News

NASDAQ Texas exchange set for full operational launch at Thursday's market close

March 5 (Reuters) - Nasdaq will mark the full operational launch of its Texas exchange on Thursday, following U.S. regulatory approval of its listing rules. The exchange operator had announced the Texas exchange last year to deepen its presence in a state that is fast emerging as a major financial hub, rivaling New York. The launch gives U.S. public companies a Texas-based exchange option,

2026-03-05T21:28:19Z

Exclusive: Qatar shuts gas liquefaction, will take weeks to restart, sources say

By Marwa Rashad LONDON, March 4 (Reuters) - Qatar will fully shut down gas liquefaction on Wednesday and won't be able to return to normal production and export levels of super-chilled gas for at least a month, two sources familiar with the matter said. Qatar Energy, which stopped producing gas this week and declared force majeure on exports on Wednesday, did not respond to a request for comment

2026-03-04T14:33:13Z

Costco Wholesale beats quarterly comparable sales estimates

March 5 (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter comparable sales on Thursday, helped by resilient holiday-season demand for affordable essentials as well as "nice-to-have" items at its membership-only stores. The company's quarterly same-store sales, excluding gas, rose 6.7%, compared with analysts' estimates of a 5.88% rise, according to data compiled by LSEG.

2026-03-05T21:28:04Z

Middle East conflict poses fresh test to central banks as oil shock fuels inflation

Middle East conflict has posed a fresh test to central banks, with fears of an oil shock and renewed inflation risks changing their bid to shore up growth.

2026-03-04T05:09:22Z

Shell signs oil and gas exploration agreements with Venezuela

March 5 (Reuters) - Oil major Shell inked several oil agreements with the Venezuelan government on Thursday that span offshore gas and onshore oil and gas opportunities, the company said in a statement. It also signed several technical and commercial agreements with Venezuelan engineering company VEPICA, as well as with KBR and U.S. oil services firm Baker Hughes. Venezuelan President Delcy

2026-03-05T22:33:09Z

China ramps up 'high stakes' tech race with US as economic imbalances deepen

By Mei Mei Chu, Laurie Chen and Eduardo Baptista BEIJING, March 5 (Reuters) - China on Thursday set out a five-year roadmap to turbocharge scientific breakthroughs and embed AI across its industrial economic machine, framing technological dominance as a core national security goal in its sharpening rivalry with the U.S.. In its 15th strategic plan since adopting Soviet-style quinquennial policy

2026-03-05T08:58:08Z

Lufthansa adds more flights to Asia, Africa as Middle East war reshapes air travel

By Joanna Plucinska and Ilona Wissenbach LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Lufthansa said on Friday it was shifting capacity from 10 cancelled Middle Eastern destinations to routes such as Singapore and Bangkok as it contends with disruption from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Airlines across Europe, including budget carrier Wizz Air, have been redirecting capacity after suspending services in the

2026-03-06T13:28:09Z

US Treasury oil futures plan under consideration, but no immediate announcement, administration official says

March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury’s plan to address rising energy prices in the wake of the Iran conflict, including potential measures involving the oil futures market, remains under consideration but there is no immediate plan to announce anything for now, an administration official said on Friday. Earlier in the day, Bloomberg News reported that the Trump administration is ruling out

2026-03-06T15:43:10Z

Robinhood's $658 million private markets fund for retail investors goes public

By Manya Saini March 6 (Reuters) - Robinhood debuted its flagship $658.4 million venture fund on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, offering retail investors a rare chance to invest in high-profile, privately held technology companies. Private company investments have long been the playground of Silicon Valley's biggest venture capital firms, with retail investors largely shut out of the

2026-03-06T15:38:18Z

Analysis - Maritime insurance premiums surge as Iran conflict widens

By Noor Zainab Hussain and Manya Saini March 6 (Reuters) - As the conflict in the Gulf widens, maritime insurance premiums for war coverage are surging -- in some cases by more than 1000% -- dramatically driving up the cost of moving energy through a critical maritime corridor. The conflagration sparked by Saturday's Israeli-U.S. air strikes against Tehran has paralyzed traffic through the

2026-03-06T11:28:13Z

Baker Hughes plans $10 billion cross-border bond sale, Bloomberg News reports

March 4 (Reuters) - Baker Hughes is planning to raise about $10 billion from a cross-border bond sale to help fund its acquisition of Chart Industries, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The company said last year that it would buy Chart Industries in a $13.6 billion all-cash deal, giving the oilfield services company greater exposure to industrial

2026-03-04T17:43:06Z

Roark weighs $2 billion IPO of Dunkin' owner Inspire Brands, Bloomberg News reports

March 5 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Roark Capital is considering an initial public offering for Dunkin' owner Inspire Brands, that could raise about $2 billion as early as this year, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. (Reporting by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

2026-03-06T00:28:16Z

BlackRock limits withdrawals at private credit fund as redemptions mount

March 6 (Reuters) - BlackRock said on Friday it has put limits on withdrawals from a flagship private credit fund after a surge in redemption requests, making it the latest company responding to rising investor caution in the asset class. Shares of the asset manager fell 3.4% before the bell after the Financial Times first reported the news. BlackRock's $26 billion HPS Corporate Lending Fund

2026-03-06T14:33:05Z

BP seeks award of at least $3.7 billion from Venture Global arbitration win, Venture Global filing says

LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - BP is seeking an award of at least $3.7 billion from its arbitration win against Venture Global in a case concerning liquefied natural gas cargoes, according to Venture Global's annual report released earlier this week. The remedies sought by BP include damages ranging from $3.7 billion to potentially in excess of $6.0 billion, as well as interest, costs and attorneys

2026-03-06T15:38:07Z

China signals tolerance for slower growth with 4.5%-5% target for 2026

BEIJING, March 5 (Reuters) - China set its economic growth target for 2026 at 4.5%-5%, a slight downgrade from the 5% pace achieved last year, which leaves room for greater, albeit not decisive, efforts to curb industrial overcapacity and rebalance the economy. China also released its 15th five-year plan, and as widely expected, pledged investments in innovation, high-tech industries, scientific

2026-03-05T01:33:11Z

Indonesia gives Meta 'stern warning' over disinformation

JAKARTA, March 5 (Reuters) - Indonesia's communications ministry has issued a "stern warning" to Meta Platforms Inc for failing to curb the spread of online gambling and disinformation, the ministry said on Thursday. * The warning came after Indonesia's Communications andDigital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid on Wednesday made anunscheduled visit to Meta's operational office in Jakarta. * Meta

2026-03-05T07:03:10Z

Bath & Body Works forecasts steeper decline in annual sales

March 4 (Reuters) - Bath & Body Works forecast a steeper decline in annual sales on Wednesday than anticipated by Wall Street, as budget-conscious shoppers pull back spending on its pricey scented candles and fragrances. Consumers struggling to make ends meet owing to concerns around rising costs-of-living and weak labor market have cut back spending on expensive non-essentials, in turn hurting

2026-03-04T12:18:06Z

FAA seeking steeper cuts in flights at Chicago O'Hare airport, sources say

WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration told airlines it wants to potentially cut a few hundred additional flights at Chicago O'Hare airport this summer over what it initially outlined last week, sources told Reuters on Thursday. Last week, the FAA proposed a 2,800 per day limit, down from the 3,080 daily operations announced for the summer, but above last summer's

2026-03-05T23:28:13Z

US mulls new rules for AI chip exports, including requiring investments by foreign firms in US

SAN FRANCISCO, March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. officials are debating a new regulatory framework for exporting artificial intelligence chips and are considering requiring foreign nations to invest in U.S. AI data centers or security guarantees as a condition for granting exports of large numbers of chips, according to a document seen by Reuters. The rules, which are not yet final and could change, would

2026-03-05T21:28:06Z

Venezuela to ensure security of mining companies, exceed oil production goals: Burgum

CARACAS, March 5 (Reuters) - United States Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sounded an optimistic note as he prepared to leave Venezuela on Thursday after a two-day visit, telling journalists a new mining law will create opportunities for companies, licenses allowing them to operate are on the horizon and the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez has promised to ensure their security. Burgum, who

2026-03-05T21:28:12Z

Hormuz shutdown could force Iraq, Kuwait to curb oil output within days, JP Morgan says

March 4 (Reuters) - Crude oil supplies from Iraq and Kuwait could start shutting in within days if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, potentially cutting 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) by day eight of the Middle East conflict, J.P. Morgan analysts said in a note. Iraq and Kuwait have roughly three and 14 days, respectively, before they would be forced to halt crude exports that pass through

2026-03-04T17:43:11Z

US tentatively approves budget carrier Wizz Air's request to operate UK-US flights

WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department on Thursday granted tentative approval for budget carrier Wizz Air to operate flights between the UK and the United States. The airline's UK subsidiary petitioned in January for a foreign air carrier permit to operate flights between the two countries "as soon as possible." USDOT said it was granting tentative approval but will

2026-03-05T22:28:12Z

Higher tariffs likely this week, says US Treasury

Scott Bessent says that "likely sometime this week" the US will increase its global tariff on imports from the existing 10%.

2026-03-04T15:38:42Z

Lufthansa profit tops forecast but Middle East war clouds outlook

By Joanna Plucinska LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Lufthansa reported better-than-expected 2025 results on Friday as stricter financial management and fleet renewal helped the airline contain costs and boost profits, but the outlook remained clouded by the war in the Middle East. The German group's shares rose as much as 4% in early trading, before retreating to stand up 0.5% at 1100 GMT. Airline

2026-03-06T11:28:12Z

United Airlines sees hit to results on fuel cost spike from Iran conflict

March 6 (Reuters) - United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on Friday he expects a "meaningful" hit to the carrier's first-quarter results from surging fuel prices following the deepening war in Iran, even as travel demand remains resilient. If the conflict prolongs, the airline could see an impact in the second quarter as well, CNBC reported, citing Kirby's speech at a university event on Thursday.

2026-03-06T15:38:11Z

Codelco, Microsoft sign AI deal for mining operations

SANTIAGO, March 5 (Reuters) - Chile's state-owned Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, and Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, automation and digital security, the miner said on Thursday. KEY CONTEXT • The agreement will run for 18 months initially with joint governance for strategic and operational

2026-03-05T14:33:11Z

Kraken's banking unit gains access to Fed's payments system

March 4 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken's banking unit has gained access to the U.S. Federal Reserve's payments system through a limited-purpose account, the Kansas City Fed said in a statement on Wednesday. The development underscores the crypto sector's growing foothold in mainstream finance as digital assets are increasingly incorporated into traditional markets and attract more

2026-03-04T12:18:11Z

Trump officials ruling out Treasury oil futures trades for now, Bloomberg News reports

March 6 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is ruling out deploying the Treasury Department to trade oil futures for now, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing a person familiar with the matter. Officials discussed getting the Treasury Department involved, but believe its ability to meaningfully affect the market is limited, the report said. Global oil prices have jumped since the war with

2026-03-06T07:28:07Z

Son of EssilorLuxottica founder nears deal to buy siblings' Delfin stake, FT says

March 6 (Reuters) - Leonardo Maria del Vecchio is nearing a deal to buy out two of his siblings from the family holding company Delfin, which controls EssilorLuxottica, the heir told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday. "We are close to agreeing a price," Leonardo Maria del Vecchio told the FT, adding that he was in talks to triple his holding to 37.5%. The ownership of

2026-03-06T07:28:11Z

Prudential Financial's Japanese subsidiary says some employees removed information from contracted agencies

March 6 (Reuters) - Prudential Financial's Japanese life insurance subsidiary said on Friday that some workers assigned to contracted agencies improperly removed operational information and shared it with other employees. The company reported that 11 employees took operational information on 379 occasions at seven agencies and shared it with other Prudential staff, who used the data to help plan

2026-03-06T15:43:12Z

Berkshire Hathaway resumes stock buybacks, CEO Abel says they help create value

March 5 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway said on Thursday it has begun repurchasing its own shares after a nearly two-year hiatus, as Greg Abel begins putting his stamp on the conglomerate after succeeding Warren Buffett as chief executive in January. The repurchases began on Wednesday and are Berkshire's first since May 2024. They may also help Berkshire reduce its $373.3 billion year-end cash

2026-03-05T15:33:06Z

I was on an Emirates flight to Dubai that turned around twice because of Iranian missiles

CNBC's Emma Graham flew home to the UAE on an Emirates flight that turned around just 30 minutes from Dubai because of an Iran missile threat.

2026-03-03T16:24:25Z

Lufthansa reports 2025 operating profit beat, 2026 outlook murky over Middle East

By Joanna Plucinska LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Lufthansa on Friday reported better-than-expected results for its 2025 financial year as stricter financial management and fleet turnover helped the airline manage costs and maximise profits. European airlines, including Lufthansa, benefited from slightly lower fuel bills in 2025, bolstering earnings as passenger demand has remained strong. "Last

2026-03-06T07:28:14Z

US airlines no longer hedge fuel costs. That could hurt margins if Iran conflict lingers

By Shivansh Tiwary and Doyinsola Oladipo March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines abandoned the practice of hedging against fuel costs long ago. With oil prices surging following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, they could be looking at a big bite out of their bottom line in the event of a lengthy conflict that keeps prices elevated for months. Jet fuel prices have risen 15% in the past week, another

2026-03-06T12:28:07Z

Gulf carriers resume limited flights, but missile fire fuels uncertainty

By Julie Zhu HONG KONG, March 6 (Reuters) - Emirates and Etihad Airways were resuming limited flight schedules to key global cities from their United Arab Emirates hubs on Friday, though the threat of missile fire piled pressure on airlines as they scramble to accommodate travellers. With most airspace in the Middle East still closed over missile and drone concerns since the start of the U.S.-

2026-03-06T06:28:13Z

US customs agency says tariff refund system will be ready in 45 days

March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is preparing a system to process tariff refunds that will be ready for use in 45 days, a top agency official said in a court filing with the Court of International Trade on Friday. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Writing by Ryan Patrick Jones in TorontoEditing by David Ljunggren)

2026-03-06T16:38:11Z

US customs agency says it cannot comply with tariff refund order

WILMINGTON, Del., March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is unable to comply with a court order directing it to refund tariffs that the Supreme Court has ruled illegal, the agency said in a court filing with the U.S. Court for International Trade on Friday. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; writing by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; editing by Susan Heavey)

2026-03-06T15:38:05Z

Kroger forecasts muted annual sales and profit as new CEO takes helm

March 5 (Reuters) - Kroger forecast tepid annual sales and profit on Thursday, as the supermarket chain operator navigates an uncertain spending environment under a new CEO. The company is reporting its first set of results under CEO Greg Foran, who had delivered 20 straight quarters of comparable-sales growth as former Walmart U.S. chief. Wall Street analysts had last month cheered his

2026-03-05T12:38:16Z

XAI loses bid to halt California AI data disclosure law

By Blake Brittain March 5 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI failed to convince a California federal court on Thursday to temporarily block the state's law requiring companies to disclose information about the data they use to train AI models. U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal in Los Angeles said that xAI had not yet shown it was likely to prove the law violated its

2026-03-05T22:28:11Z

China in talks with Iran to allow safe oil and gas passage through Hormuz, sources say

By Jonathan Saul and Marwa Rashad LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - China is in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S.-Israeli war on Tehran intensifies, three diplomatic sources told Reuters. The war, which entered its sixth day on Thursday, has left the critical shipping passageway all-but shut, with countries

2026-03-05T20:28:12Z

Kroger keeps forecasts soft as new CEO bets on growth by keeping prices down

By Savyata Mishra March 5 (Reuters) - Supermarket chain operator Kroger forecast muted annual sales and profit on Thursday, as new CEO Greg Foran looks to boost market share by focusing on more affordable fresh food and nimbler delivery service for budget-conscious customers. The results were the first under Foran, who delivered 20 straight quarters of comparable-sales growth as former Walmart

2026-03-05T15:33:11Z

Kroger forecasts muted annual sales, profit as new CEO takes helm

By Savyata Mishra March 5 (Reuters) - Supermarket chain operator Kroger forecast muted annual sales and profit on Thursday, as it navigates uncertain demand under a new CEO by focusing its spending on digital business and promotions to draw budget-strapped shoppers. The company is reporting its first set of results under CEO Greg Foran, who had delivered 20 straight quarters of comparable-sales

2026-03-05T13:33:11Z

United Airlines sees hit to results on fuel cost spike from Iran conflict, CNBC reports

March 6 (Reuters) - United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expects a "meaningful" hit to the carrier's first-quarter results from surging fuel prices following the deepening war in Iran, even as travel demand remains resilient, CNBC reported on Friday. If the conflict prolongs, the airline could see an impact in the second quarter as well, said Kirby at a university event on Thursday, the report said.

2026-03-06T14:33:13Z

US business inventories nudge up in December

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. business inventories edged up in December amid a rebound in stocks at retailers, government data showed on Friday. Inventories increased 0.1% after being unchanged in November, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said. Inventories are a key component of GDP and one of the most volatile. The rise was in line with economists' expectations. Inventories

2026-03-06T15:38:08Z

Nvidia refocuses TSMC capacity as export controls stall China sales, FT reports

March 5 (Reuters) - Nvidia has stopped production of chips intended for the Chinese market, betting that regulatory barriers in the U.S. and China will continue to limit sales to the world's second-largest economy, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The U.S. chipmaker has reallocated manufacturing capacity at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company away from making H200 chips to its

2026-03-05T05:13:13Z

US Postal Service hiring restructuring advisers as it could run out of money in 2027

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Postal Service is hiring restructuring advisers to help address its mounting financial troubles, Postmaster General David Steiner told Reuters in an interview. Reuters first reported in December that Steiner believed the Postal Service could run out of money as soon as early 2027. USPS has reported net losses of about $120 billion

2026-03-04T19:43:13Z

DHL continues to accept Middle East orders, but warns of delays

By Emanuele Berro March 5 (Reuters) - DHL is still accepting delivery orders in the Middle East despite the escalating conflict, its chief executive said on Thursday, but warned there would be delays. The escalation of the U.S.-Iran war affects the whole region, including deliveries to Israel that are currently moved via Cyprus, CEO Tobias Meyer told a press conference after the German logistics

2026-03-05T12:38:07Z

Exclusive-Trump on rising gas prices during Iran operation: 'If they rise, they rise'

By Steve Holland, Jarrett Renshaw, Nandita Bose and Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was not concerned about rising U.S. gas prices driven by the widening Iran conflict, telling Reuters in an exclusive interview that the U.S. military operation was his priority. "I don't have any concern about it," he said, when asked about the higher prices

2026-03-06T03:28:15Z

Nike records $300 million in restructuring charges after recent layoffs

March 5 (Reuters) - Nike will record about $300 million in pre-tax charges related to severance costs from a restructuring push at the footwear maker as CEO Elliott Hill looks to contain a margin bleed and refresh its product mix to revive sales. The company cut about 775 jobs in the U.S. in January to speed up automation. Nike-owned Converse was also cutting corporate roles to realign its