President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at curbing the influence of proxy advisory firms that critics say have prioritized political agendas over the financial interests of American investors. The move is intended to protect retirement savings in 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions from policies driven by “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) and “environmental, Read More…
More than 32,000 Montana businesses will see a reduction in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates in 2026, resulting in over $23 million in savings, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced. “By reforming our tax code and cutting back the thicket of red tape tying up job creators, we’re helping Montana businesses grow and Read More…
paceX has informed investors and financial institutions that it plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2026, according to a report by The Information on Friday. The rocket company, founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly considering a public listing of the entire company, which could include Starlink, its growing Read More…
Volkswagen Group will invest 160 billion euros—approximately $186 billion—through 2030 as the automaker tightens its long-term spending plans in response to mounting challenges in its two largest markets, CEO Oliver Blume announced this week. The updated figure is part of Volkswagen’s annual rolling five-year investment plan and reflects a continued pullback from previous spending peaks. Read More…
President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at curbing the influence of proxy advisory firms that critics say have prioritized political agendas over the financial interests of American investors. The move is intended to protect retirement savings in 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions from policies driven by “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) and “environmental, Read More…
More than 32,000 Montana businesses will see a reduction in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates in 2026, resulting in over $23 million in savings, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced. “By reforming our tax code and cutting back the thicket of red tape tying up job creators, we’re helping Montana businesses grow and Read More…
paceX has informed investors and financial institutions that it plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2026, according to a report by The Information on Friday. The rocket company, founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly considering a public listing of the entire company, which could include Starlink, its growing Read More…
Volkswagen Group will invest 160 billion euros—approximately $186 billion—through 2030 as the automaker tightens its long-term spending plans in response to mounting challenges in its two largest markets, CEO Oliver Blume announced this week. The updated figure is part of Volkswagen’s annual rolling five-year investment plan and reflects a continued pullback from previous spending peaks. Read More…
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, has entered into a series of commercial AI agreements with prominent news publishers, including USA Today, People Inc., CNN, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, and Le Monde, the company announced Friday. The partnerships will allow Meta to provide “real-time” news and updates through its AI Read More…
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has agreed to sell its iconic studio and streaming assets to Netflix (NFLX) for $72 billion, a blockbuster deal that will reshape Hollywood and create a vertically integrated media powerhouse. The deal ends a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount Skydance and Comcast, coming amid sweeping changes in the media industry as Read More…
Google on Friday withdrew its European Union antitrust complaint targeting Microsoft’s cloud computing practices, just a week after EU regulators opened an investigation into whether Microsoft should face scrutiny under rules designed to curb market dominance in the sector. The EU’s move, announced last week, signaled growing concern about Microsoft’s influence in cloud services, including Read More…
Warburg Pincus has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Raptor Technologies from private equity firm Thoma Bravo, in a transaction valuing the school safety software provider at roughly $1.8 billion, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Sources said the deal could be announced imminently. They requested anonymity because the details are Read More…
Shares of companies that stockpile bitcoin and other digital tokens are coming under renewed pressure as fresh volatility sweeps through the cryptocurrency market, raising concerns about stress in a niche but rapidly expanding corner of the financial world. The selloff follows months of enthusiasm fueled in part by President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance and the Read More…
Starbucks’ workers’ union significantly widened its ongoing strike on Black Friday, extending the walkout to more than 120 stores nationwide—nearly double the number that began the action earlier this month—amid demands for better pay and improved staffing levels. The strike, which the union says is now the longest in Starbucks’ history, began on Nov. 13 Read More…
Texbase, Inc., a leading cloud-based platform that manages supply chain traceability, compliance, certification, and sustainability data for retail, manufacturing, and textile brands, announced today that Randy Harward has joined its Advisory Board. Harward brings more than two decades of experience in product development, materials research, and manufacturing innovation. He spent much of his career at Read More…
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is preparing to take his hedge-fund empire public in a bold two-step move, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Ackman is in early-stage discussions to list both his flagship Pershing Square Capital Management and a new closed-end fund, Pershing Square USA, on the New York Read More…
NorthWestern Energy customers will see lower utility bills and receive refunds with interest after the Montana Public Service Commission finalized a sweeping decision in the company’s 2024 electric and natural gas rate case, rejecting $43 million of the utility’s proposed costs while approving construction of a new Yellowstone County power plant. The decision caps a Read More…
Eli Lilly (LLY.N) hit a historic milestone on Friday, becoming the first pharmaceutical company to reach a $1 trillion market valuation, fueled by soaring demand for its weight-loss treatments. The achievement places Lilly in the rarefied ranks of U.S. companies with trillion-dollar valuations, a group historically dominated by tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. Read More…
Any business idea usually starts with an elevator pitch – a concise proposal delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator. University of Montana students interested in entrepreneurship had the chance to perfect their elevator pitches during Griz Pitch, a competition that gave students 60 seconds to share their ideas in front of Read More…
Walt Disney Co. and Google’s YouTube TV have reached a new distribution agreement, ending weeks of disruptions that left millions of viewers without access to Disney-owned channels during major news and sporting events — including coverage surrounding U.S. Election Day. The dispute, which centered on carriage fees, resulted in the temporary removal of popular Disney Read More…
Some of Wall Street’s largest hedge funds reduced their exposure to high-flying “Magnificent Seven” stocks during the third quarter, according to newly released regulatory filings, while adding positions in application software, e-commerce, and payments companies. The group of tech giants — including Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta — has driven much of the market’s gains Read More…
Walmart Inc. (WMT.N) CEO Doug McMillon will retire next year after more than a decade leading the retail giant, capping a period during which he transformed the company into a technology-driven powerhouse. Under McMillon’s tenure, Walmart’s shares have consistently outperformed the broader market, analysts note. McMillon, 59, will be succeeded by John Furner, 51, who Read More…
(The Center Square) – With Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate now at a record-high 28%, Illinois Policy Institute researcher LyLena Estabine says city policymakers have become their own worse enemy when it comes to addressing the area’s changing demographics. New data shows Loop vacancies ballooned over the recent third quarter as post-pandemic work trends continue Read More…
U.S. markets lost momentum this week as investors stepped back from recent highs, digesting mixed economic signals and growing uncertainty around the outlook for interest rates and growth. After several weeks of gains, the S&P 500 fell roughly 2.4% for the week, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped about 3%, its steepest decline since April. The Read More…
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) over a data breach that allegedly exposed the sensitive personal and medical information of hundreds of thousands of members. The filing comes as Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown launched a separate investigation into the Read More…
Now that the United States has officially stopped making pennies, a nationwide scramble is underway among gas stations, fast-food chains, and major retailers to adjust prices and handle cash transactions — a shift that could quietly erode profits for many high-volume businesses. The transition follows President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year to halt production Read More…
Bitcoin was on track Friday to post its first October loss in seven years, breaking a streak that had given the month a “lucky” reputation among cryptocurrency traders. The world’s largest digital currency is set to fall nearly 5% for the month, trading around $66,800 Friday afternoon, as investors pulled back from risk assets amid Read More…
Montana’s manufacturing sector remains a cornerstone of the state’s economy, according to three reports on the state of manufacturing recently released by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University and authored by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. The manufacturing sector generated more than $2 billion in Read More…
Dakota Foundry, a vertically integrated grey and ductile iron foundry, has been named one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “CO—100 Top 100 Small Businesses in America”, a national recognition that highlights the company’s innovation, craftsmanship, and impact on American manufacturing. The CO—100 designation honors small businesses demonstrating exceptional innovation and influence across the country. Read More…
The stock market wrapped up this week in a mood of cautious celebration as investors watched technology companies drive the rally. After a standout October, November opened with optimism and bullish forecasts for a strong finish to the year. The Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones each posted weekly gains. Amazon delivered a blowout earnings Read More…
The Federal Reserve delivered a widely anticipated quarter-point rate cut this week, lowering its benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%, its second reduction of the year. But despite the move, Chair Jerome Powell sent a clear message to markets: don’t expect a rapid march toward lower borrowing costs. The decision Read More…
Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) is preparing to release its third-quarter 2025 earnings report on Wednesday, November 19, after the market closes, with investors and analysts closely watching for insights into the company’s continued growth in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Analysts are forecasting earnings per share (EPS) of $1.24, up from $0.81 in the same quarter Read More…
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is set to release its fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report on Thursday, October 30, after the market closes. Analysts are forecasting earnings per share (EPS) of $1.77 and revenue around $101.5 billion, driven largely by the successful launch of the iPhone 17 and continued growth in the company’s services division. The Read More…
Netflix is set to release its third-quarter 2025 earnings report on Tuesday, October 21, a closely watched event for investors looking to gauge the streaming giant’s growth trajectory, profitability, and performance in international markets. The company enters the report after a strong second quarter, when it posted $7.19 per share on revenue of $11.08 billion, modestly Read More…
U.S. stocks finished higher last week, capping the market’s best weekly performance in nearly two months as major indexes rebounded from early volatility and investors found renewed optimism in technology and easing trade tensions. The S&P 500 rose roughly 1.3% for the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite also advanced, helped Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce will host the 2nd Annual Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit on Thursday, October 16, in Bozeman, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and energy experts to focus on the theme of unleashing American-made energy in Montana. “With rising demand on our energy grid, Montana must continue Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Energy will be returning to American taxpayers $13 billion in “unobligated wasteful spending” that was originally intended for former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. In response, Larry Behrens from Power the Future told The Center Square that “by returning $13 billion, the Department of Energy under President Read More…
This week in the stock market was marked by a tug-of-war between optimism about rate cuts and caution sparked by strong economic data and political risk. Major indexes briefly flirted with new highs, but volatility crept back in as investors weighed mixed signals. Rally Fueled by AI Pushes Markets to Records Early in the week, Read More…
(The Center Square) – Texas led the U.S. in job growth over the year in August and broke employment records again last month, according to the latest employment data. Texas reported 14,347,700 total nonfarm jobs in August, adding 17,600 positions over the month and 195,600 jobs over the year. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate was Read More…
U.S. stocks surged this week, with all three major indexes closing at record highs after the Federal Reserve delivered its first interest rate cut of the year, fueling hopes that more easing is on the horizon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average pushed further into record territory, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also notched Read More…
The Reimagining Rural program, an initiative of Montana State University Extension, will host the second annual Reimagining Rural Roadshow Oct. 1-2 in Glasgow. Designed as a one-stop connection point, the roadshow brings state and regional resource providers together with rural community leaders in a rural setting. Launched in 2019, Reimagining Rural is dedicated to providing Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined Rivian officials and community leaders in Belgrade this week to celebrate the opening of the company’s new 20,000-square-foot service and demo center, marking Rivian as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in Montana. “It’s great to welcome Rivian to Montana as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in our Read More…
Aspiring healthcare workers in Great Falls will have a new pathway to medical careers beginning September 2025 with the launch of the Great Falls Medical Assistant School, an 18-week program offering hands-on training, certifications, and externships at the Open Door Medical Clinic. The program, conveniently located at 2 5th St N #204, is designed to Read More…
Warren Buffett, the legendary investor known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” celebrated his 95th birthday Tuesday in typically understated fashion, surrounded by close family and friends in his hometown. Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, has long avoided lavish celebrations. Instead, those close to him said the billionaire spent the day with a Read More…