Business
Chronological wire record. Latest transmission first.
MSCI to Add Four Stocks to Standard Index From Sept. 1
MSCI said its Standard Index will add Adani Energy Solutions, Billionbrains Garage Ventures, Laurus Labs and Lenskart Solutions from Sept. 1, while three other companies will be removed. The changes are expected to generate about $1.5 billion in inflows to the newly added stocks.
Markets and business: S&P 500 tops 7,000 as investors watch Fed and earnings; Amazon job cuts and SpaceX IPO talk
Wall Street pushed to new highs on AI optimism and anticipation of Big Tech results and the Fed’s decision, while business headlines include reported Amazon layoffs and talk of a massive SpaceX IPO.
Amazon to cut about 16,000 corporate jobs in another major layoff round
Amazon announced roughly 16,000 additional corporate job cuts, following a prior layoff round in October 2025. The company said the changes are aimed at reducing layers and bureaucracy while it continues to invest in strategic priorities, including AI.
South Carolina measles outbreak rises to 211 cases, Reuters reports, with quarantine timeline extending to Jan. 28
South Carolina’s health department reported 211 measles cases linked to an outbreak in the state’s northwest, with most infections among unvaccinated people. The update included dozens of people in quarantine or isolation, with the latest end-of-quarantine date set for Jan. 28.
Markets brace for a Fed pause as January meeting opens amid renewed scrutiny of Powell
Investors expect the Federal Reserve to hold rates steady at its first policy meeting of 2026 after multiple cuts last year. The outlook is complicated by political pressure and reports of a Justice Department probe connected to testimony about Fed building renovations.
GM lifts outlook, raises dividend and announces $6 billion buyback after EV-related charges
General Motors reported fourth-quarter results that beat analyst expectations on an adjusted basis and unveiled a new $6 billion stock repurchase plan alongside a dividend increase. The automaker also outlined 2026 profit targets, while acknowledging significant charges tied to a realignment of its electric-vehicle strategy.
Health insurer stocks slide after Medicare Advantage payment proposal points to near-flat 2027 update
Shares of major U.S. health insurers fell sharply after the federal government proposed a much smaller-than-expected increase in Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2027. The draft update rattled investors who had been pricing in a mid-single-digit boost, and it raises questions about benefit design, margins, and plan participation next year.
Fed set to hold rates as Powell faces DOJ scrutiny and mounting political pressure
Markets expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates steady this week, but the meeting is overshadowed by a Justice Department probe into Chair Jerome Powell related to renovation testimony, raising new questions about Fed independence ahead of his term’s May 2026 end.
U.S. health insurers slide after CMS projects just a 0.09% Medicare Advantage payment increase for 2027
Shares of major health insurers fell after CMS published its CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice, projecting a net average payment increase of 0.09% (about $700 million) if finalized. The proposal also highlighted risk-adjustment and methodology changes, and it opened a comment period through February 25, 2026.
U.S. takes stake in USA Rare Earth as Commerce backs Texas mine and Oklahoma magnet plant
The Commerce Department, via its CHIPS program, is backing USA Rare Earth with a proposed $277 million in direct funding and a $1.3 billion senior secured loan, in exchange for shares and warrants. The support is aimed at building a domestic “mine-to-magnet” supply chain and reducing dependence on China for critical minerals and rare earth magnets.
Nvidia invests $2 billion in CoreWeave to speed U.S. AI data-center buildout
Nvidia is deepening its ties with AI cloud provider CoreWeave with a $2 billion investment priced at $87.20 per share. The expanded partnership aims to accelerate construction of large-scale U.S. AI data centers, as demand for computing power, land and electricity becomes a central bottleneck for the industry.
“Magnificent 7” begin 2026 unevenly as earnings loom and AI spending stays in focus
After powering much of last year’s market gains, mega-cap tech is starting 2026 with mixed performance. Investors now turn to earnings for clarity on demand, margins, and whether the AI investment cycle can justify today’s valuations.