BUSINESS

Mar 04 2026BUSINESS

South Africa’s Business Mood Gets a Lift, But the Middle East Still Worries

A new survey shows that business confidence in South Africa jumped 3 points during the first quarter of this year, reaching its highest level since 2015 (excluding the COVID recovery). The rise is linked to a steady government, friendly interest rates and a stronger rand against the dollar. Yet m

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Fuel Prices Surge as Middle East Tensions Rise

Gasoline costs in the United States climbed by 11 cents overnight, reaching an average of about $3. 11 per gallon, according to AAA data. The rise came as the country moved into summer fuel blends and as global oil markets reacted to new conflicts in the Middle East. Oil futures rose sharply this

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Target’s New CEO Sets Fresh Growth Plan

The new boss of Target, Michael Fiddelke, announced a bold strategy to revive the retailer’s fortunes. He promised a fresh focus on product quality and store layout, aiming to draw shoppers back into physical locations. To support this shift, the company will lift its capital investment by a quarter

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Big Fund Lets Investors Cash Out, Raising Questions About Private Credit

A major private‑credit fund has recently opened a door for investors to pull out almost 8 % of its holdings, a move that signals growing nervousness in the sector. The withdrawals amount to roughly $3. 8 billion, and the firm is honoring them by enlarging a tender offer it had already announced.

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Skimping on Sweetness: The Hidden Cost of Cheap Chocolate

A few years ago, a popular podcast noticed companies cutting corners on their products as costs rose. They coined “skimpflation” to describe this trend: lowering quality instead of raising prices. The term resurfaced when a famous candy brand released new mini‑heart sweets that disappointed fans. B

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Future of Flight: New Quarterly Update Set for March 24

Vertical Aerospace, a company focused on electric planes, will hold an online presentation to share its financial results for the last quarter and full year of 2025. The event is scheduled for March 24 at 08:30 am ET, and the discussion will be led by Chairman Dómhnal Slattery and CEO Stuart Simpson

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

AI and Stock Moves: A Quick Look

People often wonder if new tech tools are failing. The story starts with a company that uses AI in its products. Some experts say the company’s recent earnings report shows signs of trouble. The numbers hint that customers may not be buying as much as expected. One point to note is that the analyst

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Property Tax Break for Energy Startup Wins State Ruling

A state tax board decided that a small energy company, set up as a single‑member limited liability company and taxed like a corporation for federal purposes, can keep its property tax exemption. The law says only manufacturing firms qualify for the break under Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause Sixteenth

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Amazon Buys GWU Campus for Tech Hub

Amazon has announced a purchase of the George Washington University campus in Virginia, paying $427 million for the site. The deal gives Amazon the right to build a data‑center or IT facility in Ashburn, Virginia. The university can keep its programs running there for up to five years before the cam

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Mar 03 2026BUSINESS

Reinsurance Talk: Strength, Risk and the Numbers Behind It

AM Best will speak at a big reinsurance event in Bermuda on March 12‑13, 2026. The meeting is called Re Underwriting 2026 and focuses on how insurers decide who to cover. Guilherme Monteiro Simoes, a senior analyst at AM Best since 2016, will run a session on March 13 at 9 a. m. (EDT). His

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