Business

World shares mostly advance and Japan falls ahead of Lunar New Year holidays
The future for the S&P 500 rose 0.4%.

Why don’t I feel California as world’s 4th largest economy?
The GDPs of California, Japan, India and the UK are only $300 billion or 7%...

California cardrooms anticipate thousands of layoffs as gambling rules change
ByPat Maio
Operators may be forced to drop blackjack and other table games due to new state...

With electricity bills rising, some states consider new data center laws
Officials are now scrutinizing how power-hungry projects might affect the electric bills.

Where are house investors most active in California?
Investors own 1.28 million houses statewide – 17% of California's supply – but where investors...

Some Valentine’s Day tips for anyone seeking the perfect match on four wheels
Edmunds identified five vehicles with distinct personality traits.

Survey: More than 2 in 5 Americans believe financial secrets are at least as bad as cheating
Bigger secrets can impact relationships — and livelihoods.

What commercial real estate can learn from a Seahawks Super Bowl win
Let's look at the way championship teams are built.

Calabasas ridgetop house shaped like an X seeks $13 million
Recognized with the 2025 award for residential design, the distinctive two-story residence spans 8,953 square...

Irvine’s Tri Pointe Homes sold to Japanese group for $4.5 billion
The sale, which will take Tri Pointe private again, is expected to close in the...

Conagra ordered to pay $25 million in lawsuit alleging Pam cooking spray caused lung disease
The verdict found that Conagra did not adequately warn consumers about the potential dangers of...

LA County cases retail theft in spotlight amid statewide crackdown
State officials said several major cases unfolded in Los Angeles County, where sheriff's deputies arrested...

Sex workers at Nevada brothel fight for the first-ever unionization
Nevada is the only state where people can legally purchase sex.

As electricity costs rise, everyone wants data centers to pick up their tab. But how?
Data centers keep spreading fast, and some use as much electricity as a small city.

Wendy’s closes US restaurants and focuses on value to turn around falling sales
Wendy’s plans to emphasize value as it tries to win back inflation-weary customers.

Logistics giant DP World replaces chairman named in Jeffrey Epstein documents
Documents show years of messages between DP World head Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Epstein.

Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash
Amazon says no customer video from Ring ever went to Flock.

HOA Homefront: Can a board make decisions without meeting?
The Open Meeting Act in 2012 changed how HOA boards can make decisions.

Falling cocoa prices won’t necessarily mean cheaper Valentine’s Day chocolates
Chocolate prices at U.S. retail stores rose 14% between Jan. 1 and the first week...

What is streamflation? (And will streaming prices keep rising?)
Streaming prices are climbing as companies shift toward profits.

Wall Street steadies after its AI-induced sell-off
Stocks got some help from easing Treasury yields.

Inflation measure falls to nearly five-year low as gas prices fall and housing costs cool
Friday’s report suggests inflation could be cooling.

Valentine’s Day: A look at dating apps and marriage rates
What's the median age for someone to get married? You might be surprised.

Rivian offers investors hope it can withstand a bleak EV market
The EV automaker based in Irvine reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and its first-ever annual gross...

California boosts mortgage relief to $100,000 for wildfire victims
The state program is opening the grants to higher income households for disasters that date...

Anthropic hits a $380B valuation as it heightens competition with OpenAI
Renaissance Capital counts Anthropic as third among the most valuable private firms.

Anthropic pledges $20M to candidates who favor AI safety
Anthropic has set itself apart from rivals, including OpenAI, by pushing for stringent AI regulations.

Trump administration throws new roadblocks at EV charging buildout
The administration is trying to withhold money for charging infrastructure in California, Colorado, Illinois and...

More EV models offer deluxe backup power features for home blackouts
As ice, snow and bitter cold stressed America’s power infrastructure in recent weeks, EVs have...

Why a liar loan is one easy option for self-employed homebuyers
Exotic loans require good credit, down payment (or equity) and cash reserves

Average US long-term mortgage rate dips to where it was 3 week ago, just above 6%
The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate slipped to 6.09% from 6.11% last week.

Where in Southern California does love and money mix best?
We compared "best cities for singles" in Southern California to rankings minus the economic grades.

US homes sales fell sharply in January, even as mortgage rates continued to ease
The National Association of Realtors said that existing home sales sank 8.4%.

US stocks drop sharply as investors hunt for losers that will be hurt by AI
The AI worries have hit software stocks particularly hard.

How to face down estate planning paralysis
Estate planning can feel emotional and overwhelming.

US applications for jobless benefits fall to 227,000 last week, remaining at recent healthy levels
Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 7 fell from the previous week.

WhatsApp says Russia has tried to fully block the messaging app
Russia has already blocked major platforms like Facebook since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Protesters in multiple states press Target to oppose the immigration crackdown in Minnesota
ICE Out Minnesota called for sit-ins and other demonstrations to continue for a full week.

Instagram chief says he does not believe people can get clinically addicted to social media
The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case.

Lyon Estate in Coto de Caza relists for $59M after a 64-acre reduction
The Agency, one of the real estate firms marketing the estate, says the seller is...

Kraft Heinz pauses plans to split into 2 companies, says its problems are ‘fixable’
The split was expected to occur in the second half of this year.

California house investors target most-affordable counties
Investors owned 30% more houses in the state's least-expensive counties as of 2025's third quarter...

US stocks wobble after feeling both the upside and downside of a strong jobs report
The Labor Department said employers added 130,000 jobs to their payrolls last month.

CBO: Federal deficits and debt to worsen over next decade
Worsening federal deficits are driven by increased spending on Social Security, Medicare, and debt service...

3,000 Kaiser pharmacy, lab workers will end their strike this week
ByPat Maio
Their return to work still leaves the bulk of the healthcare giant's 31,000 registered nurses...

Credit card trends to watch for in 2026
Credit card interest rates remained high, hovering around an average of 22% all year.

Surge of 130,000 US hires last month is a stark contrast to the weak hiring of 2025
The report included major revisions that reduced the number of jobs created last year.

Laguna Beach estate on 2-acre blufftop in Three Arch Bay listing for $30 million
A Coastal Commission document states the bluff 'stretches seaward' from the building pad in 'an...

First-gen California homebuyers can soon apply for $150,000 down payment loans
The state's third round of Dream for All has a pool of up to $200...

Honda profits take a 42% hit from Trump’s tariffs and EV moves
Honda reported Tuesday a 42% drop in profit for the nine months through December, compared...

California housing advocates still waiting for state-ordered stair report
Fire safety regulators were asked to study whether mid-rise apartments can go with a single...

California union pushes work-from-home bill as Newsom readies back-to-office
The legislative proposal by the California union known as PECG would require state agencies to...

This city is challenging big landlords without waiting on Trump
Around Atlanta, institutional buyers like Blackstone, Progress Residential and Amherst Holdings own more than 30%...

Paramount sweetens offer for Warner Bros. shareholders in hostile takeover fight
Warner's leadership has continued to back its deal with Netflix.

US stocks drift to a mixed finish as yields fall after a discouraging report on US shoppers
The action was stronger in the bond market, where Treasury yields fell.

Is a weaker U.S. dollar a good thing?
"All things considered, the negatives outweigh the positives," said one San Diego economist.

Typical 2025 California home seller made $265,000 vs. $107,000 for US
The typical Californian home seller made the big bucks by buying at a median $422,000...

Retail sales unchanged in December from November, closing out year on a lackluster tone
Retail sales were flat in December from November. Economists were expecting an increase.

Hotel del Coronado boots Sandcastle Man from his yearslong spot on the beach
The sand sculpture artist was informed by the resort he had been involved in an...

Kaiser, nurses union spar over workers as strike enters 3rd week
ByPat Maio
Kaiser says more than 35% of 31,000 striking nurses have returned to work, a figure...

Novo says it’s suing Hims to halt obesity GLP-1 drug copycats
The lawsuit attacks a copycat pill and shots that mimic Wegovy and its sister drug...

What you need to know before making financial gifts
Whether you’re giving cash or investments, be aware of the logistics and tax implications.

New Mexico lawsuit accuses Meta of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation online
It's unclear whether Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify at trial.

Orange County has 60 million-dollar ZIP codes, up 4 in a year
New to the club: Tustin 92780, Midway City 92655, Anaheim 92808, Placentia 92870 and Garden...

Kaiser strike expands with 3,000 pharmacy, lab workers joining nurses
ByPat Maio
Pharmacy and lab workers with the United Food and Commercial Workers union in Southern California...

US stocks drift higher as gold, silver and bitcoin stabilize
Potentially market-moving economic reports are coming later this week.

Retail operator of outdoor sportswear pioneer Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy
The operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Landmark trial accusing social media companies of addicting children to their platforms begins
Meta and Google’s YouTube face claims their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.

Voters are worried about the cost of housing. But Trump wants home prices to keep climbing
“I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up...

Apps to boycott US goods gained traction in crisis over Greenland
“Maybe we can send a signal and people will listen and we can make a...

Co-workers of different generations mentor each other to reduce workplace misunderstandings
Co-workers can at times feel like generations speak different languages.

‘Should we get married?’ A question for every couple on the cusp
Today, about half of U.S. adults are married, a significant decline from the 1980s, when...

Renters use ‘rent now, pay later’ services to manage monthly payments, but fees raise concerns
Consumer advocates warn the products often act like short-term loans with high fees.

When a buyer needs time in a strong market vs. a weak one
The answer depends on the market.

Security concerns and skepticism are bursting the bubble of Moltbook, the viral AI social forum
Many experts have expressed security concerns about the platform.

Musk’s underground tunnels in Las Vegas face scrutiny over safety, environmental concerns
The Musk-founded Boring Company has been under the microscope after complaints and alleged violations.

California’s Gallo buying Four Roses bourbon in $775 million deal with Kirin
The wine giant said it plans to add a prominent Kentucky bourbon brand to its...

California wants colleges to count work experience for credit. How’s it going?
California has a goal of rapidly expanding access to work credits, though tracking progress on...

Actress Jennifer Garner’s Once Upon a Farm snack company debuts on Wall Street
The trading gives the Berkeley company a market value of $845 million, based on the...

White House weighs antitrust probe into homebuilders
One potential focus is on how information is shared through an industry trade group called...

Uber found liable in sexual assault case and ordered to pay $8.5 million
Uber plans to appeal the jury's decision.

FACT FOCUS: Trump says tariffs have created an economic miracle. The facts tell a different story
The proof Trump offers is often off-base or wrong altogether.

US stocks soar to their best day since May as the Dow tops 50,000 and bitcoin stops plunging
Chip companies helped drive the widespread rally.

HOA Homefront: How can we tell if these minutes are correct?
Committees that meet typically don’t keep minutes because they have no decision-making power.

Malibu’s HRL Labs cuts 376 jobs after losing government work
ByPat Maio
Malibu-based HRL Laboratories LLC is laying off roughly a third of its 1,000-employee workforce.

How to start saving — even if you’re starting from scratch
If you don’t have a healthy emergency fund, you’re not alone.

California rent hikes often outpace pay raises
A 9-metro median 5.4%-a-year wage gain outpaced California's 4.8% rent hikes in 2019-24.

EU accuses TikTok of ‘addictive design’ that harms children, seeks changes to protect users
The European Commission believes TikTok should change its service's basic design.

Hims & Hers launches copy of Wegovy pill
The off-brand version comes just weeks after Novo Nordisk launched its reformulation of the blockbuster...

Why economists see the housing market flattening in 2026
“People don’t buy homes when they are worried about the job market,” says Mark Vitner,...

British actor Emrhys Cooper lists revamped Idyllwild retreat for $1.4M
Cooper and husband Donal Brophy reimagined the house, which they describe as a 'James Bond...

Pizza Hut closing 250 US stores as parent company considers selling the brand
Pizza Hut has more than 6,000 locations in the U.S.

California’s instant EV rebates would require automakers to match state funds
New budget language lays out how Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to structure a $200 million...

New transit housing bill revives California’s divisions over local control
A bill to close a loophole in a landmark housing law to make it clear...

Union leaders’ message for Newsom: Regulate AI if you want to be president
Leaders from the AFL-CIO, representing 2.3 million nationwide members, say Gov. Gavin Newsom needs to...

Anthropic, OpenAI rivalry spills into new Super Bowl ads as both fight to win over AI users
This rivalry began when OpenAI leaders left to form Anthropic in 2021.

Boar’s Head reopens Virginia deli meat plant tied to deadly listeria outbreak
The company's plant in Jarratt, Virginia, resumed limited operations on Feb. 2.

Bitcoin price falls below pre-Trump second term levels, now hovering below $67,000
The original cryptocurrency has lost 46% of its value since Oct. 6.

Average US long-term mortgage rate barely budges, holding near 6%
The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate edged up to 6.11% from 6.1% last week.

Real estate news: 175 new homes coming to 2 Orange County communities
Trumark Homes says construction on model homes is underway in Irvine and Rancho Mission Viejo.