eastern Time on Tuesday, intensifying a trade war between the longtime allies and risking an escalation from President Donald Trump.Levies as high as 50% apply to hundreds of U.S. products, ranging from aluminum foil to raincoats to cheese. U.S. elected officials in states bordering Canada, including Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, have warned the trade […]

(NEW YORK) -- A trio of progressive Democrats sharply criticized billionaires on their way to victory in House primaries in New York City.The clean sweep for candidates endorsed by far-left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday drew attention to economic populism as affordability remains a top issue for voters ahead of the midterm elections.In Manhattan and Brooklyn's 10th District, incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman lost in a landslide to […]