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McDonald’s store traffic falls unexpectedly as diners grow uneasy about economy

(AP) — McDonald’s store traffic fell further than expected in the first quarter as economic uncertainty weighed on diners. The trouble was particularly acute in the U.S., where same-store sales — or sales at locations open at least a year — slumped 3.6%. That was the biggest U.S. decline McDonald’s has seen since 2020, when a pandemic shuttered stores and restaurants and other public spaces nationwide. McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said lower- and middle-income consumers, worried about inflation and the economic outlook, cut back on fast food during the ...

Trump to offer automakers some relief on his 25% tariffs, after worries they could hurt factories

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will sign executive orders Tuesday to relax some of his 25% tariffs on autos and auto parts, the White House said, a significant reversal as the import taxes threatened to hurt domestic manufacturers. Automakers and independent analyses have indicated that the tariffs could raise prices, reduce sales and make U.S. production less competitive worldwide. Trump portrayed the changes as a bridge toward automakers moving more production into the United States. “We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term,” Trump told ...

Wall Street takes a breath ahead of another week full of potential swings

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish on Monday, ahead of potential flashpoints this week that could bring more sharp swings for financial markets. The S&P 500 inched up by 0.1% to extend its winning streak to a fifth day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 114 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%. The relative lull in trading offered a respite from the sharp, historic swings that have rocked markets for weeks, as hopes rose and fell that President Donald Trump may back down on his trade war. Many investors believe Trump’s tariffs could cause ...

Wall Street’s rally roars into a 3rd day as companies’ profits keep piling up, for now at least

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s rally kept rolling Thursday as better-than-expected profits for U.S. companies piled up, though CEOs said they’re unsure whether it will last because of uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s trade war. The S&P 500 charged 2% higher and pulled within 11% of its record set earlier this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 486 points, or 1.2%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.7%. Tech stocks helped lead the way, including ServiceNow after the AI platform company delivered a stronger profit for the start of 2025 than analysts ...

Wall Street rises and markets rally worldwide as Trump softens his tough talk on tariffs and the Fed

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as a worldwide rally came back around to Wall Street after President Donald Trump appeared to back off his criticism of the Federal Reserve and his tough talk in his trade war. The S&P 500 climbed 1.7% and added to its big gain from Tuesday that more than made up for a steep loss on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 419 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 2.5%. Wall Street’s gains followed strong moves higher for stocks across much of Europe and Asia. They also continued a dizzying, up-and-down run for financial ...