S&P 500 rises on cooler-than-expected inflation data, strong Micron earnings: Live updates

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, U.S., Dec. 17, 2025. Brendan McDermid | Reuters The S&P 500 was on pace to snap a four-day slide on Thursday, boosted by lighter-than-expected inflation data that brightened the outlook for lower interest rates in 2026 and blowout guidance from … Read more

American Airlines no longer lets basic economy flyers earn miles

American Airlines Grant Baldwin | Getty Images American Airlines customers flying on basic economy fares will no longer earn frequent flyer miles or points toward elite status, the carrier said this week. “We routinely evaluate our fare products to remain competitive in the marketplace. Customers who purchase a Basic Economy ticket on December 17, 2025 and … Read more

American Airlines starts flying the longest-range narrow-body Airbus plane. Here’s what’s inside

The economy cabin of American Airlines A321XLR. Leslie Josephs/CNBC American Airlines is about to fly passengers to California for the first time on a skinny, long-range plane that it hopes will change air travel. The airline’s head of network planning now has to decide where else it should fly. The first Airbus A321XLR for a … Read more

Trump Media announces $6 billion merger with fusion company TAE Technologies; DJT stock soars 25%

Trump Media and Technology Group on Thursday announced a merger agreement with TAE Technologies, a privately held fusion power company, valued at more than $6 billion. The all-stock deal, expected to close in mid-2026, will result in shareholders of each firm owning approximately half of the combined company. The merger would create “one of the … Read more

BP names Meg O’Neill as new CEO — its fourth in 6 years

British oil giant BP has appointed Woodside Energy boss Meg O’Neill as its next CEO, replacing Murray Auchincloss after less than two years in the role. Auchincloss will step down today, with Carol Howle, BP’s executive vice president for supply, trading and shipping set to serve as interim CEO until O’Neill takes over the role … Read more

From Starbucks to Burger King: Western food giants are selling large stakes to Chinese private equity funds

Starbucks and Burger King are betting big on a partnership model that’s gaining traction in China: selling majority stakes to local private equity firms as the battle for market share rages on. Foreign food-and-beverage chains once thrived in China without adapting much — premium Western products practically sold themselves. Today, decisions made from distant headquarters … Read more

U.S. admits liability in Army helicopter collision with American Airlines jet that killed 67 people

(EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) In this U.S. Coast Guard handout, the Coast Guard investigates aircraft wreckage on the Potomac River on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.  Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images The United States government admitted liability in the deadly midair collision in January between an Army Black Hawk … Read more

Oil rebounds from lowest levels since 2021 after Trump orders Venezuela oil tanker blockade

U.S. crude futures rose more than 1% Wednesday as Trump ordered “a total and complete” block of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Chinaface | E+ | Getty Images Crude oil prices bounced back from near four-year lows Wednesday, after President Donald Trump said the U.S. will block sanctioned tankers from entering and … Read more

Stock futures are little changed as traders absorb shaky U.S. economic data: Live updates

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York on December 16, 2025. Charly Triballeau | Afp | Getty Images Stock futures traded near the flatline after the S&P 500 fell Tuesday, as investors weighed newly released U.S. economic data. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.08%. … Read more

U.S. crude oil drops below $55 a barrel, hits lowest level since early 2021

Oil prices held on to most gains from the previous session in early trading on Thursday as investors awaited U.S.-China trade talks later in the day. Anton Petrus | Moment | Getty Images U.S. crude oil on Tuesday fell below $55 per barrel, hitting the lowest level since early 2021 as traders factor in a … Read more