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That presents both an opportunity and a potential threat for leaders like Gorin-and Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel, with whom we spoke earlier this year. The opportunity: to deploy AI internally and forge partnerships that embed the group's Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo functionality within the LLMs. The risk: hallucinations, privacy violations, and the specter of LLMs reducing the need for travel sites or turning them into invisible pipes that consumers never see.

Shares of Meta Platforms have advanced 13% year to date, bringing its market value to $1.6 trillion. Meanwhile, shares of Google parent Alphabet have advanced 64%, bringing the company's market value to $3.7 trillion. Three top hedge fund managers bought both stocks in the third quarter. Israel Englander of Millennium Management added 793,500 shares of Meta Platforms and 2.2 million shares of Alphabet. Both stocks rank among his top 10 holdings.

LIT Boutique, a women's designer clothing and accessories shop that has been a fixture on Newbury Street for 25 years, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, signaling a likely end for the longtime retailer. Once a small local chain with four locations across Boston; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Newport, Rhode Island, the woman-owned boutique has steadily shrunk and now operates only its original store at 223 Newbury St.

The US dollar edged lower on Tuesday ahead of the release of GDP data, as expectations of further monetary easing continued to weigh on both the currency and Treasury yields. The 10-year yield slipped back, erasing Monday's gains, reflecting renewed caution among investors. While markets broadly expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged at its January meeting, expectations for 2026 remain tilted toward two rate cuts, leaving the dollar vulnerable to downside surprises in macro data.

Over the next decade, you'll surely want to own at least one artificial intelligence (AI) chip stock. You might assume that all you need is NVIDIA ( NASDAQ:NVDA) stock and nothing else. However, even though NVIDIA is the market's darling, your best pick could actually be Advanced Micro Devices ( NASDAQ:AMD) stock. Even though it's a giant company, Advanced Micro Devices is an underdog in some respects.

Across organizations of every size, I am seeing the same operational pattern take shape. Legal teams are carrying more work, adopting more technology, and fielding increasing demands from the business, yet the underlying infrastructure has not evolved at the same pace. The result is a readiness gap that grows quietly and gradually, often in the background of an otherwise high-functioning department. The encouraging part is that the leaders who recognize the pattern early are already finding practical ways to close it.

is being driven by robust demand growth and ongoing inventory reduction, alongside regulatory tightening, including the shutdown of a major Chinese lithium mine by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) and new government measures aimed at preventing producers from selling lithium at unsustainably low prices. The increased recognition of lithium as a critical mineral, combined with Western concerns over China's control of global supply chains, is bolstering the sector outside of China.

Walmart's chief executive, Doug McMillon, will step down on Jan. 31," The New York Times bullishly observed, "completing a 12-year run that moved the company from a staid brick-and-mortar retailer to a formidable challenger to Amazon, making the big-box store the envy of many in the retail industry." McMillon "leaves Walmart in a strong position after years of work repositioning it as a formidable digital player and more competitive employer." "I can't overstate how difficult it is to take a company with such a strong legacy and make it competitive in today's environment, given the pace of change," Joanna Starek, an adviser to chief executives, told the Times.

That disconnect was flagged in an 8-week Deloitte review of Whole Foods' use of Microsoft 365 apps earlier this year, according to an internal document obtained by Business Insider. Deloitte found that Whole Foods relies on "fragmented" Microsoft toolsets, has loose security and data-retention practices, and employs a complex user-management setup - all of which contribute to inefficiencies and lower productivity when working with Amazon employees.

Javice was sentenced to more than seven years in prison in September, following a fraud conviction. In 2021, JPMorgan acquired Javice's startup Frank, which Javice claimed assisted millions of people in completing their federal financial aid forms. On top of the $175 million JPMorgan spent on acquiring the fraudulent firm, the bank must also pay Javice's legal fees, due to a clause in its original contract with Javice indicating it is liable for her defense bill.

Still shares are up nearly 33% on the year. When the company reported Q3 earnings on Nov. 19, it beat on the top and bottom lines when it announced record revenue of $57.0 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.30, both of which exceeded analyst expectations. Data center revenue was the primary growth driver, reaching a record $51.2 billion, which marked a 66% year-over-year increase.

There are several reasons for the Musk wealth increase. There is speculation that Musk's net worth will top $1 trillion when SpaceX, which he founded and of which he is the largest shareholder, goes public next year with an estimated valuation of $800 billion or more. His exact ownership is 43%. However, his voting share is 79%. Tesla's stock is up 21% this year.

The joke is met by groans that echo through a warehouse in Lambeth, London. We're at a joke-testing session with Talking Tables, a London company that makes supplies for gatherings. Its repertoire includes Christmas crackers. The firm's founder and chief executive, Clare Harris grins, almost apologetically at the gag. But the joke has made the cut and will feature in future crackers.

All of the major indices, including the Russell 2000, finished the day higher, and Oracle Corp. ( NYSE: ORCL), which has been absolutely hammered, helped lead the way after it was announced that the company will be part of the group managing and steering TikTok in 2026. The tech-heavy Nasdaq once again was the star on Friday, finishing the week at 23,307, up 1.31%.

The optimism is rooted in Lowe's operational consistency. The company has beaten earnings estimates in all four of its most recent quarters, with the latest Q3 2025 report delivering $3.06 per share versus the $2.81 consensus, an 8.9% surprise. That marks eight consecutive quarterly earnings beats heading into 2026, with an average surprise of 4.1%. Revenue growth of 3.2% year-over-year also outpaces Home Depot's 2.8%.

Six of the seven have experienced mixed or negative returns at points throughout the year, with broad concerns over valuations, sector rotations, and sustainability weighing on performance. In contrast, one unexpected name has outperformed six of the seven: Caterpillar ( ), the heavy equipment manufacturer. On a total return basis (capital appreciation plus dividends), Caterpillar trails only Alphabet by about one percentage point or so as of last Friday's close.

Rivian Automotive ( NASDAQ:RIVN ) is betting its future on the R2, a midsize electric SUV scheduled to enter production in the first half of 2026. Priced at approximately $45,000 before any incentives, the R2 is designed to reach a much broader audience than Rivian's current premium R1 lineup, which starts above $70,000. The EV maker hopes the more affordable model will drive significantly higher volumes, improve gross margins, and finally put Rivian on a path to profitability.

The July 1, 2024," merger of equals" between Cedar Fair and Six Flags created North America's largest regional amusement park operator, combining 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and nine resorts. The transaction promised significant cost synergies and enhanced scale, but instead exposed serious integration difficulties, operational missteps, and external pressures. Although the deal was intended to boost revenue and share access, the combined company faces significant debt that has led to cost-cutting, staffing cuts, and park closures to stabilize finances.

Dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have gained traction in 2025. It has helped investors navigate the market uncertainties while ensuring steady passive income. The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD ) is one of the most popular ETFs today. It is a top choice of many due to the dividend yield of 3.83% and has ensured steady returns. However, SCHD isn't as successful as it used to be.

If you've got sidelined capital ready to put to work, you might want to consider the high-yielding JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ), operating on all cylinders. With a high yield of 10.1% that far exceeds the broader market on top of $32.6 billion in total assets under management, JEPQ has delivered a double-digit percentage return over the past six months alone of approximately 11%.