The world in a glance.

Trump, Xi and the bid for a ‘grand bargain’ between superpowers

As the US president prepares to visit Beijing, America no longer holds all the cards — but China knows it must tread carefully

We are living in the age of the middleman

Special envoys are the new peacemakers precisely because they are unburdened by diplomatic expertise

China’s exports jump 14% ahead of Xi-Trump summit

Robust trade surplus shows US tariffs have done little to dent the country’s manufacturing prowess

US imposes sanctions on Chinese companies for allegedly helping Iran

State department says groups provided satellite imagery that enabled Tehran to strike American forces in Middle East

Lumentum’s fiery stock rally earns it a spot in this hot index

Lumentum’s stock performance ranks sixth in the S&P 500 this year. Now the optical company is set to join the Nasdaq-100.

Labour MPs call on Keir Starmer to quit after heavy election defeat

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK makes big gains on English councils, while nationalist parties triumph in Scotland and Wales

‘It saved my relationship with my mom.’ These money managers may help if you’re feeling overwhelmed helping your parents pay their bills.

An extra set of eyes on these kinds of tasks can help people remain independent longer

Dunkin’ is making its return to the stock market — with a new twist

Inspire Brands — which owns Dunkin’, Arby’s and other chains — has confidentially filed for an IPO.

Gold has climbed back above a key trend line. Are more gains on the way?

Gold broke above an important short-term technical level on Friday — a sign that the precious metal may be starting to regain momentum after a sluggish stretch since the start of…

No do-overs: How one extra dollar on your Roth conversion triggers a tax bill you won’t see coming

The new Roth reality: Stealth taxes and Medicare penalties make the stakes higher than ever.

Turkey unveils new ICBM — touted as able to hit the US mainland

Promotional AI video showed Yıldırımhan missile seemingly striking nuclear sites in America well beyond its range

Turkey unveils new ICBM touted as able to hit US mainland

Promotional AI video showed Yıldırımhan missile seemingly striking nuclear sites in America well beyond its range

Turkey unveils new missile touted as able to hit US mainland

Promotional AI video showed Yıldırımhan missile seemingly striking nuclear sites in America well beyond its range

AMD, Micron shares surge on a big day for chip-sector outperformance

There’s been a dramatic “return to AI data-center optimism,” one analyst notes.

Ageism is corporate self-sabotage — America’s ‘brain drain’ is costing shareholders billions

Discarding experienced workers isn’t a strategy — it’s short-sighted thinking that AI won’t fix.

I am 56, single, and renewing my $400,000 10-year term life policy. Am I making a huge mistake?

“The agent said he could not add my brother because he does not depend on my income, so has no insurable interest.”

LNG carriers test Iran blockade in Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan cancelled plans to buy cargoes on spot market because it expected Gulf shipments to resume

Dunkin' owner Inspire Brands confidentially files for IPO

The restaurant company owns Dunkin', Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Baskin Robbins, Sonic Drive-In and Jimmy John's.

Kevin Warsh is right about Fed reform — but his inflation solution is a trap

Warsh’s belief that AI is a guaranteed disinflationary force could trigger premature rate cuts.

Trump says Russia and Ukraine agree 3-day ceasefire and prisoner swap

Scepticism persists that Vladimir Putin is willing to commit to a more lasting peace deal

Fitness wearable Whoop to offer on-demand clinician access to U.S. users

Whoop is introducing on-demand clinician access and AI-powered health guidance, largely included in the price of membership.

Jane Street earned $10bn in first quarter as it doubled trading revenue

Results cement prop firm as one of the most profitable on Wall Street

AI is ‘absolutely useless’ at forecasting inflation. This proven model is 12 times more accurate.

A “low-tech” tool from the Cleveland Fed consistently outperforms generative AI, which has struggled to provide reliable forecasts.

There are no hantavirus treatments. The deadly cruise-ship outbreak is a ‘wake-up call’ to develop some.

It’s been a struggle to secure funding for hantavirus research because these viruses haven’t been a priority.

The new politics may be more like the old politics than we assume

Our electoral system will force consolidation within the left and right blocs

US Democrats handed midterm election blow by Virginia court

Referendum approving party’s plan to redraw congressional map is overturned by judges

While AI pumps up portfolios, some companies sound the alarm

The clout of Big Tech groups is obscuring the precarious state of others

BuzzFeed blows past a key debt deadline, raising the specter of bankruptcy

The company was granted an extension until May 18 on a $5 million debt payment after issuing a going-concern warning earlier this year.

Gloom deepens for consumers in early May due to high gas prices

Consumer sentiment hit a record low in May, the University of Michigan said, and showed the lowest reading among Republicans since President Donald Trump’s 2024 election.

Here’s the ‘hero’ trade that works if the Treasury radically restructures debt, according to Jeffrey Gundlach

The ‘bond king’ put a bond-swap plan into action a couple of years ago as he sees the U.S. government’s funding woes worsening.

Markets are banking on the ‘Bliss trade’

A belief in resilience underwritten by big lasting state support is keeping stocks high

Ryan Cohen, the rebel CEO who disdains corporate America

His $56bn hostile bid for eBay has baffled Wall Street, but it could be the world’s first meme stock-driven deal

US strikes 2 Iranian-flagged oil tankers as ceasefire comes under strain

Donald Trump says truce between Washington and Tehran still in effect after the two sides exchanged fire

Kevin Warsh will be the richest Fed chair ever. Just how rich — he isn’t saying.

The Fed chair nominee has filed 69 pages about his finances that mostly tell you what he won’t tell you. The Senate is ready to confirm him anyway.

Trump's $1 million 'Gold Card' fails to catch on among the world's wealthy

President Donald Trump's "Gold Card," which promised U.S. residency in "record time," has been dogged by delays and legal questions.

I’m giving $10,000 to my stepchildren. My wife warned me against gifts of equal value for my nephews. Is that fair?

“Our net worth is about $4 million, and we are both 60.”

UBS boss warns of European decline with ‘over-regulation across the board’

Sergio Ermotti tells FT it would take a ‘very profound and painful crisis’ to pressure politicians to take action

States crack down on tax break for wealthy investors

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act turbocharged the tax break on QSBS, but states including New York and Oregon have taken aim at the incentive.

I was a slave to credit-card debt, then I got laid off and turned my life around. Here’s how I did it.

The biggest promotion is often the one we can give ourselves by cutting back on our spending.

Just graduated? Here’s your financial cheat sheet for building real wealth.

Financial experts say building intentional saving and spending habits early can go a long way toward long-term financial success.

Worried about the Andes virus? Experts say it’s not the next pandemic.

It’s a ‘one-off situation,’ according to an infectious-disease doctor. ‘You have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

Starmer defies calls to quit after heavy Labour council losses

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK makes gains in English local elections

Uber-backed electric bike start-up Lime files for IPO

Operator of bright green e-bikes and scooters plans US listing this year

This new target for the S&P 500 is very nearly Wall Street’s highest. Here are the trades to make.

Earnings and a supportive economic backdrop should help stocks, says RBC

Spending in the U.S. just slumped, and Bank of America isn’t sure why

Something funny just happened in the U.S. economy, according to Bank of America after the nation’s number-two bank looked at credit- and debit-card use by its customers.

AI infrastructure boom can continue as long as returns outweigh financing costs

If spending on artificial intelligence is a marathon, its finish line is not even in sight.

Momentum stocks just saw one of the biggest reversals in five years. What usually happens next.

There had been ample warnings that stocks with price momentum had shot up too quickly, and on Thursday gravity reasserted itself.

My mother regrets paying Social Security. She says she should have invested her contributions. I disagree. Who’s right?

“There’s no way my dad and my mom paid enough into Medicare to cover my dad’s six months in long-term critical care.”

Labour suffers heavy losses as Reform surges — follow the results

Keir Starmer’s party has lost around 200 seats and control of eight councils in England’s local elections

Toyota warns of $4.2bn hit from Middle East war

World’s biggest carmaker sells record 10.5mn vehicles last year on strong demand for hybrids