BUSINESS

HELLO KITTY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SPREADING "KAWAII" AROUND THE WORLD

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On Friday, one of Japan's most iconic characters, Hello Kitty, celebrated her 50th birthday. Created by Sanrio in 1974, Hello Kitty, also known as Kitty White, began her life as a "kawaii" (cute) character on a coin purse and evolved into a global cultural phenomenon, charming fans with her cheerful appearance and wholesome spirit.

VOLKSWAGEN TO CLOSE 3 MAJOR PLANTS IN GERMANY, CUTTING 3,000 JOBS

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Volkswagen, Europe's largest automaker, is facing a reckoning in its home market of Germany. In a move that marks a historic shift for the company, Volkswagen has announced plans to shut down at least three factories in Germany and lay off tens of thousands of workers as part of a major cost-cutting and restructuring effort.

SALES FALL BY 27% AT CARMAKER STELLANTIS

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Stellantis, the carmaker which owns the Jeep, Peugeot and Fiat brands, said Thursday that its sales fell 27 percent in the third quarter because of market difficulties in North America.

US FINES APPLE AND GOLDMAN SACHS OVER APPLE CARD

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On Wednesday, the United States imposed an $89 million fine on Apple and Goldman Sachs, accusing them of misleading users of Apple's credit card.

CHINESE EV GIANT BYD BEATS TESLA IN QUARTERLY REVENUE

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Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD reported surging sales on Wednesday, surpassing global rival Tesla in quarterly revenue for the first time as its push into overseas markets advances.

HSBC SPLITS INTO EAST AND WEST DIVISIONS IN MAJOR OVERHAUL, APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE CFO AMID COST-CUTTING DRIVE

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HSBC is fundamentally reshaping its global operations, dividing into eastern and western divisions while appointing its first female CFO in its 159-year history. The sweeping changes come just six weeks into Georges Elhedery's tenure as CEO.

HSBC UNVEILS $3 BILLION SHARE BUYBACK FOLLOWING STRONG Q3 PROFIT REPORT OF $8.5 BILLION

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HSBC Holdings has exceeded market expectations with a robust third-quarter performance, announcing a $3 billion share buyback program as newly appointed CEO Georges Elhedery sets the stage for a transformative reorganization of the 159-year-old banking giant.

DISNEY TO ANNOUNCE BOB IGER'S SUCCESSOR IN EARLY 2026 WITH JAMES GORMAN TAKING OVER AS BOARD CHAIR IN 2025

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The Walt Disney Company revealed Monday its timeline for naming CEO Bob Iger's successor, pushing the anticipated announcement to early 2026 – later than the company's initial 2025 target. The media giant simultaneously announced that James Gorman, former Morgan Stanley CEO, will assume the role of board chairman in January.