The Capitol in Washington, seen from an adjacent building for lawmakers and staff on Oct. 7, 2025. The economic effect of past government shutdowns has been straightforward. The economy loses some activity for a few weeks, then gains it back after the government reopens. The net cost is basically zero. This time, the math may not be so benign. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) By LYDIA DePILLIS The economic effect of past government shutdowns has been straightforward. The ec

Covariant’s AI-powered robotic putwall system autonomously sorts items at the company’s headquarters in Emeryville, Calif., March 8, 2024. Amazon hired the founding team of the AI company Covariant. (Balazs Gardi/The New York Times) By KAREN WEISE Over the past two decades, no company has done more to shape the American workplace than Amazon. In its ascent to become the nation’s second-largest employer, it has hired hundreds of thousands of warehouse workers, built an army of

Wall Street advanced on Thursday as investors mulled a mixed batch of corporate earnings and shifting geopolitical concerns. All three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher, with tech strength nudging the Nasdaq into the lead. But the small-cap Russell 2000 (.RUT), was the clear outperformer. The indexes gained some momentum after the White House confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of his trip through Asia. Trade ten

Wall Street closed lower on Wednesday as a wave of mixed earnings, including Netflix’s disappointing results, dampened risk sentiment as investors assessed reports that the Trump administration is considering curbs on exports to China made with U.S. software. All three major U.S. stock indexes extended their losses after the report, with weakness in tech and communication services stocks weighing the Nasdaq down the most. The new export curbs, which would include a wide array

The S&P 500 and the Dow led the way on Tuesday as a string of solid earnings lured stock buyers to industrials and capital goods and away from tech shares. Weakness in growth and microchip stocks held tech-laden Nasdaq nominally lower. Third-quarter earnings season has shifted into overdrive, with corporate giants such as General Motors, GE Aerospace, 3M and Coca-Cola posting generally upbeat results. But with major U.S. stock indexes hovering near record highs and valuations

A statue of a hand holding a drilling rig near the headquarters of PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company, in Caracas on Oct. 9, 2025. Even as pressure builds on President Nicolás Maduro, he has found a pillar of support in one of the largest American oil companies. (Adriana Loureiro Fernández/The New York Times) By SIMON ROMERO and ANATOLY KURMANAEV The Trump administration has doubled the bounty on Venezuela’s autocratic leader, calls him a “narco-terrorist” and is now threat

U.S. stocks jumped on Monday with finance and technology shares providing much of the upside muscle, as upbeat quarterly earnings results revived risk appetite and investors grew less fearful about regional bank credit quality. A broad rally sent all three major U.S. stock indexes to a sharply higher close. The small cap Russell 2000 outperformed its larger counterparts, rising 2.0%. “It’s a good, solid, across-the-board move, there’s not a lot of negative in the market,” sai

Global equity funds attracted inflows for a fourth straight week through October 15, as dovish comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reinforced expectations that the central bank will cut interest rates at its meeting later this month. Investor appetite, however, remained cautious amid renewed U.S.-China trade tensions after President Donald Trump indicatedhe may scale back certain trade ties with Beijing. Investors bought a net $2.17 billion worth of global

An employee works on a windmill tower at the Welcon factory in Give, Denmark, Nov. 29, 2024. The Welcon factory in Give, Denmark, builds sections called towers for wind farms around the world. (Charlotte de la Fuente/The New York Times) By REBECCA F. ELLIOTT President Donald Trump is poised to preside over a renewable energy boom. Yes, really. The administration and its allies in Congress have rolled back clean energy tax credits and thrown up roadblocks to renewable energy p

Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, with signs of weakness in regional banks spooking investors already on edge over U.S.-China trade tensions. Shares of Zions Bancorporation tumbled after the regional bank disclosed an unexpected loss on two loans in its California division, adding to growing investor unease about hidden credit stress as lenders navigate economic uncertainty with interest rates still relatively high. Also fueling worries about regional banks, Western Allia