FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank is leaving interest rates unchanged for the fourth meeting in a row as the economy in the 20 countries that use the euro increasingly looks strong enough to get by without the stimulus of lower borrowing costs for businesses and consumers. The bank’s rate-setting council on Thursday…… MORE
Feds Pave the Way for Big Tech to Plug Data Centers Right Into Power Plants in Scramble for Energy
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Federal regulators will allow tech companies to effectively plug massive data centers directly into power plants. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s order Thursday comes as the Trump administration urges it to help the U.S. lead the world in artificial intelligence. FERC’s order is designed to clear up pressing issues around so-called…… MORE
Instacart Settles With FTC Over Deceptive Practices but Faces Separate Investigation Into Prices
Delivery company Instacart will pay $60 million in customer refunds under a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC said Thursday that Instacart has been falsely advertising free deliveries and not disclosing service fees. It also said Instacart failed to disclose that customers who enrolled in a free trial would be charged membership…… MORE
Trump Media to Merge With Nuclear Fusion Company That Wants to Power AI
The parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform announced Thursday it is merging with a fusion power company, an unusual pairing of the Trump name with a futuristic clean energy venture that aims to power the next wave of artificial intelligence. Trump Media & Technology will combine with TAE Technologies in an…… MORE
Average US Long-Term Mortgage Rate Edges Lower, Remaining Near Its Low for the Year
The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged lower this week, staying relatively close to its low for the year. The decline brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.21% from 6.22% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.72%. Mortgage rates began easing in July in…… MORE