Business news summaries
Essential facts and source links for recent business stories.
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Louisiana-Pacific expands siding capacity as OSB sales slide
Louisiana-Pacific is expanding SmartSide siding capacity as OSB demand weakens: Q2 OSB revenue fell 20% year over year, while total Siding revenue declined 4%. Management expects Siding volume and revenue to return to year-over-year growth in Q3. -
Blue Cross Blue Shield report links hospital AI coding to nearly $1B in added spending over two years
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association says hospitals’ AI coding was the biggest factor in nearly $1 billion in added spending for its insurers over two years, costs it says feed into higher premiums; its analysis found no evidence patients received more care. -
Survey: 54% of companies have reduced or plan to reduce compensation to fund AI in 2026
Resume Builder surveyed 866 US business leaders: 54% said their companies have cut or plan to cut employee compensation for AI spending in 2026, while 71% said they will give performance-based raises. The article offers five ways to seek a raise. -
Credit-system strain could turn oil, AI and El Niño shocks into a financial crisis
An oil-supply shock, AI-linked debt and a potentially very strong El Niño could escalate into a financial crisis if losses converge on the same lenders, restrict credit and block businesses from refinancing, the article argues. It does not expect a banking-system break this冬. -
Petrobras reports R$12.2 billion in fuel-subsidy reimbursements
Petrobras says it has received R$12.2 billion from Brazil’s diesel, gasoline and LPG subsidy programs. Its board approved a new R$1-per-liter subsidy for road-use diesel A for 30 days, but participation depends on publication and review of implementing rules. -
Lisa Cook expects AI and oil to keep US inflation under pressure
Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook expects AI investment and higher oil prices, plus supply-chain disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, to keep US inflation under pressure in coming months. She said any further rate hikes will depend on economic and inflation data. -
CNN puts AI to work in newsroom, story analysis and weather tools
CNN data chief Kendell Timmers says AI helps journalists analyze data, brainstorm headlines and visualize stories; the network also uses it to group coverage by storyline and generate weather summaries. Data guides product testing and personalized article selection. -
Why a Motley Fool contributor favors EQT over LNG exporters
Matt DiLallo of The Motley Fool favors EQT over LNG exporters for its export-market and AI-power exposure. He estimates EQT's five-year deal to supply 0.5 million tons of LNG annually from 2028 should add $45 million to 2028 free cash flow, based on recent gas prices. -
Trump weighs diesel export ban as aides consider three alternatives
Trump says he is seriously considering a diesel export ban but warns it could raise gasoline prices; the White House says no decision has been made. Aides are weighing voluntary export limits, a federal diesel-tax suspension and state action. -
Nash the San Diego retriever brought toys to an intruder later caught by police
Nash, a San Diego golden retriever, repeatedly brought toys to a man who entered his owners’ home through a second-story window earlier this month. Officers caught the man in the backyard and took him into custody; nothing was reported stolen, and Nash was unharmed. -
New Jersey showroom brings Watches of Switzerland and Mayors together
Watches of Switzerland Group has opened its first joint showroom for Watches of Switzerland and Mayors in Marlton, New Jersey. The 4,505-square-foot store opened September 25 and is Mayors’ first location outside Florida and Georgia. -
Lagarde backs a measured ECB response as euro zone inflation rises
Euro zone inflation has topped 3% and may approach 4% by year-end, but ECB chief Christine Lagarde said a measured response remains appropriate. She cited oil and gas as the main driver and said there is no evidence yet of wage spillover or inflation becoming entrenched. -
Movie theaters led a 5.3% rise in US retail sales in August
US retail sales rose 5.3% year over year in August, with movie theaters leading the gains, according to Colliers. Sales climbed 69.9% at AMC and 61.8% at Regal, while the number of items sold rose 1.7%; Colliers said the gap reflected inflation. -
Goodman withdraws A$1.2bn Lane Cove data centre application
Goodman Group withdrew its Project Mars application for a 90-megawatt data centre valued at A$1.2 billion (US$841.9 million) in Sydney’s Lane Cove, citing policy and regulatory changes and planning feedback. Residents opposed it; the site was to be about 20 metres from homes. -
Trump’s diesel-export idea may briefly lower U.S. prices but risk higher global costs
President Donald Trump has floated keeping U.S. diesel at home as prices climb. AAA said it hit a record $6.53 per gallon on Sept. 22; the analysis says export curbs could briefly lower U.S. prices but risk higher global energy costs. -
Ryanair rules out fuel surcharges as O’Leary says rivals may pass costs on
Ryanair says it will not add fuel surcharges despite rising jet-fuel costs. CEO Michael O’Leary said most airlines had hedged fuel costs into summer 2026 and predicted rivals would pass costs on next year through surcharges or higher fares. -
Williams investor cites dividend growth and a $15.5 billion backlog
Motley Fool contributor James Halley says he is holding Williams Companies for its dividend growth and pipeline expansion prospects, not just its roughly 3% yield. As of Q2, the company had a $15.5 billion project backlog due online from 2027 to 2033. -
Brent gains 3.3% after Trump rejects Iran’s peace proposal
Brent rose 3.29% to $107.75 a barrel and US WTI gained 2.32% to $94.55 by 0540 GMT Monday, after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said he expected US negotiators to hold further talks this week. -
Cohen & Steers fund buys Oak Hill Plaza as Austin roadwork nears completion
On Aug. 31, a Cohen & Steers real estate fund and Trademark Property Company bought Oak Hill Plaza, a 92.5%-occupied southwest Austin retail center, as a 10-year road overhaul nears completion. James Corl said construction hurt visibility, parking and access. -
Par Pacific plans Laramie exit after $485 million asset-sale agreement
Par Pacific plans to exit its 46% stake in Laramie Energy after Laramie agreed to sell substantially all oil and gas assets for $485 million in cash. The deal is expected to close by year-end 2026, with net proceeds to Par estimated at $146 million. -
DOE backs 21 geothermal projects with $99 million, including Utah work
The Energy Department awarded $99 million in geothermal grants across 21 projects, including Utah work. Recipients include Utah firms Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals and AlterG Resources, plus two University of Utah awards; other projects will study Utah geothermal sites. -
Final figures put Australia’s 2025/26 deficit at A$22.3 billion
Australia recorded a final A$22.3 billion budget deficit for the year to June 2026, equal to about 0.8% of GDP and below an earlier A$28.3 billion forecast. Treasury attributed the improvement to lower welfare spending and stronger tax receipts. -
Meta's second notable outage in months renews reliability questions
An outage affected Facebook and Instagram users in the U.S. for roughly an hour on Sept. 20, beginning around 8:55 p.m. ET; service returned by 10 p.m., Reuters reported. Downdetector logged over 17,000 Facebook and more than 5,000 Instagram reports at the peak. -
China’s August industrial profit growth cools to 4.2%
China’s industrial profits rose 4.2% year on year in August, down from 11.2% in July, as weak domestic demand offset technology-sector gains. The January–August increase eased to 15.7% from 17.6% through July, National Bureau of Statistics data showed. -
Cracker Barrel plans menu price hikes of at least 3% in 2027
Cracker Barrel plans menu price increases of at least 3% in 2027 to offset inflation. CEO Dave Deno said hikes need to be strategic, not universal; the chain cited its daily $7.99 Sunrise Pancake Special and weekday early dining from $8.99 as affordable options. -
Seattle’s Plaza 600 sells for $12.5M, 87% below its 2019 valuation
Orton Development bought Seattle’s 20-story Plaza 600, across from Amazon’s headquarters, for $12.5 million—87% below its $97 million 2019 valuation. Downtown office vacancy reached 35.8% in Q2, and a July listing offered half the tower’s office space for lease. -
At July meeting, some BOJ members urged faster hikes over inflation risks
Bank of Japan minutes show many policymakers saw inflation risks, with some urging faster rate hikes. One member said underlying inflation had approached 2%; the central bank held rates at 1% in July before raising them to 1.25% in September.
