Regulators close Philadelphia-based Republic First Bank, first US bank failure this year

WASHINGTON (AP) — Regulators have closed Republic First Bank, a regional lender operating in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Friday it had seized the Philadelphia-based bank, which did business as Republic Bank and had roughly $6...

Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November. In a statement Friday, Biden’s top health...

Stock market today: Alphabet and Microsoft help Wall Street clinch its best week in nearly 6 months

NEW YORK (AP) — The best week for U.S. stocks since November closed out with more gains thanks to Alphabet and Microsoft on Friday. The S&P 500 rallied 1% to finish its first winning week in the last four. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 153 points, or 0.4%, and the...

Williams-Sonoma must pay almost $3.2 million for violating FTC's 'Made in USA' order

NEW YORK (AP) — Home products retailer Williams-Sonoma will have to pay almost $3.2 million for violating a Federal Trade Commission “Made in USA” order. Williams-Sonoma was charged with advertising multiple products as being “Made in USA” when they were in fact...

JPMorgan's Dimon hopes for soft landing for US economy but says stagflation is a possible scenario

NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says he’s hopeful the Federal Reserve can bring down inflation without causing a recession but wouldn’t rule out more troubling possibilities, such as stagflation. In an interview with The Associated Press at a Chase branch opening...

Fed's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures stayed elevated last month

WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of inflation closely tracked by the Federal Reserve remained uncomfortably high in March, likely reinforcing the Fed's reluctance to cut interest rates anytime soon and underscoring a burden for President Joe Biden's re-election bid. Friday's report...

Online retailer Shein is latest to face strict European Union digital regulations

LONDON (AP) — Online fast-fashion retailer Shein must face the European Union's strictest level of digital regulations, the bloc said on Friday as it added the company to its list of big platforms that need extra scrutiny. The EU's Executive Commission said it formally classed...

What to know about Zyn, the tiny nicotine pouch that's sparked a big health debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — A tiny Philip Morris product called Zyn has been making big headlines, sparking debate about whether new nicotine-based alternatives intended for adults may be catching on with underage teens and adolescents. Here’s what to know about Zyn: WHAT IS...

An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve shows price pressures remain elevated

17 states challenge federal rules entitling workers to accommodations for abortion

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Republican attorneys general from 17 states filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging new federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions, calling the rules an illegal interpretation of a 2022 federal law. The lawsuit led by...