WASHINGTON — Four days before Election Day, the government will issue its final snapshot of hiring and unemployment in the United States after a presidential race in which voter perceptions of the economy have played a central role. Yet Friday’s report will include some of the most distorted monthly employment figures in years, with job … Read more
BERLIN — Germany’s economy isn’t growing and the governing coalition has a lot of ideas on how to fix it. But it can’t agree which the right one is. The latest outbreak of infighting in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government has raised questions about whether it will get anything done in the 11 months before Germany’s … Read more
Starbucks is dropping its much-hyped range of olive oil-infused coffees in the US and Canada from early November. The announcement comes less than a week after new boss, Brian Niccol, promised to shake up the coffeeshop giant’s menu in an attempt to win back customers. The firm’s sales have been tumbling as consumers see their … Read more
HONG KONG — Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday with Japan’s benchmark index gaining more than 1% after a rally in technology stocks propelled the Nasdaq composite to a record high. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 1.3% to 20,438.54 and the Shanghai Composite index dropped 0.6% to 3,267.42. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s High Court on Wednesday ordered imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to enter a defense in his second corruption trial over the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund. Najib set up the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund shortly after taking power in 2009 to promote economic development, but … Read more
WASHINGTON — Powered by consumer spending, the U.S. economy likely kept expanding at a healthy pace from July through September despite the pressure of still-high interest rates. The Commerce Department is expected to report Wednesday that the gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — grew at a 2.6% annual … Read more
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has rescinded an executive order that set modest goals for state agencies to make purchases from businesses owned by minorities and women, claiming the goals carried “legal concerns.” Parson, a Republican serving his final months in office, rescinded 177 executive orders on Oct. 23, some of which … Read more
NEW YORK — Google is changing the way its Google Local Services ads work, which could affect millions of small businesses. Google Local Services ads run locally and are a big way that small businesses market their goods and services. Ads appear on the top of Google search results. Starting Nov. 21, only businesses with … Read more
Rising technology stocks sent the Nasdaq composite to a record, but trading was mixed along the rest of Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Tuesday, even though the majority of stocks in the index fell. Gains for Microsoft, Meta Platforms and other influential Big Tech stocks helped lift indexes, including the 0.8% gain that … Read more
BRUSSELS — The European Union is imposing duties on imports of electric vehicles from China starting Wednesday after talks between Brussels and Beijing failed to find an amicable solution to their trade dispute. Electric vehicles have become a major flashpoint in a broader trade dispute over the influence of Chinese government subsidies on European markets … Read more