European markets set to open lower as French political upheaval drags on

Opening calls

The FTSE 100 is expected to open 8 points lower at 8,341 on Friday morning, while the German DAX index is slated to lose 24 points at the opening, according to IG, bringing it down to 20,334.

Meanwhile, IG is predicting that the CAC 40 will open around 8 points lower at 7,322.

— Chloe Taylor

CNBC Pro: Top picks for 2025: Stocks from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia among Macquarie’s favorites — all with more than 50% upside

Macquarie has named several Asian companies as its top picks for 2025, with predicted gains ranging from 50% to over 80% in their share prices.

The selection spans multiple sectors including technology, automotive, defense, and power utilities, reflecting the investment bank’s positive view on these industries for the coming year.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Ganesh Rao

Source

World

Some young Americans scale back dating as costs and apps add pressure, survey shows

April 25, 2026

For many young Americans, dating is becoming as much about finances as it is romance. Half of single Americans surveyed said they are going on fewer dates or choosing less expensive activities because of rising costs, according to BMO Financial Group’s 2026 BMO Real Financial Progress Index. The bank polled 2,501 adults in late December through […]

0 bags, 0 earrings, hats: Mid-priced products are a status symbol for young shoppers

World

$300 bags, $150 earrings, $60 hats: Mid-priced products are a status symbol for young shoppers

April 25, 2026

When Jenny Lei launched her handbag company Freja, she thought about how much she’d personally want to spend on a work tote as a 20-something in New York City, she says. “I think a justifiable treat is less than $300. Above that, I start bargaining with myself,” says Lei, now 30, who launched Freja in […]

36-year-old left the U.S. for China—now pays ,000 rent and 0 for groceries for family of 4: It’s my ‘version of the American Dream’

World

36-year-old left the U.S. for China—now pays $1,000 rent and $100 for groceries for family of 4: It’s my ‘version of the American Dream’

April 25, 2026

As a kid, I moved around a lot. I was born in California, but I’ve lived in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Montana and Oklahoma. I never had the chance to call anywhere “home” for too long. So if you’d told me back then that I’d end up in China, I would’ve laughed. I visited […]