McDonald’s plans to introduce several new menu items, positioning them directly against rivals such as Starbucks and Chipotle. The company said roughly 30 million Americans are using GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic. McDonald’s also said it will provide about $8.5 billion in support to franchisees through 2036 to modernize restaurants and advance its global growth strategy. Franchisees are expected to invest an additional roughly $800,000 to carry out the plan.

Disney is using targeted promotions—including a limited-time $59 evening ticket at Disneyland, resident specials and free-dining offers—to spur demand. In the company’s most recent quarter, attendance at its domestic theme parks rose 3% year over year, the biggest increase since 2023. Domestic per-capita guest spending also increased 4% from a year earlier, suggesting the lower-priced options did not dilute spending per visitor. By contrast, Universal and SeaWorld have reported weaker attendance trends over the same period.

Tyson Foods and eight major pork processors agreed to pay $117 million to settle a class action. The lawsuit alleged the companies exchanged competitively sensitive information through Agri Stats to coordinate pork prices and supply, in violation of antitrust law. Tyson will pay the largest share, $85 million. The settlement covers consumers who indirectly bought pork products between 2014 and 2018, and all defendants deny wrongdoing.

Houthi forces have taken control of key ports in Yemen, tightening Iran’s grip over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and sharply reducing Saudi crude exports through the chokepoint, forcing some shipments to be rerouted. About 4% of global oil supply is affected. The heightened threat has intensified supply risks for both Brent and WTI benchmarks.

U.S. stocks rebounded on Friday, with the Dow up 390 points while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 rose 1% and 0.9%, respectively, putting the S&P 500 on track to end a four-day losing streak. Oil prices pulled back, easing inflation concerns, as Brent crude fell 3% to $104.42. U.S. consumer prices rose 3.4% from a year earlier in March, in line with expectations, helping calm nerves about further Federal Reserve rate increases.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday, with the Dow down 367 points, after Brent crude futures rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July and WTI climbed to $95.73. The moves reignited inflation concerns. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield briefly reached 4.806% and the 2-year rose to 4.415% as investors worried the Middle East conflict could keep energy prices elevated and prompt the Federal Reserve to keep raising rates.

PG&E said it plans to reduce its 2027 investments by about $2 billion, citing the rising financial burden of California’s wildfire liability rules. The decision follows California lawmakers ending their legislative session without an agreement to change how major investor-owned utilities cover wildfire costs. Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Chair Cottie Petrie-Norris said utilities rely on borrowing to finance large construction projects, and higher borrowing costs can ultimately be passed on to customers, according to KCRA 3.

Southwest Airlines said it will open its first airport lounges in Austin, Nashville, Baltimore and Honolulu, with construction already underway. The carrier plans to launch a Chase-issued cobranded credit card in 2027 that will include access to its lounge network. Southwest expects the lounges to begin opening in late 2027. The move is aimed at attracting higher-spending premium travelers and expanding non-ticket revenue.

Billionaire heirs to Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel’s, have erupted into a public family dispute as an unsolicited $15 billion cash offer from rival Sazerac looms. Brothers W.L. Lyons Brown III and Stuart Brown accused the board of “rewarding failure,” saying the stock slid from the mid-$70s per share to the mid-$20s per share over the past three years, wiping out billions in family wealth. The company also cut 12% of its workforce last year and shut its Louisville cooperage. The Wall Street Journal reported the brothers circulated their claims in a July 10 letter to more than 130 relatives.