Here are the AP's top business stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.

Wall Street inches higher on strong earnings with inflation report on tap

SUMMARY: U.S. markets ticked higher before the opening bell as a few strong earnings reports trickled in from some big names. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each rose 0.3% in premarket trading Wednesday. Nasdaq futures were up 0.2%. Dollar Tree rose 1% in premarket after the discount retailer easily topped Wall Street profit targets. Macy's tumbled nearly 8% despite posting a surprise third-quarter profit and its strongest comparable sales in more than three years. Even though the iconic retailer raised its sales guidance, it remains below last year's annual sales numbers and hints at a more cautious American consumer.

WORDS: 607 - MOVED: 12/03/2025 1:22 a.m. EST

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Can AI ever be funny? Some comedians embrace AI tools but they're still running the show

SUMMARY: Comedians like Jon Lajoie and King Willonius are embracing artificial intelligence tools to help them create humor. They just don't think AI is inherently funny. The rise of generative AI has stoked division and posed challenges to a number of creative industries, including comedy. But those who've been willing to experiment with AI-assisted humor find its mostly helpful as a tool that can animate or visualize their own ideas, not make people laugh on its own.

WORDS: 1236 - MOVED: 12/02/2025 5:26 p.m. EST

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Minimalist Prada buys maximalist Versace for $1.4 billion, in bid to relaunch sexier Milan rival

SUMMARY: The Prada Group has officially purchased Milan fashion rival Versace for $1.375 billion. The deal announced Tuesday brings the fashion house known for its sexy silhouettes under the same roof as Prada's "ugly chic" aesthetic and Miu Miu's youth-driven appeal. The highly anticipated acquisition is expected to relaunch Versace's fortunes. Versace has experienced middling post-pandemic performance as part of the U.S. luxury group Capri Holdings. Prada said in a one-line statement that the acquisition had been completed after receiving all regulatory clearances. Prada has underlined that the 47-year-old Versace brand offered "significant untapped growth potential.''

WORDS: 775 - MOVED: 12/02/2025 5:24 a.m. EST

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Wall Street holds steadier as bond yields and bitcoin stabilize

SUMMARY: The U.S. stock market held steadier as both bond yields and bitcoin stabilized. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Tuesday, following its first loss in six days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.6%. Boeing was one of the strongest forces lifting the market after it gave an encouraging forecast for how much cash it will produce next year. That helped offset losses for Signet Jewelers and Procter & Gamble, which highlighted potential challenges for U.S. households. Treasury yields eased following their jumps the day before. Bitcoin rose back above $91,000 after tumbling below $85,000 on Monday.

WORDS: 700 - MOVED: 12/01/2025 11:44 p.m. EST

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Costco becomes biggest company yet to demand refund of Trump tariffs

SUMMARY: Costco is joining other companies that aren't waiting to see whether the Supreme Court strikes down President Donald Trump's most sweeping import taxes. They're already going to court to demand refunds on the tariffs they've paid. The Court of Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington ruled earlier this year that Trump's biggest and boldest import taxes are illegal. The case is now before the Supreme Court. In a Nov. 5 hearing, several of the high court's justices expressed doubts that the president had sweeping power to declare national emergencies to impose tariffs on goods from almost every country on earth. The government might be forced to pay back the money it's collected.

WORDS: 509 - MOVED: 12/02/2025 1:14 p.m. EST

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A look at the Thanksgiving shopping weekend and what's next

SUMMARY: The nation's shoppers may feel gloomy about the economy, but they certainly were in the mood to shop over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend that wrapped up on Cyber Monday. Wall Street analysts and retailers are sifting through the data from the weekend _ the unofficial start to the season and a good barometer of shoppers' financial health and the strength of the economy. So far the figures show that shoppers came out online and in stores to scour for deals on everything from TVs and clothing, But all that economic uncertainty did affect spending. Shoppers were very focused and selective, malls reported. Now the question is: whether shoppers will keep spending for the season and into 2026. Here's a look at the data, the discounts, and what's next for retailers among other issues.

WORDS: 1164 - MOVED: 12/02/2025 3:53 p.m. EST

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Michael and Susan Dell donate $6.25 billion to encourage families to claim 'Trump Accounts'

SUMMARY: Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell pledged a historic $6.25 billion on Tuesday to provide an incentive to families to adopt new investment accounts for children. The so-called "Trump Accounts" were created as part of President Donald Trump's tax and spending legislation but have not yet launched. The gift has little precedent in terms of size, with few single charitable commitments in the past 25 years exceeding $1 billion. Through their gift, the Dells will deposit $250 into the investment accounts of 25 million children aged 10 and younger as an incentive for their families to claim the accounts and make investments in the stock market.

WORDS: 1113 - MOVED: 12/02/2025 8:00 a.m. EST

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declares 'code red' to improve ChatGPT amid rising competition

SUMMARY: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a "code red" alert to employees to improve ChatGPT, according to The Wall Street Journal. Altman sent an internal memo to staff Monday, saying more work is needed to enhance the chatbot's speed, reliability, and personalization features. This week marks three years since OpenAI first released ChatGPT, sparking global interest in generative AI technology. But the company faces increased competition from rivals, including Google, which last month released Gemini 3, the latest version of its AI assistant. OpenAI didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

WORDS: 352 - MOVED: 12/02/2025 10:57 a.m. EST

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Despite US trade war, OECD expects global economy will grow 3.2% this year

SUMMARY: The world economy has proven surprisingly durable in the face of President Donald Trump's trade wars, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Tuesday, upgrading its outlook for global and U.S. economic growth this year. The 38-country OECD now forecasts that the world economy will grow 3.2% this year, down a tick from 3.3% in 2024 but an improvement on the 2.9% it had predicted for 2025 back in June. The organization expects global growth to slow to 2.9% next year. The OECD also raised its forecast for U.S. growth this year - to 2%, up from the 1.6% it had forecast in June.

WORDS: 374 - MOVED: 12/01/2025 7:44 p.m. EST

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