NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing at records again after a solid jobs report reassured investors that the economy was on solid footing despite President Donald Trump's trade war.

Technology and industrial companies rose the most Friday. Apple rose 2.8% and Union Pacific climbed 4.3%.

2. Google buys Fitbit for $2.1B, enters crowded wearables field - Friday, November 1, 2019

Fitbit is being acquired by Google's parent company for about $2.1 billion, a deal that enables the search-engine company to leap into the hotly competitive market for smartwatches and health and fitness trackers.

3. 50 years later, musicians still find magic in Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ - Friday, November 1, 2019

“Sonic fairy dust” is a phrase stuck in my head the last few days as I returned to “Abbey Road.”

It’s an apt assessment that I adopted from one of the folks I interviewed, music masters of various degrees, who generally genuflected while agreeing the album – which has just been released in a remastered/remixed version for its golden anniversary – was “sprinkled with sonic fairy dust.”

4. AT&T says HBO Max streaming service to launch in May for $15 - Friday, October 25, 2019

AT&T said Tuesday that its HBO Max streaming service will launch in May for $15 a month, joining a crowded field.

The company has said HBO Max will become the "workhorse" for its video business as cord-cutting of traditional TV expands. It hopes to migrate people who pay for HBO in different ways today to the new platform. The service grew out of AT&T's $81 billion purchase of Time Warner, which AT&T overhauled and rechristened WarnerMedia.

5. Saudi energy minister: Saudi Aramco's public offering 'soon' - Friday, October 25, 2019

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A planned stock offering of a small part of state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco "will come soon" and only at the direction of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, the kingdom's energy minister said Wednesday, further underlining the power of the 34-year-old royal.

6. US stocks cap wobbly day of trading with modest losses - Friday, October 25, 2019

Technology companies led stocks lower on Wall Street Tuesday as a wobbly day of trading ended with modest losses for the market.

Health care stocks jumped on stronger-than-expected reports from drugmakers, but losses by internet and media companies held the market in check following a mixed report from Google's parent.

7. Sony shutting down online-cable service PlayStation Vue - Friday, October 25, 2019

Sony is shutting down its pioneering online-cable alternative, PlayStation Vue, citing the high cost of content and the difficulty of reaching deals with networks.

It launched Vue in early 2015 as a skinnier, cheaper version of cable or satellite TV delivered via the internet. It was a test case for a TV alternative alongside Dish's Sling TV, and, later, a slew of copycats from DirecTV , Google , Hulu and others.

8. Stocks post gains on solid earnings, US-China trade optimism - Friday, October 25, 2019

The S&P 500 closed just short of an all-time high Friday as investors welcomed solid company earnings reports and an encouraging update on trade talks between the U.S. and China.

Technology, communications services and financial stocks powered the rally. The index ended within 0.1% of its record set July 26. It also notched its third straight weekly gain.

9. Facebook launches a news section - and will pay publishers - Friday, October 25, 2019

Over the course of its 15 year history, Facebook has variously ignored news organizations while eating their advertising revenue, courted them for video projects it subsequently abandoned, and then largely cut their stories out of its newsfeeds .

10. Former Tennessee football players share stories on podcast - Friday, October 25, 2019

They all gathered in the basement of Copper Cellar in Knoxville to share a good meal and reminisce about old times.

The former Tennessee football players were invited there by Barry Rice, the senior director of broadcasting for Tennessee Athletics.

11. Compact crossover showdown: Kia Soul vs. Jeep Renegade - Friday, October 25, 2019

Sales of subcompact crossover SUVs have surged by 60% during the past few years, Edmunds’ transaction data show.

Two of the more popular models powering this trend are the Kia Soul and the Jeep Renegade. The Soul and the Renegade have different strengths and weaknesses, though both offer a kind of charisma that’s hard to find at this price point. Edmunds compares them to find out which small SUV is the better purchase.

12. Stocks rise, led by tech companies, banks - Friday, October 18, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing higher Monday, led by gains in technology companies and banks.

The technology sector of the S&P 500 rose 1.1%, snapping a three-day losing streak. Apple rose 1.7%. Intel gained 1.5%.

13. Netflix's US subscriber growth slowing as competition looms - Friday, October 11, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix's subscriber growth is bogging down even before the leading video streaming service confronts high-powered threats from Apple and Walt Disney Co.

14. Google touts privacy options, but still depends on your data - Friday, October 11, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google's latest phone and smart-home devices came packaged with a not-so-subtle message: Google cares about your privacy. Does it?

The tech company has had a complicated relationship with user information in the past. Google's latest steps offer consumers some additional protections, although it's unclear how much more secure users will feel.

15. Google debuts Pixel 4 phone, wireless earbuds with AI - Friday, October 11, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google unveiled a new Pixel smartphone and other hardware devices Tuesday, all aimed at getting people even more dependent on its artificial-intelligence services.

The Pixel 4 phone promises to respond to AI queries even faster than before, while a home Wi-Fi system is getting the AI features for the first time. The company also unveiled a new smart speaker and wireless earbuds, both invoking the AI-powered Google Assistant.

16. Stocks rise on trade progress, S&P 500 notches weekly gain - Friday, October 11, 2019

The S&P 500 finished with its first weekly gain in four weeks Friday as investors welcomed a thaw in the punishing trade war between the U.S. and China.

After two days of negotiations in Washington, the U.S. agreed to suspend a planned hike in tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods that had been set to kick in Tuesday. Beijing, meanwhile, agreed to buy $40 billion to $50 billion in U.S. farm products.

17. Stocks climb for 2nd straight day on US-China trade optimism - Friday, October 11, 2019

Stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street for the second straight day Thursday as the U.S. and China kicked off a new round of negotiations in their long-running trade war.

Technology companies and banks led the rally as investors turned hopeful that the 13th round of trade talks will bring both sides closer to ending the costly conflict between the world's two biggest economies.

18. Apple has a lot of lose if it crosses China's party bosses - Friday, October 11, 2019

HONG KONG (AP) — Under pressure from China, Apple has removed a smartphone app that enabled Hong Kong protesters to track police. It has cut off access in mainland China to a news app that extensively covered the anti-government demonstrations. And it has made it harder to find an emoji representing the Taiwanese national flag.

19. Under pressure from China, Apple pulls Hong Kong protest app - Friday, October 4, 2019

HONG KONG (AP) — For people in Hong Kong angry over tactics used by the police to break up anti-government protests, the HKmap.live app was a handy little tool.

With real-time updates showing police movements, it helps steer users away from possible baton charges, volleys of tear gas and police ID checks.

20. Global plan aims to better tax digital business - Friday, October 4, 2019

PARIS (AP) — A global economic body has proposed overhauling the way multinationals - particularly tech giants - are taxed to make sure they pay their fair share in countries where they do significant business.

21. China criticizes Apple for app that tracks Hong Kong police - Friday, October 4, 2019

BEIJING (AP) — Apple became the latest company targeted for Chinese pressure over protests in Hong Kong when the ruling Communist Party's main newspaper criticized the tech giant Wednesday for a smartphone app that allows activists to report police movements.

22. US stocks notch solid gains as job report allays worries - Friday, October 4, 2019

Wall Street ended a choppy week of trading with a broad rally that drove the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 370 points higher.

The gains Friday also gave the S&P 500 index its best day in seven weeks, though the benchmark index still finished with its third straight weekly loss.

23. US authorities seek access to Facebook encrypted messaging - Friday, October 4, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Attorney General William Barr and other U.S., U.K. and Australian officials are pressing Facebook to give authorities a way to read encrypted messages sent by ordinary users, re-igniting tensions between tech companies and law enforcement.

24. Microsoft previews dual-screen Surface devices out in a year - Friday, September 27, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft’s new lineup of Surface computers includes two dual-screen devices that won’t be out for another year.

The smaller one, an Android phone called Surface Duo, will mark Microsoft’s re-entry into smartphones, a market the company abandoned after flops with its own operating system and an ill-fated purchase of smartphone maker Nokia.

25. Top Middle Tennessee commercial sales for August 2019 - Friday, October 4, 2019

Top commercial real estate sales, August 2019, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

26. Sanders calls for 'income inequality' taxes on top firms - Friday, September 27, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders announced Monday an "income inequality" plan calling for steep tax increases on companies that pay CEOs far more than their workers' median salaries.

27. US stocks rebound on housing data, Trump trade deal remark - Friday, September 20, 2019

U.S. stocks finished broadly higher Wednesday after President Donald Trump indicated that a deal to resolve the long-running, costly trade dispute with China could happen soon.

Trump's remarks, in addition to a sharp increase in sales of new U.S. homes, helped reverse an early slide for stocks.

28. Global postal union meets amid Trump threat to pull US out - Friday, September 20, 2019

GENEVA (AP) — The effects of President Donald Trump's standoff with China could soon be coming to a post office near you — and higher shipping rates for some types of mail are the likely outcome.

The Trump administration is threatening to pull the United States out of the 145-year-old Universal Postal Union, complaining that some postal carriers like China's aren't paying enough to have foreign shipments delivered to U.S. recipients.

29. Stocks fall on fresh trade worries - Friday, September 20, 2019

Wall Street closed out a volatile week with losses Friday as investors worried that upcoming trade talks aimed at resolving the costly trade war between Washington and Beijing could be in trouble.

The selling, which erased modest early gains for the market, snapped a three-week win streak for the S&P 500. The benchmark index is still up 2.2% for September.

30. Senate tech critic to Facebook CEO: Sell WhatsApp, Instagram - Friday, September 20, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg met Thursday with President Donald Trump and other critics of the tech industry, the Senate's most vocal detractor offered a challenge: Sell your WhatsApp and Instagram properties to prove you're serious about protecting data privacy.

31. Stocks sink then recover after Fed cut - Friday, September 13, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rebounding at the close of trading, led by banks and big tech names, after the Federal Reserve delivered an expected cut in interest rates.

Stocks initially fell after the Fed announcement, after the Fed showed its members are divided about the upcoming path for interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped as much as 210 points

32. Gas sippers: Honda Insight vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid - Friday, September 20, 2019

Car shoppers seeking superior fuel economy have two particularly intriguing choices this year: the Honda Insight and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Both deliver an EPA-estimated 52 mpg in combined city and highway driving, which is among the best of any vehicle on sale. They’re also notable for their design. These are two conventionally styled sedans that largely keep their eco-credentials hidden from view.

33. NBC's 'Peacock' to join the streaming fray in April - Friday, September 13, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Comcast's NBCUniversal said Tuesday that its upcoming streaming service will be called Peacock, in an homage to NBC's logo. It will become the home for some of the company's most popular shows, including "Parks and Recreation" and "The Office."

34. Stocks mostly lower as tech shares drop - Friday, September 13, 2019

The S&P 500 notched its third straight weekly gain Friday, even as the major U.S. stock indexes ended the day mostly lower.

A slide in technology stocks, along with losses in consumer-focused and real estate companies, offset solid gains elsewhere in the market, including big Wall Street banks and industrial stocks.

35. Lawmakers asking 4 big tech companies for documents in probe - Friday, September 13, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers investigating the market dominance of Big Tech are asking Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple for a broad range of documents including internal communications.

Letters went out to the four companies on Friday from the leaders of the House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittee on antitrust, which has been conducting a sweeping antitrust investigation of the companies and their impact on competition and consumers.

36. Best safe, used vehicles for college drivers - Friday, September 13, 2019

Many college-bound students, whether it be a freshman leaving home for the first time or a grad student needing more reliable transportation, require the purchase of a vehicle. To help out, Edmunds has identified five common requirements for college drivers and recommended a slightly used vehicle for each.

37. US stocks notch solid gains as China eases trade tensions - Friday, September 6, 2019

Stocks notched broad gains on Wall Street Wednesday as investors drew encouragement from China's move to exempt some U.S. products from a recent round of tariffs.

Technology, health care and communication services stocks powered much of the rally. The benchmark S&P 500 index, which had been essentially flat since Friday, is on track for its third straight weekly gain.

38. Apple takes on Netflix with a $5-a-month streaming service - Friday, September 6, 2019

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple is finally taking on Netflix with its own streaming television service and, uncharacteristically for the company, offering it at a bargain price — $5 a month beginning on Nov. 1.

39. US stock indexes end mostly higher after late buying burst - Friday, September 6, 2019

Major U.S. stock indexes closed mostly higher Tuesday, erasing much of an early slide, as investors favored smaller, U.S.-focused companies for the second straight day.

Industrial, energy and health care stocks helped power the market higher. Banks also notched solid gains amid a broad pullback in demand for U.S. government bonds, which pushed yields higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 1.73% from 1.62% late Monday, a big move.

40. Apple unveils a cheaper iPhone and pricing for streaming TV - Friday, September 6, 2019

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple unveiled new iPhones that are largely unchanged from previous models and accompanied by an unexpected price cut for the cheapest model, underscoring the company's efforts to counteract a sales slump of its flagship product.

41. Big Tech faces a new set of foes: nearly all 50 US states - Friday, September 6, 2019

Big tech companies have long rebuffed attempts by the U.S. federal government to scrutinize or scale back their market power. Now they face a scrappy new coalition as well: prosecutors from nearly all 50 states.

42. GM hires Google to make infotainment system more like phones - Friday, September 6, 2019

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is hiring Google to run key parts of its dashboard infotainment system, admitting that the tech firm can do a better job.

GM says research shows customers want technology embedded in their vehicle, and they want it to match how their smartphones operate.

43. Stocks notch gains, erase prior day's losses for S&P 500 - Friday, August 30, 2019

Technology companies led stocks broadly higher on Wall Street Wednesday, erasing the S&P 500's losses from a day earlier.

Traders pivoted to riskier holdings as encouraging developments overseas helped alleviate investors' anxiety over the global economy. Lawmakers in Britain were seeking a less chaotic exit from the European Union and political tensions in Hong Kong eased.

44. YouTube to pay $170M fine after violating kids' privacy law - Friday, August 30, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Google's video site YouTube has been fined $170 million to settle allegations it collected children's personal data without their parents' consent.

The Federal Trade Commission fined Google $136 million and the company will pay an additional $34 million to New York state to resolve similar allegations.

45. Boeing, Bank of America fall while Conn's, Newmont gain - Friday, August 30, 2019

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily on Tuesday:

Apple Inc., down $3.04 to $205.70

The maker of iPhones faces more tariffs on some of its products in the escalating U.S.-China trade war.

46. Researchers: Websites infected iPhones with spyware - Friday, August 30, 2019

Researchers say cyberspies exploited security vulnerabilities to plant spyware on Apple iPhones when users merely visited a small group of malware-infected websites.

Sensitive data accessed included text messages, photos and real-time location. Security experts are calling the just-announced vulnerability, which Apple fixed in February, the worst yet affecting iPhones.

47. Dow surges 326 points on hopes for US-China trade talks - Friday, August 30, 2019

Stocks finished with broad gains on Wall Street Thursday, driving the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 300 points higher.

The buying spree gave the market its second straight gain after a wobbly start to the week. The S&P 500 is now on track for its first weekly gain in five weeks.

48. Apple apologizes, changes how humans review Siri audio - Friday, August 23, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple is apologizing and changing the way humans review audio recordings made through the company's Siri digital assistant.

The company already suspended the practice following the discovery that Apple and other major tech companies have been doing this.

49. Edmunds: 7 used car tech features that might take you by surprise - Friday, August 30, 2019
Automakers have introduced a flurry of new automotive safety and convenience technology features the past few years.

Close-to-new vehicles with these features are now increasingly showing up on dealership lots as used vehicles. The upshot: You don’t have to buy a new car to get modern convenience and safety features.

50. Who gets your digital assets - heirs or hackers? - Friday, August 30, 2019

A bank or brokerage can’t just take your money when you die. If you don’t have a will or other estate plan, the laws of your state determine who gets the value in those accounts.

Your digital assets are a different story. Your online photos and videos, frequent flyer miles, cryptocurrency and other digitally stored files may well disappear without a trace if you don’t make a plan to pass them along.

51. US stocks rally on optimism for a US-China trade war thaw - Friday, August 23, 2019

Stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street Monday as investors found reason to be cautiously optimistic again about the potential for progress in the costly trade war between the U.S. and China.

The gains reversed some of the major stock indexes' hefty losses from last Friday, when jitters over the latest escalation in the trade dispute roiled the market, contributing to its fourth straight weekly loss.

52. Leather wallets, loose change pose danger for new Apple Card - Friday, August 23, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple tried to make the new Apple-branded credit card attractive, copying the heft and sleekness of higher-end cards like the Chase Sapphire. But cardholders are discovering that with such a design, they'll have to give it special care.

53. Essra Mohawk lived sex, drugs and rock 'n roll life - Friday, August 23, 2019

Uncle Meat leans back on the piano bench – arm-swept clear of the CDs and assorted implements of a musician’s life that fill it and the rest of the living room of the home in Bellevue – and sings a joyous, or at least joy-filled and powerful song titled “Rollin’ With The Punches.”

54. Technology companies drive a broad rally on Wall Street - Friday, August 16, 2019

Technology companies powered a rally on Wall Street Monday that gave the market its third straight gain.

The surge in tech stocks followed a decision by the U.S. to give Chinese telecom giant Huawei another 90 days to buy equipment from American suppliers. Chipmakers including Qualcomm, Intel and Micron, all rose.

55. Ram 1500 moving in on popular Ford F-150 pickup - Friday, August 16, 2019

Ford’s F-Series has dominated the full-size pickup sales race for as long as anyone can remember. For much of that time, Ram trucks have languished in third place behind the Chevrolet Silverado. But Ram has been steadily winning converts over the past few years, and it just recently leapfrogged Chevy into the No. 2 sales position.

56. Stocks soar after US delays plans for some China tariffs - Friday, August 9, 2019

And back up goes the stock market.

Investors flipped back into buying mode Tuesday after the U.S. said it would hold off on tariffs of Chinese imports of mobile phones, toys and several other items typically on holiday shopping lists. China also said the two sides held discussions on trade overnight and would talk again the next two weeks.

57. Beehive love: singer celebrates storied girl groups - Friday, August 9, 2019

Decades after standing in center-ring with legendary heavyweight prizefighter George Foreman, Laura Powers straightens up in the burgundy loveseat and launches into song.

Snapping her fingers, singing sweetly and swaying back and forth while seated in the living room of her comfortable Bellevue home, Laura, a music entrepreneur, performer, costume-maker and visual artist – with classic styles in each of those venues – captures my full attention and makes me smile, likely as broadly as the grill-peddling former heavyweight champ did in in Reno all those years ago.

58. US stocks notch solid gains as China stabilizes currency - Friday, August 2, 2019

Stocks closed broadly higher Tuesday as Wall Street regained its footing a day after the market had its biggest decline in a year.

The bounce pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 300 points higher and snapped a six-day losing streak for the market, though the benchmark S&P 500 recouped only a little more than a third of the losses from Monday.

59. The Apple credit card is here - Friday, August 2, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — The Apple credit card designed primarily for mobile use is here.

Some iPhone users who requested a notification about Apple Card will get invites Tuesday to apply through Apple's Wallet app. The company plans to expand sign-ups more broadly in the coming weeks. The card, announced in March in partnership with Goldman Sachs, is available only in the U.S.

60. S&P 500 plunges in worst loss of year as trade war escalates - Friday, August 2, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks plunged to their worst loss of the year Monday and investors around the world scrambled to sell on worries about how much President Donald Trump's worsening trade war will damage the global economy.

61. Stocks fall as rally gives way to US-China trade war worries - Friday, August 2, 2019

Stocks slumped Thursday and bond prices spiked after President Donald Trump surprised markets with a new 10% tariff on $300 billion worth of goods from China beginning next month.

The news erased a broad rally on Wall Street, leading to the market's fourth straight loss. Bond prices surged, sending yields sharply lower, as investors sought safety.

62. Stocks sink as Powell dents hopes for multiple rate cuts - Friday, July 26, 2019

Stocks fell and bond yields rose on Wall Street Wednesday after the Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate for the first time in a decade but left investors feeling uncertain about the likelihood of further cuts.

63. Stocks slip on Wall Street over earnings, trade concerns - Friday, July 26, 2019

U.S. stocks were on track for modest losses Tuesday afternoon as a mixed batch of corporate earnings weighed on the market, nudging it farther from its recent record highs for the second straight day.

64. Trade worries as Trump tweets weigh down markets again - Friday, July 26, 2019

LONDON (AP) — European stock markets were down sharply Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump published a series of tweets that cast doubt on any hopes of an imminent easing in trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Apple earnings later could help change the sentiment.

65. US stocks slip ahead of key Fed meeting, busy earnings week - Friday, July 26, 2019

Major U.S. stock indexes closed mostly lower Monday as investors turned cautious ahead of a key Federal Reserve interest policy announcement and other potentially market-moving developments on tap for this week.

66. French wine vs US tech prowess: new Trump-Macron standoff - Friday, July 26, 2019

PARIS (AP) — France is pushing ahead with a landmark tax on tech companies like Google and Facebook despite U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of retaliatory tariffs on French wine.

That's rattling French vintners, who sold 1.6 billion euros ($1.78 billion) worth of wine last year to American consumers. But neither Trump nor French President Emmanuel Macron appears ready to back down.

67. Trump refuses to shield Apple's Mac Pros from China tariffs - Friday, July 26, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Donald Trump is vowing to slap tariffs on Apple's Mac Pros if the company shifts production of the computer from Texas to China.

The pledge made in a Friday tweet rebuffs Apple's attempt to shield its products from taxes being imposed on goods made in China as part of Trump administration's trade war with the world's most populous country.

68. SoftBank sets up $108B investment fund, with no Saudi money - Friday, July 26, 2019

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese internet company SoftBank Group Corp. has set up a new fund for investing in technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Tokyo-based SoftBank said Friday its $108 billion Vision Fund 2 includes $38 billion from SoftBank. The rest is from Apple, FoxConn Technology Group, Microsoft Corp., Japanese banks and other companies.

69. Stocks slide over disappointing earnings reports - Friday, July 26, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks retreated from record highs on Wall Street Thursday as large companies delivered weak earnings and disappointing forecasts.

The daylong slide marked a turnaround from Wednesday, when a series of solid earnings helped push major indexes to records. This is one of the busiest weeks in the latest round of corporate earnings. The market has been volatile since reports started trickling in last week.

70. Apple buys Intel's smartphone modem division for $1 billion - Friday, July 26, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is paying Intel $1 billion for the chip maker's smartphone modem division in a deal driven by the upcoming transition to the next generation of wireless technology.

The agreement announced Thursday comes three months after Apple ended a long-running dispute with one of Intel's rivals, Qualcomm. That ensured Apple would have a pipeline of chips it needs for future iPhones to work on ultrafast wireless networks known as 5G.

71. FTC fines Facebook $5B, adds limited oversight on privacy - Friday, July 19, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators have fined Facebook $5 billion for privacy violations and are instituting new oversight and restrictions on its business. But they are only holding CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible in a limited fashion.

72. Justice Dept. puts Big Tech under the antitrust microscope - Friday, July 19, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Like Europe before it, the U.S. government looks ready to try reining in its technology giants. But doing so may be more difficult than it seems.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a sweeping antitrust investigation of major technology companies and whether their online platforms have hurt competition, suppressed innovation or otherwise harmed consumers.

73. Technology shines on an otherwise sluggish day for US stocks - Friday, July 19, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Tech stocks were the standouts in an otherwise sluggish day of trading on Monday, as investors gear up for the arrival of the heart of earnings reporting season.

Apple, Intel and several chip makers jumped more than 2%, and technology stocks in the S&P 500 climbed 1.2%. But the other 10 sectors that make up the index were evenly split between gainers and losers, and none moved by more than 0.5%.

74. Netflix subscriber drop hints at streaming-service fatigue - Friday, July 19, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — How much is too much for streaming video?

A dramatic slowdown in worldwide growth at Netflix — including the first quarterly drop in its U.S. subscribers since 2011 — is raising questions about just how much are people willing to pay for streaming services. Especially with a host of new ones from Disney, Apple and others on their way.

75. EU fines chipmaker Qualcomm for 'predatory pricing' - Friday, July 19, 2019

BRUSSELS (AP) — In yet another European Union move against a U.S. tech company, the bloc's antitrust chief on Thursday fined chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of "predatory pricing" to drive a competitor out of the market.

76. Netflix's subscriber growth drops in 2Q, stock tumbles - Friday, July 12, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix's video streaming service suffered a dramatic slowdown in growth during its traditionally sluggish spring season, a drop-off coming as it girds for even stiffer competition.

77. Dems pan 'Zuck buck,' want Facebook to rein in currency plan - Friday, July 12, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facebook endured a second day of criticism from Congress over its plan to create a digital currency as senior House Democrats asked Facebook to scale back the project and threatened legislation that would block big tech companies from getting into banking.

78. Congress grills Big Tech over competition, money, power - Friday, July 12, 2019

Big Tech faced tough questions this week as federal lawmakers focused on issues of potentially anticompetitive behavior by technology giants and expressed bipartisan skepticism over Facebook's plan for a new digital currency.

79. With Big Tech's dominance under scrutiny, EU probes Amazon - Friday, July 12, 2019

BRUSSELS (AP) — While the U.S. Congress talks about reining in big tech companies, Europe is taking action.

The European Union said Wednesday it is investigating whether Amazon uses data from independent retailers to gain an unfair advantage, a decision that could lead to changes in how the internet's biggest marketplace works.

80. Upstart Genesis G70 holds its own with BMW 3 Series - Friday, July 19, 2019

Genesis is a new but growing luxury automotive brand that’s been winning over consumers with great value and high quality.

Leading the charge is the 2019 Genesis G70, the brand’s all-new small sedan that it hopes will appeal to shoppers looking for sporty and invigorating performance.

81. Facebook's currency plan gets hostile reception in Congress - Friday, July 12, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under sharp criticism from senators, a Facebook executive on Tuesday defended the social network's ambitious plan to create a digital currency and pledged to work with regulators to achieve a system that protects the privacy of users' data.
"We know we need to take the time to get this right," David Marcus, the Facebook executive leading the project, told the Senate Banking Committee at a hearing.
But that message did little to assure senators. Members of both parties demanded to know why a company with massive market power and a track record of scandals should be trusted with such a far-reaching project, given the potential for fraud, abuse and criminal activity.
"Facebook is dangerous," asserted Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the committee's senior Democrat. Like a toddler playing with matches, "Facebook has burned down the house over and over," he told Marcus. "Do you really think people should trust you with their bank accounts and their money?"
Republican Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona said "the core issue here is trust."Users won't be able to opt out of providing their personal data when joining the new digital wallet for Libra, McSally said. "Arizonans will be more likely to be scammed" using the currency, she said. The litany of criticism came as Congress began two days of hearings on the currency planned by Facebook, to be called Libra. Also Tuesday, a House Judiciary subcommittee was extending its bipartisan investigation of the market power of Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple.
On the defensive from bursts of aggressive questioning, Marcus indicated the currency plan is a work in progress. "We will take the time" to ensure the network won't be open to use by criminals and illicit activity like money laundering and financial fraud. "We hope that we'll avoid conflicts of interest. We have a lot of work to do," Marcus said.
The grilling followed a series of negative comments and warnings about the Libra plan in recent days from President Donald Trump, his treasury secretary and the head of the Federal Reserve.
But some senators emphasized the potential positive benefits of Facebook's plan, meant to bring money transacting at low cost to millions around the globe who don't have bank accounts. Facebook had its strong defenders of the project, too, on the panel.
"To strangle this baby in the crib is wildly premature," said Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.
In that vein, Marcus said Libra "is about developing a safe, secure and low-cost way for people to move money efficiently around the world. We believe that Libra can make real progress toward building a more inclusive financial infrastructure."
The planned digital currency is to be a blend of multiple currencies, so that its value will fluctuate in any given local currency. Because Libra will be backed by a reserve, and because the group of companies managing it will encourage a competitive system of exchanges, the project leaders say, "anyone with Libra has a high degree of assurance they can sell it for local (sovereign) currency based on an exchange rate."
Promising low fees, the new currency system could open online commerce to millions of people around the world who lack access to bank accounts and make it cheaper to send money across borders. But it also raises concerns over the privacy of users' data and the potential for criminals to use it for money laundering and fraud.
To address privacy concerns, Facebook created a nonprofit oversight association, with dozens of partners including PayPal, Uber, Spotify, Visa and MasterCard, to govern Libra. As one among many in the association, Facebook says it won't have any special rights or privileges. It also created a "digital wallet" subsidiary, Calibra, to work on the technology, separately from its main social media business. While Facebook owns and controls Calibra, it won't see financial data from it, the company says.
Senators demanded to know exactly what that separation will entail.
"Facebook isn't a company; it's a country," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. Kennedy and other conservative senators took the occasion to air long-standing grievances against Facebook, Twitter and Google for a perceived bias against conservative views.
Facebook's currency proposal has also faced heavy skepticism from the Trump administration.
Trump tweeted last week that the new currency, Libra, "will have little standing or dependability." Both Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Fed Chair Jerome Powell have expressed serious concerns recently that Libra could be used for illicit activity.
The Treasury Department has "very serious concerns that Libra could be misused by money launderers and terrorist financers," Mnuchin told reporters at the White House on Monday. "This is indeed a national security issue."
Facebook has "a lot of work to do before we get to the point where we're comfortable with it," Mnuchin said.

82. Trump applauds far-right social media provocateurs - Friday, July 12, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used a White House conference Thursday to applaud far-right social media provocateurs even as he conceded that some of them are extreme in their views.

83. Weighing pros, cons of in-car personal assistants - Friday, July 12, 2019

Get ready to do a lot more talking to your car. Smartphone personal assistants – Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant, for example – can be used for a variety of tasks.

84. Trump v. Big Tech: Social media summit will snub tech titans - Friday, July 5, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is gathering conservative groups at the White House this week for a "summit" on social media that will prominently snub the tech titans who run big platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Google.

85. Stocks drop on shifting odds for rate cut - Friday, July 5, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower for a second straight day as investors try to gauge the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates.

A strong U.S. jobs report Friday dimmed investors' expectations that the Fed would cut its benchmark interest rate by as much as half a percentage point later this month. Many investors still expect a quarter-point cut.

86. S&P 500, Dow industrials and Nasdaq close at record highs - Friday, July 5, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Investors extended a rally through a holiday-shortened day and pushed the S&P 500 index to its third straight record high close on Wednesday. Other major indexes also closed at record highs.

87. S&P 500 hits all-time as US-China trade truce spurs optimism - Friday, June 28, 2019

Wall Street kicked off July with a record high for S&P 500 index after a cease-fire in the U.S. trade war with China put investors in a buying mood.

The milestone marks the second time in less than two weeks that the benchmark index closed at a record high. The S&P 500 is now up 18.3% for the year.

88. Report: Apple to shift assembly of Mac Pro from US to China - Friday, June 28, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple will manufacture its new Mac Pro computer in China, shifting away from a U.S. assembly line it had been using for that product in recent years, according to a report published Friday.

89. 6 fun-to-drive new cars to calm your quarter-life crisis - Friday, June 28, 2019

You’re likely familiar with the stereotype of a middle-aged person who impulsively splurges on an expensive new car. But there’s also a similar experience at a different life stage: Buying a flashy and fun vehicle right after you get your first well-paying job. You might call it a quarter-life crisis car.

90. Foxconn chairman says he is stepping down - Friday, June 21, 2019

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Terry Gou, chairman of Foxconn, the world's largest contract assembler of consumer electronics for companies such as Apple, said Friday he was stepping down amid speculation he could be planning a presidential run next year.

91. Perennial favorite Pilot meets its match in Telluride - Friday, June 21, 2019

The Honda Pilot has always been a strong choice for a midsize, three-row, crossover SUV. But Kia has recently introduced an all-new model known as the Telluride that it hopes will attract shoppers with its bold styling and value.

92. Optimism over trade sends US stocks sharply higher - Friday, June 14, 2019

Potentially encouraging news on trade and interest rates put Wall Street in a buying mood Tuesday, driving the  market to solid gains and sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average 350 points higher.

93. Justice's antitrust chief sketches how he'll assess big tech - Friday, June 7, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust chief suggested Tuesday he'll take a broad view of how competition is harmed when assessing whether big tech firms should be broken up.

Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim also was clear in a speech in Israel that he is well aware that just two companies dominate digital advertising, though he did not name the two, Google and Facebook.

94. Tech on trial: House mulls antitrust help for news industry - Friday, June 7, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of both parties on Tuesday suggested legislation may be necessary for the financially-struggling U.S. news industry as lawmakers began a bipartisan investigation into the market dominance of Silicon Valley companies.

95. China mum on Trump-Xi meeting as Huawei says sales slowing - Friday, June 7, 2019

SHANGHAI (AP) — Attention is turning to a possible meeting of President Donald Trump with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a summit in Japan later this month as the next step in the vexing trade standoff between the two biggest economies.

96. US stocks climb after US suspends tariffs on Mexican goods - Friday, June 7, 2019

Technology companies and banks helped power stocks higher on Wall Street Monday as investors welcomed news that the U.S. and Mexico averted a trade war and potentially damaging tariffs.

The latest gains extend the market's winning streak to a fifth day. That follows the strongest week for stocks since November in what has been a marked turnaround for the market after escalating trade tensions fueled a turbulent skid in May.

97. US stock market notches best week since late November - Friday, June 7, 2019

Wall Street turned the page on a painful May in the stock market by notching its best week since late November.

Stocks climbed for a fourth consecutive day Friday, capping a week of gains that reversed most of the losses in May, when President Donald Trump's tariff threats escalated trade wars with China and Mexico.

98. Google's challenge to game consoles to kick off in November - Friday, June 7, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Google will kick off its Stadia streaming service to challenge the video game industry in November — but initially only as part of a $130 bundle that includes hardware and a pass for a friend.

99. Tech companies lead US stocks broadly higher; oil slumps - Friday, May 31, 2019

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street for the second straight day Wednesday, extending Tuesday's strong gains as investors bet an interest rate cut could be ahead.

Technology, industrial and health care companies accounted for much of the broad gains, which were tempered by a slide in energy stocks following a 3.4% plunge in the price of U.S. crude oil.

100. Reliford joins Bradley as litigation associate - Friday, June 7, 2019

Kristina Allen Reliford has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP as an associate in the Litigation Practice Group.

Reliford has broad litigation experience representing clients in both state and federal court. Her practice includes complex contract disputes, fraud, trade secret misappropriation, and securities and government investigation matters.