BUSINESS

Shares of Cyclerion Therapeutics Inc. skyrocketed more than 313% Wednesday, surging from around $1.55 at Tuesday's close to trade near $6.47 midday as the micro-cap biotech announced a transformative all-stock merger with privately held Korsana Biosciences Inc.

Nike Inc. shares tumbled more than 14% Wednesday, plunging as low as $45.19 intraday after the athletic giant issued a disappointing sales forecast for the current quarter despite beating Wall Street expectations for its fiscal third quarter.

Netflix Inc. shares edged lower Wednesday, trading around $95.66 midday after closing at $96.15 the previous session, as Wall Street positioned for the streaming giant's first-quarter 2026 earnings report scheduled for April 16.

Intel Corp. shares jumped more than 9% to $48.39 in morning trading Wednesday, extending a remarkable recovery that has seen the chipmaker's stock more than double over the past year as investors bet on the company's aggressive foundry ambitions, AI processor momentum and progress under the U.S. CHIPS Act.

Alphabet Inc. shares rose more than 2% to around $294.42 in morning trading Wednesday as investors weighed the Google parent's aggressive push into artificial intelligence against its dominant search business and surging cloud revenue, with most Wall Street analysts maintaining a strong buy rating and projecting further gains over the next five years.

GameStop Corp. shares traded near $23 early Wednesday, inching up slightly in thin pre-market and morning action on April 1, 2026, as the meme-stock favorite continued its relatively stable performance following last month's fiscal fourth-quarter results that showed record annual profit even as revenue declined.

SYDNEY — Australia's largest bank, Commonwealth Bank, delivered a blockbuster half-year cash profit of $5.45 billion in early 2026, fueled by robust lending growth and market share gains in home loans and deposits. Yet the celebration was short-lived as the bank revealed it is investigating up to $1 billion in potentially fraudulent mortgages, some allegedly involving AI-generated fake documents, and has referred the matter to police.

LONDON — London's benchmark FTSE 100 index climbed sharply in early trading Wednesday, rising 1.58% or 160.48 points to 10,336.93 as investors appeared to shake off recent geopolitical jitters and bargain-hunt after a volatile March, with the blue-chip gauge trading in a wide range between 10,169.30 and 10,366.46 by mid-morning.

Shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. climbed sharply Tuesday as the data analytics and artificial intelligence powerhouse continued to ride momentum from blockbuster government contracts, accelerating commercial adoption of its AI platform and strong 2026 revenue guidance that has Wall Street buzzing about sustained hyper-growth.

NEW YORK — Pfizer Inc. shares ticked up modestly Tuesday as investors weighed fresh positive oncology data against the pharmaceutical giant's flat revenue guidance for 2026 and ongoing pressures from declining COVID-19 product sales.

Shares of Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc skyrocketed more than 44% Tuesday after the clinical-stage biotech announced it would be acquired by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. in a deal valued at up to $7.8 billion, giving Lilly a promising pipeline of experimental treatments for sleep-wake disorders.

NEW YORK — A wave of high-profile companies has accelerated its departure from New York in 2026, citing soaring taxes, burdensome regulations and a shifting political climate under Mayor Zohran Mamdani as key drivers behind the ongoing business exodus to lower-cost Sun Belt states like Florida and Texas.

Shares of Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc. exploded more than 135% Tuesday after the biotech company announced it would be acquired by larger rival Biogen Inc., in a deal that promises to supercharge growth in immunology, rare diseases and nephrology.

NEW YORK — NVIDIA Corp. shares jumped more than 3% in morning trading Tuesday, climbing toward $170.80 as investors welcomed signs of potential de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict and bet on continued explosive demand for the company's artificial intelligence chips.

NEW YORK — Microsoft Corp. shares climbed more than 2% in morning trading Tuesday, with the stock reaching around $366.64 as broader market optimism over potential Iran conflict de-escalation lifted tech names and investors looked past recent concerns about heavy AI spending.

OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO at the end of 2025, acknowledged Tuesday that he sold too much of the conglomerate's massive Apple stake too early, even as he continues to weigh in on investments and philanthropy at age 95.

LONDON — Britain's benchmark FTSE 100 index climbed above 10,220 points Tuesday, gaining nearly 1% in midday trading as optimism over potential de-escalation in Middle East tensions lifted investor sentiment and boosted mining and consumer stocks.

NEW YORK — At 70 years old, Jamie Dimon remains one of the most influential figures in global finance, steering JPMorgan Chase — America's largest bank by assets — through economic turbulence while issuing pointed warnings about artificial intelligence, potential recession risks and market exuberance in 2026.

SYDNEY — In a decision hailed by unions as a historic win for young workers but criticized by employers as adding cost pressures, Australia's **Fair Work Commission** on Tuesday abolished discounted junior pay rates for employees aged 18 to 20 in the retail, fast food and pharmacy sectors, ruling they should receive the full adult award wage after gaining experience.

Firms across industries are rushing to replace people with allegedly faster, cheaper AI, yet when something truly matters, clients still want the same thing they have always wanted: a clear answer from someone who understands the stakes.

For Australians moving into new homes in 2026, those choices are already being made. And increasingly, the brands earning a place in those spaces are the ones that understand what's actually at stake—not just a furniture purchase, but the beginning of how a home feels to live in.

Alphabet Inc.'s Class C shares (GOOG) traded around $274.92 midday Tuesday in New York, up 0.42% on the session, as investors weighed the tech giant's aggressive artificial intelligence investments against broader market volatility and looming regulatory risks.

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) shares traded at $93.88, up 46 cents or 0.49% during Monday's session, reflecting continued investor focus on the streaming giant's pricing power and ambitious 2026 content strategy as the company navigates a competitive entertainment landscape.

Wells Fargo customers across the United States encountered difficulties accessing online banking and the mobile app on Monday, March 30, 2026, as the bank's digital platforms displayed messages indicating temporary unavailability and users reported login problems, missing account data and loading errors.

GameStop Corp. shares rose modestly in early trading Monday, March 30, 2026, trading around $22.40 after closing at $22.10 on Friday, as the video game retailer's stock continued to reflect its status as a volatile meme favorite amid ongoing speculation about CEO Ryan Cohen's strategic plans and a strengthened balance sheet.

NEW YORK — U.S. stock futures edged higher Monday morning, March 30, 2026, as investors weighed President Donald Trump's signals of progress in talks with Iran against persistent geopolitical tensions that have driven oil prices sharply higher and kept markets volatile entering a holiday-shortened trading week.

SYDNEY — Australia's export economy in 2026 remains heavily reliant on its vast natural resources, with iron ore, energy commodities and gold dominating the country's trade ledger as global demand from Asia continues to drive billions in revenue despite fluctuating prices and geopolitical uncertainties.

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London's benchmark FTSE 100 index climbed in early trading Monday as some defensive stocks provided support, even as investors grappled with escalating tensions in the Middle East and surging oil prices that have heightened inflation fears across global markets.