U.S. Economy
OpenAI pulls back from Stargate Norway data center deal as Microsoft takes over
OpenAI has abandoned plans to rent compute capacity directly from a Norwegian data center, days after confirming it paused a similar project in the U.K. Microsoft is taking the extra compute previously earmarked for OpenAI at a planned 230MW “Stargate Norway” facility in Narvik. OpenAI is now in discussions to rent capacity from Microsoft instead, […]
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U.S. Treasury yields hold steady as markets eye Middle East resolution
Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 18, 2026. NYSE U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Wednesday as investors monitored signals from the White House that talks to resolve the Middle East conflict will resume this week. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note — the key benchmark for government borrowing […]
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Treasury yields are steady after light producer prices reading, fall in oil prices
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell on March 5, 2026 in New York City. Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images Treasury yields held steady on Tuesday following a softer-than-expected producer price index reading and as oil prices slid amid the latest developments in […]
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The Iran war could cost the American taxpayer $1 trillion, says Harvard academic
Source: U.S. Navy | Flickr The Iran war could end up costing U.S. taxpayers far more than official figures suggest, according to the analysis of one Harvard academic. The first 6 days of the the joint U.S.-Israeli operation against the Islamic Republic, beginning February 28, racked up costs of $11.3 billion, according to the Pentagon’s […]
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Fed nominee Warsh filings detail vast wealth, far exceeding past chairs
Kevin Warsh, former governor of the US Federal Reserve, speaks with CNBC on July 17, 2025. CNBC Kevin Warsh’s wealth eclipses that of all recent Federal Reserve chairs, newly released financial disclosure forms show. Warsh is President Donald Trump’s nominee to succeed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. His financial filings show that Warsh has holdings […]
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China calls U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz ‘dangerous and irresponsible’
China has called the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz a “dangerous and irresponsible act” that will further enflame tensions in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that the targeted blockade of the vital shipping channel, which began at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, coupled with an increase […]
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Treasury yields rise as collapse of Iran talks clouds inflation outlook
Treasury yields edged higher on Monday as the breakdown of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. clouded the inflation outlook once again. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note — the benchmark for government borrowing — was up more than 1 basis point at 4.333%. The 2-year Treasury note yield, which is more sensitive to short-term Federal Reserve interest rate […]
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Hormuz blockade could deepen world’s worst energy crisis — and risk a dangerous misstep
Lightning occurs when META 4, an Oil Products Tanker, sails into Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. Elke Scholiers | Getty Images President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, dimming hopes for a quick end to the conflict in the Middle […]
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Here’s the inflation breakdown for March 2026 — in one chart
A woman shops for dairy products at a local supermarket in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City on April 9, 2026. Charly Triballeau | Afp | Getty Images Inflation spiked in March as the Iran war pushed up gasoline and other prices for consumers. The consumer price index, a […]
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The Tech Download: Reputational damage, supply chain issues and local investment. What’s next for Middle East tech?
This report is from this week’s The Tech Download newsletter. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. The past week has seen some progress, albeit uneasy and stilted, being made towards ending the Iran war. A two-week ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday, and while it looks fragile, hopes of the conflict approaching a close are […]
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