business in us
Natural-Gas Drillers Outshine Oil Peers as Covid-19 Surges
A split reality is emerging for U.S. shale drillers: Those that primarily pump oil are still struggling to survive, while those that produce natural gas are slowly seeing signs of recovery. Oil-focused fracking companies are under extreme financial strain, as renewed concerns about the coronavirus pandemic are weighing down crude prices. But gas-focused drillers are …
The U.S. vs. China: The High Cost of the Technology Cold War
The world is paying a high price for the technological Cold War between its two greatest powers. The U.S.-China conflict has already upended the tech industry in both countries, disrupting giant hardware manufacturers, computer-chip designers and even social-media services. Now the broader consequences are becoming clear, as the actions of Beijing and Washington reverberate across …
‘Too Complex to Break Up’ Is the New ‘Too Big to Fail’
Days before, Facebook Inc. produced its own document contending that breaking it up would be a “nonstarter” for a number of reasons, including that the company’s constituent parts are already too complicated and interconnected for any of them—Instagram, WhatsApp, its ad business—to be spun off as individual companies or walled off as separate divisions. “After …
U.S. Stock Futures Wobble After Turbulent Session
U.S. stock futures wobbled Tuesday, signaling that stocks may steady after a bout of volatility that has eroded investors’ confidence in the market’s monthslong rebound. Futures tied to the S&P 500 edged down 0.2% while contracts tied to the technology-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.4%. The market retreated sharply Monday, pushing the S&P 500 to a fourth-straight …
Amazon and Mall Operator Look at Turning Sears, J.C. Penney Stores Into Fulfillment Centers
The largest mall owner in the U.S. has been in talks with Amazon.com Inc., the company many retailers denounce as the mall industry’s biggest disrupter, to take over space left by ailing department stores. Simon Property Group Inc. has been exploring with Amazon the possibility of turning some of the property owner’s anchor department stores …
Uber Technologies Makes Takeover Approach to Grubhub
Uber Technologies Inc. is seeking to acquire Grubhub Inc. in an all-stock deal that would unite two of the biggest players in meal delivery at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has sparked a surge in demand for their services. Uber, which in addition to its flagship ride business operates a big meal-delivery unit known …
Global Stocks Fall After Trump Issues Warning on Pandemic
Global stocks fell Wednesday after President Trump issued a stark new warning on the spread of the novel coronavirus in the U.S., reviving concerns about the potential damage to the world’s largest economy. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3%, suggesting that blue-chip stocks will decline a day after U.S. equities closed …
Chinese Markets Tumble on Coronavirus Uncertainty on First Day After Break
Chinese markets dropped sharply Monday morning, reopening after the extended Lunar New Year break, because of heightened anxiety over the fast-spreading coronavirus and uncertainty about its impact on the global economy. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 8.2% on the first trading day of the Year of the Rat, putting the index on pace for …
Stocks Rise as U.S., China Sign Trade Deal
U.S. stocks rose to new highs as President Trump signed an initial trade pact with China, halting a two-year trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.5% in midday trading. The S&P 500 climbed 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.4%. All three indexes hit intraday records. Mr. …
U.S. Stocks Open Higher as Bank Earnings Reports Roll In
U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as another round of earnings reports from major banks and blue-chip companies began trickling in. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 39 points, or 0.1%, shortly after the opening bell. The S&P 500 climbed 0.1% and the Nasdaq Composite also rose 0.1%. Shares of Bank of America fell 1.7% after it …