The world in a glance.

Oil market one month from crunch point as global stockpiles dwindle

Traders warn of further jump in prices and ‘huge pain’ as economies cut consumption

‘There is an imbalance of power’: My husband has cancer. Why must we wait two hours for a 10-minute CT scan?

“This letter is in memory of all the patients who died waiting for their medical appointments to begin.”

Embattled U.S. manufacturers show their mettle, grow for the fourth month in a row despite Iran war

American manufacturers grew in April for the fourth month in a row — the longest streak in four years — but an embryonic recovery faces fresh hurdles from rising oil prices and…

Pentagon signs new military AI deals with Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon

New contracts with tech companies come after clash with Anthropic over Claude use

Markets are underpricing the risk of Middle East pullback in AI, says tech investor Jack Selby

Middle East investors account for roughly a quarter of global AI investments over the next 5 years, said Jack Selby, managing director of Thiel Capital.

Smoothie King plots expansion as wellness trends boost sales

Smoothie King's system-wide sales have climbed 64% over the last five years.

My latest portfolio revealed

Now the Bank of England has called the top, I’ve never been so bullish about stocks

3 questions to ask before raiding your 401(k) for a hardship withdrawal

Money coaches tell you how to move past the stigma and decide if tapping your retirement fund is rational or reactive.

Software stocks are finally priced for a comeback, this veteran strategist says. He’s buying.

Fundstrat managing partner and head of research Tom Lee says investors are underestimating how strong software companies will rise to the AI challenge.

UK goods exports to US have not recovered from Trump’s tariffs

Britain has been pushed into an unusual trade deficit with its largest trading partner

Twilio’s stock is soaring. The company says it’s because of ‘unprecedented demand’ for one AI function.

The software company’s stock rose 20% in a boost to the sector that has been dragged down over concerns about artificial intelligence.

Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon make landmark $225 million investment in pickleball

The fresh funds bring the total investment in Pickleball Inc. to $315 million, as investors continue to look at emerging sports as a place to park their money.

Exxon and Chevron defy Trump pressure to boost oil production

US supermajors stick to prewar strategies despite White House plea for more drilling to curb soaring petrol prices

A year after selling $2.7 million Austin mansion, actress Haylie Duff and Matt Rosenberg call off 12-year engagement

Haylie Duff has split from her fiancé, Matt Rosenberg, 12 years after the former couple announced they were engaged—and six years after they relocated their family from California…

The S&P 500’s newest member is this under-the-radar software stock

Veeva Systems’ stock is soaring upon news that it will soon join the benchmark index.

Trump vs Kimmel: inside Disney chief Josh D’Amaro’s baptism of fire

Studio’s boss has run into free speech crisis just weeks into his job

How bots could help revive democracy

New AI tools encouraging deliberation could promote consensus and reduce polarisation in politics

Iran war diverts more ships from Suez to long route round Africa

Despite higher costs, shipping companies opt for safer Asia-Europe freight passages via Cape of Good Hope

PwC will drop cover for weight-loss drugs from employee health plans

Big Four accountancy balks at high cost of medication it says has become ‘cultural phenomenon’

Zelenskyy’s push for EU membership strains ties with allies

Ukrainian president ‘had to hear some harsh truths’ from leaders at Cyprus summit

Trump adrift: the president’s second term is at risk of foundering

There are signs that voters are losing faith as problems mount for his administration ahead of midterm elections

The memory trade is faltering as Western Digital’s stock slides in the face of earnings beat

Investors are panning upbeat results from Western Digital and Sandisk after massive one-year stock rallies.

Huawei’s AI chip sales surge as Nvidia stalls in China

Chinese tech companies place large orders for the Shenzhen-based group’s latest range of AI processors

Huawei’s chip sales set to jump 60% as Chinese tech groups shun Nvidia

Chinese tech companies place large orders for the Shenzhen-based group’s latest range of AI processors

Apple credits ‘most popular’ ever iPhone for booming sales

John Ternus pledges to continue ‘deliberateness and discipline’ in first comments since being named next CEO

Alphabet hits a milestone as it closes in on Nvidia

Alphabet added a record $421 billion to its market cap as massive cloud growth and AI momentum sent shares soaring.

SpaceX may face an easier path to S&P 500 entry if these newly proposed rules take hold

As SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI reportedly gear up for IPOs, S&P Dow Jones Indices is considering whether to allow ‘fast-track’ entry and relax profitability requirements.

Rivian renegotiates DOE loan down to $4.5 billion, adjusts capacity plans for Georgia plant

The DOE loan was previously set to support two phases of production for a total of 400,000 units annually.

‘The numbers don’t lie’: If I had invested my Social Security in the S&P 500 I’d have $4 million. Is the system broken?

“I do better than many citizens because I’ve contributed at the highest level.”

Office demand rebounds to highest level since Covid pandemic began

In the first quarter of this year, new in-person and virtual office tours reached their highest level since the pandemic began, per the VTS Office Demand Index.

LIV Golf has lost its Saudi funding. Golfers who rejoin the PGA Tour may face financial fallout.

A Saudi sovereign fund reportedly poured more than $5 billion into the golf league. The fund now says its investment priorities have changed.

Inside Wealth: Markets are underpricing the risk of Middle East pullback in AI, says tech investor Jack Selby

Middle East investors account for roughly a quarter of global AI investments over the next 5 years, said Jack Selby, managing director of Thiel Capital.

America’s protein obsession rages on. Chipotle, Hershey and others are capitalizing.

Americans are on a health and weight-loss kick, and they’re increasingly turning to protein to get the most out of what they eat.

Lilly is selling $12.9 billion of GLP-1 drugs every three months — and expects to sell even more

Eli Lilly said its tirzepatide franchise had another stellar quarter.

Tech rally powers US stocks to best month since 2020

Strong earnings and AI spending plans help investors shrug off fallout from Middle East conflict

US stocks hit record highs in Wall Street’s best month since 2020

Investors bet blockbuster AI spending will overshadow fallout from Middle East conflict

US Republicans break ranks to challenge Trump administration on Iran war

Some from president’s own party have begun to demand accountability in the unpopular conflict

Why betting on rising oil prices is now ‘like picking up nickels in front of a bulldozer’

Global oil prices topped $125 a barrel this week — their highest in almost four years

First Brands’ creditor sues BDO over car parts maker’s collapse

Hedge fund Black Diamond claims at least $70mn in damages against audit firm

‘I’m very late to the game’: I’m 48, earn $65,000, have $48,000 in debt and no retirement. Am I doomed?

“I do not have any inheritance from anyone coming my way as I lost most of my immediate family when young.”

Pricey NFL, NBA ownership stakes are pushing investors to smaller leagues and driving valuations higher

Priced out of the NBA and NFL, investors are asking bankers about opportunities to buy minority stakes in teams with lower valuations.

Blue Owl shares surge after private credit firm cites 10X gains from SpaceX loan

Blue Owl said it's made 10 times its investment in SpaceX, which is headed for a record IPO later this year.

Big Tech’s AI payback might be coming into view

Earnings hint at growth trajectory despite increases in capital spending

Hershey says GLP-1s are driving higher gum and mint sales

Sales of Hershey's Ice Breakers rose 8% in the first quarter, thanks to the trend.

ECB holds interest rates at 2% as inflation rises

Policymakers warn risks to Eurozone economy from Middle East conflict have ‘intensified’

Target-date retirement funds are more popular than ever. Critics say you can do better.

Your 401(k) is probably in a target-date fund. This simple hack may help you earn more.

‘We are old school’: I’ve been married for 40 years. Should I have kept my money separate?

“We have all of our financial accounts joint except for our IRAs.”

FDA proposes excluding Novo, Lilly weight loss drugs from bulk compounding list in win for the companies

If that proposal is finalized, the exclusion would likely limit the mass compounding of those medicines ​unless they appear on the FDA's ⁠drug shortage ⁠list.

Iran’s supreme leader vows to prevent ‘enemy’s abuses’ of Hormuz strait

Mojtaba Khamenei says Iranians will defend their nuclear capabilities as a ‘national asset’

Oil prices retreat after touching four-year high as traders focus on Iran developments

Oil futures fall Thursday, reversing direction after reaching a four-year high on a report that President Donald Trump is considering escalating the war in Iran.