Business

Hyatt has sold its Playa Hotels & Resorts real estate portfolio to Tortuga Resorts for about $2 billion, and has signed long-term management agreements covering most properties.

An economist forecast that AI-driven productivity could push U.S. inflation below 2% next year. Analysts also reported that increased automation may reduce hiring in some sectors.

Nike went public on Dec. 2, 1980, after a period of very rapid sales and profit growth. The company later expanded globally and used high-profile athlete endorsements, which helped its long-term market value rise.

Costco Travel sells bundled vacations such as cruises, packages and rental cars and often includes added incentives. The service requires a Costco membership and typically offers a narrower selection than major online travel sites.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was reported at 6.15%, down from a week earlier, while the 15-year rate remained steady; the 30-year APR was about 6.18%. These figures are presented calmly for reference.

High-yield savings account rates were unchanged from a week earlier on December 31, 2025, with the top standard account rate reported at 5.84% and averages near 0.22%. This is a routine market update and steady figures may change gradually over time.

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has submitted three independent director nominees after the company announced CEO Calvin McDonald’s departure; the board says it will review the nominees and is conducting a search for a new CEO.

Cardano's ADA fell about 60% in 2025 and is trading near $0.35. The network launched the Midnight sidechain and continued other upgrades during the same period.

Joby Aviation shares trade near $13 while the company pursues final FAA certification and plans a commercial air taxi launch in Dubai in 2026. Observers note similarities to early Tesla in vertical integration and clean-transport ambitions, but competition and an unproven service model are also reported.

DigitalBridge Group shares rose nearly 10% after reports that SoftBank Group agreed to acquire the company for about $4 billion, with an offer of $16 per share. The stock still traded below the offer price, indicating some investor caution.

Michael Burry denied that he is shorting Tesla after describing the company’s stock as very overvalued. He made the comment on X and had shared a similar view with subscribers on his paid Substack newsletter.

Stocks slipped in thin year-end trading after 2025 produced record gains, driven by central bank interest-rate cuts and strong tech growth tied to artificial intelligence.

Eurostar and Le Shuttle services resumed through the Channel Tunnel after an overnight repair following a power supply fault and a broken-down train. Most London departures ran on Wednesday, though a small number of services were cancelled and some delays were still reported.

Marc Ciria, a candidate in Barcelona's 2026 presidential election, has proposed bringing Lionel Messi back to the club as part of a plan to boost revenue. Ciria presented Messi as a strategic partner and cited current income figures while outlining his campaign proposal.

David Sacks, a White House advisor, said he might leave California after the state proposed a one-time "Billionaire Tax" he described as a 5% levy on net worth. The proposal has drawn public criticism from some wealthy residents and is still under debate.

Federal prosecutors say a network attempted to send roughly $160 million worth of Nvidia H100 and H200 GPUs to China, and arrests and a guilty plea have been reported. The investigation, called Operation Gatekeeper, involved an undercover operation at a New Jersey warehouse.

The U.S. dollar is on track to fall about 9.3% this year, its weakest annual showing since 2017. Analysts say the currency may face further pressure as U.S. yield advantages narrow with expected Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Golden State visits Charlotte on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET and is listed as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. A projection model is calling the game to go over and projects Stephen Curry around 27.1 points.

Liam Lawson raised more than NZ$50,000 at Highlands Motorsport Park by offering supercar hot laps, with proceeds to the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.