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China sanctions 20 US defense companies, 10 executives over arms sales to Taiwan

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing imposed sanctions Friday against 20 U.S. defense-related companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced large-scale arms sales to Taiwan. The sanctions entail freezing the companies’ assets in China and banning individuals and organizations from dealing with them, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. The companies include Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., L3Harris Maritime Services and Boeing in St. Louis, while defense firm Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey is one of the executives sanctioned, who can no longer do business in ...

The best used luxury vehicles to be had for under $40,000

When you’re shopping for a high-quality vehicle, the idea of acquiring one with a luxury badge that’s packed with features can be appealing. But it can also be an expensive proposition in today’s market when the average price of a new car is approximately $50,000. Thankfully, there is an alternative: Buy a used one. The experts at Edmunds know there are plenty of great used luxury vehicles that you can easily get for less than $40,000. These are five of their favorites that deliver a refined driving experience and superior comfort and technology features compared to more ...

Stocks close slightly lower in quiet post-Christmas trading

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed slightly lower Friday in a quiet day of trading as investors returned from the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 index fell 2.11 points, less than 0.1%, to close at 6,929.94, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20.19 points, also less than 0.1%, to 48,710.97 and the Nasdaq composite fell 20.21 points, or 0.1%, to 23,593.10. Institutional investors are largely closed out of their positions for the year, so trading was extremely light. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange was roughly half that of an average day. With three trading days left in 2025, the ...

YSU-led export study highlights Ohio’s global trade

Staff report Youngstown State University is positioning itself as a statewide leader in applied international trade research through a comprehensive export trend analysis that examines seven years of Ohio trade data and connects it directly to workforce development, business growth and student learning. The study analyzed Ohio exports from 2018 through 2024 using data from the Ohio Department of Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The effort was led by Mousa Kassis, director of YSU’s Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network and the YSU Ohio Export Internship ...

Cautious shoppers step up spending to start holiday season

NEW YORK (AP) — Consumers stepped up gift giving during the first seven weeks of the holiday shopping season, according to new data released Tuesday. But uncertainty about the economy is making shoppers more targeted in their buying. From Nov. 1 through Sunday, cash and credit card sales rose 4.2%, which is less than the 4.8% increase during the same period a year ago, according to Visa’s Consulting & Analytics division. The data, which exclude sales from auto dealerships, gas stations and restaurants, are not adjusted for inflation or the impact from President Donald Trump’s ...

US drivers are seeing lower gas prices this holiday season

This holiday season, many U.S. drivers are getting the gift of lower gas prices. According to data from motor club AAA, December has been the cheapest month for prices at the pump this year. The national average for unleaded gasoline has stayed below the $3 mark since Dec. 2, falling to its lowest level of about $2.85 a gallon on Monday. That figure has inched up slightly since, sitting at closer to $2.86 a gallon Tuesday — but overall, consumers hitting the road ahead of the Christmas holiday will likely continue to see mild prices. As always, some states have cheaper averages ...