Business news now
Here are the latest business news updates:
Market Updates
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% to 34,033.59, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.1% to 4,144.45.
- The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% to 13,741.45.
- The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.53%.
Economic News
- The US economy added 379,000 jobs in February, exceeding expectations and marking the 12th consecutive month of job growth.
- The unemployment rate fell to 6.2%, the lowest level since February 2020.
- The US trade deficit widened to $68.2 billion in January, the largest since 2008.
Company News
- Tesla (TSLA) announced a 5-for-1 stock split, which will make its shares more accessible to individual investors.
- Amazon (AMZN) is reportedly in talks to acquire MGM Studios for around $9 billion.
- Facebook (FB) is facing a new antitrust lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission, which alleges that the company's acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp stifled competition.
Tech News
- Apple (AAPL) is expected to release its latest iPhone models, including the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, later this year.
- Google (GOOGL) is reportedly developing a new augmented reality (AR) platform, which could compete with Apple's ARKit.
- Microsoft (MSFT) is acquiring a 1.4% stake in the video game company Activision Blizzard (ATVI) for $1.2 billion.
International News
- The European Union has approved a $2.2 billion bailout package for the struggling airline industry.
- The UK's Office for National Statistics reported that the country's economy contracted by 2.2% in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- China's economy grew by 6.5% in the first quarter of 2021, beating expectations and marking the country's first quarterly growth since the pandemic began.
Other News
- The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its upcoming meeting, despite growing concerns about inflation.
- The US Treasury Department is considering issuing a digital currency, which could potentially disrupt the traditional banking system.
- The World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is taking place this week, with leaders from around the world discussing topics such as climate change, inequality, and the future of work.
These are just a few of the latest business news updates. Stay tuned for more!