US Politics & Business News
China has steadily expanded its economic and political footprint across the Middle East, positioning itself as a dominant force in the region’s shifting power dynamics. Analysts who track global currency flows and commodity markets say Beijing’s deepening ties with Middle Eastern nations carry significant implications for both gold prices and the U.S. dollar. As China…
A 63-year-old semiretired physician is raising a pointed question about whether high-net-worth Americans should be allowed to opt out of Social Security entirely. The physician, writing to MarketWatch’s “Dear Quentin” advice column hosted by Quentin Fottrell, says they have accumulated $2 million in retirement savings. The letter writer argues that wealthy retirees with substantial nest…
Wise Group PLC (WSE) saw its shares fall more than 10% after U.S. regulators rejected its application for a national trust bank charter. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency denied the application from Wise US Inc., citing concerns over compliance and anti-money laundering standards. The OCC also pointed to historical issues that Wise…
Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) slipped in overnight trading heading into Friday, pressured by reports that SpaceX is pulling back on future Falcon 9 launch availability. ASTS fell roughly 1% while RKLB dropped approximately 0.3%, though both stocks remained positive on the week, with ASTS up 2% and RKLB gaining 4%….
The quantum computing sector has emerged as one of the most hotly debated investment categories, with five major pure-play companies competing for dominance in the space. IonQ (IONQ), Quantinuum (QNT), Rigetti Computing (RGTI), Infleqtion (INFQ), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) represent the most prominent names investors are watching closely right now. All quantum computers are built…
Industrial stocks defied a broadly falling market on Thursday, with several major names posting sharp gains driven by stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings results. The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) surged 1.73% on the session, clawing its way back into a buy zone as investors responded enthusiastically to a wave of earnings beats across…
MarketWatch columnist Mark Hulbert is pushing back hard against one of Wall Street’s most persistent seasonal narratives about August stock market performance. Hulbert argues that the so-called “August stock market slump” is a myth, and that equities actually tend to perform well during the month, contrary to widespread belief. The piece takes direct aim at…
U.S. trading partners from Canberra to BrasÃlia have pushed back against the forced-labor rationale underpinning President Donald Trump’s sweeping new global tariffs. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative acted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, imposing tariffs on 60 economies for what Washington called a failure to ban goods made with…
The FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee met to review seven controversial peptide injections and whether compounding pharmacies should be permitted to dispense them. Peptides are short amino acid chains heavily promoted in wellness and longevity circles for injury recovery, muscle growth, skin health, and metabolism support. The global peptide market could exceed $295 billion by…
Clear Street has recommended investors buy AST SpaceMobile stock, arguing the company’s sharp decline from its May peak represents a temporary setback rather than a fundamental problem. The brokerage said the pullback was driven by disruptions involving third-party launch vehicles, not by lost customer contracts or a slowdown in demand for direct-to-device satellite connectivity. Clear…