BUSINESS

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 184.38 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 49,314.89 on Monday, May 4, 2026, as investors digested mixed corporate earnings and rotated out of high-flying technology shares amid concerns over elevated valuations and interest rate uncertainty.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. dropped a bombshell Sunday evening with an unsolicited $56 billion offer to acquire eBay Inc., igniting one of the most dramatic corporate takeover battles in recent retail history. The surprise move by activist CEO Ryan Cohen has sent both companies' stocks soaring and raised questions about strategy, financing and the future of e-commerce. Here are 10 key things everyone should know about the bold proposal that could reshape online retail.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. has made an unsolicited $56 billion offer to acquire eBay Inc. in a bold cash-and-stock deal that would combine the video game retailer with the iconic online marketplace and create what CEO Ryan Cohen calls a "legit competitor" to Amazon. The surprise proposal, revealed Sunday evening, values eBay at $125 per share — a roughly 20 percent premium to its recent closing price — and marks one of the most audacious takeover attempts in recent retail history.

NEW YORK — Investors weighing whether to buy or sell Palantir Technologies stock in 2026 face a classic growth-versus-valuation debate as the data analytics powerhouse, trading near $144, heads into its first-quarter earnings report Monday with strong commercial AI momentum but a premium multiple that has some analysts urging caution. Wall Street's consensus leans Moderate Buy, with an average 12-month price target around $192 implying roughly 33 percent upside, though skeptics highlight risks from competition and stretched valuations.

NEW YORK — Major retailers including Walmart, Dollar General and Costco are scaling back or rethinking self-checkout systems as surging theft rates, customer complaints and proposed legislation in multiple states force a broader industry shift back toward staffed registers.

NEW YORK — Investors evaluating Atlassian Corporation's prospects heading into the second half of 2026 face a compelling growth story underpinned by strong cloud migration, artificial intelligence integrations and expanding enterprise adoption of its collaboration tools, despite recent share-price volatility that has left the stock trading near $88.88 as of early May.

NEW YORK — Investors sizing up the streaming giants as 2026 unfolds face a classic growth-versus-value dilemma: Netflix Inc., the pure-play leader with explosive ad revenue and high margins, or Walt Disney Co., the diversified entertainment powerhouse turning Disney+ profitable while leaning on resilient theme parks and a rising dividend.

NEW YORK — As investors weigh semiconductor giants amid the ongoing artificial intelligence boom, NVIDIA Corp. stands out as Wall Street's clear favorite heading into the second half of 2026, with analysts projecting 30-40% upside while urging caution on Intel Corp. despite its recent share-price surge.

NEW YORK — Netflix Inc. enters the heart of 2026 as one of Wall Street's favored growth stories, with analysts overwhelmingly recommending investors buy shares of the streaming pioneer amid robust subscriber gains, advertising momentum and content investments that continue to widen its global lead.

NEW YORK — Intel Corp. stock presents a complex investment case in 2026, with analysts divided on whether to buy or sell shares of the semiconductor giant as it pursues a high-stakes turnaround amid fierce competition and shifting industry dynamics. The company, once a dominant force in chips, faces questions about its ability to regain ground in foundry services and data center markets while navigating significant financial and operational challenges.

NEW YORK — As Tesla Inc. navigates a pivotal year in 2026, investors face a sharp divide over whether to buy or sell shares of the electric vehicle pioneer, with Wall Street analysts issuing a consensus "Hold" rating amid softening deliveries, intensifying competition and sky-high valuations tied to ambitious artificial intelligence and robotics bets.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Spirit Airlines is preparing for a potential shutdown or liquidation as the ultra-low-cost carrier grapples with mounting financial pressures, including surging fuel costs and unresolved bankruptcy challenges, according to multiple reports and industry sources. The airline, which filed for Chapter 11 protection twice in recent years, faces an uncertain future that could reshape the U.S. aviation landscape and affect millions of budget travelers.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Shares of Lightwave Logic Inc. skyrocketed more than 18 percent in morning trading Friday, climbing to around $16.19 as investors piled into the small-cap photonics company amid renewed enthusiasm for technologies that could ease the massive power and bandwidth demands of artificial intelligence data centers.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares hovered around $25 in early trading Friday as investors weighed the company's cash-rich balance sheet and potential strategic moves against ongoing challenges in its core retail business, leaving analysts divided on whether the meme stock favorite represents a compelling long-term opportunity or a high-risk legacy play.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above 49,700 points Thursday morning, gaining more than 87 points in early trading as investors responded positively to a wave of strong corporate earnings and signs of economic resilience despite lingering concerns over inflation and geopolitical tensions.

NEW YORK — California, Texas and Washington are emerging as the top three states experiencing the heaviest job losses from major corporations in 2026, driven by widespread tech sector restructuring, artificial intelligence adoption and broader economic pressures that have prompted thousands of layoffs across Fortune 500 companies.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 climbed 1.62% on Friday morning, surging 165.71 points to 10,378.82 in early trading as renewed expectations for Bank of England rate cuts, a rebound in mining stocks and positive global sentiment drove strong gains across the London market.