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Harrah’s Oklahoma casino opens in Chandler

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:03:10 +0000

Harrah’s Oklahoma is now open in Chandler, making this Caesars Entertainment’s first managed casino in the state and adding a new gaming destination through its partnership with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma.

The doors officially opened Thursday (April 9) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, first bets and a full day of celebrations. Set along Route 66, the property introduces a Las Vegas-style gaming experience to central Oklahoma. Inside, guests will find roughly 1,000 slot machines, a dozen table games and a dedicated high-limit area. Several dining and bar options are already operating, while plans are in place to add a hotel and expand entertainment offerings later.

Leaders from both Caesars and the Iowa Tribe described the launch as more than just a casino opening, pointing to its broader impact on the local economy.

“This opening has been years in the making, and we’re so excited to be in the home stretch before opening our doors and sharing the Harrah’s experience with the community,” said Joe Scibetta, SVP and general manager of Harrah’s Oklahoma.

Today, we announce that @HarrahsOklahoma is officially open, marking the first Caesars Entertainment-managed property in the state and a new destination for tourism and entertainment in Oklahoma. Developed in partnership with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the casino celebrated its… pic.twitter.com/5iQLassM7n

— Caesars Entertainment (@CaesarsEnt) April 9, 2026

“Harrah’s Oklahoma delivers the full Caesars Entertainment experience while introducing a new destination designed to feel modern, vibrant and fun.”

The project also reflects a deeper partnership aimed at long-term growth for the tribe and nearby communities.

“This partnership represents an exciting new chapter for the Iowa Tribe,” said Jake Keyes, Chairman of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. “Harrah’s Oklahoma will create employment and economic growth opportunities, support local businesses and strengthen our ability to reinvest in education, infrastructure and essential services for our people. We are proud to welcome this destination to our land and to the broader Oklahoma community.”

The economic impact of Harrah’s Oklahoma in Chandler

Hiring is already underway, with more than 300 jobs expected across gaming, hospitality, food service, security and administrative roles. Additional positions are likely as the property continues to scale up operations in the coming months.

Company officials say the casino is positioned to attract visitors from across Oklahoma and neighboring states, giving Chandler a new tourism draw tied into Caesars’ national network. Through the Caesars Rewards program, guests will be able to earn and redeem points in Oklahoma, as well as at destinations in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and New Orleans.

The opening comes at a pivotal moment for Caesars, as the company continues expanding its regional footprint, despite working through recent financial pressures, including reported fourth-quarter losses tied to operational costs and restructuring efforts.

For the Iowa Tribe, however, revenue generated from the casino is expected to support public services, infrastructure and long-term community initiatives.

Featured image: Caesars Entertainment

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5 things to know before the market opens Friday

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:26:02 +0000

This is CNBC’s Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox.

Happy Friday. If you’re as fascinated by the retail sector as I am, you’ll want to read this exclusive from CNBC’s Melissa Repko. I don’t want to spoil it, so I’ll just say that Target isn’t over its boycott woes.

Stock futures are lower this morning. The three major indexes fell sharply yesterday.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. +10 days

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2026.

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he is extending the pause on attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities, pushing back the deadline to April 6. The 10-day extension came at the request of Iran’s government, Trump said.

Here’s what to know:

2. DHS deal

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, speaks to members of the media outside his office at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Aaron Schwartz | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The Senate reached a deal early this morning that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, a sign of progress toward ending the department’s shutdown. The bill will now head to the House of Representatives, where it could get a vote as soon as today.

The package does not include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, exactly what Democrats have been calling for, though it also doesn’t include the changes to ICE’s enforcement practices that Democrats wanted.

The agreement comes as the partial government shutdown forces Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay, causing long security lines at airports. Trump said yesterday that he would bypass Congress and issue an executive order to “immediately” pay TSA workers.

3. Claude’s court conquest

The Anthropic logo appears on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration, as the AI firm files lawsuits against the United States Department of Defense after the Pentagon moves to blacklist the company following disagreements over safeguards limiting the use of its AI systems for surveillance and autonomous weapons.

Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Anthropic got its wish in federal court yesterday: Judge Rita Lin granted the artificial intelligence startup’s request for an injunction in its lawsuit against the White House.

Lin said the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic was “classic illegal First Amendment retaliation.” Anthropic said in a statement that it was “grateful to the court for moving swiftly” and that it would still like to work with the government if possible.

In other AI policy news, venture capitalist David Sacks said yesterday that his role as Trump’s crypto and AI czar was ending. Sacks said he was joining the President’s Council of Advisers on Science & Technology, a federal advisory committee.

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4. Fighting words

Former U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh speaks during a monetary policy conference at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution in Palo Alto, California, U.S. May 9, 2025.

Ann Saphir | Reuters

Sen. Elizabeth Warren didn’t mince words in a Thursday letter to Kevin Warsh, Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve. “You have learned nothing from your failures,” Warren told Warsh in the scathing eight-page letter.

The Massachusetts Democrat said Warsh’s prior tenure at the Fed between 2006 and 2011 “should disqualify you from a promotion.” Warren also warned that Warsh would offer a “rubber stamp for President Trump’s Wall Street First Agenda.” Warsh did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Meanwhile, the Fed’s Board of Governors is urging a judge to quash a request from prosecutors seeking to bring back subpoenas issued as part of the criminal probe of Chair Jerome Powell.

5. Batter up

Overall view of Truist Park in the fifth inning during game two of a double header between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins on August 9, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Matthew Grimes Jr. | Atlanta Braves | Getty Images

Yesterday was Opening Day for the MLB’s 2026 season. As CNBC’s Alex Sherman reports, it may be the league’s last before major changes kick in.

The MLB’s collective bargaining agreement with its players expires at the end of the season. Bruce Meyer, the interim executive director of the MLB Players Association, said last month that a lockout is likely amid negotiations.

Additionally, one-third of the league’s teams did not have local TV deals set for the season until just this week. Some teams announced Wednesday that their new MLB-operated team channels would be carried by DirecTV.

The Daily Dividend

Here are some stories we’d recommend making time for this weekend:

— CNBC’s Dan Mangan, Sean Conlon, Yee Ling Shan, Itzel Franco, Kevin Breuninger, Ashley Capoot, Jennifer Elias, Justin Papp, Leslie Josephs and Alex Sherman contributed to this report. Josephine Rozzelle edited this edition.

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NYC club maestro opens new members-only Zero Bond in Las Vegas

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:59:24 +0000

Zero Bond – the exclusive New York City club beloved by the likes of Jay-Z, Gigi Hadid and former Mayor Eric Adams – is opening a Las Vegas outpost this week.

It’s the first Big Apple-style, members-only club to come to Sin City. In a locale known for excess, the club is keeping everything — from fees to the number of members — relatively small.

Joining the club located inside the Wynn Las Vegas costs $1,000 for “initiation” plus $2,750 per year. Members who want to be considered “founders” have to cough up $50,000 in initiation fees, with higher annual dues, too. They get access to the Manhattan club.

Zero Bond, the exclusive New York City club, is opening inside the Wynn Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas

“In a town where money talks, this is about curation and the quality of the community,” founder Scott Sartiano told Side Dish, who declined to share the number of members he has in mind.

The two-story, 15,000-square-foot space, which overlooks a golf course and features a $40 million art collection, is already drawing buzz. Guests at last weekend’s opening party included Gwynneth Paltrow, Michael Rubin, LeBron James – and Tom Brady and Alix Earle, who arrived separately after sparking romance rumors earlier this year. Doja Cat serenaded the stars.

In Sartiano’s view, he’s fulfilling an unmet demand.

“Las Vegas is the biggest hospitality market in the world, and there is nothing like Zero Bond in the ecosystem here — just country clubs” and the Discovery Land Company’s exclusive gated community, the Summit Club, he said.

Reaching for the highest of the high brow, the new club features a Renoir above the fireplace, a work by contemporary Mexican artist Jorge Pardo, and outdoor sculptures by artists including Joan Miró, Jim Dine, and Robert Indiana. They’re all for sale and are the fruit of a partnership with Heather James Fine Art.

“Las Vegas is the biggest hospitality market in the world,” says Scott Sartiano, middle. Mark Wahlberg and Kevin Costner were among the guests at last weekend’s opening party. BFA.com / BACKGRID

For earthlier delights, there are no fewer than four bars, a central salon, and a cigar room where club members can puff hand-rolled cigars.

True to its Vegas setting, the new Zero Bond features a poker room and a disco, both designed by Wynn Design & Development.

As in the New York City original, there are no photos.

“I want Zero Bond to grow as a premium luxury hospitality brand,” Sartiano said, adding that he seized “the opportunity to partner with Wynn [because] everything they do is the best — from their design to the atmosphere and food and beverage. Partnering with them made sense.”

Sartiano and Jessica Alba BFA.com / BACKGRID

He noted that private clubs have mostly been in urban areas, not travel destinations like Vegas.

“There is a whole new market for it. Basically, if you think about it, Vegas is about maximizing square footage and access, which is the opposite of a private member’s club,” Sartiano said.

Mariena Mercer Boarini oversees the new club’s drinks. Bar bites like chicken nuggets topped with caviar are available, too. Food can also be ordered from Sartiano’s new steakhouse next door.

Unlike the club, that establishment is open to the masses.

Michael Rubin, from left, Will Makris and Tom Brady. BFA.com / BACKGRID

Sartiano’s Italian Steakhouse – run by three-time James Beard Award winner Alfred Portale of New York and chef Michael Rubinstein – offers classic steaks and pasta.

The restaurant recently opened after Sartiano’s Hamptons eatery shuttered following noise complaints from locals.

“It breaks my heart,” he said of the closure.

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US stocks slide, gold surges after DOJ opens criminal probe into Fed chair

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:04:04 +0000

Wall Street was rocked early Monday after federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — rattling investors and igniting fears of political interference at the central bank.

Dow futures tumbled more than 350 points in premarket trading, with the blue-chip contract down 357 points, or 0.72%, while S&P 500 futures slid 39.75 points, or 0.57%, and Nasdaq futures sank 201.25 points, or 0.78%, as investors reacted to the Justice Department’s move against the Fed chair.

Meanwhile, gold surged to record territory as investors piled into safe havens, with spot prices jumping about 2% to around $4,595 an ounce after briefly touching $4,600, while US gold futures for February delivery climbed more than 2% to roughly $4,606.

The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has opened a criminal probe into Powell over his June 2025 testimony to Congress about the scope and cost of the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion renovation of its Washington, DC headquarters, officials familiar with the matter told the New York Times.

Stock futures fell early Monday morning on Wall Street after it was learned that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation against Fed Chair Jerome Powell. via REUTERS

Last April, The Post was first to report that the Fed was moving forward with extensive renovations as part of a $2.5 billion overhaul of the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building on the corner of 20th St. and Constitution Ave. — despite being more than $700 million over budget.

The newly announced probe was approved in November by Jeanine Pirro, the Trump ally tapped to run the US attorney’s office last year, and includes a review of Powell’s public statements and an examination of the Fed’s internal spending records, according to officials briefed on the investigation.

Powell confirmed late Sunday that the Justice Department had served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas and warned that prosecutors were threatening a criminal indictment tied to his testimony, calling the move an unprecedented attack on the central bank.

He said the investigation was politically motivated retaliation for the Fed’s refusal to bow to White House pressure to slash interest rates, arguing the threat of prosecution was meant to intimidate policymakers into aligning monetary decisions with President Trump’s demands.

President Trump and Powell have been at odds over interest rate cuts. AP

Powell accused President Trump of using the investigation as an intimidation tactic. AFP via Getty Images

“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President,” Powell said in a statement reacting to the investigation on Sunday.

“I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike,” the central bank chief added.

“In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment.”

The Post has sought comment from the White House and the Justice Department.

Powell, a former private-equity executive and Washington lawyer, was first nominated to lead the Federal Reserve by Trump in 2017 and confirmed by the Senate the following year, inheriting an institution designed to operate independently from the White House.

While his term as chair expires in May 2026, his seat as a Fed governor runs through January 2028, allowing him to remain at the central bank unless removed for cause.

Dow futures tumbled more than 340 points in premarket trading, with the blue-chip contract down 342 points, or 0.69%.

Nasdaq futures sank 201.25 points, or 0.78%, as investors reacted to the Justice Department’s move against the Fed chair.

S&P 500 futures slid 39 points, or 0.56%.

Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly clashed with Powell over interest rates, publicly accusing him of incompetence and threatening to fire him for refusing to slash borrowing costs despite inflation falling below 3%.

Trump has said he already has a replacement in mind and has floated legal action tied to the Fed’s headquarters renovation as part of his broader pressure campaign.

The $2.5 billion project broke ground in 2022 and is funded entirely by the Fed through interest income and fees, not congressional appropriations or taxpayer dollars.

Planning documents from 2021 included features such as private dining rooms, special elevators, water features, marble upgrades and a rooftop terrace, though Powell later told lawmakers many of those elements were scrapped as plans evolved.

The Fed has said cost overruns — now estimated at roughly $700 million — stem from inflation, labor and materials costs, asbestos and lead removal, soil contamination and upgrades required to meet modern safety and accessibility standards.

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Kayshon Boutte opens up about gambling addiction in essay

admin — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:33:02 +0000

The American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots, Kayshon Boutte, has penned an emotional essay as he recalls his gambling addiction in the hope it helps someone else going through the same thing.

Titled ‘How the hell did I get here?’, the essay begins by explaining that at 20 when he had a full ride scholarship at LSU and his future ahead of him, he would start his days by betting.

“I’d stay up late and bet. All day. All night. I had insomnia, so if I woke up in the middle of the night, phone next to the bed, I’d bet. Any little money I had, it was going straight to FanDuel.”

I’m sharing my story with @PlayersTribune in the hopes it helps someone else going through the same thinghttps://t.co/p2qENUAOUf

— Kayshon Boutte (@KayshonBoutte1) January 7, 2026

He explained how he knew he was addicted, stating how he would be in his own world on his phone: “Laying in bed, in the dark, in pain, with the light glowing on my face. It was a lonely experience. Like you in an empty casino, alone at the blackjack table.

“Adding more money to the account, and more money, and more money, with the press of a couple buttons. You lose touch with reality. It gets to a point where it feels like the money ain’t even real. But it is real, because in the real world, I was living paycheck to paycheck. Waiting on NIL checks to clear.”

Kayshon Boutte says he was living paycheck to paycheck in gambling essay

The athlete said he put a huge $90,000 of his own money into gambling and lost it all, with an ankle injury then leading him into depression. When he felt like he had lost his identity, through no longer being able to play football while injured, he turned to gambling.

“That’s how I ended up going down a dark road. That’s how I ended up pacing around my apartment at 3 o’clock in the morning, betting on whatever I could bet on at that time of night. I don’t even know….. It honestly didn’t matter. You’re just caught in the cycle.”

Two things are said to have saved the man: one was being able to play football again, and the other was becoming a father as a junior in college. He says he owes the Patriots organization everything, while stating they stuck by him even though they could have simply walked away.

In a bid to help those who are currently struggling, Boutte ended with: “So if I have a message for the football world, I guess it’s this: Don’t give up on these kids, man. I know there’s more stories like mine out there. Betting is just gonna keep getting bigger and bigger. Gambling is what it is. I’m not here to preach. It’s going to exist. But people who are in a dark place, they’re gonna use it to escape. Athletes, especially. I’m telling you, because I lived it.”

Speaking at a New England Patriots conference after publication, Boutte added: “Yeah, it was hard to admit I needed help. When you’re addicted to something, no matter how much you know you need help, you still tend to go back to the same thing.

“I sent it two weeks ago and had time to go back and look at it. It feels good to get everything out. A couple people told me it was a good opinion. I heard it a little bit around the building. I think it was pretty cool.”

Many have taken to social media to leave words of thanks and to express for the player, following the X post sharing the article receiving almost 800,000 views.

Featured Image: Credit to New England Patriots via YouTube / Canva

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5 things to know before the stock market opens Tuesday

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:17:15 +0000

This is CNBC’s Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox.

Happy Tuesday. We’re not even a week into the new year and I’ve already started telling myself that my resolution to read more can include reviewing drafts of this newsletter.

Stock futures are little changed this morning. The market is coming off a winning session.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. Maduro’s plea

Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are escorted, as they heads towards the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others, at Downtown Manhattan Heliport, in New York City, U.S., Jan. 5, 2026.

Adam Gray | Reuters

Investor attention yesterday concentrated on the U.S.’ strike on Venezuela over the weekend. Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a New York City court yesterday, saying he was “kidnapped” and a “prisoner of war.”

Here’s how the market reacted to the military operation:

2. Bank teller

Neel Kashkari, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, speaks at the Milken Conference 2024 Global Conference Sessions at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 7, 2024.

David Swanson | Reuters

Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari told CNBC yesterday that interest rates may not need to come down much further.

“My guess is we’re pretty close to neutral right now,” Kashkari said on “Squawk Box.” He said he believes inflation is still too high and that monetary policy appears to not have been tight enough in recent years.

On the labor front, Kashkari said artificial intelligence has caused a slowdown in hiring among big companies while also creating productivity gains. His comments come ahead of tomorrow’s ADP employment report and November’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover data, followed by the all-important nonfarm payroll report on Friday.

3. Mileage may vary

The Camp Jeep outdoor terrain at the New York International Auto Shown on April 16, 2025.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

General Motors reported a 5.5% annual U.S. sales increase in 2025 yesterday. As CNBC’s Michael Wayland notes, that should make it a top performer: Cox Automotive expects the broader sector to rise around just 2%.

On the other hand, Chrysler parent Stellantis saw its sales slide 3.3%. But it wasn’t all bad: The automaker’s Jeep brand posted growing sales for the first time since 2018.

Electric vehicle maker Lucid, meanwhile, said deliveries surged 55% in 2025, driven by a 70% annual increase in the fourth quarter. Lucid has been building out production of its Gravity SUV despite supply chain snafus.

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4. AI in AVs

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang speaks during Nvidia Live at CES 2026 ahead of the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 5, 2026.

Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images

Nvidia is testing the robotaxi waters. The company said yesterday that it’s working with operators in hopes of having them use Nvidia’s AI chips and software in their autonomous vehicle fleets as early as next year.

As CNBC’s Kif Leswing notes, it’s the AI titan’s latest foray into the automotive sector. Nvidia announced a robotaxi partnership with Uber last year. The company also said last month that Mercedes-Benz models released in later this year should be able to use its software for navigating cities like San Francisco.

5. ‘Secret sauce’

Exterior view of the new JPMorgan Chase global headquarters building at 270 Park Avenue on Nov. 13, 2025 in New York City.

Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images

JPMorgan launched a new initiative yesterday that gives select clients access to insights on the bank’s approach to major topics. In other words, its new “Special Advisory Services” will provide a look at parts of the recipe for JPMorgan’s “secret sauce.”

Liz Myers, the bank’s global chair of investment banking, is leading the effort. Myers told CNBC’s Leslie Picker that JPMorgan’s capabilities are “on par or better” than what some specialized consultancies offer.

JPMorgan will offer insights on a range of topics, including investor relations and real estate selection. Initially, the bank will not charge for these services, but it said it could institute a fee structure for clients needing support on prolonged or more time-consuming projects.

The Daily Dividend

Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, California, rebuked the so-called billionaires tax that has been the talk of Silicon Valley. It was a notable break from Rep. Ro Khanna, a fellow Democrat who has been under fire from the technology elite over his support of the proposed ballot measure.

Driving billionaires out of state might feel good in the short run but working people (as is almost always the case) will pick up the tab for this political ploy.

Matt Mahan

Mayor of San Jose, California, on X

CNBC’s Dan Mangan, Spencer Kimball, Hugh Leask, Sean Conlon, Jeff Cox, Ashley Capoot, Michael Wayland, Kif Leswing, Leslie Picker and Jordan Novet contributed to this report. Josephine Rozelle edited this edition.

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5 things to know before the stock market opens Friday

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:56:05 +0000

The Warner Bros. studios water tower stands next to a U.S. flag in Burbank, California, U.S. Nov. 18, 2025.

Mike Blake | Reuters

This is CNBC’s Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. And the winner is…

Breaking news this morning: Netflix said it reached a deal to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and streaming assets, ending the sale process that has been the talk of tinsel town.

Here are the details:

Under the deal, Netflix will acquire WBD’s film studio and HBO Max streaming service. Discovery will continue with its spin out of its TV network business that houses brands such as TNT and CNN.
Netflix will pay $27.75 per WBD share in the cash-and-stock deal, equating to a total enterprise value of more than $82 billion.
The streaming giant’s acquisition is slated to close after the separation with Discovery, which is expected to happen in the third quarter of 2026.
Paramount Skydance and NBCUniversal parent Comcast also bid for all or some of WBD’s assets in the sale process, which officially began in October.
CNBC reported yesterday that Paramount attorneys sent a letter to WBD CEO David Zaslav questioning the “fairness and adequacy” of the sale procedures.

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would become the new parent company of CNBC upon Comcast’s planned spinoff of Versant.

2. That’s so meta

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., wears a pair of Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses during the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Meta Platforms rebounded more than 3% yesterday, pulling the Facebook parent into positive territory for the week. The stock’s jump helped the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite eke out gains in Thursday’s session. Follow live markets updates here.

Meta’s rally came after Bloomberg reported that CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning to make cuts to the company’s metaverse unit. The report said executives have considered cutting as much as 30% of the division’s budget, and that the cuts could include job losses that would likely impact Meta’s virtual reality unit. Stephanie Link, Hightower Advisors’ chief investment strategist, told CNBC that the move would be par for the course for Zuckerberg.

3. Full beat

Shoppers line up outside of Ulta Beauty before the 6am opening on Black Friday.

Aimee Dilger | LightRocket | Getty Images

Ulta Beauty doesn’t appear to be feeling the same slowdown that other consumer brands are reporting. The retailer beat Wall Street’s expectations on both lines for the third quarter, sending shares up more than 6% in extended trading.

Ulta raised its full-year profit and sales guidance for the second quarter in a row, saying it expects higher comparable store sales growth than previously penciled in. As CNBC’s Melissa Repko points out, Ulta is benefitting from consumers’ continued interest in beauty products — even as they pull back on other spending.

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4. Pulte’s problem

William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) nominee for US President Donald Trump, during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The Government Accountability Office is investigating Federal Housing Finance Authority Director Bill Pulte, the congressional watchdog said yesterday.

Senate Democrats last month called for the GAO to probe Pulte, asking the agency to determine whether Pulte and FHFA employees “misused federal authority and resources” to accuse President Donald Trump’s enemies of mortgage fraud. Pulte has criminally referred several Democrats to the Department of Justice, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell.

A GAO spokesperson said the organization isn’t ready to offer a timeline for the process. An FHFA spokesman declined CNBC’s request for comment.

5. Race to the top

Tesla Cybertrucks in front of the company’s store in Colma, California, US, on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Tesla made up ground in Consumer Reports’ closely watched ranking of auto brands release yesterday. The electric vehicle maker landed at No. 10 for 2026, up from the 18th spot last year.

Tesla’s rise was driven by an increase in reliability, Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of auto testing, told CNBC’s Michael Wayland. Notably, Tesla’s Cybertruck was the brand’s only model with a below-average score.

Subaru took the top spot for 2026, followed by BMW and Porsche. See the full list here.

The Daily Dividend

Here are some stories we recommend making time for this weekend.

— CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, Lillian Rizzo, Alex Sherman, David Faber, Sara Salinas, Sarah Whitten, Melissa Repko, Chris Eudaily, Dan Mangan and Michael Wayland contributed to this report. Josephine Rozzelle edited this edition.

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Trader Joe’s opens new location in Los Angeles — directly across the street from another Trader Joe’s

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:43:06 +0000

They’re seeing double.

A new Trader Joe’s opened in Los Angeles directly across the street from one of the grocery giant’s oldest stores, but the company says it will keep both operating in spite of the confounding redundancy that left many customers scratching their heads.

The veteran Sherman Oaks store and its successor, cheekily dubbed “Sherman Oaks too” on the Trader Joe’s website, dominate the corners of Riverside Drive just a couple of minutes off the bustling US Highway 101 in the San Fernando Valley.

Trader Joe’s opened up a location in Los Angeles directly across the street from an older version of the store. Google Maps

The original store opened in 1973, just six years after Trader Joe’s was founded at the flagship Pasadena location. It’s quaint with a teeny parking lot compared to its newer sibling right across the street, which opened earlier this month.

Conversely, the new, flashy TJ’s sprawling on the corner across the street took over a mixed-use residential building with ever-reliable customers practically built into the store.

Customers were flabbergasted and struggled to understand the reasoning behind placing two stores so close on social media. Storyful

Still, the stores are just a minute apart — or less for daring jaywalkers.

“We’ve had a great relationship with our customers in Sherman Oaks for 52 years, and we plan to keep both stores open. Both stores offer the same great products and delightful customer experience, but each has a different layout and parking lot,” Trader Joe’s spokesperson Nakia Rohde wrote in an email to SFGATE.

Even with much of the same unique options Trader Joe’s is known for, the new location boasts some extra assets that could blow the beloved veteran outpost out of the water.

There are 10 Trader Joe’s in Manhattan alone. Robert Miller

“Sherman Oaks too” includes all the modern-day makings of any bougie market, complete with a mural perfect for social media, sprawling underground parking to compensate for the elder store’s minimart lot and larger sections filling every available part of the sprawling location.

And, to better accommodate shopping cart traffic, it even has wider aisles and higher ceilings, SFGATE reported in their walkthrough of the second location.

The “Sherman Oaks too” is one of 12 stores Trader Joe’s is opening across the country this year, including a second location on Staten Island.

“Since Trader Joe’s began in 1967, we have been in growth mode. Some years, we grow more than others, and our goal is always to bring delicious products at great values to as many people as we can. The best way to do that is to open more stores,” Rohde wrote.

Unlike in Los Angeles, there isn’t room at Staten Island’s Richmond Avenue location for another Trader Joe’s to be installed directly across the street.

The Post reached out to Trader Joe’s for comment.

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Epic Universe opens as Universal leans into parks, takes on Disney

admin — Tue, 27 May 2025 05:53:23 +0000

The entrance portal to the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Thomas Simonetti | Bloomberg | Getty Images

ORLANDO, Florida — With the grand opening of Epic Universe on Thursday, Comcast is positioning its Universal Studios Orlando Resort as a destination, not a pit stop.

For years, Universal’s Florida-based resort has played second fiddle to rival Disney. While it boasted three theme parks — Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and water park Volcano Bay — and a handful of hotels, it wasn’t viewed as a destination.

“This fourth gate changes everything,” said Karen Irwin, president of Universal Orlando Resort. “It not only cements us as more than a full-week destination vacation, but it also adds three hotels to the resort.”

Epic Universe opens at a time of economic uncertainty in the U.S., as President Donald Trump has instituted a wide range of ever-changing tariffs that have stoked fears about a global trade war, sent the stock market on its own roller-coaster ride and has threatened to tip the American economy into a recession.

The U.S. has already seen a slump in air travel, particularly from international travelers. While those guests are small subset of overall visitors to central Florida, they often spend a longer period of time staying at hotels and visiting theme parks and spend more money on food and merchandise.

“When there’s consumer uncertainty, the parks tend to feel it,” Jason Armstrong, chief financial officer at Comcast, said during a MoffettNathanson conference last week. “They tend to snap back really quickly, but they do tend to feel that.”

Guests ride Stardust Racers, a new dueling roller coaster ride in Celestial Park during a preview day for Universal Epic Universe on April 5, 2025. Orlando, Florida’s first new theme park in a generation is set to open to the public on May 22. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Patrick Connolly | Orlando Sentinel | Getty Images

“On parks, whether it’s current attendance trends or bookings — which, bookings aren’t a perfect window, but they are the window you have — there’s nothing that’s showing up in the bookings trends so far that would indicate any pressure,” he added. “That’s true in Orlando. It’s true internationally.”

Those who are most budget-conscious may have already been priced out of the theme park market, Craig Moffett, co-founder and senior analyst at MoffettNathanson, told CNBC.

“There was a time when visiting a theme park was a mass-market vacation,” he said. “It’s arguably too expensive for that to be the case anymore. The tickets alone can run a family a thousand dollars or more for a multiday visit, and that’s before hotels and meals. Perhaps that’s why we’re not seeing as much economic sensitivity as we might have expected.”

In spite of these economic headwinds, Epic Universe is expected to draw in millions of visitors, bolster theme park revenue for Universal, as well as Disney just down the highway, and bring billions of dollars to the local economy.

It’s also the start of a new era of theme park development for Universal.

Creating an epic universe

It took nearly a decade for Comcast to bring Epic Universe to life. From buying up land its previous administration had sold off, to Covid-related construction delays, this 750-acre development is the first new theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years.

Epic Universe, first announced in 2019, represents the largest single investment Comcast has ever made in its theme parks business and in Florida overall, CEO Brian Roberts said at the time. That figure is rumored to be around $7 billion, though the exact amount is unclear.

The park features five themed worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Celestial Park and Dark Universe.

Comcast’s investment in Epic Universe is part of a wider push to grow its theme park and experiences business. The company already has plans to open a year-round Hollywood Horror Nights themed experience in Las Vegas later this year, a kid-friendly park in Frisco, Texas, in 2026, and a U.K.-based park in 2031.

“Comcast is leaning into the theme park segment for a simple reason: It’s working,” Moffett said. “Growth is good and returns on investment are attractive, and the theme parks pay all kinds of strategic dividends by deepening customers’ relationships with their favorite Universal characters.”

While theme parks are a smaller revenue driver than Comcast’s media division, the division is profitable and has significant potential for growth. In 2024, theme parks accounted for a little less than 20% of Comcast’s overall revenue, but about 44% of its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

For comparison, Disney’s experiences division, which includes parks, represented 37% of the company’s revenue in fiscal 2024, smaller than its entertainment business, but accounted for nearly 60% of its net income.

Universal’s theme park investment and expansion come as Disney has pledged to spend $60 billion over a decade to improve, innovate and expand its amusement locations. New developments, whether they be parks, lands or rides, spark healthy competition between the companies to create more compelling and innovative attractions to lure in guests.

How To Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk is a family-friendly viking paradise full of immersive moments based on the DreamWorks animated movie franchise. (Adrian Ruhi/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Adrian Ruhi | Miami Herald | Getty Images

“This is the first new theme park in Orlando in a quarter century, and those 25 years have seen breathtaking technological advances,” Moffett said. “For that reason alone, it’s a big deal.”

The company has received 161 patents for its innovations at Epic Universe, including new animated effects, ride designs and robotics. Across the new park, there are trackless ride systems, augmented reality and high-resolution projections. In total, the Universal Destinations and Experience division holds 3,300 patents globally.

Major innovations can be seen in rides like Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the Dark Universe portal and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry at the newest Wizarding World land that transports guests from 1920s Paris to the 1990s British Ministry of Magic.

It is also apparent in new entertainment shows like “The Untrainable Dragon” with the How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk portal, where an animatronic Toothless, with a wingspan of nearly 27 feet, soars over the audience.

Just the beginning

A statue of Luna, the Roman goddess of the moon, overlooking the Celestial Park area, at the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Thomas Simonetti | Bloomberg | Getty Images

“This is a truly momentous occasion for us, and just a significant milestone in that continuum of our development,” said Mark Woodbury, CEO of Universal Destinations and Experiences. “The future is super bright. … There’s a lot of room for expansion. We’re already thinking about how that plays out. New attractions coming, new intellectual property coming, all part of our philosophy to grow our business by expanding our existing footprint.”

Woodbury noted that there is plenty of space on the Epic Universe campus to bring other worlds into the fold.

The company has plenty of intellectual properties to tap into, including existing theme park brands like Jurassic Park and Minions as well as untapped franchises like “Wicked.”

Where Universal executives also see strength is with its partner brands. Across its domestic and international theme parks, the company has brought to life lands and attractions based on intellectual property from other studios like Harry Potter, Nintendo and Transformers.

“There’s no creator out there that wouldn’t like to see their their IP delivered to the world in a way like you see in these parks,” said Mike Cavanagh, president of Comcast. “It actually enhances the IP for further use of the creator.”

The Darkmoor Village in the Dark Universe area, at the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Thomas Simonetti | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Universal’s theme park expansions also broaden its appeal to more age segments with the How to Train Your Dragon and Super Nintendo worlds.

“In the past, Disney really had the under 10-years-old segment more or less to themselves,” Moffett said. “Universal catered to tweens. The new Epic Universe park brings whole worlds to life for younger children.”

More parks, more merchandise, more food options and more guests to cater to open up more opportunities for Universal to generate revenue, not just in Florida, but globally. The company has selected franchise IP that is not only beloved, but evergreen, Comcast executives said. It has also updated characters and stories, like its classic monsters, for a modern age.

“We’ve soft opened for a while, and that gives you a lens into sort of what people are going to do in the parks,” Armstrong said. “And exit surveys have been great. The reviews of it have been terrific.”

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.

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Novo Nordisk opens Wegovy to telehealth in push for new patients

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:33:48 +0000

The “Wegovy” brand slimming syringe is sold in the Achat pharmacy in Mitte. The “Wegovy” slimming syringe has been available in Germany for a year.

Jens Kalaene | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

Novo Nordisk on Tuesday said it will offer its weight loss drug Wegovy through telehealth providers Hims & Hers Health, Ro and LifeMD to expand access to the blockbuster treatment now that it is no longer in short supply in the U.S.

Shares of Hims & Hers soared 18% on Tuesday, while Novo Nordisk’s stock rose 3%.

The Danish drugmaker is racing to capture more patients now that many compounding pharmacies are legally restricted from making cheaper, unapproved versions of Wegovy, with rare exceptions. Patients flocked to those compounded versions while Wegovy was in shortage due to skyrocketing demand.

“We felt it was really important to work hard to establish a collaboration with telehealth companies so that there could be access to Wegovy as the compounding is winding down,” Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, told CNBC.

“We’re really pleased about the level of interest to access branded Wegovy and to start to sort of catch people as they come off of compounded medicine,” he said.

More CNBC health coverage

Moore added that the new partnerships make the experience “seamless” for patients since it allows them to access Wegovy straight from their telehealth providers, which “makes it very easy” for them to get the drug shipped directly to their homes.

Patients will be able to access Novo Nordisk’s new direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, NovoCare, directly through the telehealth providers.

That pharmacy offers Wegovy for $499 in cash per month – roughly half its usual monthly list price – for patients without insurance coverage for the weekly injection.

Each telehealth company’s price may be higher because they likely include additional services, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson told CNBC.

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Novo Nordisk one year stock chart

Hims & Hers said it will begin offering all dose sizes of Wegovy along with access to 24/7 care, nutritional guidance and ongoing clinical support this week, starting at $599 per month to eligible cash-paying patients with a prescription.

The medication will cost Hims & Hers customers more since it comes with added access to care, the company’s CEO, Andrew Dudum, told CNBC in an interview. He said he thinks the company’s partnership with Novo Nordisk will serve as a case study for how patients get access to and get prices for “great medicine” and other forms of treatment.

Ro opted for the lower price, announcing Tuesday it will offer access to all doses of Wegovy for $499 per month. The company provides 24/7 messaging, one-on-one coaching, educational content and more through its monthly membership called the Body Program, which does not include the cost of medication.

“Adding Novo Nordisk’s FDA-approved treatments at the best available cash price will help more patients nationwide get the obesity care they need to achieve their goals, particularly those without insurance coverage,” Ro CEO Zach Reitano said in a release.

Earlier this month, Hims & Hers announced that patients could access Eli Lilly’s weight loss medication Zepbound and diabetes drug Mounjaro, as well as the generic injection liraglutide, through its platform. But unlike the company’s collaboration with Novo Nordisk, Lilly released a statement clarifying that it has “no affiliation” with Hims & Hers.

Hims & Hers started prescribing compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic and Wegovy, in May of 2024. The company has largely had to stop offering the compounded medications en masse, but some consumers may still be able to access personalized doses if it’s clinically applicable, Dudum said.

“That was one of the first things we shared with Novo is that we will always fight on behalf of what consumers we believe have the right to get,” Dudum said. “The regulation is very clear.”

During Food and Drug Administration-declared shortages, pharmacists can legally make compounded versions of brand-name medications. They can also be produced on a case-by-case basis when it’s medically necessary for a patient, such as when they can’t swallow a pill or are allergic to a specific ingredient in a branded drug.

But drugmakers and some health experts have pushed back against the practice, largely because the FDA does not approve compounded drugs.

Larger, federally regulated compounding pharmacies that make copies of semaglutide in bulk without prescriptions face a legal deadline of May 22 to stop marketing and selling those versions. Smaller, state-licensed compounding pharmacies that manufacture semaglutide copycats for individual prescriptions had a deadline of April 22.

“The spirit of this is that we stay true to what the rules are,” Moore said. “That’s the best way for us to serve patients.”

— CNBC’s Brandon Gomez and Angelica Peebles contributed to this report.

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