Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are going back to bundling their streaming services, Google employees are questioning executives over a “decline in morale,” and Applebee’s and IHOP are aiming to attract low-income customers away from fast-food chains. Here are the top news items that investors need to know to kickstart their trading day:
1. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is on its longest winning streak of the year, rising for the sixth consecutive trading day. Despite falling tech stocks like Uber and Shopify, the Dow added 0.44%, while the S&P 500 remained nearly flat and the Nasdaq pulled back slightly. Weekly jobless claims are due Thursday morning.
2. Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to offer their streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and Max, in a bundle reminiscent of traditional cable packages. The bundle will have ad-supported and commercial-free tiers, with pricing expected to be cheaper than buying the services separately.
3. Google employees are questioning executives over a lack of higher pay and the continuation of cost-cutting measures, despite the company’s blowout earnings report last month. Morale at the tech giant has reportedly declined, with employees seeking clarity on future investments and priorities.
4. Dine Brands, the parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP, is looking to attract low-income customers with deals like the “Whole Lotta Burger for $9.99.” However, the company reported disappointing first-quarter earnings and revenue, noting that low-income consumers visited less frequently and spent more carefully.
5. Elon Musk’s startup Neuralink encountered a problem with its brain implant technology, as part of the device malfunctioned after being implanted in a human patient for the first time. The brain-computer interface, designed to help patients with paralysis control external technology using their minds, experienced detachment of some electrodes, limiting the system’s effectiveness.
Overall, these news items highlight key developments in the entertainment, tech, and restaurant industries that could impact investor decisions and market trends. Stay tuned for more updates on these evolving stories.
