NEWS

NEW YORK — World oil prices climbed sharply on Friday, with Brent crude topping $105 per barrel and WTI hovering near $97 as stalled U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks and persistent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz kept markets on edge amid one of the most significant supply shocks in recent years.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index fell sharply in afternoon trading Friday, dropping 42.7 points, or 0.49%, to 8,750.7 by 1:40 p.m. AEST as persistent Middle East tensions, elevated oil prices and domestic inflation concerns continued to pressure Australian equities for a third straight session.

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Herc Holdings Inc. shares exploded higher by more than 17% in midday trading Thursday, climbing to around $126.69 as investors piled into equipment rental names amid broader sector momentum and positive positioning ahead of the company's first-quarter 2026 earnings next week.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Molina Healthcare Inc. shares skyrocketed more than 11% Thursday, surging to around $170.49 as investors cheered the managed care giant's first-quarter 2026 earnings beat and disciplined medical cost management amid a challenging environment for health insurers.

NEW YORK — United Rentals Inc. shares skyrocketed nearly 19% in morning trading Thursday, reaching $958.50 by 10:43 a.m. EDT on April 23 as the equipment rental giant reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results and highlighted robust demand across construction, infrastructure and industrial projects.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares edged lower in early trading Thursday, dipping 0.039% to $25.64 by 9:42 a.m. EDT on April 23 as the meme stock favorite continued its pattern of modest moves amid relatively quiet volume and broader market gains.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above the historic 49,000 mark for the first time in early trading Thursday, reaching 49,284.85 by 9:30 a.m. EDT on April 23 as strong corporate earnings, cooling inflation signals and resilient consumer spending fueled fresh optimism on Wall Street.

NEW YORK — Millions of current and former Capital One customers could soon receive cash payments as part of a $425 million class-action settlement resolving allegations that the bank misled savers during the transition from its 360 Savings account to the higher-yielding 360 Performance Savings account.

NEW YORK — Bitcoin fell below $78,000 on Thursday, trading at $77,399.99 as of 10:45 a.m. UTC on April 23, down nearly 1% for the day as investors took profits following a strong rally earlier in the month and amid broader uncertainty in global financial markets.

MILPITAS, Calif. — SanDisk Corp. shares have delivered one of the most spectacular runs in recent memory, surging past $979 after climbing more than 1,200% since its 2025 spinoff from Western Digital, yet investors now face a classic Wall Street dilemma: is the memory chip maker still a compelling buy at these elevated levels, or has the AI-driven rally priced in too much optimism for 2026 and beyond?

SYDNEY — Australia's biggest bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, is cutting another 119 jobs across its operations, including a significant number at subsidiary Bankwest, citing the completion of internal programs, work simplification and an evolving mix of skills needed to meet changing customer demands.

SYDNEY — Australian shares posted mixed results Thursday with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closing down 0.57%, yet a handful of standout performers bucked the broader weakness, delivering double-digit gains that highlighted selective buying in healthcare, resources and consumer stocks amid shifting policy expectations and commodity moves.

SYDNEY — Shares in Regis Healthcare Ltd surged more than 16% on Thursday as investors cheered a major federal budget announcement that promises significant changes to aged care funding, providing fresh tailwinds for Australia's largest listed residential aged care provider.

Passengers have been able to return to Perth Airport Terminal 1 after an unattended bag led to parts of the airport to be cordoned off.

SYDNEY — Australia's fuel supply situation showed modest improvement Thursday as the number of service stations without diesel continued to fall and petrol reserves climbed to 46 days, but premiers gathered in a national cabinet meeting remained deeply concerned about the lingering impacts of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the risk of renewed volatility.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index closed lower Thursday, shedding more than 50 points as renewed uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, a sharp drop in a major healthcare stock and broad sector rotation left investors cautious despite some resilience in energy and gold-related names.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that it would be impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz due to the actions of the US.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares jumped more than 4.7% in midday trading Wednesday, climbing to $25.61 as renewed retail investor enthusiasm and speculation around CEO Ryan Cohen's ambitious turnaround plans fueled the latest surge in the iconic meme stock.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed sharply in early trading Wednesday, rising 0.76 percent or 375.78 points to 49,525.16 as investors welcomed President Donald Trump's decision to extend the U.S. ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, easing immediate fears of renewed escalation in the Middle East and supporting risk appetite across global markets.

DETROIT — General Motors Co. has indefinitely delayed development of its next-generation full-size electric trucks, including refreshed versions of the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ and GMC Hummer EV models, as the automaker shifts resources toward internal combustion engines and hybrid technology in response to softening demand for battery-electric pickups.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Air New Zealand announced Wednesday that Chief Financial Officer Richard Thomson has resigned and will depart the national carrier on Aug. 28, prompting the airline to immediately begin searching for his successor amid ongoing operational and financial challenges.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 index climbed modestly in early trading Wednesday, rising about 0.11 percent to around 10,510 as investors weighed ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East and mixed signals from global markets following a sharp drop the previous day.

US President Donald Trump has extended its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely in an effort to bring both parties back to the negotiating table.

SYDNEY — Australian investors are grappling with the question of whether to buy or sell Bitcoin in 2026 as the cryptocurrency trades near all-time highs above US$94,000 while facing a complex mix of institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and macroeconomic risks that could shape its trajectory for the rest of the year.

SYDNEY — Cochlear Limited shares plunged as much as 41% on Wednesday, trading as low as $101.60 after the world's largest cochlear implant maker reported disappointing first-half 2026 results, lowered full-year profit guidance and highlighted slower-than-expected adoption of its flagship Nucleus Nexa system.

SYDNEY — Cochlear Limited shares plunged as much as 41% on Wednesday, trading as low as $101.60 after the world's leading cochlear implant maker reported disappointing first-half 2026 results, lowered full-year profit guidance and highlighted slower-than-expected adoption of its new Nucleus Nexa system.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index fell sharply on Wednesday, closing down 81.7 points or 0.91% at 8,867.7 as renewed concerns over the U.S.-Iran standoff in the Middle East and a surge in oil prices pressured energy and materials stocks while broader risk sentiment remained cautious.

NEW YORK — Starbucks Corp. shares slipped in midday trading Tuesday, falling 1.62% to $97.35 as investors grew cautious ahead of the coffee giant's fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings report scheduled for April 28, with concerns over slowing same-store sales growth and ongoing challenges in China weighing on sentiment.

SEOUL, South Korea — POSCO Holdings Inc. shares surged more than 8% Tuesday on the Korea Exchange, closing at 421,500 won after gaining 32,000 won, as investors cheered approval for a major low-carbon iron plant in Western Australia and positive technical signals ahead of the company's upcoming first-quarter 2026 earnings and business plan presentation.