Business

The Japanese economy contracted at an annual rate of 1.8% in the first quarter of this year, a slight improvement from the initial estimate of a 2.0% contraction, according to revised government data released on Monday. The revision was primarily due to private sector investments, which were reported at a decrease of 0.4%, up from the previously estimated 0.5% decline. …

Global stocks mostly declined on Monday after the release of a hotter-than-expected U.S. jobs report on Friday. Additionally, the euro fell following French President Emmanuel Macron’s dissolution of the National Assembly after far-right parties made significant gains in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The euro hit its lowest level in nearly a month, trading at $1.0766, down from $1.0778. The election setbacks …

Nvidia, AMD, and Intel have each unveiled their latest AI chips in Taiwan, intensifying the competition among them. Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, announced on Sunday that the company will introduce its most advanced AI chip platform, Rubin, in 2026. This new platform will replace the Blackwell chips, which were launched in March for data centers and hailed as the “world’s …

During economic downturns, unexpected trends often reveal consumer behavior shifts. One such trend, the “lipstick index,” was identified by Estée Lauder chairman Leonard Lauder after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He observed that cosmetic sales, especially lipsticks, tend to rise when the economy falters, as women opt for smaller luxury items over more expensive purchases. For instance, U.S. lipstick sales …

Spotify is once again raising its subscription prices, marking the second increase in less than a year. This move comes as streaming media companies face escalating business costs and as consumers grapple with persistent inflation. Starting in July, Spotify’s US customers will see a $1 monthly increase for its ad-free premium plan, which will now cost $11.99 per month. This …

### Apple’s Pivotal Event Amidst Challenges: A Focus on AI Apple is gearing up for what could be its most significant event in years at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starting Monday. As the company navigates a series of challenges, it is expected to unveil a partnership with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, and introduce its first set of …

Kia is advising owners of nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs in the U.S. to park them outside and away from buildings due to a potential fire risk associated with the front seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents reveal that the seat control switches on the front power seats can become misaligned and stuck if impacted. This misalignment can …

China’s exports in May experienced their highest growth rate in over a year, despite ongoing trade tensions. According to customs data released on Friday, exports surged 7.6% year-on-year to $302.35 billion, marking the fastest pace since April 2023. However, imports only increased by 1.8% to $219.73 billion, falling short of the anticipated 4% growth. The notable rise in exports is …