4+ min ago (585+ words) The so-called Costco Effect is a phenomenon that boosts the wages of local economies as companies aim to compete with Costco's (NASDAQ:COST) wages, as defined by the "Micro" YouTube channel. "Surrounding businesses raise wages up to 40% more," the video said. Costco's ability to help local businesses is shocking when you compare it to Walmart (NYSE:WMT). While "Micro" discusses the Costco Effect, it also touches upon the Walmart Effect, which demonstrates how a big box retailer can destroy a local economy. Fast Company Calls It a "Groundbreaking Step for the Creator Economy' " Investors Can Still Get In at $0.85/Share "The rate of business closures materially increases on blocks surrounding a new Walmart location," "Micro" said in the video. "When they become the only employer in town, it also pushes local wages down." However, that's not the case for Costco…...

17+ min ago (697+ words) Sales by the world's top 100 arms makers reached a record $679 billion last year, as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza boosted demand, researchers said Monday,but production issues hampered deliveries. The figure was 5.9 percent higher than the year before, and, over the 2015-2024 period, revenues for the top 100 arms makers have risen 26 percent according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). "Last year global arms revenues reached the highest level ever recorded by SIPRI as producers capitalised on high demand," Lorenzo Scarazzato, researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, said in a statement. Jade Guiberteau Ricard, a researcher for the same programme, explained to AFP that "it's mostly driven by Europe," although "all areas have increased except for Asia and Oceania". Ricard said the increased demand in Europe was tied to the war in…...

26+ min ago (660+ words) Wondering if Smurfit Westrock is undervalued or if now's the right time to buy? Let's look under the hood and see what the numbers tell us about where this stock stands. The share price freshened up with a 5.7% jump over the last week, despite being down 33.4% year-to-date and shedding 32.5% over the past year. These are clear signs that investor sentiment is shifting. In recent news, Smurfit Westrock completed its much-anticipated merger, creating one of the world's largest paper and packaging groups. This move has sparked fresh debate over what the combined company could achieve as the market digests the evolving industry landscape and potential synergies. For those curious about value, Smurfit Westrock scores 4 out of 6 on our valuation checks, highlighting several pockets of undervaluation. Next, we will break down how those numbers stack up using a variety of valuation approaches,…...

27+ min ago (537+ words) Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value Norfolk Southern. Analyst commentary on Norfolk Southern continues to reflect a blend of optimism and caution, with several research firms recently updating their outlooks. Below is a summary of the latest bullish and bearish perspectives from Wall Street analysts. Deutsche Bank raised its price target for Norfolk Southern substantially, from $290 to $354, while maintaining a Buy rating. The firm noted that, despite recent underperformance among transportation stocks relative to the broader market, 2025 EPS estimates have remained stable, highlighting confidence in Norfolk Southern's forward earnings potential. Barclays increased its price target from $300 to $320 and kept an Overweight rating, signaling expectations for continued resilience. The firm's positive stance is notable even as they acknowledge industry headwinds, emphasizing Norfolk Southern's capability to navigate…...

33+ min ago (404+ words) Tulsa-based Schusterman Interests disclosed ownership of 2.1 million shares of Karman stock valued at $148 million. The position is equal to 33.8% of the firm's 13F reportable assets under management. This is now the fund's largest reported holding. Tulsa-based Schusterman Interests disclosed a new position in Karman Holdings (NYSE:KRMN) worth $148 million, according to its November 14 SEC filing. Schusterman Interests reported a new position in Karman Holdings, acquiring nearly 2.1 million shares valued at $148 million as of September 30. The move was disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 13F filed on November 14. Karman Holdings now accounts for the largest single equity position in the fund's portfolio, equal to about 33.8% of overall reported assets. Top holdings after the filing: NYSE:KRMN: $148 million (33.8% of AUM) NYSEMKT:RSP: $118.6 million (27.1% of AUM) NYSEMKT:SPY: $88.3 million (20.2% of AUM) NASDAQ:HTFL: $65.3 million (14.9% of AUM) NYSE:PACK: $17 million (3.9% of AUM) As…...

51+ min ago (59+ words) Many leaders flashing buy signals after a big stock market week. President Trump says he knows he'll be his Fed chief pick. Oops, something went wrong Dow Jones Futures Due; Trump Says He's Made Fed Chief Decision Many leaders flashing buy signals after a big stock market week. President Trump says he knows he'll be his Fed chief pick....

1+ hour, 3+ min ago (248+ words) MANCHESTER, England, Nov 30 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will set out on "Monday his economic vision for the rest of the Labour "government's parliamentary term in a speech that builds on last week's budget, "his office said. He will present the "broader mission" of his government's drive to boost economic growth, Downing Street said, following finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget last week, which raised 26 "billion pounds ($34."41 billion) of taxes. Starmer's centre-left Labour Party trails behind the right-wing Reform UK in opinion "polls. The next national election is due to be held by mid-2029 at the latest. Despite winning a historic landslide election last year, Starmer is "under pressure from his own lawmakers to regain the initiative after "a tough first year in charge, marked by U-turns over key policies and continued angst over the public finances. Starmer will talk about…...

1+ hour, 32+ min ago (973+ words) AMD plans to boost the price of Radeon GPUs by 10% in early 2026, according to sources privy to the matter, capping a monumental 2025, and it's not even Christmas. As analysts and investors heaped praise on the semiconductor giant post Q3 2025 earnings, AMD CEO Lisa Su said: "The demand for compute has never been greater," according to Su, with AI demand "insatiable" at the moment. It's no wonder AMD isn't slowing down. Instead, according to rumors from Tom's Hardware, a price hike is on the cards in a year AMD surreptitiously paid more for parts to keep prices low. The company's first line of defense was internal; however,DRAM and VRAMprices have been too high for too long, which has hurt profits. Soon, higher costs will mean board prices go up, and gamers and PC builders will pay extra at the register. Nvidia…...

1+ hour, 35+ min ago (566+ words) Strong adoption of AI tools among Singapore businesses Current cybersecurity readiness can be enhanced High AI adoption boosts productivity, but human oversight is essential SINGAPORE, Dec. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore businesses are rapidly embracing digital transformation, with strong uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics tools, but continue to lag in cybersecurity maturity, according to the latest survey by global professional accounting body CPA Australia. The annual Business Technology Survey'found that 95 per cent of businesses in Singapore use data analytics and visualisation software such as Python, Power BI and Excel, slightly above the survey average of 93 per cent. Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption follows closely at 92 per cent, also ahead of the survey average of 89 per cent. Nearly one in five organisations in Singapore have deeply embedded AI across their business operations, positioning Singapore as a front-runner in strategic AI use. However,…...

1+ hour, 35+ min ago (800+ words) A Texas oil firm is fighting an uphill battle with the state of California to restart crude oil production and sales from three platforms in federal waters offshore Santa Barbara. Despite the support of the Trump Administration for federal oil-producing projects, Sable is fielding a growing number of lawsuits from California, and analysts say the firm could run out of funds and default on a loan before clearing hurdles in the most inhospitable U.S. state for the oil industry. Sable Offshore bought in 2021 three platforms from ExxonMobil in federal waters offshore Santa Barbara County by financing part of the deal with a $625-million loan from the U.S. supermajor. The platforms were shut down in 2015 following an oil spill due to a corroded pipeline that released about 3,000 barrels of oil on the nearby beaches and killed wildlife. Related: Germany Seeks Looser EU Rules…...