Employers counter rising health costs with zero-premium plans

 

As U.S. health care premiums climb—up more than 24% since 2019 and poised to rise again—some employers are absorbing costs to shield workers as paycheck deductions are expected to jump 6%–7% next year. NPR reports the average family premium topped $25,500 last year, with employers paying about $19,200 and workers...

US Tariffs Hit Indian Exports; Talks Intensify

 

India’s goods exports to the US, its largest foreign market, plunged 20% in September and 37.5% over four months as Washington’s 50% tariffs took hold, including a 25% penalty tied to Delhi’s Russian oil purchases. GTRI said labour-intensive sectors—textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods and chemicals—were hardest hit. Shipments fell...

Ford Urges Tariffs as Stellantis Shifts Production

 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for economic retaliation against the U.S. after Stellantis decided to move planned Jeep Compass production from Brampton, Ontario, to Illinois as part of a $13 billion U.S. expansion. Blaming U.S. President Donald Trump, Ford urged tariffs if Prime Minister Mark Carney cannot secure a deal....

Smucker Sues Trader Joe’s Over Uncrustables Look

 

J.M. Smucker Co. has sued Trader Joe’s in federal court in Ohio, accusing the grocer’s frozen PB&J sandwiches of mimicking Uncrustables’ round, crustless design, crimped edges, blue box lettering, and even a bitten-sandwich image. Smucker seeks restitution and a court order to destroy products and packaging, citing more than $1...

United Airlines Projects Stronger Q4 Earnings

 

United Airlines forecast fourth-quarter earnings of $3 to $3.50 a share, above the $2.86 analysts expected, after a rocky start to 2025. Leaning into growth, it lifted third-quarter capacity 7% even as unit passenger revenue slipped 3.3% domestically and 7.1% internationally; loyalty sales rose 9%. For the quarter ended Sept....

NBC News cuts 150 jobs before Versant spinoff

 

A round of layoffs swept NBC News on Wednesday, eliminating about 150 jobs — roughly 2% of the NBC News Group — ahead of Comcast’s spinoff of Versant. The cuts spanned the division, driven by NBC News ending newsgathering for CNBC and MSNBC and wider headwinds in the media economy....

G-7 Weighs Joint Reply to China Rare Earths

 

Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven will weigh a joint response to China’s planned move to control the global supply of rare earths, officials said Wednesday. Germany’s finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, told reporters the G-7 meeting later today will discuss a common approach and potential targeted measures, while warning...

U.S. Imposes Steep Tariffs on Chinese Cranes

 

With less than a day before new U.S. port fees take effect, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed an extra 150% tariff on Chinese-made cranes and other cargo-handling gear—stacking prior duties to as high as 270%—and shifted roll-on/roll-off vessel fees to a net-tonnage basis. Fees begin Oct. 14, with payments deferrable...

Goldman Sachs to Acquire Industry Ventures

 

Goldman Sachs will acquire San Francisco-based Industry Ventures, a venture capital firm with $7 billion under supervision, for $665 million in cash and equity, plus up to $300 million tied to performance through 2030. Aimed at strengthening Goldman’s $540 billion alternatives platform, the deal is expected to close in the...

LendingTree Founder Doug Lebda Dies; Leadership Shifts

 

Doug Lebda, founder and CEO of LendingTree, died Sunday in an ATV accident at age 55, the online loan marketplace said. The Charlotte-based company praised him as a visionary whose drive transformed the financial services landscape. Founded in 1996, LendingTree launched in 1998, went public in 2000, was acquired by...