AP National Business

The Associated Press Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street, a day after a broad rally snapped a three-day losing streak. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in the early going Wednesday. Technology companies did worse than the rest of the market, dragging the Nasdaq down 1.1%. Investors are keeping a close eye on the Russian

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Americans picked up the spending pace in January as the threat of omicron faded and there was some easing of supply shortages. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 3.8% last month compared to the prior month when the number dropped a revised 2.5%. Sales at

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. markets drifted into negative territory in premarket trading Wednesday as officials from NATO and the West cast doubt on Russia’s claim to have removed some of its 150,000 troops amassed on the Ukraine border. Future contracts for the Dow Jones Industrials and the S&P 500 each slipped 0.4% before markets

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s navy says 22 crew members are being evacuated from a large cargo ship that caught fire near the mid-Atlantic Azores Islands. The Portuguese Navy said the Felicity Ace sounded the alarm after a fire broke out in the hold on Wednesday. Online vessel trackers show the 200-meter-long (650-feet-long) ship was

By DAVID McHUGH and COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — It’s not simple for Europe to plan sanctions against Russia in case it invades Ukraine. Sanctions would seek to maximize the pain for the Kremlin, its key banks and energy companies but also avoid jeopardizing the continent’s Russian-dependent energy supplies or inflicting too

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Americans picked up the spending pace in January as the threat of omicron faded and there was some easing of supply shortages. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 3.8% last month compared to the prior month when the number dropped a revised 2.5%.  Sales at

By MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is visiting a historically Black university in South Carolina this week to tout what the Biden administration says is a commitment to funding nuclear engineering at such institutions. Officials tell The Associated Press Granholm will tour the nuclear engineering program at

By AYA BATRAWY Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Leaders of the world’s most consequential energy bodies have gathered for a forum to discuss the uncertain future of oil. It comes as demand rebounds and prices climb to their highest in years even as nations pledge to transition to cleaner forms of energy.

By JACKIE VELING of NerdWallet Buy now, pay later” loans typically offer a simple, zero-interest payment structure that can make keeping up with installments easy and affordable for some borrowers. But unlike other types of financing, such as credit cards, these plans aren’t currently reported to the major credit bureaus. That means borrowers can sign

LONDON (AP) — Inflation in the United Kingdom has risen at the fastest rate in almost 30 years as increased costs for energy, housing and transportation squeezed household budgets. The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that the consumer price index ticked up to 5.5% in the 12 months through January, from 5.4% the previous

LONDON (AP) — Red Bull’s Formula One team has signed what it described as the most lucrative annual cryptocurrency sponsorship in sports. The deal with Bybit is worth more than $100 million across three years for the team that is home to reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Red Bull says Bybit will work with the

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — German vaccine maker BioNTech unveiled plans Wednesday to establish manufacturing facilities in Africa that would boost the availability of much-needed medicines on the continent. BioNTech developed the first widely approved shot against COVID-19 together with Pfizer. The modular design of the facility consists of shipping containers fitted

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has accused China of failing to meet its commitments to the World Trade Organization. It says will explore new ways to combat aggressive Chinese trade practices. In its annual report on Chinese compliance with WTO rules Wednesday, the Office of the U.S. Trade

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Global shares are higher, buoyed by hopes that diplomacy might avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Shares rose in early trading in France, Germany and Britain. But analysts warned the tensions were far from completely resolved, and the situation remains volatile. Benchmarks finished higher in Japan,

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Kirin is selling its China joint venture to an investment fund, shortly after the Japanese beer and beverage maker decided to pull out of Myanmar, where it had a beer brewery. The sale to Plateau Consumer, a Chinese fund, for 115 billion yen ($994 million) covers

By MARLON GONZÁLEZ and CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The arrest of former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández and the images of a leader shackled and paraded before cameras like a common criminal are a stunning reversal for a man who for years seemed impervious to growing allegations of corruption. While president

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Oil refineries and other greenhouse gas-emitting companies that participate in one of California’s core climate change-fighting programs have accumulated so many credits allowing them to pollute that it could jeopardize the state meeting its emissions goals. That’s according to a report by the Independent Emissions Market

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will distribute free coronavirus rapid test kits at schools and senior care facilities starting next week as it weathers an unprecedented wave of infections driven by the fast-moving omicron variant. Education Minister Yoo Eun-hye said schools will be getting enough kits for students

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are higher, buoyed by hopes for a diplomatic solution instead of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. But analysts warned the tensions were far from completely resolved, and the situation remains volatile. Benchmarks rose in Japan, Australia, South Korea and China. The Chinese government reported