BUSINESS

Zillow's analysis shows U.S. homebuyers need nearly 15 years to save for a down payment and break even on homeownership, highlighting significant variations across different cities and housing markets.

McDonald's compiles extensive customer data, including past orders and loyalty points, into large dossiers. This practice highlights growing corporate surveillance and raises privacy concerns, especially outside California's legal protections.

Elon Musk's xAI faces legal challenges over unpermitted gas turbines at its Memphis facilities, with environmental groups citing violations of air quality regulations and increased pollution in affected communities.

TSMC has completed its A16 chip process, enhancing performance and efficiency, and positioning itself ahead of Samsung in the AI hardware race. Mass production is set for late 2026.

Zelle, a major peer-to-peer payment network, faced a significant disruption, affecting transactions with Bank of America and US Bank. Users reported issues, but Zelle has not officially acknowledged the outage.

OpenAI's new plugin allows ChatGPT to interact with Apple Messages on Mac, enabling message search, drafting, and sending. The integration raises privacy concerns and coincides with legal tensions between OpenAI and Apple.

Tesla and SpaceX are collaborating to construct Terafab, a massive semiconductor facility in Texas, aiming to address future chip demand with a $16.8 billion investment, creating 3,000 jobs initially.

Apple's upcoming Beats 360 headphones have leaked, revealing features like water resistance, enhanced noise cancellation, and a lower price point than previous models, suggesting an imminent official launch.

LG Display introduces FLiPP, a new OLED manufacturing technology that eliminates fine metal masks, promising brighter, longer-lasting, and more energy-efficient displays across various product categories.

Apple has laid off 60 employees from its Vision Products Group, signalling a shift from VR development to smart glasses, amid a leadership transition.

SK Hynix plans a record share buyback, driven by surging AI memory demand. The company aims to enhance shareholder returns and maintain its competitive edge in the high-bandwidth memory market.

CenturyLink customers report localised internet and phone issues, despite outage trackers showing normal operations. The mixed signals suggest regional disruptions rather than a company-wide problem.

President Trump has intensified economic sanctions on Iran, aiming to force compliance with U.S. demands as military and diplomatic efforts stall. The strategy includes targeting oil exports and financial networks.

Bitcoin's 2026 price predictions vary widely, with some analysts forecasting a rise to $100,000, while others anticipate further declines. The cryptocurrency's volatility remains a central theme in these discussions.

Intel's stock faces volatility due to a significant equity raise, strong AI chip demand, and competitive pressures. Despite a dramatic rally, challenges persist in the semiconductor market.

Oracle's stock experiences a modest recovery despite a 59% drop from its peak, driven by AI infrastructure investments. Analysts remain divided on the company's financial commitments and growth prospects.

Dropbox's downtime costs are minimal in immediate revenue loss but significant in potential customer churn and reputational damage, highlighting the unique challenges faced by subscription-based businesses.

Alibaba's profits fell 75% due to increased AI infrastructure spending, despite a 9% revenue growth. The company's cloud computing segment showed strong growth, but e-commerce results were mixed.

MARA Holdings' stock rose 10.63% as bitcoin surpassed $77,000, driven by optimism around U.S. crypto legislation and the company's diversification into AI infrastructure, enhancing its market position.

Bitcoin has surged over 22% in five days, driven by U.S. Treasury buybacks, regulatory shifts, and forced short covering, reaching its highest level since June.

Strategy Inc. has returned to profitability due to a significant Bitcoin rally, boosting its stock by 10%. The company holds 840,447 bitcoins, now showing an unrealized gain of $1.4 billion.

Anthropic PBC is preparing for a potentially record-breaking IPO, aiming to surpass SpaceX's valuation. The AI company is racing against OpenAI, with significant investor interest and strategic financial moves.

Tesla's stock remains volatile, with analysts divided on its future. Key factors include the company's AI, robotaxi, and humanoid robot initiatives, alongside traditional vehicle business challenges.

Samsung Electronics plans a record $79 billion shareholder return, driven by AI memory chip demand. The announcement follows a surge in profits and mirrors moves by rival SK Hynix.

The ASX 200 closed down 0.32% on Friday, with Guzman y Gomez's earnings rally offset by declines in major mining and healthcare stocks, amid a volatile trading week.

Micron Technology announces a $10 billion investment in AI-focused research labs, highlighting its commitment to advancing memory technologies and meeting future AI demands. The initiative underscores Micron's strategic role in the AI economy.

Recent studies reveal GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy offer unexpected benefits, including reduced alcohol cravings and arthritis relief, but also pose risks like muscle loss and gastrointestinal issues.

SK Hynix's shares surged following the announcement of a historic $28.6 billion share buyback and cancellation program, marking the largest in South Korea's corporate history, boosting investor confidence.

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