Skip to main content

Featured

Wall Street Futures Tick Higher as 2026 Trading Begins

U.S. stock futures moved higher early Friday, signaling a confident start to the first trading session of 2026. The gains follow a strong multi‑year run for equities and come as investors look ahead to a new year of economic and corporate developments. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged up, S&P 500 futures posted a modest rise, and Nasdaq futures led the early advance with a stronger uptick. The move reflects continued enthusiasm for technology and growth‑oriented sectors, which helped drive markets through much of the previous year. Despite bouts of volatility in late 2025, major indexes closed the year with solid performance, supported by resilient consumer spending, easing inflation pressures, and expectations of a more accommodative monetary environment. As 2026 begins, traders are watching several themes: the timing and pace of potential interest‑rate cuts, the durability of tech‑sector leadership, and whether gains will broaden across more industries. Early future...

article

Starbucks Announces Layoffs Amid Operational Streamlining

 

Starbucks has announced plans to lay off 1,100 corporate employees globally as part of a broader effort to streamline operations under the leadership of new Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol. In a letter to employees released on Monday, Niccol outlined the company's intent to operate more efficiently, increase accountability, reduce complexity, and drive better integration.

The layoffs will affect corporate support employees, but baristas and other store-level staff will not be impacted. Additionally, several hundred open and unfilled positions will be eliminated. Niccol emphasized the need for all work to be overseen by decision-makers to reduce the complexity of Starbucks' structure and eliminate silos that hinder communication.

Niccol, who was hired last fall to address sluggish sales, has also implemented changes to improve service times, particularly during the morning rush, and re-establish Starbucks locations as community gathering places. The company is also cutting items from its menu and experimenting with ordering algorithms to better manage its mix of mobile, drive-thru, and in-store orders.

Despite a 2% decline in global same-store sales during its 2024 fiscal year, Starbucks has seen positive results from recent changes, including the decision to stop charging extra for non-dairy milk and streamlining the menu. These efforts have boosted store traffic and improved service, leading to a modest increase in Starbucks' shares.



Comments