BUSINESS

GameStop Corp. shares slipped about 1.9% to around $22.59 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as investors weighed whether to buy, sell or hold the meme-stock favorite on the eve of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release.

GameStop Corp. shares fell more than 1% to around $22.58 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as investors positioned themselves ahead of the video game retailer's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings report due after the market close.

Alphabet Inc. shares fell more than 1.5% in early trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as investors weighed ongoing uncertainty from the U.S.-Iran conflict and broader concerns about elevated energy costs impacting artificial intelligence infrastructure spending.

MUMBAI, India — A U.S.-based consortium led by tech entrepreneur Kal Somani has purchased 100% ownership of the Rajasthan Royals for $1.63 billion, marking the most expensive franchise sale in Indian Premier League history and underscoring the soaring commercial value of cricket's premier T20 league.

Nasdaq futures pointed to a mixed open Tuesday, March 24, 2026, after the tech-heavy index posted a solid 1.38% gain the previous session on hopes of de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict that briefly sent oil prices tumbling and lifted investor sentiment across Wall Street.

Dow Jones futures traded lower early Tuesday, March 24, 2026, pointing to a cautious open on Wall Street after a strong rebound the previous session fueled by optimism over potential U.S.-Iran negotiations that later showed signs of fading.

Gold is falling further into bear territory due to leverage and government bond yields, but it is likely to bounce quickly on a de-escalation of the Iran war.

PhotobookShop has paid $39,600 in penalties after it asked influencers to lie in reviews that was to be posted on Instagram.

NEW YORK — Russell 2000 futures traded modestly lower in overnight and early Tuesday trading on March 24, 2026, pulling back slightly after a robust session for small-cap stocks the previous day that saw the benchmark index surge more than 2% and futures contracts post solid gains.

SYDNEY — Australia's corporate scene in 2026 features a fresh wave of dynamic leaders stepping into prominent roles or scaling high-growth companies amid economic optimism

MIAMI Leonid Radvinsky, the low-profile Ukrainian-American entrepreneur who transformed OnlyFans into a multibillion-dollar subscription platform dominating the adult entertainment industry, died March 20, 2026, after a private battle with cancer. He was 43.

LONDON — With the FTSE 100 pushing past 10,000 points for the first time early in 2026 and delivering strong gains driven by defence spending, banking resilience and healthcare innovation, investors are eyeing a select group of blue-chip stocks for potential outperformance this year.

Volatility in global markets is reshaping how companies pursue growth, prompting a shift towards opportunistic expansion and away from longer-term strategic dealmaking, according to the latest Dealmakers M&A survey from Pitcher Partners.

Leonid Radvinsky, the reclusive Ukrainian-American billionaire who transformed the adult content platform OnlyFans into a global powerhouse generating billions in revenue, died March 23, 2026, at age 43 after a prolonged private struggle with cancer, the company confirmed in a statement.

Shares of Fastly, Inc. (NYSE: FSLY) soared to a four-year high in recent trading sessions, climbing more than 13% intraday on March 23, 2026, as the edge cloud platform provider rode continued enthusiasm for its AI-driven growth prospects and robust fourth-quarter 2025 performance.

Billionaire Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer remains a dominant force in the NBA landscape, celebrating his team's surprising mid-season turnaround while grappling with an ongoing league investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention tied to star Kawhi Leonard's past endorsement deal.

At 37, Russell Westbrook continues to etch his name deeper into NBA history books while navigating a season of ups and downs with the Sacramento Kings, where his veteran presence has provided stability amid team struggles and sparked discussions about a potential return next year.

NEW YORK — The Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled more than 2% on Friday, March 20, 2026, closing at 21,647.61 after shedding 443.08 points, as escalating U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran drove oil prices higher and fueled investor fears of prolonged economic disruption.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is intensifying his commitment to global health and innovation as the Gates Foundation ramps up spending toward a planned closure in 2045, even as he navigates renewed controversy over past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. at the end of 2025, remains a central figure in financial news as his successor navigates the conglomerate's transition.

SAN FRANCISCO — Peter Thiel, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies and a prominent venture capitalist through Founders Fund, has built one of the most influential investment portfolios in tech history. As of March 2026, his holdings reflect a mix of early-stage bets that exploded in value and strategic public market positions, with Palantir Technologies standing out as his largest single investment by current market value.

Silver prices plunged sharply on March 23, 2026, with the spot price dropping to approximately $63.99 to $64.77 per troy ounce in early trading, reflecting losses of 5% to 8% from recent levels as escalating U.S.-Iran conflict, surging oil prices and a stronger U.S. dollar fueled a broad selloff in precious metals.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed sharply lower on its last trading session before the March 23, 2026, weekend, falling 443.96 points, or 0.96%, to settle at 45,577.47. The decline on March 20 capped a volatile week for U.S. equities, driven by persistent pressures from rising oil prices, geopolitical uncertainties, and fading expectations for near-term Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

LONDON — Croda International PLC (LSE: CRDA), the U.K.-based specialty chemicals company, saw its shares close at 2,554.00 pence on March 20, 2026, the most recent trading day before the March 23 weekend, marking a 1.43% gain from the previous close of 2,518.00 pence. The stock opened at 2,537.00 pence and traded in a day's range of 2,522.00 to 2,572.00 pence on volume of approximately 1.51 million shares.

New York — Bitcoin traded around $68,500 on March 23, 2026, showing signs of consolidation after dipping from recent highs near $71,000 earlier in the month.

SYDNEY, Australia — As the Australian Securities Exchange hovers near record levels with the ASX 200 surpassing 9,000 points in early 2026, investors face a mixed landscape shaped by global geopolitical tensions

Global oil prices climbed sharply Monday amid persistent disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, with Brent crude benchmark rising to around $113 per barrel as supply fears intensified in the fourth week of hostilities.

SYDNEY, Australia — The Australian dollar weakened against the US dollar on Monday, with AUD/USD trading around 0.6980 in Asian and early European sessions, down approximately 0.78% from Friday's close as escalating US-Iran tensions and broader market uncertainty outweighed support from soaring oil prices.

Asian stock markets tumbled sharply Monday amid escalating threats between the United States and Iran, as the conflict entered its fourth week with no signs of de-escalation. Major indexes in Japan and South Korea fell more than 5%, driven by investor fears over potential disruptions to global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.