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Discount retailer Dollar Tree is opening new stores in increasingly affluent areas as it seeks to attract higher-income customers who spend more at the store per trip, a new report finds.

An analysis by Bloomberg News found that 49% of new Dollar Tree stores opened in the last six years were located in wealthier parts of metro areas around the country, up from just 41% in the preceding six years.

The share of new stores in ZIP codes with significantly higher incomes compared to the broader metro area rose to 19% in the last six years, up from 16% in the prior six years. At the other end of the spectrum, the share opened in ZIP codes with significantly lower incomes declined to 14% from 20% in the comparable periods, Bloomberg found.

Dollar stores have historically seen an uptick in business during economic downturns as more consumers look to economize, but with higher-income households driving much of consumer spending, the shift comes as a way of attracting those shoppers more frequently.

WHY SHOPPERS MAKING SIX FIGURES ARE GIVING DOLLAR TREE A BOOST

Dollar Tree says that in the last quarter, 60% of new Dollar Tree customers made at least six figures. About 30% were middle-income households earning between $60,000 and $100,000, while the rest were lower-income households earning under $60,000.

While these higher-income customers visit Dollar Tree less than their lower-income peers, the company said that they spend an extra $1 on average per visit and if they were to make one additional visit per year, it would boost annual sales by $1 billion.

INFLATION EASED SLIGHTLY IN JANUARY BUT REMAINED WELL ABOVE THE FED’S TARGET

Dollar Tree CEO Michael Creedon said late last year that the retailer serves “an increasingly broad spectrum of shoppers, from core value-focused households to middle- and higher-income shoppers who are making deliberate choices about how and where they spend.”

He added that the data “demonstrates that Dollar Tree isn’t just for tough times or for those with limited resources.”

DOLLAR GENERAL SEES INCREASE IN HIGHER-INCOME SHOPPERS LOOKING TO STRETCH THEIR DOLLARS

“While the average per household spend for our higher income customers is currently lower, even given their higher income, larger average basket size and ability to spend more, this is a simple function of trip frequency,” Creedon said.

He added that “because many of our higher income customers are still early in their relationship with Dollar Tree, their purchase frequency has significant room to grow.” 

Consumers’ shopping preferences have also contributed to the pivot, as more households trade down to offset higher expenses due to inflation.

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The elevated cost of essentials like groceries and household items has forced even more of them to trade down to stores known for their heavy discounting or everyday low-price models, such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Walmart and Aldi.

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A nationwide recall has been issued for a baby fruit purée after federal testing found elevated levels of patulin, a toxin that can pose health risks with prolonged exposure.

Initiative Foods announced Friday that it is recalling one lot of its “Tippy Toes” Apple Pear Banana Fruit purée following the test results.

Patulin is a naturally occurring toxin produced by molds that can develop in fruits, particularly apples. Prolonged ingestion of the substance may lead to adverse health effects, including potential immune suppression, nerve damage, headaches, fever and nausea.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, no illnesses or injuries have been reported.

RECALL EXPANDS TO NEARLY 1M FRIGIDAIRE MINIFRIDGES SOLD AT TARGET OVER FIRE HAZARDS

The product was distributed nationwide in grocery stores in all states except Alaska and may also have been sold in Guam and Puerto Rico, the FDA said.

Consumers are urged to check the “Best By” date stamped on the bottom of each plastic tub for “BB 07/17/2026.” The affected packaging is also marked with code “INIA0120.”

TRIO OF DAIRY GIANTS RECALL INFANT FORMULA OVER CONTAMINATION FEARS

The company advises anyone who purchased the product with that date to stop using it immediately and dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Consumers with health concerns after consumption should contact a healthcare provider.

13K POUNDS OF READY-TO-EAT GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS RECALLED OVER POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION

Retailers have been instructed to check inventory and remove the affected lot from sale or distribution.

“At Initiative Foods, the safety of our consumers and their families is our highest priority,” CEO and President Don Ephgrave said. “We are cooperating with the FDA to ensure strict review and enhanced safety measures across all our products. We thank our retail partners and customers for their understanding and prompt action on this matter.”

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For additional recall information, consumers and retailers can call 1(855) 215-5730.

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Spirit Airlines reached a deal to sell 20 of its Airbus jetliners and is recalling some of the flight attendants furloughed late last year amid the budget carrier’s financial struggles.

Spirit is in the midst of its second bankruptcy in under two years after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 and completed its first restructuring in March 2025. It filed for bankruptcy a second time in August 2025, which prompted the airline to move forward with service cuts and furloughs.

The company said selling the aircraft will improve its financial situation, and the fleet reduction isn’t expected to affect its flight schedule if the court approves the jetliner sales because most of the 20 planes aren’t in service.

“As part of our ongoing restructuring, we have reached an agreement to sell 20 aircraft that have been held for sale for some time. Most of these aircraft are not currently in revenue service,” Spirit said in a statement. 

BUDGET FLIGHTS HANG IN BALANCE AS BANKRUPT SPIRIT AIRLINES TURNS TO PRIVATE EQUITY FOR LIFELINE: REPORT

“If approved by the court, this transaction will give us greater financial flexibility. The aircraft involved will be phased out of our fleet starting in April 2026. We do not anticipate any changes to our near-term schedule or staffing as a result of this transaction,” Spirit added.

The company formally asked a federal bankruptcy court for approval to proceed with the sale on Wednesday. Income from the transaction would go to paying off debt related to the aircraft while contributing to lower operational costs.

Reuters reported that the first bidder is CSDS Asset Management, an aviation asset manager that agreed to buy the 20 planes for about $533.5 million. If approved, Spirit would seek competing offers starting at around $554 million, according to an agreement with CSDS, and the auction and sale would be held in April.

SPIRIT AIRLINES FILES FOR SECOND BANKRUPTCY IN UNDER A YEAR AS LOW-COST CARRIER CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE

Spirit Airlines on Thursday moved to recall 500 of the more than 1,300 flight attendants who were furloughed in December due to its ongoing financial struggles.

“As we continue to make adjustments to meet the evolving needs of our business, we are issuing recall notices to 500 Flight Attendants who were involuntarily furloughed on Dec. 1, 2025. Recalled Flight Attendants will be sent a notice on Feb. 12, 2026, and those who accept will return to duty in the timeframe detailed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.”

UNITED AIRLINES CEO GIVES 5-WORD PREDICTION THAT LOW-COST RIVAL WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the union that represents Spirit flight attendants, said in a statement posted to X that they will be recalled in order of system seniority, with those involuntarily furloughed first.

“This is good news for 500 Flight Attendants and their families and critical to those of us on the line that have faced a grueling operation over the last two months. The company’s goal in recalling Flight Attendants is to ease some of the operational issues since the furloughs,” the union said.

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The union added it will continue to press management on scheduling issues, access to healthcare and other benefits, as well as a dependability policy and other matters.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Billionaire investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is making a big gamble on the future of Mark Zuckerberg and his Meta platforms.

Ackman has allegedly committed an estimated $2 billion to Meta, representing a sizable 10% of Pershing Square’s total portfolio, The Wall Street Journal reported. The move is a public backing of Zuckerberg’s pivot from the “Metaverse” to superintelligence, with Meta as the beneficiary of AI integration.

Pershing Square started buying Meta last November at an average price of $625 per share. Today, Meta stock trades near $670, netting Ackman an early gain.

MARK ZUCKERBERG BECOMES LATEST CALIFORNIA BILLIONAIRE TO RELOCATE TO FLORIDA AMID TAX CONCERNS

While Ackman’s investment shows a bullish stance, Meta’s balance sheet has some market experts nervous. Meta’s “Reality Labs” has lost $83 billion since 2020, and the company cut 1,500, or 10%, of Reality Labs’ workforce last month.

Meta is shifting focus away from its virtual reality endeavors to AI-powered smart glasses, which Zuckerberg believes will be the “main way we integrate superintelligence into daily life.”

Neither Pershing Square nor Meta immediately returned Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The Facebook and Instagram parent company is also entering a period of unprecedented capital expenditure to build data centers and talent pools needed for artificial intelligence. Meta’s fourth quarter and full-year 2025 report, released last month, shows the company expects to spend $115 billion to $135 billion in 2026, primarily on front-loading artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Meta stock has declined over the past several months and remains lower year over year, according to market data, amid investor concerns that its artificial intelligence spending may be too aggressive. But in Pershing Square’s investor presentation, Ackman called the stock “deeply discounted.”

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Ackman isn’t just betting on Meta, but rather positioning himself as a major stakeholder in America’s future tech economy. Pershing Square has an additional $2 billion stake in Uber and a $1.3 billion stake in Amazon.

Pershing Square also announced Wednesday that it was entirely exiting its position in Hilton, signaling another move away from traditional hospitality toward high-growth technology.

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Ford on Tuesday posted its largest quarterly loss since 2008 amid losses in the automaker’s electric vehicle (EV) division, as well as the impact of tariffs and a fire that impacted an aluminum supplier.

The Detroit automaker reported a fourth quarter net loss of $11.1 billion after previously disclosing large writedowns to its EV programs, which the company is realigning in response to lower-than-expected consumer demand and changing federal subsidies.

“I think the customer has spoken,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said on the company’s earnings call. “That’s the punchline.”

The company lost $4.8 billion on EVs last year and projects 2026 will bring losses in the range of $4 billion to $4.5 billion, adding that the division will continue losing money for at least the next two years. Ford CFO Sherry House said during the earnings call that the automaker is targeting break-even for its EV unit in 2029.

Ford also announced a larger than previously reported financial hit from tariff costs, as the company lost an additional $900 million after the Trump administration said in December that a tariff-relief program would only be retroactive to November, rather than back to May as originally anticipated.

FORD CUTS ELECTRIC F-150 LIGHTNING PRODUCTION, TAKES $19.5B CHARGE IN STRATEGIC SHIFT

The automaker’s tariff bill last year was about $2 billion and Ford indicated it expects tariff costs will be roughly the same level this year.

Ford was more reliant on imported aluminum due to a pair of fires that impacted an aluminum plant near Oswego, New York, which isn’t expected to be fully operational again until sometime between May and September.

Despite those headwinds, Ford’s fourth quarter revenue of $45.9 billion beat analysts’ expectations. The company narrowly missed its revised guidance of $7 billion, as it posted earnings before interest and taxes of $6.8 billion for the year.

REGULATORS EXPAND PROBE INTO NEARLY 1.3M FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCKS OVER TRANSMISSION ISSUES

Late last year, Farley announced the company is cutting production of the electric F-150 Lightning and refocusing its investment on hybrid vehicles and affordable EVs, resulting in a $19.5 billion charge on its EV assets and product roadmap.

He said the move would allow the company to refocus investments in higher margin areas like American-built trucks, vans and hybrids across its lineup, as well as more affordable EVs.

FORD CEO HAILS TRUMP FUEL STANDARDS RESET AS A ‘VICTORY’ FOR AFFORDABILITY AND COMMON SENSE

The company is planning a $30,000 EV platform and has signaled it will start rolling out an electric pickup on that platform next year. Ford also plans to pursue targeted partnerships in certain markets and investments in hybrid technologies.

“I do believe this is the right allocation of capital. It’s a combination of partnerships where it makes sense, efficient partial electrification investments where we have revenue power, and really hitting the EV market in the core,” Farley told analysts on a call Tuesday.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

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Kraft Heinz is pumping the brakes on plans to break up the company, with its new CEO saying the food giant’s challenges are “fixable and within our control” as it shifts focus toward reigniting profitable growth through a $600 million investment push.

In a note in the company’s routine fourth quarter report, CEO Steve Cahillane said that instead of splitting up, the company will double down on rebuilding growth — backing that up with a massive investment in the brand’s marketing, sales and research and development.

“When I decided to join Kraft Heinz, I knew that this was an exciting opportunity to contemporize iconic brands, better serve consumers and customers, and build meaningful shareholder value,” Cahillane said in the press release.

“Since joining the company, I have seen that the opportunity is larger than expected and that many of our challenges are fixable and within our control,” he continued. “My number one priority is returning the business to profitable growth, which will require ensuring all resources are fully focused on the execution of our operating plan.”

MCDONALD’S PLANS MASSIVE OVERHAUL WITH MAJOR CHANGES TO RESTAURANTS AND MENUS

“As a result, we believe it is prudent to pause work related to the separation and we will no longer incur related dis-synergies this year.”

Kraft Heinz announced in September that its board of directors approved a plan to split it into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff. The aim was to create two more focused organizations with less complexity that would be able to maximize their brands and boost profitability.

Cahillane was slated to lead the business it is calling Global Taste Elevation, overseeing brands like Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other company, called North American Grocery, would oversee its portfolio of grocery staples like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables.

As of December, the official names of the new companies were not yet determined, and the company also had not announced who would lead its North American grocery business.

In the fourth-quarter report, Kraft Heinz also announced its commitment of $600 million to marketing, sales, research and development, product improvements and select pricing initiatives across 2026. Cahillane said Kraft’s strong balance sheet and $3.7 billion in free cash flow gives it the financial flexibility to fund this push while still generating excess cash.

“We are confident in the opportunity ahead and believe this investment will accelerate our return to profitable growth,” he said.

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While leadership is optimistic, Kraft’s 2025 numbers showed clear strain — full-year net sales were down 3.5% to $24.9 billion, organic sales were down 3.4%, volume was down 4.1%, and adjusted operating income was down 11.5%.

Kraft’s biggest pressure points were in coffee, cold cuts, frozen meals, bacon and select condiments, as inflation in commodity and manufacturing costs outpaced efficiency efforts. The company reported an operating loss of $4.7 billion last year, largely driven by “non-cash impairment charges.”

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FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.

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Two men from Pennsylvania admitted to repeatedly traveling from Philadelphia to Minneapolis in an effort to defraud Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, prosecutors announced. The men allegedly defrauded approximately $3.5 million from the program and used artificial intelligence to create false records.

The two men, identified as Anthony Waddell Jefferson, 37, and Lester Brown, 53, allegedly set up businesses in Minnesota and enrolled as HSS providers. The men were allegedly supposed to provide housing consulting, transitioning and sustaining services to qualifying individuals.

The state’s HSS program, which was officially launched in July 2020, aims to help people with disabilities, including seniors and those with mental illnesses or substance abuse issues, find and maintain housing. The Justice Department previously said the program “had low barriers to entry and minimal records requirements for reimbursement.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted, “Criminal fraud not only robs taxpayers — it shatters trust in our institutions. Under President Trump’s leadership, today’s convictions are just the beginning. Our prosecutors will work tirelessly to unravel criminal fraud schemes and charge their perpetrators in Minnesota and across the country.”

TREASURY SECRETARY BESSENT VOWS TO LEAVE ‘NO STONE UNTURNED’ IN MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE

Jefferson and Brown are accused of stealing approximately $3.5 million from HSS for services they falsely claimed to have provided to around 230 Medicaid beneficiaries. The men each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and face up to 20 years in prison, the DOJ said.

“Minnesota will no longer be a haven for fraud under our watch,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “The Justice Department has been investigating billions in taxpayer fraud across the country and has already successfully convicted 66 individuals and counting in Minnesota. The collaboration between the Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is a prime example of how we restore justice and public trust, while holding criminal fraudsters accountable.”

AFTER SOMALI FRAUD SCANDAL, VA DEMOCRAT PUSHES BILL KILLING OVERSIGHT OF NONPROFITS

Jefferson and Brown allegedly visited shelters and Section 8 housing facilities, marketing themselves as “The Housing Guys,” in order to recruit Medicaid beneficiaries to sign up for HSS services that ultimately were not provided, according to the DOJ.

The DOJ also accused Jefferson of hiring family members and associates to work as employees, who, at his direction, created fake client notes that allegedly showed services provided. Some of the documentation allegedly showed that Jefferson had “invented fake employees” and used their names to sign client notes, the DOJ said. 

The department claimed that Brown did not keep notes “despite being required by Program rules to do so.” The DOJ said Jefferson and Brown “fabricated emails” about purported clients and used ChatGPT to create fake client notes.

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“These defendants had no connection to Minnesota or its communities. They traveled across the country for one purpose: to prey upon and steal millions in taxpayer dollars meant for people struggling with homelessness, addiction and disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Although programs like HSS are run by the states, they are funded with federal tax dollars. The Criminal Division will not stand by while fraudsters put all Americans’ tax dollars at risk.”

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Actress Sydney Sweeney rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Monday alongside American Eagle Outfitters Chairman and CEO Jay Schottenstein.

Sweeney was also joined by other executives from the retailer as she signed a book on the trading floor.

The actress partnered with American Eagle in 2025 for an advertising campaign that drew significant attention online.

SYDNEY SWEENEY TURNS CONTROVERSY INTO CASH AS AMERICAN EAGLE SALES JUMP

Sweeney wore jeans and a light blue denim jacket at the NYSE, an apparent nod to the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” slogan that was released last summer.

The widely discussed campaign drew criticism, with some detractors arguing that its wordplay blurred the line between fashion marketing and references to genetic traits.

“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color,” the “Euphoria” star said in the video. “My jeans are blue.”

President Donald Trump defended Sweeney in a Truth Social post, saying in part, “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ‘em Sydney!”

THE WAR ON HOT WOMEN: WHY THE WOKE MOB HATES SYDNEY SWEENEY

American Eagle also responded to the backlash, writing on social media that the ad “is and always was about the jeans.”

“Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way,” the company said.

“Great jeans look good on everyone.”

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 points for the first time on Friday as stocks rallied in response to a rout in tech shares earlier in the week.

The closely watched index rose above 50,000 for the first time after 2 p.m. during Friday’s trading session, advancing 1,206.95 points, or 2.47%, to close at 50,115.67.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also closed in the green, up 1.97% and 2.18%, respectively.

President Donald Trump celebrated the news in a Truth Social post on Friday afternoon.

STELLANTIS TAKES MASSIVE $26B HIT AFTER MOVING AWAY FROM EVS

“The Dow Jones Industrial Average just hit 50,000 for the first time in History. CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA!” Trump wrote.

The president said in a separate post, “The ‘Experts’ said that if I hit 50,000 on the Dow by the end of my Term, I would have done a great job, but I hit 50,000 today, three years ahead of schedule — Remember that for the Midterms, because the Democrats will CRASH the Economy!”

Chip stocks surged on expectations they would benefit from increased spending on artificial intelligence (AI) data centers by Amazon and Google parent company Alphabet.

Shares in Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom all rose by more than 7%. Amazon’s stock fell nearly 7% after announcing it planned to ramp up capital expenditures by more than 50% this year amid the AI race after a similar announcement by Alphabet Wednesday.

Friday’s rallies in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq followed three consecutive days of losses amid worries about AI.

“Market sentiment improved after today’s positive report out of the University of Michigan,” said Jeffrey Roach, LPL Financial chief economist. “Median 1-year inflation expectations hit the lowest since January 2025, providing some comfort for investors eager to see improving inflation metrics.”

Several software companies saw stock declines amid investors’ concerns that competition in the AI space could hurt their margins as well as questions about whether valuations have become excessive amid the AI boom.

SEC CHAIRMAN WARNS OF CHINA-LINKED RAMP-AND-DUMP ACTIVITY

“This trade has been volatile, and there have been selloffs at times, but I think there’s enough evidence that there’s real demand for AI products, real promise with what they can do and a necessity of a lot of spending to get there,” said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird.

“So, when there’s this kind of a sell-off, I think there’s a floor where there’s going to be a certain set of investors that steps in and starts buying these names.”

DEI DISCLOSURE PARTICIPATION PLUMMETS AMONG MAJOR COMPANIES AS CORPORATE PULLBACK CONTINUES

Nine of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes rose, led by the information technology index’s gain of more than 3.7% and a nearly 2.7% gain by the index for industrials.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

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Stellantis on Friday announced it will take a $26.5 billion charge as the automaker cuts back on electric vehicle (EV) production, joining other manufacturers in taking a financial hit after misjudging consumer demand for EVs.

Stellantis – the parent company of brands including Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram – became the latest automaker to take a charge. The $26.5 billion charge is larger than those taken by Ford and General Motors in the wake of the end of federal EV subsidies.

The automaker had set ambitious EV goals under its former CEO, Carlos Tavares, who aimed for EVs to make up 100% of European sales and 50% of U.S. sales by 2030. Tavares was forced out in 2024 after U.S. sales plunged, where Stellantis is exposed because of its reliance on sales of high-margin Jeep and Ram pickups.

GM TAKES $7B HIT AFTER SHIFTING EV STRATEGY DUE TO SLOWING DEMAND

Across the auto industry, fully electric vehicles represented 19.5% of European sales last year and just 7.7% of new U.S. car sales.

CEO Antonio Filosa, who took the helm at Stellantis last summer, said on a call with reporters that the company’s past assumptions about demand for EVs were “over optimistic” and outlined, “What we are announcing today is an important strategic reset of our business model… to put our customer preferences back at the center of what we do, globally and in each region.”

FORD CUTS ELECTRIC F-150 LIGHTNING PRODUCTION, TAKES $19.5B CHARGE IN STRATEGIC SHIFT

Stellantis’ charges, which were booked in the company’s results for the second half of 2025, also reflected quality issues that Filosa blamed on cost cuts that occurred under Tavares, which he said caused the automaker to hire 2,000 engineers globally.

The charges also included reductions to the company’s EV supply chain, revised assumptions for warranty provisions due to poor product quality, as well as previously announced job cuts in Europe.

NEW VEHICLE SALES TO DECLINE MODERATELY IN 2026 AS AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WEIGH, FORECAST SAYS

Ross Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the writedown showed that Stellantis “got it wrong on how quickly the world would transition from combustion engines to electric power.”

Mould added that the success enjoyed by Chinese EV-makers like BYD “begs the question as to whether Stellantis’ frustration over its EV sales is linked to market issues or that drivers simply don’t like its vehicles.”

Stellantis shares sank on the news, with the company’s New York-traded stock down more than 22% during Friday’s trading session.

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The multinational automaker – which includes American, French and Italian auto brands – saw its Milan-traded shares sink by over 23%.

Stellantis is forecasting a mid-single-digit increase in net revenue for 2026, along with a low-single-digit adjusted operating income margin. It projects positive industrial free cash flows in 2027. The company also won’t pay a dividend this year.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Wall Street giant Citi on Thursday informed the company’s U.S.-based employees that the firm plans to match the federal government’s seed contribution to newborns’ Trump Accounts and will also donate to efforts to boost participation.

Citi sent an internal message, which was reviewed by FOX Business, that notified employees that the company will contribute $1,000 to the Trump Accounts of children born to Citi’s U.S. workers from 2025 to 2028, the period in which the federal government will contribute the same amount to the tax-advantaged savings accounts.

“We are pleased to share that Citi will match the U.S. government’s $1,000 seed contribution to the accounts for children of eligible U.S. colleagues born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. This new benefit adds to the comprehensive suite of benefits that Citi provides to colleagues and their families,” the company explained.

“These accounts are intended to promote long-term savings from a young age and provide children with investment assets that will grow over time,” Citi explained. “We’re excited to play an active role in supporting the financial well-being of families across the U.S.”

HOW MUCH COULD TRUMP ACCOUNT BALANCES GROW OVER TIME?

Citi indicated it will provide employees with additional information about participating in the matching program as more details about Trump Accounts are released by the federal government.

The company also announced that the Citi Foundation is committing $5 million to nonprofit groups that will “create awareness of the program, encourage participation and support families in completing the steps necessary to open accounts.”

“The Foundation has been a longtime supporter of community-based, matched savings programs, which have proven to be a powerful tool helping households build financial capability and attain education, home ownership and entrepreneurship goals,” Citi said. 

“This grant builds on that track record and takes these efforts to a new level of scale and impact.”

Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Steak ‘n Shake previously announced they would match the government’s $1,000 contribution.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR CHILD QUALIFIES FOR A TRUMP ACCOUNT: ‘A FINANCIAL STAKE IN THE FUTURE’

Trump Accounts were created under a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last year, and the law also indicated the accounts will be seeded with $1,000 in federal funds for children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Funds will be invested in a broad index fund of U.S. stocks.

The accounts may also be opened for children who are under the age of 18 and born prior to Jan. 1, 2025, although they won’t receive the $1,000 seed deposit from the government.

TRUMP ACCOUNTS HIT 1 MILLION SIGN-UPS AFTER NICKI MINAJ WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT APPEARANCE, BESSENT SAYS

Parents may contribute up to $5,000 per year to the accounts, while their employer can contribute up to $2,500 per year without affecting the employee’s taxable income.

Account holders may access the funds when they turn 18, when they can be used for expenses related to education or a down payment on a home, among other uses. Or the funds can continue to grow in the account.

The Trump administration has indicated that Trump Accounts will officially launch July 5, 2026. 

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Parents may enroll their child in the program by making an election when they file their taxes, and more information about the program is expected to be made available months ahead as the official launch approaches.

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A prediction market company best known for allowing users to bet on world events is stepping into New York City’s food scene — if only briefly — with the launch of what it’s calling the city’s first-ever free grocery store.

Polymarket will be open for New Yorkers in Lower Manhattan starting at 12PM from Feb. 12 through Feb. 16, according to the NYC for Free website. It’s being described as the city’s first free grocery store, “fully stocked” and requiring no purchase.

Polymarket posted on X, Tuesday, that the idea took “months of planning.” In addition to paying for the lease, the company said it had donated $1 million to Food Bank For New York City to support “an organization that changes how our city responds to hunger.”

MYSTERY BETTOR WON $400K PREDICTING MADURO CAPTURE BEFORE U.S. FORCES MOVED IN: REPORT

Daily hours and the grocery store’s closing date are subject to change, according to the website.

Photos on social media show the market offering a variety of food staples — from produce, milk, eggs and bread to brand-name snacks such as Pringles, Sour Patch Kids and Oreo cookies.

Polymarket did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on why it is opening what it calls the city’s first free grocery store.

The announcement comes just days after rival Kalshi made a similar move, when owner George Zoitas gave hundreds of shoppers at Westside Market in the East Village $50 each toward their groceries.

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The bold marketing tactics by both Polymarket and Kalshi may be seen as a nod to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pledge to open government-run grocery stores. Mamdani told Fox News Digital during his campaign that it will be possible for a “partnership” between the city and grocery store and bodega owners, despite his plan to open five city-run stores.

Mamdani appeared to poke fun at the announcement in an X post on Wednesday afternoon, replying directly to Polymarket’s post with a photo of a satirical headline that read, “Heartbreaking: The worst person you know just made a great point.”

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The federal agency that enforces U.S. workplace discrimination laws said Wednesday it is investigating Nike over allegations that its diversity initiatives unlawfully discriminated against White employees and job applicants, according to a court filing.

Reuters reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said Nike has refused to comply with a subpoena seeking information, including data on the racial and ethnic makeup of the global athletic apparel and footwear company based in Beaverton, Oregon.

The subpoenas also seek a roster of employees selected for mentoring and development programs.

The commission said the investigation centers on claims that Nike deliberately treated White employees and job applicants unfairly, including allegations that they were disproportionately targeted for layoffs.

NIKE PLANS TO CUT HUNDREDS OF JOBS AMID AUTOMATION PUSH

The agency said it is seeking the records to determine whether Nike violated federal anti-discrimination law.

Nike disputed the commission’s characterization of its cooperation, saying in a statement that it has participated extensively and in good faith in the agency’s inquiry.

“This feels like a surprising and unusual escalation,” a Nike spokesperson told FOX Business. “We have had extensive, good-faith participation in an EEOC inquiry into our personnel practices, programs, and decisions and have had ongoing efforts to provide information and engage constructively with the agency. We have shared thousands of pages of information and detailed written responses to the EEOC’s inquiry and are in the process of providing additional information.”

NIKE ANNOUNCES CAITLIN CLARK AS ITS NEWEST SIGNATURE ATHLETE

The company said it is a “proud American company” focused on bringing inspiration and innovation to athletes around the world.

“We are committed to fair and lawful employment practices and follow all applicable laws, including those that prohibit discrimination,” the spokesperson added. “We believe our programs and practices are consistent with those obligations and take these matters seriously. We will continue our attempt to cooperate with the EEOC and will respond to the petition.”

The development comes nearly a week after Nike said it plans to cut 775 jobs, primarily affecting distribution centers in Tennessee and Mississippi, as the company looks to automate more of its supply chain.

NIKE RETURNS TO SELL FOOTWEAR, APPAREL ON AMAZON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019

A Nike spokesperson previously told FOX Business the company is streamlining and consolidating its operations — particularly within its U.S. distribution network — to move faster, improve efficiency and invest in technology, automation and workforce skills.

The distribution center layoffs follow similar moves by Nike over the past two years aimed at reorganizing operations and improving financial performance.

Nike said in August last year it planned to cut less than 1% of its corporate workforce as part of a turnaround effort under CEO Elliott Hill.

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In February 2024, the company announced it would cut 2% of its workforce, affecting more than 1,600 workers.

FOX Business’ Eric Revell and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Fox Corporation on Wednesday reported its second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates amid growth in advertising revenue from the company’s news networks and sports programming.

The company reported $5.18 billion in revenue for the second quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, an increase of 2% from the prior year quarter and above the LSEG estimate of $5.06 billion. Distribution revenues were up 4% in the quarter, driven mainly by 5% growth in Fox’s cable network programming segment.

Advertising revenues were 1% higher primarily because of higher pricing for ads during sports and news programs, additional MLB postseason games, as well as digital growth led by Tubi – Fox’s free, ad-supported streaming platform. Ad revenue growth was partially offset by lower political advertising revenues and lower ratings.

FOX CORP HITS ADVERTISING REVENUE RECORD IN FIRST QUARTER

Fox’s cable programming, which includes Fox News Channel and FOX Business Network as well as its cable sports networks, grew revenue 5% to $2.28 billion in the quarter, while its advertising revenue rose about 7%. 

“Whether streaming, linear, social or digital, Fox News Media continues to meet our audiences where they are,” Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said on the company’s earnings call. “Over the past 12 months, a fast-moving and consequential news cycle has reinforced Fox News Media’s leadership position, with audiences turning to the network for live coverage and in-depth analysis.”

“Fox News again finished the quarter as the most watched cable network in total day, while maintaining its lead as the most watched cable news network and producing the top 11 cable news programs,” he noted. “According to recent Nielsen data, Fox News is the number one cable news network among all three political parties, which bodes well for the upcoming political election cycle.”

APPLE SEES BIGGEST SALES JUMP IN 4 YEARS, POWERED BY ‘STAGGERING’ IPHONE DEMAND

“On the digital side, social media views for Fox News Digital were up an astounding 170% over the prior year, and both Fox News and FOX Business ranked number one in YouTube video views among their peers during the quarter,” Murdoch added.

Murdoch said that Tubi saw its most streamed quarter of all time and grew total viewer time by 27% year over year, with the streaming platform’s content slate expanding to include a simulcast of an NFL game on Thanksgiving.

TUBI CEO: TUBI IS COMMITTED TO BEING A FREE STREAMER

Fox’s subscription streaming service, Fox One, completed its first full quarter since launching in August, and Murdoch noted the company hasn’t seen any cannibalization of traditional subscribers to date as it looks to market the platform to cord cutters. 

He said that live sporting events are driving the majority of engagement on Fox One, news accounts for about one-third of the minutes viewed and that news viewers engage with the platform more frequently than non-news viewers.

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Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is set to testify on Tuesday before a Senate panel scrutinizing how the streaming giant’s proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery would impact competition in the entertainment industry’s streaming segment.

Sarandos will testify alongside Warner Bros. Chief Revenue Strategy Officer Bruce Campbell as the executives face questions over the competitive impact of the proposed merger before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights.

While Congress doesn’t have authority to block or delay the merger, the hearing will afford lawmakers the opportunity to hear from the companies about how it would affect competition between streaming platforms, as well as workers and consumers.

If Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery succeeds, the streaming service would gain access to WBD’s film and television studios, the HBO Max streaming service, as well as a content library that includes “Game of Thrones,” “Harry Potter,” as well as DC Comics’ superheroes Batman and Superman.

NETFLIX AMENDS WARNER BROS DISCOVERY DEAL TO ALL-CASH OFFER

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who chairs the subcommittee holding the hearing, has been critical of the deal and has questioned whether Netflix intends to move forward with it or whether it wants to inhibit competition during what may be a lengthy antitrust review.

The deal is currently under review by the Department of Justice, while Paramount Skydance is pursuing a hostile bid after Warner Bros. Discovery’s board rejected its bid in favor of Netflix’s offer. 

WARNER BROS DISCOVERY BOARD UNANIMOUSLY REJECTS PARAMOUNT’S TENDER OFFER, SAYS NETFLIX DEAL SUPERIOR

Paramount argues that it will have a more favorable path to regulatory approval, though Warner Bros. Discovery has noted the company would have to go into debt to finance the deal. 

Sources close to Netflix have noted that an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount would also reduce the number of studios, lessening competition in the space.

Netflix has cited statistics from media analysis firm Nielsen to show that Google’s YouTube has a larger share of viewing time on U.S. households’ TVs than other streaming services such as itself. Antitrust experts have noted that the DOJ’s review may focus instead on subscription-based streaming services that are more similar to Netflix.

PARAMOUNT LAUNCHES HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID OF WARNER BROS DISCOVERY, SAYS OFFER IS ‘SUPERIOR’ TO NETFLIX DEAL

Last month, the Warner Bros. Discovery board voted unanimously to reject Paramount’s tender offer, with Warner Bros. Discovery board Chair Samuel Di Piazza Jr. saying that “Paramount’s latest offer remains inferior to our merger agreement with Netflix across multiple key areas.”

“Paramount’s offer continues to provide insufficient value, including terms such as an extraordinary amount of debt financing that create risks to close and lack of protections for our shareholders if a transaction is not completed,” Di Piazza continued. “Our binding agreement with Netflix will offer superior value at greater levels of certainty, without the significant risks and costs Paramount’s offer would impose on our shareholders.”

Netflix revised its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery last month to an all-cash offer priced at $27.75 per share, valuing the deal at $72 billion, which amounts to an enterprise value of $82.7 billion.

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Paramount’s offer amounts to an enterprise value of $108 billion and includes more assets, such as Warner Bros. Discovery’s cable business.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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EXCLUSIVE: Corporate America has long claimed that progressive social activism reflects the will of customers and shareholders — but a growing group of investors is now pushing back against that idea.

A Christian investment firm that manages more than $4 billion in assets is targeting dozens of major corporations this year with shareholder proposals aimed at pressuring companies to drop what it calls “woke” agendas, return to political neutrality and focus on their core business.

“Really what we’re working to do through our engagement efforts, is really help corporations get back to a place of neutrality, to stay out of contentious social issues and really just focus on shareholder value and really adequately representing the fiduciary duty that they do to derive value for shareholders instead of bringing in all these other risks that relate to social activism, political activism,” Inspire Investing CEO Robert Netzly told Fox News Digital.

“We’re long-term investors. We’re not activists,” Inspire’s CFA Tim Schwarzenberger said. “So what we’re asking companies to do is to return to neutrality. And the purpose of these proposals is that we want companies to treat all our customers and employees fairly, and to focus on their core business and to stay out of divisive political issues that could expose the company to customer backlash, legal and financial risk.”

WHITE HOUSE A.I. CZAR BLASTS BLUE STATES FOR INSERTING ‘WOKE IDEOLOGY’ INTO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The firm spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital about 38 shareholder proposals it plans to bring throughout 2026 — targeting companies among the so-called “Magnificent Seven” and other large-cap corporations on policies related to water and artificial intelligence use, off-duty speech, de-banking, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, abortion pill access and more.

“We’re seeing these chickens coming home to roost. The things that we’ve been warning about and saying that these social issues, the social activism on behalf of these companies, comes with real material, financial risk for shareholders is being proven true,” Netzly said. “And as you look at the cautionary tales of Bud Light, of Disney, of Target, other companies are watching the sidelines and taking their lessons. And so as we go into these boardrooms, as we go into the shareholder meetings, as we discuss with investment relations departments, we have truth on our side.”

Critics have pointed to recent high-profile corporate controversies as examples of the financial risks that can follow divisive social activism. Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White” reportedly lost $115 million, according to Deadline, which cited the film’s creative direction as a factor. After launching its 2023 Pride collection — which included children’s items — Target’s market capitalization dropped by more than $9 billion amid sustained consumer backlash. Anheuser-Busch InBev also faced multibillion-dollar losses after Bud Light partnered with a transgender influencer.

“We’ve seen repeatedly that when companies get involved in divisive political issues, that creates brand risk and customer backlash. So, essentially, these proposals act as guardrails. They help the boards identify risks that they might not be aware of,” Schwarzenberger added. “I think that customers and investors have been a sleeping giant, asleep at the wheel, and they’ve finally woken up.”

Netzly argued that Inspire’s proposals rest on a principle many Americans share: companies should focus on what they sell — not on social or political messaging. He said corporate activism distracts executives from core operations and brings political risk into boardrooms, a trend Inspire hopes to reverse through shareholder pressure.

“Corporate activism comes with a cost,” he said. “That results in changes to the share price, that results in lower dividends, less money being reinvested for growth.”

“Most Americans are invested through their 401(k) in their retirement plans, and so when companies perform better, naturally, everyday investors benefit from that,” Schwarzenberger said.

“We’ve influenced some of the largest corporations in the world. Costco, for instance, just this last fall, made the decision based on our long-standing efforts with them over the past couple years to not sell the abortion drug, Mifepristone, in their pharmacies. Walmart came to the same decision after our engagement with them. So we can make real, lasting change,” Netzly said.

AT&T ELIMINATES D.E.I. PROGRAMS, SAYS HIRING AND ADVANCEMENT WILL NOW BE MERIT-BASED

Although some of the companies Inspire is targeting have long been profitable for investors, the faith-based firm shared a message for skeptics who argue these proposals on social issues distract from the bottom line.

“There is a healthy skepticism about these proposals because, historically, many of these proposals have been used to push politics and to distract from the bottom line. But that’s not what we’re doing. Our proposals are grounded in fiduciary duty, so they’re not distractions from profitability,” Schwarzenberger said.

“My argument would be that our proposals are to get out of the social issues, right?” Netzly continued. “The problem is that these companies have already been influenced to such an extent that they are spending money and distracting from their core business through DEI programs, through ESG initiatives, through all sorts of things. And our proposals are designed to get them out of those distractions.”

Fox News Digital reached out to all 38 companies Inspire plans to target this year for comment. Most did not respond. Several confirmed they have either received — or have not yet received — formal proposals from Inspire.

The executives said on Monday that some meetings — and what they described as “good, productive” discussions — have already occurred with multiple companies, and Inspire would withdraw proposals as those conversations may transpire. Additionally, some shareholder deadlines won’t be filed until later this year.

Netzly and Schwarzenberger said success looks different for each proposal.

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“What we’re looking for is real, tangible change,” Schwarzenberger emphasized. “So we’re looking for companies to make specific policy changes, whether that’s changing their code of conduct, their terms of service, or how they use corporate dollars to sponsor controversial events.”

“If the company ignores the proposals, we can still get them on the ballot. We can still rally the troops and work to vote those things through. It really does come down to the shareholders,” Netzly said. “And I think for those companies that are opposed to even hearing the voice of their shareholders or even allowing things to go to a vote, they’re opening themselves up to [legislative] risk for potential violation of their fiduciary duties. They’re opening themselves up to a lot of risks, and really just brand backlash, for being so tone-deaf when so obviously their shareholders are asking them to stay out of these things.”

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Gold and silver prices have seen significant volatility in recent weeks following a surge in prices over the past two years.

The spot price of gold is up 67% over the last year while the silver spot price has risen 158% in that time – though the asset prices plunged over the last week with gold down over 9% and silver falling more than 27% in that period. The dip in prices also affected gold bullion, which fell over 9.8% on January 30, which was its sharpest single-day drop since 1983.

Spot gold prices were below $4,700 an ounce during Monday morning trading, while silver was below $79. At those prices, gold is up roughly 66% in the last year while silver is up about 147%.

Rising gold and silver values over the last year have drawn the attention of consumers, some of whom are looking to sell gold and silver jewelry amid the recent volatility, while others are looking to invest in precious commodities.

GOLD RUSH 2.0: AMERICANS CASH IN AS PRECIOUS METAL HOVERS NEAR ALL-TIME HIGH

Mukarram Mawjood, founder of Bullionite Asset Group, told FOX Business that jewelry “carries a retail premium not directly correlated to moves in investment grade gold and silver,” and so jewelry shouldn’t be approached as an investment when purchased.

ECONOMIST WARNS COMING FINANCIAL CRISIS WILL MAKE 2008 LOOK LIKE ‘SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC’

JPMorgan said in a research note on Monday that it expects gold prices to reach $6,300 per ounce by the end of 2026 amid demand from central banks and investors.

“Even with the recent near-term volatility, we remain firmly bullishly convicted in gold over the medium-term on the back of a clean, structural, continued diversification trend that has further to run amid a still well-entrenched regime of real asset outperformance vs paper assets,” the firm said in a note.

5 REASONS WHY GOLD IS A HOT COMMODITY

Deutsche Bank on Monday reiterated its gold price forecast of $6,000 an ounce this year amid sustained investor demand.

UBS last week also raised its forecast for gold prices to $6,200 for March, June and September 2026.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

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The New York Stock Exchange’s quiet expansion into Texas is gaining rapid traction, with NYSE President Lynn Martin revealing that more than 100 companies have already dual-listed on NYSE Texas in under a year — a milestone that underscores Wall Street’s accelerating pivot toward the Lone Star State’s pro-business climate.

“NYSE Texas, which we announced February of last year, brought it live March 31 of last year, and now have more than 100 dual listings on NYSE Texas in less than a year,” President Lynn Martin told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo at the World Economic Forum on Thursday.

“It’s going great,” she continued.

TEXAS CHAIN CRUSHES COSTCO AND TRADER JOE’S TO CLAIM AMERICA’S TOP GROCERY STORE TITLE

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump blasted plans to expand the New York Stock Exchange to Dallas, calling the move “unbelievably bad” for New York and a failure of city leadership.

“Building a New York Stock Exchange in Dallas is an unbelievably bad thing for New York. I can’t believe they would let this happen,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. He added that the move posed a “big test” for New York’s newly inaugurated mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

The New York Stock Exchange has said the Dallas expansion — a fully electronic equities exchange based in Dallas — is intended to broaden its footprint and better serve companies in the South and Southwest, not to replace its New York operations. NYSE Texas launched in March 2025 and continues to operate alongside the main exchange.

“So many companies have taken the opportunity to dual list on NYSE, all the protections of the floor, everything… as well as list on NYSE Texas,” Martin said. “The advantage of dual listing on NYSE Texas is you are able to take advantage of all that pro-business legislation that Governor [Greg] Abbott has enacted around shareholder rights, around… litigation, around protection of C-suite of existing companies.”

Additionally, NYSE Texas’s growth coincides with a broader rebound in IPO and listings activity, according to Martin, who described a potential “super cycle” for capital markets in 2026.

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“We’re seeing demand from all sectors. It feels like it’s gonna be a bit of a super cycle year in terms of the amount of deals that come to market,” she noted. “Now, I’m not just talking about the mega IPOs, they may or may not come to the market, but there’s a tremendous amount of demand of backlog companies, companies that have been sitting on sponsors books, as well as companies that have just wanted to go for some time and put plans on hold because of volatility.”

“I’m incredibly bullish about 2026 for the capital markets, for the U.S. economy,” Martin added.

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FOX Business’ Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

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