SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) , a company specializing in voice-enabled artificial intelligence (AI) services, could soon expand both its revenue and reach. It has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) , a company specializing in AI messaging, for $43 million in equity. Based on how the SoundHound stock price performed on the day of the announcement, investors wer...
SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) , a company specializing in voice-enabled artificial intelligence (AI) services, could soon expand both its revenue and reach. It has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) , a company specializing in AI messaging, for $43 million in equity. Based on how the SoundHound stock price performed on the day of the announcement, investors weren't initially cheering the news, but management at the AI voice company believes LivePerson will deliver a revenue boost well worth the cost. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
hanhanpeggy/iStock via Getty Images SLB ( SLB ) up 1.9% in early trading Friday after reporting Q1 adjusted earnings that matched Wall Street expectations but fell from a year ago, as widespread disruptions across the Middle East hurt its business. The fallout from the war has been difficult for SLB ( SLB ) and other oilfield services contractors that have depended on the Middle East for growth as...
hanhanpeggy/iStock via Getty Images SLB ( SLB ) up 1.9% in early trading Friday after reporting Q1 adjusted earnings that matched Wall Street expectations but fell from a year ago, as widespread disruptions across the Middle East hurt its business. The fallout from the war has been difficult for SLB ( SLB ) and other oilfield services contractors that have depended on the Middle East for growth as U.S. shale fields mature; the Middle East and Asia comprised nearly 35% of SLB's revenue in 2025. Q1 profit fell to $752M, or $0.50/share, from $797M, or $0.58/share, in the year-earlier quarter, while revenue ticked up 2.7% Y/Y to $8.72B, as international revenue fell 3.8% to $6.47B while North American revenue jumped 26% to $2.17B. Q1 revenue from the Middle East and Asia fell 10% to $2.69B, hurt by disruptions in Qatar due to a force majeure and in Iraq and offshore operations across the region from the war. "It was a challenging start to the year as widespread disruptions in the Middle East impacted our business," SLB ( SLB ) CEO Olivier Le Peuch said. "The impact was most pronounced in Well Construction and Reservoir Performance, as SLB demobilized operations in a number of countries in response to customer actions to safeguard personnel and facilities." The company expects crude prices to remain above pre-war levels even after the conflict ends, as damaged infrastructure, hobbled production, and increased risks for operators in the region drive up costs, Le Peuch said. The CEO also said he expects increased investment in short-cycle projects in North America and Latin America as well as long-cycle developments once the war subsides. SLB ( SLB ) also said it agreed to acquire S&P Global Energy's ( SPGI ) geoscience and petroleum engineering software business; financial terms were not disclosed. SLB ( SLB ) expects the acquisition to complement its in-house technology used to analyze and model subterranean oil and natural gas deposits, and will make SLB more comp...
RUNSTUDIO Layoffs that were once concentrated in the technology sector are now spreading to other industries, including transportation ( IYT ), ( XTN ), ( FTXR ), and media ( SOCL ), ( GGME ), ( XLC ), according to Cory Stahle, senior economist at Indeed. While tech companies have dominated headlines for workforce reductions over the past three to four years, the last twelve months have shown thes...
RUNSTUDIO Layoffs that were once concentrated in the technology sector are now spreading to other industries, including transportation ( IYT ), ( XTN ), ( FTXR ), and media ( SOCL ), ( GGME ), ( XLC ), according to Cory Stahle, senior economist at Indeed. While tech companies have dominated headlines for workforce reductions over the past three to four years, the last twelve months have shown these cuts branching out across the broader economy. During an interview with CNBC, Stahle described current conditions as particularly challenging for workers seeking employment. “The labor market just in general is really, really tough right now, and we’re seeing employers make these types of moves,” he said. Looking ahead, the economist expects the trend to continue in the near term. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some of these cuts continue as we go forward in the coming months,” Stahle noted, adding that these employer decisions are setting the stage for an even more difficult labor environment. The key question, he emphasized, is how far these cuts will spread and how significant they will become. Despite the wave of layoffs, Indeed’s data reveals some unexpected positive signals within the technology sector ( VGT ), ( XLK ), ( IYW ), ( FTEC ), ( IXN ) itself. Stahle pointed to a potential resurgence in hiring for software ( IGV ), ( XSW ), ( IGPT ) development and other tech-focused roles, creating a mixed picture of both cuts and new opportunities. Healthcare ( XLV ), ( VHT ), ( IHI ), ( IXJ ) continues to serve as a consistent source of job growth across the economy. Both Indeed’s platform data and official government employment reports confirm that healthcare employers are actively hiring and adding positions. The job market is also seeing an influx of new entrants, with more recent graduates searching for roles on Indeed’s platform, particularly during this time of year. Stahle said he will be watching closely to see “how far that goes and how big it grows” as th...
We just covered the 15 Safe Stocks to Invest In For Beginners and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) ranks 1st on this list. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is simply one of the technology stocks that the world cannot function without. This makes it a must in beginner portfolios. Microsoft 365, comprising Office, Teams, and Outlook, is the standard […]
We just covered the 15 Safe Stocks to Invest In For Beginners and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) ranks 1st on this list. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is simply one of the technology stocks that the world cannot function without. This makes it a must in beginner portfolios. Microsoft 365, comprising Office, Teams, and Outlook, is the standard […]
Nuclear start-up X-Energy raised a little more than $1 billion in its initial public offering late Thursday, a larger-than-expected sum that puts its market cap around $9 billion. The stock is expected to start trading on the Nasdaq on Friday with the ticker XE. Maryland based X-Energy, which is backed by Amazon was aiming to sell about $700 million worth of shares at a per-share price of $16 to $...
Nuclear start-up X-Energy raised a little more than $1 billion in its initial public offering late Thursday, a larger-than-expected sum that puts its market cap around $9 billion. The stock is expected to start trading on the Nasdaq on Friday with the ticker XE. Maryland based X-Energy, which is backed by Amazon was aiming to sell about $700 million worth of shares at a per-share price of $16 to $19.
England forward has recovered from achilles injury Calafiori also fit as Arteta targets ‘two big competitions’ Mikel Arteta is hoping the return of Bukayo Saka after a month out can provide Arsenal with “a different energy” as they attempt to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title. The England forward has not played since the defeat by City in the Carabao Cup final owing to an achilles i...
England forward has recovered from achilles injury Calafiori also fit as Arteta targets ‘two big competitions’ Mikel Arteta is hoping the return of Bukayo Saka after a month out can provide Arsenal with “a different energy” as they attempt to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title. The England forward has not played since the defeat by City in the Carabao Cup final owing to an achilles injury and Arsenal have won one of five games without him. Arteta said Saka would be in the squad to face Newcastle on Saturday evening, when Arsenal will have an opportunity to go top again. Continue reading...
Swiss National Bank Chief Economist Carlos Lenz is set to retire at the end of the year and will be succeeded by Martin Brown, the current director of the central bank’s academic research institution. Brown, 55, has been heading the SNB’s Study Center Gerzensee since 2022. He’s an adjunct professor of financial economics at the University of St Gallen, where he previously was a professor of bankin...
Swiss National Bank Chief Economist Carlos Lenz is set to retire at the end of the year and will be succeeded by Martin Brown, the current director of the central bank’s academic research institution. Brown, 55, has been heading the SNB’s Study Center Gerzensee since 2022. He’s an adjunct professor of financial economics at the University of St Gallen, where he previously was a professor of banking, according to his personal website . From 2004 to 2011, he was a mid-level official at the SNB. The Swiss-Irish dual citizen was born in Norwich, UK, and holds a doctoral degree from the University of Zurich. His current research focuses on financial intermediation and household finance, according to the study center’s website . The head of the economic affairs division — the official title of the chief economist at Switzerland’s central bank — primarily works behind the scenes. He is responsible for preparing the proposal for every interest-rate decision, which is then taken by the institution’s three-member board led by President Martin Schlegel . Lenz has held the post since 2015. Schlegel Says Vigilant SNB Unrestricted on Rates, Interventions SNB’s Schlegel Stresses Higher Willingness on FX Interventions Swiss Inflation Jumps to Fastest in a Year on War Impact
We just covered the 15 Safe Stocks to Invest In For Beginners and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) ranks 3rd on this list. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has long been one of the most affordable ways to own elite technology stocks. This is because while other members of the Magnificent Seven often trade at sky-high price-to-earnings ratios, Alphabet […]
We just covered the 15 Safe Stocks to Invest In For Beginners and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) ranks 3rd on this list. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has long been one of the most affordable ways to own elite technology stocks. This is because while other members of the Magnificent Seven often trade at sky-high price-to-earnings ratios, Alphabet […]
When you donate stock, you give away any future gains. But there’s good reason to consider doing so — and it can benefit both the donor and the charity.
When you donate stock, you give away any future gains. But there’s good reason to consider doing so — and it can benefit both the donor and the charity.
April 27-28: Bank of Japan policy meeting Japan's central bank will hold its monetary policy meeting, with current interest rates at 0.75%. Market expectations for an immediate rate hike have significantly decreased due to geopolitical uncertainties. April 28-29: Federal Reserve policy meeting The U.S. central bank is widely expected to maintain its current benchmark interest rate target range of ...
April 27-28: Bank of Japan policy meeting Japan's central bank will hold its monetary policy meeting, with current interest rates at 0.75%. Market expectations for an immediate rate hike have significantly decreased due to geopolitical uncertainties. April 28-29: Federal Reserve policy meeting The U.S. central bank is widely expected to maintain its current benchmark interest rate target range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Policymakers will also continue to assess the economic impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
ITHACA, Mich., April 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Commercial National Financial Corporation (OTCID: CEFC) reported net income of $1,677,000 or $0.43 per share for the first quarter of 2026 compared to $1,429,000 or $0.36 per share for the first quarter of 2025. Return on Equity was 11.87% for the first quarter of 2026 compared to 11.31% for the first quarter of 2025.
ITHACA, Mich., April 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Commercial National Financial Corporation (OTCID: CEFC) reported net income of $1,677,000 or $0.43 per share for the first quarter of 2026 compared to $1,429,000 or $0.36 per share for the first quarter of 2025. Return on Equity was 11.87% for the first quarter of 2026 compared to 11.31% for the first quarter of 2025.
We just covered the 15 Safe Stocks to Invest In For Beginners and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) ranks 2nd on this list. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has a unique financial architecture that makes it a foundational asset for those just starting their investment journey. For a beginner, the safest company is one whose customers refuse to leave. […]
We just covered the 15 Safe Stocks to Invest In For Beginners and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) ranks 2nd on this list. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has a unique financial architecture that makes it a foundational asset for those just starting their investment journey. For a beginner, the safest company is one whose customers refuse to leave. […]