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Where credit card balances are highest, and what it says about a K-shaped economy

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Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure . Where credit card balances are highest, and what it says about a K-shaped economy Kendall Little Senior Writer, Credit Cards Wed, September 2, 2026 at 7:31 AM PDT 6 min read Growing credit card balances are a reality for many Americans in 2026. Since the second quarter of 2025, U.S. credit card balances have increased from $1.21 trillion to $1.26 trillion, according to the New York Fed's Household Debt and Credit Report . Experian data shows average consumer credit card balances are also up slightly, from $6,618 in 2025 to $6,659 today. But debt doesn't look the same for everyone. In many ways, today's credit card debt story mirrors the divide associated with the K-shaped economy : Higher-income consumers are more willing to carry a balance to fund their goals, while lower-income consumers may be accumulating...

Brazil’s Vale drops IPO plans for critical minerals unit, The Globe and Mail reports

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Article about global economy: Brazil’s Vale drops IPO plans for critical minerals unit, The Globe and Mail reports 🔥 EXCLUSIVE PARTNER OFFER 3MP Smart Life Tuya 1080P WiFi Door Bell Eye Peephole Camera 5000mAh Battery PIR Motion Detector IR Alexa Google Digital Viewer Special Price 🌟 Hot deal! This trending product is flying off the shelves. Get yours before it's too late! 🛒 Buy Now on AliExpress → Affiliate link — Commission earned at no extra cost to you 📰 Original source: https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/brazils-vale-drops-ipo-plans-for-critical-minerals-unit-the-globe-and-mail-reports-4888724 © EcoNews DZ — Global Economic & Financial News

South Korea's AI rally is reshaping romance, reality shows and academic preferences

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South Korea's AI stock rally is rapidly transforming different corners of the country's society ranging all the way from romance to academics. In Korea's dating scene, professionals such as physicians, lawyers and judges, have traditionally been the most sought-after. Now the preferences are changing, as the AI boom makes those working in the chip sector flush with hefty bonuses the new gems of the dating pool. "Recently, we've seen increased preference for people working in semiconductor companies such as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, as well as AI-related occupations," said a spokesperson for Korean matchmaking company Gayeon. Samsung and SK Hynix both joined the trillion-dollar club earlier this year, and their share prices have each surged around 95% and around 135% so far this year. Big bonus payouts have given employees at the chip giants an edge. Last year, SK Hynix agreed to share 10% of its operating profit, which comes to roughly 700 million won...

From cake to pizza: How to get the best birthday freebies (and why there's a catch)

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Image source, Getty Images Image caption, From meals to beauty products, you can get a lot of freebies on your birthday By Yasmin Rufo Business reporter Published 52 minutes ago "It's your birthday!" Cue the influx of emails offering you all sorts of freebies. Sign up to the right apps and loyalty schemes and you could spend the day enjoying free cake, meals out, beauty treats and even cinema snacks. Here are some of the things you can get on or around your birthday - and why they may not all be as free as they seem. Cakes, cookies and chocolates Most chain coffee shops and bakeries offer a birthday treat through their loyalty apps. You can get a free sweet treat, usually a cake, cookie, muffin or doughnut, from Greggs, Costa, Caffè Nero, Krispy Kreme, Gail's, Subway and Ole & Steen if you have registered your date of birth in advance. Lidl Plus members can claim a free bakery doughnut within seven days of their birthday, while M&S Sparks members can choose t...

How Is Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Stock Performance Compared to Other Biotech Stocks?

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How Is Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Stock Performance Compared to Other Biotech Stocks? Neha Panjwani Wed, September 2, 2026 at 8:44 AM PDT 2 min read VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals logo By Midea Boston, Massachusetts-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) develops and commercializes therapies for treating cystic fibrosis (CF). Valued at $139 billion by market cap, the company invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and VRTX perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this mark, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the biotechnology industry. VRTX derives its primary competitive strength from its global monopoly in CF treatments, anchored by flagship blockbusters like Trikafta/Katori which generate robust cash flow to fuel its high-impact clinical pipeline. More News from Barchart Dear Game...

The big August jobs report is due out Friday. Here's what to expect for what has been a jobless summer

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The August jobs report set to be released Friday is expected to put the final touches on what has been a relatively jobless summer. If expectations hold, the Bureau of Labor Statistics count will show growth of just 53,000 in nonfarm payrolls, according to the Dow Jones consensus estimate. Even with the anemic growth rate, that is expected to be enough to keep the unemployment rate at 4.1%. More broadly, though, the report would follow counts for June and July that together showed a net loss of 3,000 jobs. Also, the initial August numbers have been revised lower for the past four years in a row. Together, the data suggest a labor market in neither boom nor bust mode one that is increasingly becoming an afterthought for Federal Reserve officials looking to plot their next monetary policy action. The current state of the jobs picture is "stable but unexciting," said Dan North, senior economist for Allianz Trade North America. "I don't see a whole lot of really robust ...

S&P 500 posts back-to-back gains as Treasury yields retreat: Live updates

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Equities moved higher on Thursday, while Treasury yields pulled back, as investors grew hopeful that the Federal Reserve may leave interest rates unchanged this month. The S&P 500 rose 1.06% to end at 7,747.71, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.4% to 26,584.06. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 624.16 points, or 1.18%, to 53,686.11. It was the best day since Aug. 4 for the 30-stock index. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield was last at 4.77%, declining after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he'd be " inclined to support " holding rates steady barring any surprises in upcoming inflation data. On Wednesday, the yield hit its highest level since November 2023 . Bets among fed funds futures traders that the central bank would raise rates in a couple weeks fell to 50.4% after his statement, according to the CME FedWatch tool . That's down from 63.2% a day ago. Waller's remarks, along with the sharp rise in the yen, supported the drop i...

How Is Elevance Health’s Stock Performance Compared to Other Health Providers?

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How Is Elevance Health’s Stock Performance Compared to Other Health Providers? Kritika Sarmah Wed, September 2, 2026 at 4:57 AM PDT 2 min read ELV Elevance Health world headquarters By jetcityimage Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV) is an Indianapolis-based health benefits company that provides health insurance and related services, including medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, and disability benefits. With a market capitalization of about $85.4 billion, ELV sits firmly in the large-cap category and ranks among the major players in the U.S. health insurance industry. The company's competitive edge is rooted in its scale, strong brand recognition, and extensive healthcare networks. More News from Barchart Dear GameStop Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 8 SMCI vs. CoreWeave: 1 AI Infrastructure Model Has the Bigger Opportunity Why Analysts Think Sellas Life Sciences Stock Can Gain 150% From Here Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what'...

OpenAI says it has overtaken Anthropic with its latest AI model

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ChatGPT maker claims its ‘Astra’ could be considered ‘artificial general intelligence’ 🔥 EXCLUSIVE PARTNER OFFER Upgraded Smart Visual Ear Wax Cleaner With Camera 800W HD Endoscope Multi-Functional Visual Ear Cleaning Tool Includes Storage Special Price ⚡ Flash sale! Get the best deals on AliExpress today. Hurry, stocks are limited! 🛒 Buy Now on AliExpress → Affiliate link — Commission earned at no extra cost to you 📰 Original source: https://www.ft.com/content/55ab40c0-59e2-4c0b-97c9-4f4f5a71a8bb?syn-25a6b1a6=1 © EcoNews DZ — Global Economic & Financial News

Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Snowflake, Moderna, Broadcom & more

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Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: SNOW, MRNA, AVGO Skip Navigation Markets Business Investing Tech Politics & Policy Video Watchlist Investing Club PRO Livestream Menu Check out the companies making the biggest moves premarket: Snowflake Shares surged 24% after the company's second-quarter results topped analyst expectations. For the quarter, Snowflake posted adjusted earnings of 62 cents per share on revenue of $1.55 billion. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had anticipated 45 cents in earnings per share and $1.48 billion in revenue. The company also raised its full-year product revenue guidance. Software stocks Snowflake's rally lifted its software peers as well. Datadog jumped more than 5%, while ServiceNow was up by 3%. Meanwhile, Salesforce rose just over 1.5%. Hewlett Packard Enterprise The enterprise technology company slipped 3%. HPE is calling for earnings growth of 16% to 20% for the fiscal year ending October 2027, while the FactSet consensus sought a 18.7% in...

Automakers urge Congress to permanently ban Chinese connected vehicles in U.S.

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DETROIT Major automakers operating in the U.S. are increasing pressure on Congress to permanently ban the domestic sale, import and manufacturing of Chinese connected vehicles, hardware and software. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents the vast majority of companies selling vehicles in the U.S., urged congressional leaders in a Thursday letter to make a move before the end of Congress' current session on Jan. 3. "Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world," John Bozzella, CEO of the group, said in the letter seen by CNBC. "This hasn't happened inside the U.S. yet, but given the scale and urgency of this threat, we urge you to enact a Chinese vehicle, software and hardware ban before adjourning this year and make this policy the law of the land." Midterm elections are also coming up in November, which could affect Congress' momentum. Bozzella's comments come...

Carney claps back at Lutnick, says Canada will resume trade talks 'when the Americans are ready'

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday returned fire after Trump administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed Ottawa tanked trade talks with the U.S. for political purposes. "I don't think, with all respect, appointed, unelected cabinet members in the United States are experts on Canadian politics," Carney said during a press conference in Thunder Bay in northwest Ontario. "We are always going to stand up for what's in the best interest of Canada," Carney said, after accusing the U.S. of making different claims about their red lines for a trade deal now that negotiations have been scrapped. But the prime minister maintained that a deal benefiting both Canada and the U.S. is possible. "We're ready to sit down and strike that deal when the Americans are ready," he said. President Donald Trump later Thursday morning appeared less open to rekindling the U.S. and Canada's chilly relations, however. "It is very good for...

Indian regulators’ attempts to protect retail traders are backfiring

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China tries to look past the property slump

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Mexico is struggling to win over bond markets

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Nvidia agrees to buy Hugging Face for almost $13 billion, expanding further up AI stack

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Nvidia has officially agreed to buy open-source artificial intelligence platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, as the chipmaker moves beyond hardware and further up the AI stack. With the deal, which has been expected since The Information reported on it last week, Hugging Face will "remain an open platform for the entire AI ecosystem," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wrote in a blog post on Thursday. "Together, we will scale Hugging Face's platform, strengthen its infrastructure and expand access to AI for developers and institutions worldwide," Huang wrote. The acquisition marks Nvidia's second biggest on record, following the $20 billion purchase of assets from chipmaker Groq in December. Prior to that, its largest deal was the purchase of Israeli chipmaker Mellanox for almost $7 billion in 2019. Nvidia has become the world's most valuable company due to the insatiable demand for its graphics processing units, which have powered the generative AI boom. Hug...

VW, Amazon and others name blacklisted groups among potential suppliers

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More than 160 US companies unable to rule out sanctioned smelters in test of western efforts to clamp down on conflict minerals 🔥 EXCLUSIVE PARTNER OFFER Electric Neck Massager Pillow Cervical Stretcher Heating Vibration Massage Back Traction Orthopedic Sleeping Pillows Support Special Price 🌟 Hot deal! This trending product is flying off the shelves. Get yours before it's too late! 🛒 Buy Now on AliExpress → Affiliate link — Commission earned at no extra cost to you 📰 Original source: https://www.ft.com/content/70fdf5c3-6b3a-494d-a141-85aba60d14d5?syn-25a6b1a6=1 © EcoNews DZ — Global Economic & Financial News

Fixing the AI industry’s PR problem

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Europe’s seven fantasy M&A deals

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Seven theoretical tie-ups that could help the continent’s corporate sector compete with the US and China — if regulators, politicians and the public allowed them 🔥 EXCLUSIVE PARTNER OFFER New Rfid Smart Card Reader X7 125khz Badge Copier 13.56mhz Nfc Decoder Duplicator Ic Id Chip Tag Clone Ntag213 215 Key Writer Special Price ⚡ Flash sale! Get the best deals on AliExpress today. Hurry, stocks are limited! 🛒 Buy Now on AliExpress → Affiliate link — Commission earned at no extra cost to you 📰 Original source: https://www.ft.com/content/d4e5956a-200c-47d1-9241-f15f495c2cf2?syn-25a6b1a6=1 © EcoNews DZ — Global Economic & Financial News

Stingy bosses and spare change: How much should you give to the office whip-round?

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Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Office collections for colleagues are a tradition but can raise awkward questions By Alex Taylor BBC News reporter , Reporting from London Published 8 hours ago Love them, hate them or barely know them, it's a colleague's birthday, wedding or leaving do and there's a collection to mark the occasion. So how much should you give? And if you're the person organising the collection, how do you chase without feeling like a loan shark or exposing unspoken team dynamics? 'It depends if I like you' The politics of the office whip-round are so sensitive that everyone the BBC spoke to asked us not to use their real name. For those on a tight budget, the rule is simple: only give to colleagues you've worked with directly. Lucy, a senior therapist in healthcare, says: "If we haven't worked together, my purse is staying shut." There's a blunter unspoken truth beneath the surface. "It also depends on if I l...